SOFTBALL: A WING AND A PLAYER : WESTLAKE'S VOELTZ HAS A STRONG ARM, WILL TO WIN.Byline: Jim Inghram Daily News Staff Writer Erin Voeltz's first pitching experience happened by accident and it certainly wasn't a pleasurable one. Unfortunately for Westlake High opponents, she stuck with it and has become one of the best in the Marmonte League The Marmonte League is a high school sports league primarily made up of schools from Ventura County. The Marmonte Leauge is part of the CIF Southern Section. Click here to view the league schedule. and Ventura County. Voeltz, 16, first started playing 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' at age 8 in WAGS WAGS Wives and Girlfriends WAGS Washington Area Girls Soccer League WAGS Western Association of Graduate Schools WAGS Wonderful Animals Giving Support WAGS Water and Gas Safety (cutoff valve) WAGS With A Golden Spirit, Inc. (Westlake-Agoura girls' softball). She played practically every position, but her first pitching assignment didn't occur until two years later. ``The girl who was our pitcher broke her arm,'' Voeltz remembered. ``My coach looked around and told me I was going to pitch.'' Voeltz wasn't happy. ``I hated it,'' she said. ``I hit every batter and I didn't want to do it anymore.'' Out of necessity, however, Voeltz stayed out there and now she fully appreciates the art of pitching. ``I definitely like pitching now,'' Voeltz said. ``I like trying to out-think the hitter.'' It helps she grew to 5-foot-9 and has a strong arm and an impressive repertoire of pitches, including a curve and screwball screw·ball n. 1. Baseball A pitched ball that curves in the direction opposite to that of a normal curve ball. 2. Slang An eccentric, impulsively whimsical, or irrational person. adj. . Voeltz also has imposing velocity. She has been the main pitcher for the Warriors since her freshman year and has an overall record of 27-23. She was 23-23 her first two seasons, but had a 1.07 ERA and suffered from a lack of run support. In 1999, however, Voeltz is pitching with her typical tenacity and the Warriors are scoring runs and playing defense. Voeltz has confidence in her teammates and they in her. ``Erin just has this presence when she's on the field,'' junior shortstop Kaitlyn Wilson said. ``It's like a stage presence that some actors have. She is so confident out there. We have faith in our other pitchers, too, but when Erin is out there you know she is going to shut the other team down.'' Wilson and Voeltz go back to those WAGS days and Wilson has always been impressed by her friend's metamorphosis metamorphosis (mĕt'əmôr`fəsĭs) [Gr.,=transformation], in zoology, term used to describe a form of development from egg to adult in which there is a series of distinct stages. on the field. ``Erin is the sweetest nicest person off the field,'' Wilson said. ``She's very reserved and very humble, but on the field she is so take charge. She's a leader.'' Voeltz's leadership and pitching has helped the Warriors to a 5-0 start. The team captured the Hart tournament championship over the weekend with Voeltz playing a big part. ``She's just amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. ,'' junior 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 Annie Domenic said. ``She goes out there and does it. There is not really a reason, she just performs well.'' Asked about her success thus far in 1999, Voeltz was at a loss. ``I'm not sure,'' she said. ``Everyone on the team is pretty good, so it makes it easier for me.'' That and sheer will. If Voeltz was a major-league baseball player she would be the workhorse work·horse n. 1. Something, such as a machine, that performs dependably under heavy or prolonged use: "the 50-year-old DC-3 ... , probably nicknamed the Bulldog bulldog, breed of thick-set nonsporting dog developed in the British Isles many centuries ago. It stands from 13 to 15 in. (33–38.1 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 40 to 50 lb (18.1–22.7 kg). . She's the type of pitcher that never gives in to the batter and compiles inning after inning. Opposing coaches have noted her success. ``Erin Voeltz is a very good pitcher,'' Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. coach Gary Walin said. ``She might not be in the superstar category, but she is very talented.'' All the talk about pitching is odd to Voeltz - to her it's merely softball. Something she does for fun and, one day, something she hopes will earn her a college scholarship. ``When I am in the game I'm concentrating and trying to help my team,'' she said. ``But after I don't really go over it. It's mostly for fun.'' Fun for the Warriors, anguish for opponents. VOELTZ FILE Who: Erin Voeltz School: Westlake High Year: Junior Position: Pitcher/designated hitter Height: 5-foot-9 Born/Place: Oct. 17, 1982/Westlake Village Throws/Bats: Right/right Notable: Third year on the varsity. . . . Was second team All-Marmonte League as a sophomore and All-Ventura County. . . . Plays for the 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, Stealth travel softball team. . . . Pitching coach is former Westlake High coach Darwin Tolzin. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, Box PHOTO (1--Color in Conejo Edition only) Erin Voeltz's first pitching experience was rough, but she's getting the hang of it now. (2--Color in Conejo Edition only) Westlake's Erin Voeltz at the plate. Michael Owen
BOX: VOELTZ FILE (See text) |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion