by Tony Schillaci and Don Church
Amy Ogden, a senior at Waterford High School, has been playing softball since age four despite a breathing problem first diagnosed as exercise/heat induced asthma.
Recent tests eliminated asthma as the cause of her condition, but doctors are still trying to pinpoint her aliment.
To pursue her love of sports she concentrated on softball, a limited running game.
At nine, she progressed from Little League into Major League of Little League, and was on All Stars for Waterford North Little League. From thirteen to sixteen, Amy moved on to the All-Stars Senior League team. This past summer her Senior League All-Stars won the District and went on to States.
In her freshman year of high school, Amy tried out for the softball team. She told The Resident that she “made JV as the first string pitcher (5 Wins – 0 Losses) with an ERA of 1.375, for both 9th and 10th grade. I pitched every game except when I went up to Varsity as a runner. At Grade 11 I was on Varsity. I was the second string pitcher; the designated hitter (DH) for someone playing in the field and I played in the outfield. My batting average for varsity year was 333.
“While I was in little league I heard of Travel Softball. To get better, I needed to be on a travel team. I tried out at fourteen. I didn’t see a lot of playing time but learned much about the intensity of playing on this level.
“The travel team I was on broke off to form The New England Phoenix Gold. This team focuses on getting recruited for college. We played in college showcases in nine states.” Through these showcases and tournaments colleges became interested in recruiting Amy.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) governs playing a sport for Division I though III schools. The rules dictate that college coaches cannot speak to you until July 1st between your Junior and senior year in high school” However, an athlete can contact the coaches with information and their interest in a school and athletic program.
“I’ve e-mailed college softball coaches since January of my junior year. During the summer my travel team had a tournament each weekend. I would e-mail over twenty coaches to let them know where I would be playing and my game schedule.
“After the July 1st date, coaches started getting in touch with me. They’d seen me play in DE, NJ or MA. This made the college search process very exciting.
“An NCAA National Letter of Intent was to be signed no earlier than November 12. I visited NCAA officials at two colleges. The official visit gave me time work out with the team, while also seeing the college.
“Adelphi University made me an offer- part athletic scholarship and part academic scholarship. The athletic offer is the highest they offer to any player. I made a verbal commitment to Adelphi in October and the softball contract and NCAA National Letter of Intent was signed on November 16th. I will be achieving my goal of playing softball in college and earning my degree in Elementary Education.”
Amy said that in September, her senior year, “my name was submitted to Americas Team USA by my high school softball coach, Liz Sutman. Americas Team USA is a national organization with a focus on education as well as athletic scholars.” She’ll play softball in Italy for ten days in August 2009, playing three sets of double headers against teams from Italy.
“We will be touring during the day, visiting Vatican City and the Colosseum, among other sites. I am honored to represent CT and the USA doing what I love and seeing another part of the world.”
Amy has been a Girl Scout since age five, has earned the Bronze and Silver awards and is working on Gold.
Daily after school she’s an assistant teacher at the Carelot Clubhouse for the Carelot Children’s Center at the Friendship School; a great basic training program for her future goal as an educator.
Amy balances home, school, softball, work, and volunteering with her enjoyment of movies, music, and spending time with her friends.
When we asked her about her diet and exercise plan, Amy told us that she just eats healthy, drinks lots of water, and loves candy, chocolate, and sweets! That’s a diet we can all enjoy!
Several organizations across the region are showing their community spirit during this special time of the year. First, statewide, Governor M. Jody Rell and the CT National Guard kicked off this year’s Operation E.L.F.-Embracing Lonely Families-in a big way. E.L.F. helps CT’s military members and the families during the holiday season. “Our service members and their families deserve our gratitude every day, but especially around the holidays when they may be a half-world away from each other,” announced the Governor. Catch the spirit on here.
