Bourman leaving legacy

Senior catcher leading by example in the last year of her recordbreaking career

Abby Bourman

Abby Bourman is a self-proclaimed leader by actions, and has led the successful softball program at SCSU over the past four years of her career.

"I'm not really one of the most vocal people," the senior catcher said. "I say things when they need to be said, but I lead more by example."

SCSU head coach Paula U'Ren said that Bourman leads in a nonverbal way.

"She doesn't speak a whole lot, but when she does the team listens," U'Ren said.

The example this Duluth native and Proctor High School alum has set forth at SCSU has been huge. Bourman currently holds five team batting records. These records include most RBI's in a game (6) and a season (52), total bases in a season (125), extra base hits in a season (27) and most homeruns in a season (9).

"I never expected to have the year I had last year," Bourman said.

She also tied the team record for most career home runs (21) with Gentzler last Tuesday during their home opener with MSU-Moorhead. Gentzler, however, now holds that record with 23 jacks after this past weekend at the NCC North-South Classic.

Even though Bourman carries a big stick on the field for the Huskies, she is not just a one-dimensional player. Up until this season, she was listed as a utility player in the media guide and didn't even play catcher the first few years of her career.

"It's really hard to pinpoint something with Abby," U'Ren said. "If you need a good defensive play she'll make it. If you need a good hit she'll make it. She just has the complete package."

Bourman tributes her versatility to playing so many roles.

"In high school I played pretty much every position," she said. "So I got a good feel of the game from every different team I played for."

She has also been recognized for her actions by various organizations. In the 2002 season she was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II All-American first team, the All-North Central Region team and the All-NCC team. Despite these high accolades, Bourman hasn't let them go to her head.

"Abby does a great job of making herself better every year," U'Ren said. "She expects so much out of herself. Last year she was an All-American, and this year she worked even harder to be the best player she can be."

Bourman doesn't want to do anything that would let down her teammates and that's one thing that motivates her to improve herself.

"I know that the team I have behind me has a lot of talent," she said. "I'm just trying to do my best out there to help them out."

Bourman has done plenty to help her team out with her great senior leadership on and off the field.

"Abby is an awesome leader on the field and everybody seems to look up to her," sophomore outfielder and Bourmann's roommate Cally Stewart said. "She has a positive attitude and she's someone you can look up to."

"Being a catcher she's my coach on the field," U'Ren said. "I go through her and run the defense through her. She's also done an excellent job with the pitching staff."

Her desire to win and be successful is infectious and sets a great example for the younger players who want to emulate her.

"They see how much she wants it," U'Ren said. "The younger players have had a chance to be around an All-American and see what it takes to be one of the best players in the country."

After this season, Bourman's career at SCSU will be one of the best in the program's history.

"I think it's gone real well," Bourman said reflecting on her career. "I think that I've gotten better every year and that's been one of my goals."

Around the Horn
-The Huskies swept Concordia-St. Paul Tuesday night, 2-0 and 4-0. Concordia and SCSU only played five innings in the second game of the doubleheader because of inclement weather.
-Junior pitcher Nicole Webb received credit for both wins and hit a solo home run in the fifth inning of the first game.
-Cally Stewart had an impressive stat line in the second game going two-for-three from the plate and nailing a two-run homer in the first inning.
-SCSU's overall record now stands at 24-12, with a 2-4 NCC record. Thursday's doubleheader at the University of North Dakota has been postponed to April 29. The next time the Huskies are in action is Friday and Saturday at the Minnesota State University, Mankato Invitational.