Softball: Hill finally gets her recognition

Brady Aymond • baymond@theadvertiser.com • April 28, 2009

Amanda Hill is not a name that’s going to show up in a lot of UL softball boxscores.

And on the occasion when Hill does get into the game, the reporter might erroneously refer to her as Amanda Harris in the story.

But make no mistake, the senior pitcher’s impact shows up in every game.

"She is the heart and soul of this team," UL coach Michael Lotief said. "She’s the glue of the team. She gives this team a sense of purpose."

Hill and her two senior teammates – Karli Hubbard and Codi Runyan – will be honored by the Cajuns (36-10) today as the team plays its final home contest of the season at 6 p.m. against Houston.

Senior Day festivities are slated to begin 15 minutes prior to gametime.

"It’s been setting in for a while now," said Hill, who oddly enough grew up in the Houston area. "Lately I’ve been coming to the fields and just sitting in the dugout. It’s like I don’t want to leave yet.

"It’s kind of hitting me that it’s the end, and it’s so depressing because this is my home. I’m just not ready to go yet."

The Cajuns don’t want to see Hill go just yet either.

Hill has played a big part in the Cajuns’ success over the past four years, even though most of her work happens behind the scenes.

"She epitomizes what it means to be a Ragin’ Cajun," Lotief said. "I’ve said it before, Holly (Tankersley) hits the home run against Florida (in the World Series) and Amanda was in the cage before the game throwing her BP for 45 minutes.

"That home run doesn’t happen without (Amanda’s) contribution."

Hill certainly didn’t arrive at UL thinking she’d end up spending all her time contributing behind the scenes.

The Tomball, Texas native came to UL as a highly-touted pitcher out of the Houston area.

The Houston Chronicle named her one of the top five pitchers in the area after she went undefeated her junior and senior seasons and had a 0.34 ERA her final year.

Hill arrived in the 2006 class, a year after All-American Brooke Mitchell had graduated. Krystal Lewallen and Ashley Kirchberg carried the Cajuns in the circle that season, combining for a 50-11 record.

In 2007, Britney Cuevas arrived on the scene and rolled up a 31-11 record in being named Sun Belt freshman of the year.

And then in 2008, Donna Bourgeois and Ashley Brignac came into the mix.

But with each stud pitcher signed, Hill didn’t lose her confidence, nor her desire to be a part of the program.

"I had a lot of people ask me about transferring," Hill said. "I had a lot of people saying ‘Well, why don’t you go do this? You could go to a smaller school, you could actually play.’

"My heart belongs here. I came here for a reason. It was God’s plan for me to be here. I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t meant to be here. I understood that and I knew there were things I could change here. I’d rather be a smaller part of something big than being a big part of something small."

Lotief argues Hill’s assessment that she’s only a small part.

"I think she’s a big part of something big," Lotief said. "When you look at somebody’s career and you try to put it in perspective and you try to judge whether it’s successful or not, more times than not people go straight to the numbers.

"If you know what that kid means to the team, she’s been invaluable, she sets the standard in that bullpen. She comes out here and throws tirelessly to the hitters. How can you win without that contribution from somebody? And the fact that it goes overlooked on game day is never lost on us."

UL junior third baseman Melissa Verde, who arrived in the same recruiting class with Hill, said the senior epitomizes the team-first mentality.

"I love Amanda, I look up to Amanda," Verde said. "I look at her character and her will and her want to play the game and it makes me want to be a better ballplayer. I’ve never told her that, but I really look up to her.

"She’s got great heart and she comes out here and works her tail off. At practice, she throws to us in scrimmages and before the game she throws to us for batting practices. Without her, I don’t think we could be where we’re at."

Once upon a time, Hill’s reward came in getting a big strikeout or earning a big win. She says now her reward comes in seeing her teammates succeed.

"I love when people ask me ‘Does it upset you that you don’t pitch?’" Hill said. "And it’s like ‘No, I have a role on this team’ and then I explain to them and they had never looked at it that way. I love being able to explain to people that there’s more than just being a starter.

"It’s very rewarding for me. When me and Shari (Sigur) are throwing to them and getting them prepared for those pitchers, we know that they’re getting better because they’re getting so many more reps in."

When Hill’s playing days are over, the Kinesiology major wants to go into physical therapy.

She’s not sure what path her life will take, but she knows one thing, it will always lead her back to the Lamson Park.

"I want to go to PT school for physical therapy," Hill said. "I would love to have my own clinic. Of course the sports part of it is going to be a passion, but I would love to work with pediatrics too. I’m kind of going back and forth between the two.

"I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to not be a part of (UL softball). I’m always going to want to keep coming back. I hope to stay in Lafayette, I hope to live here."