Softball: UL signee Hamilton named Miss Softball

Daniel Green • Written for the LSWA • June 12, 2010

ROSEPINE — Rosepine High head coach Mark Brown remembers watching Christina Hamilton pitch for the first time when she was in junior high.

But just a few years later, he is no longer impressed with just her throwing ability. Brown is proud of the leader Hamilton has become.

"Christina has always played above her age," Brown said. "But she really matured over the years and now leads above her age."

Along with becoming a leader, Hamilton also worked hard at her craft, setting a couple of state records, while also compiling honor after honor after honor.

Now, Hamilton can add the title of Farm Bureau/Miss Softball to her resumé as chosen by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

"I’ve worked so hard and I’m so honored to receive this award," Hamilton said. "I can hardly believe it and I’m so excited to have been chosen for this honor."

The numbers this year alone speak for themselves. In 224 innings in the circle for Rosepine, Hamilton struck out a state record 506 batters, while allowing only 37 hits, 26 walks and three earned runs. She had a record of 29-4-1 on the season, including 24 shutouts in her senior season.

Along the way, she had five two-hitters, 16 one-hitters and 11 no-hitters, four of which were perfect games.

The numbers were not limited to pitching. Hamilton batted .484 with eight doubles, two triples, six home runs, 30 RBIs and 36 runs scored. She also drew 16 intentional walks.

Though her offensive production was stellar, it was Hamilton’s work in the circle which gave the Lady Eagles a chance to win every time they took the field.

"I’ve had many good pitchers before Christina here, but we had to play high-scoring games to win," Brown said. "But with Christina, I always felt we could win with just one or two runs. If we scored early, I always believed we’d win with her out there."

There are many career highlights for Hamilton, who is set to continue her career at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She had 32 strikeouts in a 1-0 16-inning loss to Tioga as a junior.

As a senior, Hamilton shut out eventual Class 1A champion Ouachita Christian. A few days later, she fired a one-hitter en route to a win against Class 2A champion Evangel. Hamilton remembers the 2009 Class 2A championship game against Evangel the most.

 

"That was such an emotional, hard-fought game," she recalled as she and her Rosepine teammates fell in 13 innings to Evangel. "Although we didn’t win that game, I was just so proud of how we played together."

Hamilton leaves Rosepine with at least two state records bearing her name. The 506 strikeouts from 2010 are a new single season strikeout record. She also owns the state record for career strikeouts with 1,807 to her credit, which is also fifth nationally.

Her 84 career shutouts is second in state history, as are her 40 career no-hitters.

With Hamilton heading to UL, Brown will be looking someone to take over in the circle next year.

"You can’t replace someone like Christina. That’s impossible," Brown said. "For our area, she is that once in a lifetime player. We are really going to miss having her around. However, our loss is UL-Lafayette’s gain."

 

"That was such an emotional, hard-fought game," she recalled as she and her Rosepine teammates fell in 13 innings to Evangel. "Although we didn’t win that game, I was just so proud of how we played together."

Hamilton leaves Rosepine with at least two state records bearing her name. The 506 strikeouts from 2010 are a new single season strikeout record. She also owns the state record for career strikeouts with 1,807 to her credit, which is also fifth nationally.

Her 84 career shutouts is second in state history, as are her 40 career no-hitters.

With Hamilton heading to UL, Brown will be looking someone to take over in the circle next year.

"You can’t replace someone like Christina. That’s impossible," Brown said. "For our area, she is that once in a lifetime player. We are really going to miss having her around. However, our loss is UL-Lafayette’s gain."