Stephanie " Triple Threat " Granger

LEADER

HONORS STUDENT

CHAMPION PITCHER/CATCHER/DH

Dreams do come true!

In the late summer of 2007 Stephanie Granger was on a mission... to be one of the Top Pitchers in the State. Honestly, Steph struggled to throw a fastball for a strike over any part of the plate. After evaluating Steph after 1 week of training it was clear to me that Steph really should consider another position in fastpitch! Her parents, Pete and Gail, talked it over with their disappointed daughter. On the second week I allowed Steph back for another chance to show me she had what it took to pitch. It really tore me up inside to tell her, sorry but no. Steph was throwing the ball everywhere but over the plate. I suggested if she worked on her lessons on her own and came back to my training camp throwing the ball over the plate then I would train her.
Steph physically had the gift to play any position on the field in my opinion. It was Steph's faith in God and her parents never giving up on her dream of one day becoming a champion pitcher. A few days later I got a call from Steph on the third week and she said, "I must see her now because she has been practicing well. " I almost did not believe her. Sure enough Steph showed me up! She worked out at home and her parents helped her alot. Not ever been in this situation before it turned into a great learning experience for me. I took a chance on Stephanie and it paid off. Most of all I was the one that needed a lesson from Stephanie, I learned to never give up on anyone. More on Steph later....

Northern State University Athlete of the Week

Kelli Bornander Softball 3/8/2009

Link to Full Bio

Kelli Bornander picked up her first collegiate victory on Monday, tossing 5 and 2/3 innings in NSU's 5-3 victory over Chadron State at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. Bornander, a freshman, recorded seven strikeouts while issuing just one walk in 24 batters faced in the game. Game 2 proved to be a back-and-forth battle with neither team giving in until the bitter end. The Wolves jumped out to the early 2-run lead in the top of the first inning only to watch Wheeling Jesuit respond with a pair of runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning.That sparked a scoreless draw for the next six innings, despite scoring threats by both teams in the late going. The game finally went to a tie-breaker situation in the eighth inning. NSU failed to score their base runner, while WJU was able to take advantage of their scoring position to secure the win.Freshman Kelli Bornander took the loss for the Wolves, going all 7+ innings on the mound without giving up a single earned run in the outing.

http://www.ncaa.com/sports/w-softbl/ncaa-w-softbl-body.html

Lakes high school Fastpitch (photo album) freshman,Stephanie Shupe

photo "Dropping the Junk" by Lisa Courneya

Lakes 2009 High School Season

Lakes high school freshman, Stephanie Shupe, Pitcher earns starting role on varsity

Freshman downs White River 5-1 and takes first victory for Lakes High School

For the Shupe family fastpitch has new meaning. Terri and Brian Shupe's kid is the Starter on the mound and they are very proud and nervous at the same time for daughter Stephanie.

"It's Steph's first win as a pitcher! After losing a couple games in a row we wanted Steph to relax and not worry about her team and how they are doing and to just focus on pitching and start enjoying it, because she is a pretty good pitcher averaging 6 strike-outs per game, said dad Brian."

A 4.0 student and marching band musician. Stephanie Shupe is a kid that does it all. Stephanie just recently began drivers training two months ago. She also began professional pitching training at the Tacoma Fastpitch Training Center with Coach Adam La Serna 8 months ago. Parents, Bryan and Terri Shupe enrolled Stephanie and really did not have a broad view of what their daughter was capable of, "she never had previous professional training before Adam."

- Bryan

Stephanie's determination then was quite evident. Her role model? Former Lakes HS MVP League pitching star,Kelli Bornander, grad and scholar of Lakes High School in Lakewood,Wa.

"Stephanie will be filling some big shoes, she had a great time learning the fine points of pitching with Kelli before she left to be one of the starting pitchers for Northern State University. I think it is a great thing, one great pitcher leaves and one fearless rookie enters."

- coach Adam

photo credits: http://www.lisacourneya.smugmug.com/

Lakes vs Franklin Pierce photo album: #id=album-43588&num=870302

4-22-09 Shupe tosses 4 K's , shuts down #1 Team in Division in 0-1 loss to Bonney Lake

4-20-09 Shupe tosses 8 K's, loses close one 2-3 against Franklyn Pierce

4-16-09 Shupe tosses 10 K's earns win 5-4 against Franklyn Pierce