Cameron Dunn’s jack-of-all-trades ability on the softball field is something that doesn’t come around too often.
The Mountlake Terrace star slugger has been on fire at the plate over the past two seasons for the Hawks. Known as a big-hit producer, Dunn also provides the luxury of being able to slot in at virtually any position on the field.
Listed as a catcher and shortstop for Terrace, the Division-I Providence College signee has given the Hawks a much needed pillar on the defensive side in addition to her consistent offensive prowess.
“She’s up there with the best of them,” 11th year coach Shannon Rasmussen said. “She can do everything … she only catches for us and does a phenomenal job, and I think she’s one of the better catchers in our area despite it not being her primary position.”
Rasmussen, who also coached Dunn for two years at Brier Terrace Middle School, said she expects Dunn to play more of her natural position of first and third base at the college level.
“I wish I could put her anywhere on our field, and she would probably be the best player at that spot,” Rasmussen said. “If we could just clone her, that’d be awesome.”
Through 10 games played in 2023, the 5-foot-11 senior picked up right where she left off in her previous season.
Dunn is batting .577 with a .703 on-base percentage and a 1.500 slugging rate, posting seven home runs, 24 RBI and 15 runs scored.
As a junior, her numbers were even more off the charts as she batted .596 for the full season, with a sturdy .743 on-base percentage. The first-team All-Wesco pick piled up 28 hits and homered 16 times, adding 39 RBI, 26 walks and 36 runs.
Last season, Dunn had a streak where she popped off for 14 homers in an 11-game stretch. She also earned WIAA Athlete of the Week honors for a week in April as she went 7-for-13 with six home runs, 16 RBI and 12 runs scored over four contests.
From behind the plate, you’ll often see Dunn direct traffic on key plays and close out games as a defensive shot-caller.
“I take a lot of pride in that,” Dunn said. “They like to say that I’m kinda the mom of the team. I like to feel like they can look to me when they are a bit confused or in times of stress out there.”
Dunn’s credits her mother, Bethany, who went to Pacific Lutheran University, as one of the driving forces in her efforts to play at the next level. Bethany, who played in high school, wasn’t able to continue playing in college due to injury.
“She wanted to play in college, but she never got a chance,” Cameron Dunn said. “Just knowing that I’m a continuation of that, it feels really good. I just love the game, it comes down to loving softball and wanting to work harder for it.”
Dunn left other college offers on the table to play for Providence of the Big East next year, including Western Washington and several small schools in California.
“There were some schools here and there, but PU … it felt like home for me.”
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