Sport Today

It is now official, as of 2:30 est, on Nov.12 Samantha Russian has signed her
 NLI to attend The University of South Caroliona on a full scholarship starting
 in the fall of '98.

Congratulations to her and all the other female athletes receiving scholarships
 as well.

Ken

Vince

Subj:   Article
Date:   97-11-13 00:11:33 EST
From:   BasBalPlar
To:     Hiller SB

Vince

Here is neat little article on my sis.  Sorry to bother you with it just a
proud brother.
Copied and pasted from The Washington Post.

Stonewall Jackson's Russian To Sign With South Carolina

By Brad Parks
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 12, 1997; Page V10
The Washington Post

Stonewall Jackson High School All-Met softball pitcher Samantha Russian
heads a list of area athletes who will sign binding national
letters-of-intent as the NCAA's early signing period begins today.

Russian, the Prince William player of the year last spring and the most
sought-after softball recruit in the county, said she will sign today at
2:30 p.m. with the University of South Carolina, the third-winningest
college softball program of all time.

"I was trying to pick something close to home," Russian said. "I also
wanted someplace warm. . . . I can't wait. I'm really e***d. They have
a great team."

Russian, like many players who opted to sign early, said she didn't want
to wait until the spring to sign so she could enjoy her senior season.

"It's such a relief," Russian said. "It takes a lot of pressure off."

South Carolina finished last year at 63-5 with a No. 7 ranking in the
NCAA Softball Coaches Poll, and is ranked No. 2 in the preseason.

In Russian, the Gamecocks will get one of the most *** pitchers in
Northern ***ia. As a junior, the Cardinal District player of the year
struck out 170 batters in 124 innings and posted a 0.83 earned run
average. As a sophomore, she struck out more than 200 batters and led
Stonewall Jackson to the ***ia AAA final.

"When I talked to [South Carolina] Coach [Joyce] Compton, she told me
she wouldn't have given Sam a full ride if she didn't think Sam would be
an impact player," Stonewall Jackson Coach Ira DeGrood said. "She's
going to have an opportunity to work with some top-notch coaches."

who is she and who does she play for?

***ia...forget it! I thought she was from CA and I had never heard of her.

Just curious in Va.

California Haze early signings and committments can be seen at:
http://pages.prodigy.com/fastpitch/new.htm

Sign the guestbook before you leave!
http://pages.prodigy.net/fastpitchnut/guestfrm.htm

Be sure to visit our Homepage at:
http://pages.prodigy.com/fastpitch

John

Also, as you know, South Carolina has been a premier Collegiate Program for
 many, many years.  They just strengthened themselves.

Michael

Honestly, all of you took my post wrong. I said forget it because you had
 already answered my question. I thought she was from CA and I just thought I
 had never heard of her. I meant nothing negative about where she was from. I
 respect all softball players at every level...good or bad...because they love
 the sport as much as I do. I could care less where they are from. If she is
 good, she is good. Amie

This will be the last post I make saying that I said forget it after I heard
 she wasn't from CA because I had my question answered. I don't know her, if
 she is good or bad. I don't care where people are from. There are good players
 all over. You have misjudged my post. Totally. Amie

Cassandra, I understand completely what you are saying and if you read my post
 I dont feel that I blasted the west coast at all.  I said most (meaning only
 the people I came across in Colorado and OKC) talked that way.  Like opening
 ceremonies in OKC at Gold Nat.  The two teams from Va. were announced and
 people around me were saying things like what are they doing here & also
 talking to the girls after games they received comments too, that is what I
 based it on.  It takes just one comment like that for people to jump to
 conclusions-like I did-.  

I agree with all you say in this post about these terrific athletes coming
 together and having fun and I am sure there are other people that feel the
 same way you do and obviously I ran into the wrong people.  

I love the way most of the teams out there play and I actually found myself
 taking mental notes of defensive and offensive situations to bring back east
 and instill in the girls here.  This is one reason I stayed in Colo. and OKC
 the extra days to watch the final rounds because I knew it was there I would
 learn.   Example  Gary Hanings Batbusters, I really enjoyed watching that team
 play, the heart, the hustle and the knowledge of the game thewy all had as
 well as the way he was able to motivate them with emotion in the 3rd base
 coaches box.  

Ok enough is enough.  Everything is hunky-dory at this end and I hope at that
 end also.  WE LIKE YOU TOO!!!!!

Ken
Go Gamecocks