JOHN KOVACH | Colleges Hassell: Job of softball catcher is a challenge

GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Don't tell Tami Hassell of Hubbard that being a softball catcher is easier than being a baseball catcher.
A junior this spring on the Thiel College softball team, Hassell said the challenges behind the plate are proportionately the same as in baseball.
Mainly, she has to serve as the team's information center on the field, handle pitchers with a lot of stuff on the ball throwing from only 43 feet away, and be able to prevent runners from stealing bases that are just 60 feet apart.
Hassell performed these demanding jobs effectively in her first season as Thiel's catcher, after playing her first two years in the outfield as a starter.
She ranked No. 2 on the team with a .968 fielding percentage, just a shade behind Kristina Cale's .970; and committed only four errors and threw out eight would-be base stealers in 28 attempts.
However, Hassell was fortunate to have been a four-year catcher for the Hubbard High softball team, building experience that she was able to tap into at Thiel.
She also was expected to get hits and help win games for the Tomcats, and that she also has done.
Led seven categories
In fact, Hassell led Thiel in seven statistical categories this season, including batting average (.382, 39-for-102).
She was No. 1 in slugging percentage (.549), on-base percentage (.442), hits (39), total bases (56), sacrifice bunts (4) and total plate appearances (117), and tied for first in triples (5), and No. 2 in runs scored (22).
Her .382 batting average ranked No. 3 in the PAC.
Hassell earned first-team honors on the All-Presidents' Athletic Conference squad, after making the second unit her first two years.
Thiel, coached by JoAnn Gordon of Youngstown, a native of Kirtland, compiled a 16-17 record, including 5-6 in the PAC in her second year at the helm.
Catcher's challenges
"The biggest challenge behind the plate is just having basic knowledge of the game and telling everyone what to do," said Hassell. "You have to keep track of everyone. You have to have knowledge of players, their strength and weakness.
"I am like the quarterback. I have to know as much as possible and transfer the information to my teammates.
"I call the play before every batter. I'll stand out in front of the plate and tell the teammates what may happen, and what they should be alert to."
In addition, she has to be able to handle the pitchers, who are getting better and better.
"The pitchers can throw as many pitches as a baseball pitcher -- fastball, change-up, curve, rise, drop, and some can throw a drop curve. You have to know what pitch you are calling," added Hassell.
She conceded that softball base-runners and would-be stealers, unlike their baseball counterparts, give the catcher an advantage on the throw because they can't leave a base until the ball is pitched.
But she said this advantage is offset because, "Although they can't get a bigger jump as in baseball, our bases are closer together."
Asked to switch positions
Hassell said she was asked to switch from outfield to catcher when no one was left on the team to catch.
"Actually, we had several catchers who quit, and one graduated, which left me; and they asked me to catch," said Hassell.
"The first few years, they didn't have too many outfielders, so I went out there. I played wherever the openings were."
The daughter of Marsha and Craig Hassell, Tami is majoring in business administration with a 3.0 grade-point average in her major. She plans to graduate next May, and would like to pursue a career in sales and marketing.
Hassell's coaches at Hubbard were Ray Wells, Don Newell and Tami Sinn.
Peterson, too
Also on the Thiel team is Jessica Peterson, a junior center-fielder from Reynolds High.
"When I played left my first two years, she played center," said Hassell. "We are really good friends."
Peterson batted .228 this year (18-for-79) with 14 runs and seven RBIs.
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