Fresno State Athletics
Communication is Key
4/7/2000 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 7, 2000
FRESNO, Calif. -
Amanda Scott stands within the pitching circle with certainty. She knows the history of the batter and the motion of the upcoming pitch. Her pitching role on this Bulldog team is defined and needs no further explanation. She has led this team through three previous years of unmatchable success and the future should forecast the same. What Scott does not know however, at least not yet, is what she will do with the rest of her life after this finale has ended. Scott maintains coaching is not in her future plans. Possibly graduate school, possibly playing for a pro team overseas, but her lifetime career of choice still lies in the balance. In fact, Scott, a senior, just recently changed her major. She planned on graduating with a degree in mass communication and journalism, but found the journalism was not her focus of interest. The communication part, however, was key.
"I'm a better talker than writer," Scott said. "It's easier for me to express my feelings and opinions and share with people vocally than paper." With that in mind, Scott, a 1999 GTE Academic All-American, moved her major to speech communication where she can now put her commanding vocal skills to use, and refine them not only for her future workplace, but for her unsolicited spotlight role on the Fresno State softball team.
"My major comes into play on the team in general teamwork and leadership," Scott said. "I view myself as a vocal leader on this team." An exercise in communication that Scott said she has thoroughly enjoyed. Scott has had the opportunity to utilize her vocal leadership this season pitching into the glove of freshman Pam West who has started all of the Bulldogs' game this year. Scott has also practiced with freshman Caitlin Haworth-Yasger while sophomore Kaci Pennington is back as a bullpen catcher. Scott is more than a vocal leader on this team however. She is also a motivator, a role model, a friend and a fan to her own teammates.
"I've never had a pitcher run up to me and give me a high-five for throwing a runner out during a game," West said of Scott. "Amanda did, and it made me feel really good." Encourage teammates to be their best is nothing new for the three-time All-American, Scott's only focus is on team's success as a whole.
"My goals for this team are always the same. I want to win the WAC, the regional and the World Series. I will do whatever I can for this team in whatever way I need to get there."
