BLAIRE PITCH PROJECT SOFTBALL HELPS COC STAR DEAL WITH HER FAMILY GRIEF.Byline: Scott Magoloff Staff Writer VALENCIA Valencia, region, Spain Valencia (välān`thēä), autonomous region (1990 pop. 3,902,429) and former kingdom, E Spain, on the Mediterranean. It now comprises the provinces of Alicante, Castellón, and Valencia. - When College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. freshman Stephanie Blaire pitches, she sees the image of her late sister crouching behind the plate. Lauren Blaire was killed by a drunk driver about two years ago, and getting on with life is Stephanie's daily challenge. Although she is 17-0 for COC See chip on chip. , which is 32-5 and ranked No. 7 in the state, Blaire's road has been anything but perfect. She became pregnant as a senior at Saugus High, ending her final 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' season before it started. She eventually opted to put the child up for adoption. ``It was a difficult decision,'' she said. ``I just wanted what was best for the child, so I put his interests before mine. . . . I put it in my mind that it was best for all, and it got me through; and help from friends and family helped me through. ``I never considered having an abortion,'' Blaire said. ``I don't feel it's right. I feel very blessed that I was able to find a family like them. I feel blessed that I did the right thing.'' Blaire's mother, Donna, thinks the pregnancy came out of the wide range of emotions Blaire experienced after the death of Lauren, who was just 18. After missing her senior high school season, Blaire decided to return to school and the game at COC. But even that did not go smoothly. Blaire, teammate Corrie Atwood and a friend were injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. in an auto accident in November. The three were hit broadside by a teen-age driver who ran a red light. Blaire suffered a gash on her head and a wrenched back, which kept her out of practice for three weeks. Injuries to the other passengers were similar. ``I was worried about (Blaire) when it happened, and her parents because of everything they had gone through,'' Atwood said, referring to Blaire's brother Dougie, who died of leukemia leukemia (l  kē`mēə), cancerous disorder of the blood-forming tissues (bone marrow, lymphatics, liver, spleen) characterized by excessive production of immature or mature in 1979
at age 6.
``It's not brought up all the time but everyone knows (what Blaire has had to deal with) and just thinks, `Wow,' about it,'' Atwood said. ``We're just happy that she's been able to overcome everything.'' Hard work got Blaire back into shape and she has fit into the Cougars' system. Her pitching style complements the Cougars' talented defense, especially the middle infield Infield is a widely used term in sports terminology, its meaning depends on in what sport it is used. In baseball In baseball the baseball diamond plus a rounded region beyond it (see diagram), usually clear of grass, in contrast to the more distant, usually grass-covered of shortstop Chantal Pershing and second baseman second baseman n. Baseball The infielder who is positioned near and to the first-base side of second base. Noun 1. second baseman - (baseball) the person who plays second base second sacker Valarie Reyes. ``She does a good job of getting the ball in play and leaving it up to our defense to do what they need to do,'' coach Ray Whitten said. ``It's just a mesh Refers to an interconnect architecture that cross- connects several devices. See mesh network, wireless mesh network and switch fabric. (character) mesh - The INTERCAL name for hash. of good things. Everybody on the team has extreme confidence in her as well as the other pitchers, and the pitchers have absolute confidence in our (defense).'' Blaire, who relies on control and accuracy more than velocity to fool hitters, said she has been dominant because of confidence. Regardless of the reasons, she has taken the same approach she used to get through her off-field problems to find success on the field. ``If there's a situation that's not good, I just work my hardest so I'll win,'' Blaire said. ``I don't think about losing. I'm sure somewhere down the road I'm bound to lose a game. Win or lose, I just feel good about the way I'm pitching and how the team is doing.'' It's enough to make a mother proud. ``I wish I had a little bit of her attitude,'' Donna Blaire said. ``She's so admirable ad·mi·ra·ble adj. Deserving admiration. ad  mi·ra·ble·ness n.ad . I wish I had her optimism and fortitude Fortitude See also Bravery. Fratricide (See MURDER.) Asia despite torture, refuses to deny Moses. [Islam: Walsh Classical, 35] Calantha fulfills wifely and queenly duties despite losses. [Br. Lit. . I'm very proud to have her as my daughter.'' Still, Blaire's outlook on life is challenged daily. She and Lauren were especially close, having shared a room at home. And when the two played softball, Blaire pitched and always behind the plate was Lauren. ``Every night when I go to bed it's not the same,'' said Blaire. ``I usually say good night to her, and I can't anymore.'' BLAIRE FILE Name: Stephanie Blaire Sport: Softball School: College of the Canyons Year: Freshman Position: Pitcher Record: 17-0 Future: Blaire hopes to earn a scholarship to a four-year school in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . If not, she plans to walk on. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: College of the Canyons pitching star Stephanie Blaire has managed to produce a 17-0 record in the wake of family tragedies that have cost the lives of a brother and sister. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News Box: Blaire file (see text) |
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