Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com
Published - Thursday, May 08, 2008
G-E-T’s Weaver turns heads with breakout performance at the plate
Sam Weaver joined the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School softball team as a catcher two years ago to follow in the footsteps of Liza Olson.
Olson was an all-state performer at the position, and her departure had created a starting opportunity for Weaver, who was then a freshman.
Weaver is now more than two seasons into leaving her own impression on the program and enjoyed a monstrous Tuesday night that serves as her highlight so far.
The Redmen split a Coulee Conference doubleheader with Viroqua, but Weaver went a combined 8-for-9 with a double, two triples and a home run.
She hit for the cycle in going 5-for-5 during the first game and was 3-for-4 in the second. She scored six runs and drove in four, hitting her home run in the third inning of the first game.
“A couple of years ago, Liza Olson went 9-for-10 with four doubles in a couple of games at Poynette,” G-E-T coach Dan Stuhr said. “This really reminded me of that.”
On a team with its entire starting lineup made up of freshmen, sophomores and juniors, Weaver is making her mark on Coulee Region softball.
After catching for one season, Weaver moved to second base last year. She’s moved again this year and now plays shortstop.
As the team’s leadoff hitter, Weaver is batting .519 (27-for-52) with 19 runs scored, five doubles, four triples, three home runs and 11 RBI.
She’s also 13-for-13 on stolen-base attempts and leading the team with a consistent glove and plenty of range at shortstop.
“Athleticism,” Stuhr said when asked what made Weaver so good. “She’s made some plays this year that would have been on SportsCenter if ESPN was there.
“She’s diving in the hole behind third base and throwing people out at first.”
Stuhr hoped his young team could win a few games early and build on that success later in the season.
He thinks the Redmen (5-7, 3-7) could be doing that behind an effort led by Weaver.
Todd Sommerfeldt is a sportswriter for the La Crosse (Wis.) Tribune.
He can be reached at todd.sommerfeldt@lee.net
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