A FAMILY AFFAIR; ELDER RAWSON IS AN ALL-STAR.Byline: Kirby Lee Special to the Daily News Melissa Rawson of Highland High will have plenty of family support at the Daily News All-Star softball game. Twin sisters Nicole and Natalie figure to be among the loudest boosters for Rawson. Still, the senior Rawson anticipates a feeling of isolation for the first few innings of the June 14 game at Cal State Northridge. Rawson, a senior, and Nichole and Natalie, both sophomores, played together for the last two seasons at Highland. The siblings formed the nucleus of the Bulldogs' infield with Rawson at first base, Natalie at shortstop and Nicole at pitcher. They also were teammates on the Bulldogs' volleyball and basketball teams this year. In the Daily News All-Star game An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league. The players are often chosen by a popular vote of fans of the sport and the game often occurs at the halfway point of the regular season, although this is not the case for some all-star games , Rawson will play on the East squad coached by Coy Ray of Quartz Hill. The East team also includes Latisha Hernandez of Paraclete and Jodi Cox of Quartz Hill for Monday's 5 p.m. contest. ``I'll be excited to play against the best girls in the Valley,'' Rawson said. ``I'm looking forward to having a good time, but it will be different not having my sisters on the team. It's something I am going to have to get used to.'' It will be a similar adjustment for Natalie and Nichole. ``It's going to be a weird experience,'' Nicole said. ``I never really watched her play and I'm going to feel like I should be on the mound pitching.'' Rawson was a menace to opposing pitchers this season in leading Highland to a second-place finish Noun 1. second-place finish - a finish in second place (as in a race) runner-up finish finish - designated event that concludes a contest (especially a race); "excitement grew as the finish neared"; "my horse was several lengths behind at the finish"; "the in the Golden League and to the second round of the Southern Section Division I playoffs. Rawson, who will attend Colgate, batted .463 with six home runs and drove in 34 RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in , leading the region for the second consecutive season. Rawson, an All-Golden League first-team selection, was also named to the All-Tournament teams in the Desert Diamond Classic and Hart tournaments. Rawson, a 5-11 middle blocker, was the Golden League Most Valuable Player in volleyball and a starting forward in basketball. Softball, however, is Rawson's primary sport. She plans to play only softball next year at Colgate but could try volleyball in her sophomore year. Rawson has teamed with her sisters since Little League. She transferred to Highland from Quartz Hill after her sophomore season for an opportunity to play with her siblings. The Rawsons' backyard is a mini-softball complex with a pitching circle, a plate and hitting net. During inclement in·clem·ent adj. 1. Stormy: inclement weather. 2. Showing no clemency; unmerciful. in·clem weather, the sisters head to the garage to hit whiffle whif·fle v. whif·fled, whif·fling, whif·fles v.intr. 1. To move or think erratically; vacillate. 2. balls. In Rawson's sophomore year, the sisters led the Lancaster Park View Senior Little League to the national title. Park View won 20 straight games against all-star squads from the U.S., Canada, Russia, the Philippines and Mexico. ``We've all grown up on the softball field,'' Melissa said. ``That's where we get along the best. We're best friends and won't compete against each other. But when we get home, we're all over each other's backs.'' Nichole said her elder sister's visits to the mound helped her work out of jams with the game on the line. For Rawson, however, it was Highland volleyball coach and physics teacher Mike Bird who served as her biggest inspiration in sports and in the classroom. Bird is also one of the biggest supporters of the softball team, bringing the entire boys' volleyball team out as a cheering squad in center field for Highland home games. ``Melissa is one of the most physically gifted athletes, and strong and really quick for her size,'' Bird said. ``She was a little shy and unsure of herself, but I tried to instill in·still v. To pour in drop by drop. in  stil·la tion n. a competitive frame of
mind and she did a great job of taking that attitude.''
Rawson said Bird's enthusiasm helped boost her confidence in volleyball to emerge as a part-time player as a junior - and the league's dominant player as a senior. Rawson translated that mentality to softball to become a better hitter. ``He pushed me real hard and made me have fun,'' Rawson said. ``He believed I had my potential (and) molded me into a good volleyball player. Working with him made me more confidant and (made me) try harder in all I do. I gained more confidence in my hitting and (learned) to be more aggressive at the plate. It's been a good year; I hate to see it all come to an end.'' AT A GLANCE What: 23rd annual Bernie Milligan Daily News All-Star Baseball All-Star Baseball is a baseball video game series developed and published by Acclaim Entertainment. The series began in 1998 with the release of All-Star Baseball '99. Game and 13th annual Daily News Softball Game. When: Baseball game Noun 1. baseball game - a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs; "he played baseball in high school"; "there was a baseball game on every empty lot"; "there was a desire for National League is at 1 p.m. Saturday (11 a.m. home run derby This is about the Major League Baseball contest. For the 1959 television show of the same name, see Home Run Derby (TV series). The Home Run Derby is an event played prior to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. ); softball game is at 4 p.m. Monday. (2:30 home run derby). Where: Baseball game at Stengel Field in Glendale; softball game at Cal State Northridge. Who: The best graduating players from the San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. , Antelope, Simi and Conejo valleys, as well the Camarillo, Burbank, Glendale and foothill areas. Tickets: $5 at the gate or at the Daily News, 21221 Oxnard St., Woodland Hills. Note: Former Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are a professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium. pitcher Mark Gubicza
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