Fresno State Athletics
Outside the Lines: Jamie Southern
4/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 15, 2003
FRESNO, Calif. - On the field, Fresno State softball pitcher Jamie Southern doesn't think about all the attention focused on her brilliant freshman season. The predictions fall away. The media is silent. As she faces the batter, it's only her and her opponent squaring off in a battle of who will outdo the other.
Judging by Southern's Fresno State single-season strikeout record of 400 as a freshman, victory usually is hers.
"I never focus on the record and I couldn't tell you where I stand," said Southern, who at an athletic 5-foot-10-inches must be an intimidating presence in the pitching circle. "If I get my job done I'm helping the team. My focus is on winning."
Southern, a graduate of Clovis High School, certainly has been getting her job done. The right-hander became only the third freshman pitcher in NCAA history to tally 400 strikeouts in one season. On top of that great honor, she made the final cut for the inaugural USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year as announced by the Amateur Softball Association. Southern was only one of two freshmen to make the list.
When asked if she is excited, or perhaps a bit nervous about these pending awards, Southern smiles with composure beyond her 20 years and says simply, "I never came into this thinking about breaking records. Pam West (catcher) is the one who does the great job. My job is easy. She is the one who has to call the pitches."
On her high school team, Southern played four positions - pitcher, first base, right field and center field. As a senior, she had 229 strikeouts in 204 innings, resulting in 16 shutouts, three no-hitters and one perfect game. Before joining the Bulldogs, Southern was recruited by Washington, Oregon State, Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA and LSU. Ultimately, it was playing under renowned Coach Margie Wright that sealed Southern's decision to join Fresno State.
"She was my major decision in coming here. All of her pitchers have become All-Americans," said Southern. "I knew she could take me to the next level based on her past players. She is a great coach and has helped me to advance my pitching career."
When recruiting Southern for Fresno State, Wright saw in her the qualities of a natural athlete and pitcher.
"I've allowed her to improve on what she already is able to do," said Wright. "I believe I have helped her to be more mentally tough than before and also helped her understand how good she really is."
Southern also attributes Fresno State's focus on academic achievement for its athletes another determining factor in her choosing to attend the university. Along with her pitching success, Southern has received academic accolades as the 2001 NFCA Scholar-Athlete, the 2001 Fresno State Scholar-Athlete and making the Dean's List two times. Balancing coursework with the team's grueling practice and game schedules is difficult, but Southern manages to still find success on the diamond and in the classroom. She is majoring in liberal studies with plans of becoming an elementary school teacher.
"I wouldn't be here playing for this university if there wasn't a focus on academics," she said.
Wright believes Southern's self-discipline and work ethic off the field directly contributes to her performance come game time.
"She is a leader, role model and total team player," said Wright. "She is positive and leads by performance. Her ability to help lead others to the point they need to be is priceless."
Long before Southern joined the team, she was a young fan hoping to become a future player. Each summer she participated in the youth softball camps, hoping to meet her heroes of the team such as 1994 team member Maureen Brady, who was also a right-handed pitcher. Brady was an All-American and holds the university's single-season win record of 36, a tally Southern was close to surpassing with 33 wins.
Today, Southern is the role model for young girls who line up to see her after the game. "Sometimes there are girls waiting to get autographs," she said.
Without a doubt, for Southern it all comes down to winning. It's this determination that is the hallmark of a champion, and the force behind Southern's indisputable accomplishments.
by Lisa Birrell
