Jeff Tully
Lauren Suedkamp is the type of athlete who likes staying busy.
During her junior year at Providence High, Suedkamp went from
playing on the Pioneers' girls' volleyball team to competing for the
soccer squad and ended with the softball program.
That's three sports in three seasons with very little down time in
between.
"It gets kind of tough with all the sports and all of my school
work," Suedkamp said. "But I love sports, and I really like to keep
busy."
Suedkamp enjoyed the most success in softball, as she and two of
her Pioneer teammates were named to the All-CIF Southern Section
Division VII team.
Although Suedkamp earned second-team accolades, her comrades
earned top honors. Senior catcher Danielle Austin and sophomore
pitcher Sarah Biggs were named to the division's first team.
"It's great that we're able to get three players on the list,"
Pioneer Coach Maggie Blaha said. "Those were the only three players I
nominated for All-CIF, and they all got on.
"It's a great ending to our season and it is very nice for our
program. The girls worked very hard and they deserve the
recognition."
Suedkamp admitted she was a little taken aback when she first
found out about the honor.
"I had no idea that I was even nominated for it," she said. "And I
was very surprised when I was told.
"It's a great honor to be All-CIF once you think about all the
other players and teams in the whole division. It really means a lot
to me.
"It also gives me something to strive for next season. Hopefully,
I will continue to play well and maybe I can try and make it next
year."
Austin, who was voted the league's player of the year, was one of
the Pioneers' most productive players.
"Along with her offense, Danielle also did a great job on defense
as a catcher for us," Blaha said.
Austin was a consistent force for the team, batting .475 (28 for
59) with 20 runs scored, 17 runs batted in, four doubles, three
triples and three home runs. Along with a .537 on-base percentage,
she also had a .794 slugging percentage.
In the field, Austin had a .993 fielding percentage with just one
error in 19 games.
Austin was among a handful of players who were on the 2002 Pioneer
squad that won a Liberty League championship. The 2005 title was the
first in any sport at Providence since the crown three years ago.
Biggs -- who was a Foothill Little League All-Star player before
high school -- proved to be a welcome addition to the squad,
providing the solid pitching the program had been looking for.
Biggs went 12-4 with a 1.44 earned-run average and had 119
strikeouts and 12 walks in 102 innings.
Suedkamp led the team with a .493 average (35 for 70), scored 24
runs and had 25 RBI, five doubles and struck out just two times. She
was also a terror on the base paths, stealing 16 bases without being
caught.
Biggs and Suedkamp will be returning next season to a program that
lost seven seniors to graduation.
The Providence trio helped the team to its most successful season
in school history. The Pioneers not only went 19-4 but they captured
a Liberty League championship with a 10-0 record, put together a
13-game winning streak and advanced to the CIF Southern Section
Division VII quarterfinals.
During their 10 league games, the Pioneers outscored their
opponents, 72-0.
