SOFTBALL: SHE'S GOT A TICKET TO RIDE : HART HIGH'S EVANS LEARNS TO DEAL WITH THE PRESSURE.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

Every time Jocelyn Evans takes the softball field this summer, she's playing for more than just team success or personal pride. She's playing for her future.

For Evans, 17, who recently completed her junior year at Hart High, every weekend travel-ball tournament is a chance to be recognized by college coaches and work her way toward a coveted full-ride scholarship.

``I'm learning not to take softball for granted,'' Evans said. ``I could never get into a lot of colleges by grades alone, so whenever I see myself getting a little lazy, I have to remind myself that softball could be my ticket to college.''

Evans admits the pressure can be considerable, knowing every at-bat or fielding chance is being watched. Approximately 200 college coaches attended this summer's Colorado Fireworks Tournament in Boulder, Colo., and Evans, a star at first and third base for manager Don Harris' Santa Clarita-based Stealth 18-and-under Gold team, likely had most of the 200 sets of eyes on her at all times.

``It's a little frightening at first, but this is my third year at tournaments like this, so you have to make yourself play like they're not there,'' Evans said.

``You have to realize that it doesn't come down to one play or one at-bat. They are going to see you more than once, so if you strike out or commit one error, it's not the end of the world.''

Evans' play has made the coaches take notice, which comes as no surprise to her longtime manager.

``She's a pure power hitter, she just crushes the ball and she's probably hitting about .400 this summer,'' Harris said. ``She's always been good. She's played for me (on and off) since she was 12, and you could see her natural ability even when she was 12, so I can't take any credit for that.''

In her Stealth teammates and Harris, Evans has a deep pool of resources in how to deal with the pressures of recruiting. All seven recently graduated seniors on the team have full rides to play softball at schools across the country.

``The seniors on the team give me a lot of support,'' Evans said. ``They tell me that you never know who is watching you. You may not see a coach, but they could still be watching or they will hear about how you played, so you have to be consistent and you don't want to put on an act.

``If I see a coach there and I start yelling and supporting the team, and they get up and change seats or something and I don't keep up that enthusiasm because I think they are gone, that reflects badly on me.''

The Colorado Fireworks Tournament allowed coaches to have contact with players.The tournament drew 115 teams from throughout the U.S. and Canada, and the coaches watch closely for the crucial combination of talent and potential.

``The difference between Jocelyn and the other kids is that the bigger the game, the better she plays,'' Harris said. ``The coach from UCLA sat and watched her the other day, and she hit one over the fence, another off the top of the fence for a double, and the third time they walked her.

``Colleges like to see what players do under pressure, they want to see how the kids will perform. Jocelyn's a gamer, she's a big-time performer, so she won't have any problems with that.''

And while Evans admits that she is not a big fan of airline travel, she is excited by the chance to see what colleges around the country have to offer.

``I'm looking forward to going on trips,'' Harris said. ``Right now I couldn't even give you a top three. I'm just going to visit campuses and talk to coaches. It's a little scary because this is like a life decision; it's going to have an impact on the rest of my life.''

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PHOTO (Color) Hart High and traveling Stealth 18-under Gold third baseman Jocelyn Evans is dealing with the pressure of always being watched by coaches.

John Lazar/Daily News