Courtney Waters and Amanda Sacks are a long way from home.
The two freshmen not only play softball for Ohio, but they both played softball for Chugiak High School in Chugiak, Alaska. So how do two players from Alaska end up in Athens?
Their summer coach
who happens to be Courtney's dad Ohio coach Roanna Brazier said. I saw him at a Colorado tournament in the summer and he was going around talking to all the college coaches
trying to get their kids some looks. That's when he handed out profiles of all his athletes that could potentially play Division I. He led me on to Courtney and Amanda.
The Bobcats were the only team that offered both Sacks and Waters a scholarship. In the end, that was the deciding factor in choosing Ohio.
It's a lot easier having someone here that you know
Sacks said. A lot of the other freshmen that came in didn't know anyone else here. So it was easier for us to adapt to the changes
not only in softball but in school.
Waters said the transition was rough at first.
When I first got here I was a little home sick
she said. I missed my family and stuff. But coach Brazier and the rest of the team just made us feel at home.
The trip from Chugiak to Athens takes nine hours of flying time, and that is not counting the time it takes to board three connecting flights.
Brazier said that coming here was difficult for both players.
It's not like you can just fly home anytime you want or hop in the car and go
she said. They've only seen their parents at Christmas and once during a preseason tournament.
Waters has successfully adapted to the college game. She is the starting left fielder for the Bobcats and is fourth in batting, with a .267 average. Waters strength is her speed, stealing 10 bases on the season.
Brazier said Waters is an asset to the Bobcats.
We were fortunate that she was able to pick up the outfield pretty quick
Brazier said. She's making great plays for us out there
and we need her on the base paths. If she can get on the base paths she'll score most of the time.
The adjustment from high school to college hasn't gone as smoothly for Sacks, who has started six games at shortstop.
I guess we've never really been taught technique a lot (in high school)
she said. Softball isn't a huge sport there. And so when we came here we just had a lot of catching up to do.
Brazier said Sacks is catching on quick though.
She's going to be a heck of a ballplayer for us in the future
