Sports

UM’s Souhlaris a dual threat

Taking the mound and the outfield, athlete gains recognition

By Laila Sholtz-Ames

Posted on April 28, 2008, at 12:00 a.m.

Some athletes strive to have a breakout game, their chance to shine or to be the all-star of their team. For second-year pitcher and outfielder Alexis Souhlaris, the moment came a few weeks ago in a game against Colby College.

The slight breeze blew across UMaine’s Mike Kessock softball field and caused the fans in the stands to shiver just a little – it was the fifth inning, and the Black Bears were up 1-0 after Souhlaris’ score earlier in the game.

Souhlaris was on the pitching mound and had just collected back-to-back strikeouts. The third Colby batter hit a single up the middle – almost jeopardizing the Black Bears’ win. The crowd grew restless when a walk was issued to the next batter to put runners at first and second. Souhlaris forced Colby to ground out to the catcher and sealed the shutout win for the Black Bears.

Souhlaris, as a starting pitcher and outfielder, is one of the only dual position players on the Black Bears squad and has gained multiple praises from fellow teammates throughout the season.

“Alexis does a great job of working batters. She had great control and makes her pitches work,” third-year infielder Ashley Waters said.

Things weren’t always positive for Souhlaris this season – the Black Bears started out 0-26, and before the Colby game, Souhlaris had a pitching record of 1-9.

Tables turned when UMaine faced Colby, and Souhlaris retired 12 batters in a row and got the first shutout of the season. Despite her numerous accolades, the former Derry, New Hampshire native and 2006 Gatorade Player of the Year remains humble.

“Our defense sets a good tone out there, so that is definitely a positive to look at,” Souhlaris said.

A standout pitcher and outfielder at New Hampshire’s Pinkerton Academy, Souhlaris shined last year as a first-year center fielder for UMaine. With a team-leading .367 and 22 RBIs, she was named to the All-America East Team and All-America East Rookie Team.

Despite Souhlaris’ outfielding skills, Head Softball Coach Stacey Sullivan requested that she return to the mound – a place she dominated throughout her high school career.

She and Sullivan established a close relationship before Soularis attended UMaine.

“I had only looked at two other schools for unofficial visits – UMass Lowell and Merrimack College – before considering [UMaine] and Coach Sullivan was the coach for Merrimack at the time,” Soularis said. “She was originally recruiting me to play there, but when she got the job for [UMaine], she decided she still wanted to recruit me to play for her up there. I’m totally happy with the decision I made.”

“My favorite thing about softball is when you’re dirty, sweaty and bleeding from giving your all and having it pay off with a big win in extra innings. Looking at my teammates’ faces when we win big like that is priceless,” Souhlaris said. “I want to leave here knowing I left a mark on this program, and I’m already pretty close to setting the stolen base record – so that would be nice to see happen. But even more to that, I just want other coaches and players to recognize me and remember my name as a softball player.”

Souhlaris played dual roles on the team throughout the season and worked both positions last summer when she played for Storm USA, a California team that won the national championship for Women’s Majors Class A last year.

“Knowing that there’s always better out there and room to improve is what really inspires me,” Souhlaris said. “Just the idea that I can always get improve and there’s always someone that could be better than me out there really motivates me to keep playing hard.”

“I love to work out. I also love watching the Red Sox, listening to my iPod at an unreasonably high volume and being around my friends and teammates,” Souhlaris said. “Also, sleeping and eating ice cream.”

The Black Bears are 8-35 overall and 7-7 in America East play, and the team is still in contention for a postseason berth.

A kinesiology and physical education major with a concentration in health and nutrition, Souhlaris hopes to become a personal trainer and a softball coach.

“I know that I’d like to have a flexible schedule because I’d love to be able to coach in a high school setting,” Souhlaris said. “My ultimate goal would be to open my own place and be my own boss.”

For now, Souhlaris is the boss of the pitching mound and the outfield.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 28th, 2008, 12:00 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.