THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 26, 1995 TAG: 9511230254
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 31 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
The sigh of relief let out by Sarah Putnam last week after signing her name to accept a full scholarship to play softball at the University of Maryland was no act.
After narrowing her list to the Terrapins and North Carolina, the Nansemond-Suffolk Academy senior was relieved to get the burden of choosing a program off her chest.
``It's the most difficult decision I'll ever make,'' said Putnam, who also considered Virginia Tech and Virginia. ``I liked everything about (North Carolina). I went there for clinics so I learned everything I know from them. That was the hardest thing.''
Putnam, who said she chose Maryland because of coach Gina LaMandre, a former All-American pitcher from Trenton State, earned the scholarship by making softball look like the easiest thing.
Putnam, who turns 18 next week, has dominated the TCIS as a pitcher, going 70-12 in four varsity seasons thus far and twice being named an All-Tidewater pitcher. Last season, Putnam was 22-4 with a .089 ERA and batted over .500.
Surprisingly, Putnam, the first Saint to receive a full scholarship to play softball, is headed to Maryland to be a catcher, not a pitcher.
``I knew I would be a pitcher (at N-SA),'' said Putnam, considered one of the nation's best catching prospects. ``I feel like I belonged on the mound here. But catching is what I really love to do. That's where I started off, so it feels really good to have a dream come true.''
Her dream began as a 12-year-old, when she started playing Little League softball at Olive Branch. That's when Putnam, who lives in Chesapeake, decided she wanted to go to college to play softball.
There was one catch, however.
``I started to talk to college coaches and they said if she wanted to compete at the college level, she needed to play on an (Amateur Softball Association) team,'' said Mike Putnam, Sarah's father and the Saints' assistant coach last season.
Four years ago, with Mike Putnam's help, the Tidewater Lady Tides, an area ASA team, was formed.
``ASA teams travel up and down the East Coast and give college coaches a chance to see the players,'' Mike Putnam said. ``The ASA has probably some of the best players in the country and that's why coaches recruit from there.''
``That's the thing that helped me the most,'' Sarah Putnam said, referring to playing catcher with the Lady Tides. ``Usually, college coaches won't come to high schools games. I think I'm ready (for Division I softball) because of summer ball.''
Putnam knows going from the TCIS to the Atlantic Coast Conference is a big jump.
``It'll be hard,'' Putnam said. ``This summer I'm moving (to Washington, D.C., New Jersey or Connecticut) to play in a summer league to get ready. That'll help me.''
Now, with a decision on college made, Putnam said she's ready to concentrate on schoolwork and then N-SA softball when it comes in the spring.
``(Deciding on a school) was all I've thought about,'' she said. ``I was really stressed out. It feels really good to have a decision made.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Sarah Putnam will play softball for Maryland.
by CNB