PREP SOFTBALL: BIG-TIME CAMPUS LIFE HART'S DEAN HAS PLANS TO TAKE IT ALL IN AT AUBURN.Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer 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' provided Hart High catcher Sara Dean with college scholarship offers, but football, baseball and basketball were the reasons she ended up choosing Auburn University Auburn University, main campus at Auburn, Ala.; land-grant and state supported; opened 1859 as East Alabama Male College, reorganized 1872 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama; became coeducational 1892; renamed Alabama Polytechnic Institute 1899, . It's true. Dean, one of the top catchers Catchers was an Irish Indie Pop band formed in 1993 and led by singer-songwriter Dale Grundle. The band consisted of Dale Grundle (vocals/guitar), Alice Lemon (vocals/keyboards), Peter Kelly (drums), Ger FitzGerald (bass, until 1995), Craig Carpenter (bass, 1996 onwards) and in the region and a big reason the Indians are one of the area's best teams, fell in love with the Alabama school during a recruiting visit. The biggest draw was the college atmosphere and the big-time sports environment, especially the chance to soak in a college-football Saturday in a Southern town. ``I'm a big sports fan; football, baseball and basketball, you name it, I love it,'' Dean said. ``Growing up with older brothers and watching football with my dad, it makes you a fan, and I definitely am a sports fan.'' It doesn't get any more sports crazy than at Auburn Auburn (ô`bərn). 1 City (1990 pop. 33,830), Lee co., E Ala.; inc. 1839. The city's economy centers around Auburn Univ.; there is some manufacturing. 2 City (1990 pop. 24,309), seat of Androscoggin co. , where Dean will get the chance to watch the Tigers' football team battle heated intrastate in·tra·state adj. Relating to or existing within the boundaries of a state. Adj. 1. intrastate - relating to or existing within the boundaries of a state; "intrastate as well as interstate commerce" rival Alabama, not to mention football kings such as Florida and Tennessee. For a sports junkie junkie Popular health A popular term for a person, usually an IV narcotic abusing addict, whose life is disorganized vis-á-vis family and societal structure, whose existence revolves around obtaining–often through theft, prostitution or other illicit like Dean, that makes Saturday afternoons in the fall a slice of heaven "Slice Of Heaven" is a single by New Zealand singer/songwriter Dave Dobbyn featuring Herbs, released in 1986 alongside the animated motion picture, . The single became #1 on the 3 October 1986 and stayed there for 8 weeks. After 25 weeks in the chart, the single became Gold. . ``I'm looking forward to experiencing all that,'' Dean said. Not to mention basketball games against national powers such as Kentucky and baseball games 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 against annual World Series contender Mississippi State. ``I can see myself going to a lot of games,'' Dean said. Of course, Dean also hopes to attract some fans to the Tigers' softball team. After all, softball is what really got Dean to Auburn. Dean, an excellent defensive catcher and a clutch hitter n. 1. (Baseball) a batter who hits safely more frequently when men are on base or the team is behind in the score. Clutching at the phantoms of the stock market. - Bankroft. - she leads Hart with six doubles - is expected to contend immediately for the Tigers' job behind the plate. She also might see time at first base, although she would prefer to stay at catcher. Besides the fanatic sports scene, Dean chose Auburn because a good friend from her travel-ball team is headed there, too. The friend's presence will help Dean cope with the normal homesickness she's bound to experience. ``Her being there wasn't the reason I decided to go to Auburn,'' Dean said. ``But obviously it will help.'' It should also help Dean's parents, who are thrilled that Dean gets to live out her dream of playing college softball College softball is softball as played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education, predominantly in the United States. College softball is played by women at the intercollegiate level, whereas college baseball is played by men. but understandably anxious about it being so far away from home. ``It's a great opportunity for her, so we're excited about that,'' said Jim Dean, Sarah's father. ``It will be a chance for her to get away from home and grow in different ways, not only in terms of softball but in life.'' Mostly Jim Dean is proud of his daughter. ``It's nice to see because of the work she's put into it and the dedication she's shown,'' Jim Dean said. ``When she first started at Hart as a freshman, I can't say we were sure she'd end up doing this well or that it would come to her getting a scholarship, but she earned it.'' Dean and the Indians played Quartz Hill on Tuesday in the second round of the Southern Section Division II playoffs. Hart started the year in a power surge An oversupply of voltage from the power company that can last up to 50 microseconds. Although surges are very short in duration, they often reach 6,000 volts and 3,000 amps when they arrive at the equipment. Power surges are a common cause of damage to computers and electronic equipment. , leveled off at the start of Foothill League play then began kicking it back into gear toward the end of the regular season. ``I feel like we're where we were before (the slump),'' Dean said. ``At the beginning of the year, we were getting eight or 10 hits a game and that just helps so much. When everyone is contributing throughout the lineup A criminal investigation technique in which the police arrange a number of individuals in a row before a witness to a crime and ask the witness to identify which, if any, of the individuals committed the crime. , you know someone is always there to pick up the slack or get a big hit.'' Dean takes her catching duties just as seriously, if not more so, then her offense. She has played the position since she can remember, partly out of necessity - she was one of the few players on her 10-and-under team that could catch the ball behind the plate - but also because she enjoyed being so involved in the game. ``I remember on 10-unders, we went like 38-0 and I caught a lot of those games and it's something I really liked doing,'' Dean said. After this year, she'll catch for a team far away from home. The thought is never very far from her mind. ``It will be an adjustment, I realize that,'' Dean said. ``But I've already figured out times I can come home, like at Christmas. And once softball starts, I'll be so involved with that I won't think about it so much. I'm looking forward to it.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Hart catcher Sara Dean is taking her talents south next year to play for Auburn University. Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer |
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