The Observer, March 3, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 19
Hammell extends collegiate career through softball
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Professional athletes often do not know when to quit, hanging on to their careers by thread, playing well past their primes as only shadows of their former selves. Collegiate athletes, however, are limited to only four years of eligibility and thus cannot extend their careers for a longer period of time.
This year's senior athletes at Case know the feeling, especially Amber Hammell. As most Case sports fans know, Hammell has achieved quite a career on the hardwood for the Lady Spartans. She recently scored the 900th point of her collegiate career, which places her in the top 10 on the all-time women's scoring list, and was also named to the UAA's all-conference first-team this past week. However, with this being her senior season, Hammell's career as a collegiate athlete looked to be over.
Hammell, though, did not want it to end and came up with a rather simple yet unique solution: to play softball. She and her basketball teammate, Dana Dempsey, have decided to join the Lady Spartans on the diamond this spring.
"I didn't want my career to end, and softball is a really fun sport," said Hammell, explaining her decision.
Hammell explained that basketball is the sport that she takes most seriously and at which she strives to excel. As she plays softball for the first time, the pressure that she puts on herself to excel on the diamond won't be quite the same as the expectations she set for herself on the basketball court.
"Basketball is my sport," she said. "I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform, and I worked day in and day out. In softball, I don't expect too much of myself."
Even if Hammell wanted to set high expectations for her softball season, she might not be able to, as she does not know for sure yet where she will be playing. With the softball team short on depth this year, Hammell has offered to play at whichever position she is needed most.
"Anywhere that she [Coach Jenny Amodio] needs me is fine," Hammell said. "I played third base in high school, but there is no way they'll let a lefty play third base in college."
Regardless of how she performs on the softball field, though, Hammell will always be remembered most for her success on the basketball court, especially this past season, as she inherited the role of senior leader and led her team to a winning season. The winning record marked the sixth time since 1977 that the Lady Spartans had a record over .500.
"This year I was able to blossom as a player," Hammell said. "I have always been on teams full of seniors and stars. This year, I was the only senior guard. Everyone looked to me as a leader on the court."
Her leadership and stellar play gained her the first-team all-conference recognition. However, when told about that recognition, Hammell was excited yet disappointed that her teammates did not also get more recognition.
"I think a lot of our players got overlooked," she said. "We had some really good post players this year who did not get recognized, so it's kind of upsetting in that respect."
Looking back on her collegiate career, Hammell identified the Lady Spartans' win in Chicago this season as one of her fondest memories.
"You really can't beat a last second shot," Hammell said, referring to Ashley Horton's game-winning shot. "It marked the turning point in our season. It was something that we needed both mentally and physically to lift us up again."
Looking to her future, Hammell will begin fulfilling her commitment to the U.S. Army, which paid her tuition at Case. Hammell hopes to make the women's basketball team there.
"It's always something that has been in the back of my mind," Hammell said. "The whole experience will be something new."
If her prior experiences on the basketball court are any indication, Hammell's future experiences both on the softball field and in the Army are sure to be successful.
