SportsSoftball

La Verne give Weber field to shine

One thing she never expected three days after moving to California was to be dodging rain in the middle of May. Lindsey Weber, a junior behavioral science major from Oregon, is accustomed to rain storms but is disappointed because she moved to California to get away from them. But, most importantly, she came to the University of La Verne to play softball under coach Julie Kline. "She is the reason why I am still here," Weber said, adding that she went to the University of Hawaii her freshman year and almost went back last year but was persuaded to stay by Kline and her teammates. After graduating next year, Weber plans to continue being involved in softball by coaching and playing in Europe. / photo by Christie Reed
One thing she never expected three days after moving to California was to be dodging rain in the middle of May. Lindsey Weber, a junior behavioral science major from Oregon, is accustomed to rain storms but is disappointed because she moved to California to get away from them. But, most importantly, she came to the University of La Verne to play softball under coach Julie Kline. “She is the reason why I am still here,” Weber said, adding that she went to the University of Hawaii her freshman year and almost went back last year but was persuaded to stay by Kline and her teammates. After graduating next year, Weber plans to continue being involved in softball by coaching and playing in Europe. / photo by Christie Reed

by Scott Harvey
Staff Writer

Looking out on to the softball field at La Verne, it is easy to find a shinning star among players in deep center field and her name is Lindsey Weber.

As a junior center fielder and designated hitter, Weber has not only made an impact at La Verne but has scared a lot of Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) teams with her solid batting average of .500 and consistent defense.

“Lindsey is one of the most competitive athletes I have ever met. She wants to be in clutch situations, and her teammates feed off her desire to do well at all times,” said head coach Julie Kline.

Weber, a behavioral science major, was acclaimed as a 12-year-old model when she was younger and appeared in many newspaper advertisements for department stores in Oregon.

“It was a fun thing to do. My family had a photographer friend who took some pictures of me, and it went on from there,” said Weber.

A native of Portland, Ore., Weber was raised by her parents Mike and Terry Weber along with her brother Michael, 19, and her sister Ashley, 16, and attended Lakeridge High School.

“Back in Oregon, it’s more laid back and relaxed, unlike California,” Weber said.

At Lakeridge, Weber competed in both softball and volleyball but excelled on the diamond, posting the highest batting average in the Three Rivers League and was awarded first team honors. Weber also enjoyed playing on a summer softball club team, which competed in Nationals and represented Oregon, during her high school years.

High school is obviously not where Weber’s success stopped, as she was able to capture first team All-SCIAC honors while posting the second highest batting average in the conference this year, along with 51 hits and 28 runs batted in.

“I knew I might make one of the SCIAC teams, but I was happy and excited to have made it,” Weber said.

A transfer from Chaminade University in Honolulu, Hawaii, Weber took one year off from softball after high school before leaving Hawaii and coming to La Verne.

“I didn’t like the Chaminade program, and the coach which had recruited me, resigned before I got there,” Weber said.

“I eventually met Julie Kline, and she was the one who brought me here. I was reluctant at first, but the way she coaches and makes the girls work made me want to stay.”

Coach Kline has welcomed Weber with open arms especially considering that Weber was the leader in offense for a ULV team, which finished the regular season strongly, earning second place in SCIAC with a record of 14-4 and 26-10 overall.

“This year we bonded more as a team than last year. It was easier to play together because we played more as a team,” Weber said.

When speaking about this year’s team, Weber also talked about her personal achievements.

“Beating Cal Lutheran two out of three times and finally hitting home runs in games instead of practice were some of my personal goals that I was able to achieve,” she said.

Along with her goals for this past season, Weber also has added the goal of winning the SCIAC and going to Nationals into her wish list for next season, along with maintaining the conference’s best average.

For most people these goals would be hard to accomplish, but for Weber, who considers herself “disciplined,” it is just another season in her mind.

“I have certain expectations of myself, and I know other coaches around the league try to play off my weaknesses. Those things make me want to perform better,” she said.

Weber will have the chance next year to achieve her goals. In the meantime, she is thinking only about the summer break.

This summer, Weber plans to spend her free time away from work and summer school at Citrus College, by traveling to Hawaii to visit friends, going to the beach frequently, water skiing and going back home to Oregon.

“All I can ask from Lindsey, for next year, is to continue striving for constant and never-ending improvement,” said Kline.

After graduation next year, Weber plans to continue attending La Verne and to receive her masters in education while playing softball in her last year of eligibility.

“It has been a good experience at La Verne so far,” Weber said. “I have learned a lot, and I’m sure that I am much more disciplined than ever before.”

Scott Harvey, Assistant Sports Editor
Scott Harvey
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Christie Reed, Editor in Chief
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