Gulf High girl to play in national softball tourney

By PATRICIA LIEB

NEW PORT RICHEY - Julie Wisniewski has played softball what seems like forever. The 16-year-old Gulf High School junior became serious about the game at age 7.

After years of swinging the bat, Wisniewski's next big hit will be under the Oahu, Hawaii, sky, in Central Oahu Regional Park, Dec. 28 to Jan. 5.

She will participate with other young women in the United States Winter Series National Girls Softball Championships held by the TourneySport USA. Tourney Sports is based in Spokane, Wash.

"Wisniewski, as far as we know, is the only teen in the tri-county area selected to attend this outstanding and honorable girls competition," said Rick Hohenthaner, coach for the Gulf High School Varsity Softball Lady Bucs.

Hohenthaner nominated Julie to the organization after being asked to recommend his top athlete, he said during a recent interview at a fundraiser for Julie at the New Port Richey Moose Lodge at Leisure Hills.

The event generated $1,039 toward opening the airways to Hawaii for Julie and her parents.

Julie is the daughter of Debbie and Lee Wisniewski. "She will be representing Gulf High School, the community and the State of Florida," said her mother.

Car wash functions are planned, "when we can find places," said Julie. Want to offer a spot? Call her at 375-2074. She wants her family to be with her in Hawaii, she said.

"My dad has been my coach all my life and my mom has supported me" by driving her to games, Julie said. "The tourney is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I want to experience it with my whole family."

Hohenthaner said Julie was chosen for her athletic and academic abilities and accomplishments. The young shortstop leads Gulf High in defensive play and batting and has a batting average of .468.

"Oh, it's great," Julie said, laughter in her voice. "Very, very great." She took a deep breath. "I'm nervous."

Previous to Julie coming to this area from Chicago a year ago, the Lady Bucs lost game after game by many runs, Hohenthaner recalled.

The addition of Julie, "along with some others," to the Lady Bucs lineup resulted in major improvements, he explained. He credits her with numerous wins in one year. As well, she plays for the Pasco Bash Travel Team, which is for youth 16 or less.

In fact, she first became serious about playing softball at age 7 or 8 when she joined a travel team in Illinois.

"It's been my life. It runs in the family," said Julie, a Chicago White Sox fan.

For the national event, at the request of the organization, coaches across the country are asked to nominate their best junior-class player. The organization receives 800 to 1,000 recommendations, from which the top 400 are selected. Those players receive invitations to participate in the championship classic.

Only the first 100 to 125 to respond, however, are accepted, due to space limitations.

At the tournament, teams compete in a "pool play" event followed by a modified double elimination tournament. All teams play between eight and 10 games. Hawaiian high school and collegiate umpires oversee the games.

The competition includes players from around the country and Canada.

"I was very surprised," by the invitation, Julie said. "I didn't know Rick (Hohenthaner) had nominated me."

Hohenthaner said he has a lot of faith in Julie's abilities and believes she will get the recognition she deserves.

"She is as good as can be."

This competition is the opportunity for Julie to show skills in front of coaches from colleges from all over the country." There is no "winning" or losing" in the program, said Hohenthaner.

The credible tournament is "exposure and honor" before the many coaches who will scrutinize the athletes. With her abilities she may be heavily recruited and offered scholarships, he added.

"I know she will go to college somewhere This will give her an opportunity to pick where she wants to go." There clearly is no end to Julie's possible accomplishments, he elaborated.

She just wants a scholarship to attend college somewhere in the state, preferably, Florida State University. "A scholarship will help tremendously."

Julie plans to study sports training and physical therapy while playing college softball. Her career goal is to be a trainer for a Major League ball club.