College prospect feels the pressure as junior season nears cancellation
By Randy Cavin
Press Sports Editor
This was supposed to be the year for junior athletes who play spring sports as they put their skills in gear for college scouts.
COVID-19 changed that, and it is having an impact on one local softball player. Corey Burke, who is a junior pitcher at Gleason was looking forward to showcasing her skills and hoped to have another successful season.
“It is rough for Corey,” Lady Bulldogs’ head coach Albert Collins said. “She could and I think wants to play college softball.”
Bethel University is highly interested in Burke. Bethel, which is down the road from Gleason, has not had any problem watching Burke play, except until the current crisis with COVID-19 came about.
Since the season is postponed and may even get cancelled, Burke is having to look at other ways to draw attention.
“She has been to several of their exposure camps,” Collins said. “I have just a few stats on her from our play-day games at Union City. We played some pretty tough competition at that. Then the season got postponed after that. It helps her to have good grades and she never gets into any trouble.
“You throw her academics on top of her career stats and that makes her even more attractive to colleges. She does play travel ball through Henry County, I do believe.”
Travel ball is a good option for Burke, and it may be the only one she has this year for college recruiters. Travel ball usually begins shortly after the school year ends. Then she will be competing against other players who are trying to make an impression with college recruiters.
“Travel may be her best bet,” Collins said. “I talked to her before any of this happened that any exposure camp, or anything she could do, that she needs to do it.”
Burke will be a senior when classes begin in the fall and that is when college softball programs typically sign high school players. So, this an important time for Burke, and any junior athlete who wants to play sports in college.
The junior hurler had a very good season a year ago. Burke won 15 games in the pitchers’ circle with an earned run average of 2.82, 159 strikeouts, and only 34 walks allowed.
Burke was equally effective as the leadoff hitter as she finished the 2019 season with a .545 batting average, a .635 on-base percentage, 42 runs scored, and 11 runs batted in. She is not a power hitter as she did not belt out any home runs. She only had four doubles and one triple.
She did reach base with 37 singles and walked 12 times while only striking out twice. That is what a softball coach wants in a leadoff hitter – a batter who does not strike out and puts the ball in play.
Collins feels bad for Burke and that she may not get to compete in her junior season, but he also feels bad for his three seniors as they may not get to experience their final high school season.
“Rose Hufstedler was in her second year of softball,” Collins said. “However, Krista O’Callaghan and Christina Sandoval were going to be in their fifth year playing for me. For my three seniors, this has been rough.”
Collin and Burke both had the same concern if the softball season can continue, which would not happen until May, and that is who would be the catcher for the Lady Bulldogs. Burke’s battery-mate the last two years was Bailey Bandy, who now plays at Bethel.
Bandy knew how to handle the game behind the plate, and she was Gleason’s best offensive producer as she hit with power and with a high batting average.
However, Collins may be able to figure out who will be the best fit behind the plate if any of his players can play during the summer.
“That was going to be our big factor – finding who was going to fill in that gap,” Collins said. “I guess we will have to wait until next year to find that out. I have a bunch of players who cannot afford to play travel ball. If we have any kind of a city league, I am encouraging my players to play in that.”
Hopefully, the season can get going in May and the players from across the county can enjoy at least part of it.
