A SMILE, AT LAST H.-W.'S FERRERO SAYS SHE PLANS TO ENJOY HER SENIOR SEASON.Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer Could that be a smile on Elena Ferrero's face? She certainly has good reason: A senior, she no longer has to carry the Harvard-Westlake High of Studio City softball softball, variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Invented (1888) in Chicago as an indoor game, it was at various times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground ball, kitten ball, and, because it was also played by women, ladies' team. She is healthy after recovering from two separate injuries last year. She committed to Boston College Boston College, main campus at Chestnut Hill, Mass.; coeducational; Jesuit; est. and opened 1863. Actually a university, the school's Chestnut Hill campus comprises colleges of arts and sciences and business administration, the graduate school, and schools of nursing before the season, relieving her of much of the pressure. She hit her first high school home run last week, the only component missing from an otherwise stellar four-year career. ``Sometimes it's been difficult, especially last year because we just didn't have much experience after doing so well the two years before,'' Ferrero said. ``But right now I'm very happy. I just want to keep on enjoying my senior year.'' Pressed into full-time pitching duty last year because the Wolverines had no one else, Ferrero gritted her teeth through the team's nine-win season - a surprising downturn for a school that had won 25 softball games the previous year and had advanced to the playoff play·off also play-off n. Sports 1. A final game or series of games played to break a tie. 2. A series of games played to determine a championship. Noun 1. quarterfinals or better during Ferrero's freshmen and sophomore seasons. Ferrero no longer has to worry about pitching. Newcomer Shelly Madick, a sophomore right-hander who transferred from Calabasas, is 2-1 with a 0.l67 ERA, so Ferrero is more relaxed. Heading into today's 3:30 p.m. nonleague matchup against Burbank at Valley College, Ferrero is batting .611 with eight runs, two 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 and a 1.056 slugging percentage In baseball statistics, slugging percentage (abbreviated SLG) is the most popular measure of the power of a hitter. It is calculated as total bases divided by at bats: for the Wolverines (3-3). ``I'm feeling very comfortable at the plate, more comfortable than I've been in a long time,'' said Ferrero, who has batted .400 or better every season. ``I have a lot of confidence right now. And with Shelly pitching, now I can take more pride in my hitting.'' By committing in November to Boston College, where she will join longtime long·time adj. Having existed or persisted for a long time: a longtime friend; a longtime resident of Detroit. longtime Adjective friends Cara Blumfield and Jacqui Goldchild (who played at El Camino Real El Camino Real (Spanish for The Royal Road or The King's Highway) was the name of a series of pre-automobile highways linking the various New World colonies of Spain:
``I've known those two since we were like 12 years old and we've kept in touch and they've told me all about the college,'' Ferrero said. ``Jacqui was my host when I visited there and it was very nice. I had offers from Western Michigan
Western Michigan, also known as West Michigan, is a region of the U.S. state of Michigan. and Long Beach State, too. But I couldn't turn down a chance to move to the East Coast and be able to live in Boston. Snow is the only thing I'll have to adapt to.'' Senior third baseman third baseman n. Baseball The infielder stationed near third base. Noun 1. third baseman - (baseball) the person who plays third base third sacker Kat Cooper, Ferrero's teammate for six years (four at Harvard-Westlake), agrees that Ferrero is much happier this season. ``Going to Boston College is one reason, and the fact she doesn't have to pitch is another,'' Cooper said. ``She's just a great friend and a great teammate because whatever you really need, she can give it to you. If you need a hit, she comes through with a hit. If you really need her to come in as a pitcher and get a strikeout strike·out n. Baseball Abbr. K or SO An out made by a batter charged with three strikes and credited to the pitcher who threw the strikes. Noun 1. , she can do that, too.'' Coach Terry Elledge said Ferrero will be the team's closer, when necessary. He knows she's got a great arm, but that's also why she's such a valuable left fielder. ``Actually, Elena is the kind of player who can play anywhere,'' Elledge said. ``She's got such a good arm, plus great speed, so she's just a natural outfielder who fits there now because she doesn't have the leg and heel injuries she's had in the past. ``Elena's doing very well and she's just a lot more relaxed. There's no pressure now that the college scholarship is out of the way. She's just having fun.'' FERRERO FILE Name: Elena Ferrero Sport: Harvard-Westlake softball Year: Senior Position: left field/pitcher Stats: .611 batting average batting average n. Baseball A measure of a batter's performance obtained by dividing the total of base hits by the number of times at bat, not including walks. Noun 1. , one home run, eight runs in six games Last year: All-Southern Section selection for third consecutive season College choice: Boston College CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: ``I'm very happy. I just want to keep on enjoying my senior year.'' David Sprague/Staff Photographer Box: FERRERO FILE (see text) |
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