by Amy Borer
Editorial Director
When she first picked up a bat 13 years ago, Sharnae Lancaster decided to make softball part of her life. Now, a freshman in college, Lancaster has yet to give up the game that has become such an integral part of her character.
When she was only six, Lancaster started her softball career by joining a little league team. By the time she was 12, she was playing travel ball and filling positions for various teams, including pitcher, first base and left field.
“I just started playing when I was little and as I got older, I really got into it and started to play travel ball. Then I decided I really wanted to pitch,” she said.
Lancaster’s love for pitching is deeply rooted in her, and her spirit for the game runs deep.
“As a pitcher, I love the competition—who’s the better pitcher between me and the other pitchers and how many times I can strike them out…It’s a big competition for me.”
Lancaster also played the different positions for her softball team at Jurupa Valley High School in Riverside.
Although playing travel ball gave her the experience and skills to play for a large Division I school, Lancaster chose the University of La Verne over such colleges as Cal State Northridge because of the size and the simple fact that La Verne needed a pitcher.
“I had talked to Julie [Kline, head softball coach] and they needed a pitcher. It’s a really small campus and I liked that. There wasn’t a lot of kids in the classes and it was close to home,” she said.
Lancaster does not regret her decision to come to a Division III university.
“The difference between the Division I and the Division III doesn’t bother me,” she said. “I’m not like Lisa Fernandez or anything, so it’s no big deal. I pitched in high school. The girls I played against and pitched to go to Division I schools now; I know I can pitch against them, but I like it here.”
Being the one and only pitcher for such a small softball team is tiring at times, but Lancaster never lets her exhaustion bog her down.
“Sometimes I get tired. After the first game (of a doubleheader) I’m usually tired, but by the second game I’m a lot stronger. I’m more motivated.”
Although Lancaster enjoys her pitching position, she would like to spend a little less time on the mound in the seasons to come.
“I’m doing fine now and it doesn’t bother me to pitch doubleheaders, but I know eventually my arm is going to give and so I’d like to pitch at least every other game next year if I could,” said Lancaster.
After college, this enterprising business major has plans to open a beach-front business with her two sisters, ages 25 and 29, not play ball.
“If I do (play ball), it will be just for fun. After college, I’ll be done with it. I’m going to be real burnt out, I think.”
Lancaster may not think her softball career will continue after graduation, yet she is pursuing the game while she can. This summer, she plans to play ball with an 18-and-over team.
“It should be pretty fun,” she said. “It’s just kind of kick-back just to stay and do it. We won’t have practice. We’ll probably just play on the weekends. It’s going to be kick back from now on. I’ll just play school ball and maybe once in a great while I’ll play summer ball.”
Lancaster does not leave her love for softball on the field. Over the past season at ULV, she has developed a strong relationship with her fellow teammates.
“One thing I like is that everybody is so close,” she said. “We all have fun and go out together and no one hates each other on the team. It’s not like everyone has their little group; everyone is a team and we have a lot of fun. We go off and play and get the job done. It’s not just hard work, we have fun too.”
Off the field, Lancaster loves to spend time at her two favorite hobbies: jet skiing and horseback riding. She is also a fun-loving individual who likes to spend time with her friends.
“I love just to goof off and go dancing.”
Lancaster has high hopes as the softball season nears an end and the team holds a record of 17-3.
“I think we have a really good chance of going to the playoffs this year. I think that we’ll go really far. We have a good chance of taking league and then we’ll go on to nationals and we have a good chance of winning nationals too.”
Lancaster and the rest of her team started its journey to the playoffs yesterday as it traveled to San Diego to compete in a three-day, 12-team tournament that included regional powers UC San Diego, Pt. Loma and Cal Lutheran.
“I think we have a good chance. Our first game on Friday is at 8 in the morning against Cal Lu,” she said. “I think that game is going to determine who’s better and who wants it more. I think we’re going to really want it.”
Amy Borer
