Schulman seizes the day

As a freshman and sophomore, Haley Schulman toiled as a pitcher on the junior varsity team in the Burroughs High softball program.

Last season as a junior, she got a call-up to the varsity squad, a team that already featured an ace in junior Heather Haynes. During her sophomore season, Haynes carried the load in the circle for the Indians on her way to earning All-CIF Southern Section, All-Pacifc League and All-Area accolades, while helping Burroughs capture its first league championship in 28 years.

Schulman split time with Haynes a year ago, putting up respectable pitching numbers while also showing her prowess as an accomplished hitter.

With Haynes and Schulman both set to enter their senior campaigns with the Indians this season, an inevitable showdown loomed as to who would be Burroughs' No. 1 hurler. But that showdown never took place. Haynes decided to forego her senior season, leaving the starting pitching duties square on Schulman's shoulders.

However, according to Burroughs Coach Doug Nicol, Schulman earned the starting job even before Haynes decided not to play this season.

"We knew at the end of last year and after we played a lot of travel ball during the offseason that Haley was going to be our No. 1 no matter what," said Nicol, whose team was co-league champion in 2011. "We planned on her getting 70-75% of the starts for us. But she earned that role. She didn't get that role because of someone else not playing, she earned that with her performance last year and her performance in fall ball and winter ball."

Schulman said she was surprised when she first learned about Haynes' decision, but welcomed the opportunity to be the team's ace.

"I was disappointed when I first found out that she wasn't going to play because I really like her," Schulman said. "She was fun to be around and she's was a really good player. When she left I kind of got my opportunity and I'm just trying to do the best job that I can."

Schulman has taken the opportunity and run with it. She has been a steadying force in the circle and she has taken up where she left off at the plate last season. Her efforts have helped Burroughs (10-1, 2-0 in league) to one of its best starts in program history.