The Rocket

Issue date: 3/9/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Submitted Photo Courtney Conron [Click to enlarge]

If you looked up the definition of a team player, you might just find Courtney Conron's picture right next to it.

Conron, 22, a senior physical education and health major, has done everything her coach has asked her and then some.

Conron has been a four-year starter for the Rock softball team, but not all of those years have been on the mound, a place where Conron has been playing since the seventh grade.

During her junior year, the team was short on infielders, and she volunteered to step into the role as the team's second baseman.

"Coach needed someone to fill in, and I stepped up and took one for the team," Conron said.

The role was not a new challenge for her, as she earned all-state and All-Mountain League honors as middle infielder while playing for State College High School.

SRU's softball coach, Vashion Johnson, was extremely pleased with how she accepted the challenge of becoming the starting infielder.

"She showed how very unselfish she is by becoming the middle infielder we needed," Johnson said.

Conron stepped in nicely for the Rock with a fielding percentage of .925 that season.

This season, she will take over the mound once again for the Rock with high goals.

"It is my senior year and I am back in control of the game, so I have nothing to lose," Conron said.

Johnson attributes her work ethic in how she gets the job done.

"All the time when I am leaving the gym, she is still in there putting in the extra time in the weight room," Johnson said. "And you can always find her in the Field House practicing her pitches."

Conron also puts the extra work in the scouting reports.

"She finds details in the reports that I didn't find, she does everything you want in a player and then some," Johnson said.

Johnson said that she is also a leader, without having the title of being the captain.

"I cannot put into words what she is to this team," Johnson said

Johnson has nothing but high aspirations for Conron this season.

"I see her having a winning record, throwing over 100 strikeouts and batting over .300 once again," Johnson said. "But regardless of her win-loss record, she will have a great season."

Continued...

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