In a matter of weeks, Stacie LaRocque
has transformed from freshman to senior — sort of.
After batting .333 and leading the Colorado School of Mines
with nine doubles and six home runs this spring, the former
Monarch standout is back competing with her old summer team,
the 18-under Warriors, at the Stazio Memorial tournament
Sunday and today.
Because she is young for
her grade and doesn't turn 19 until September, LaRocque was
able to join the Warriors after Mines' season ended in early
May, and her presence has already made an impact.
"She's played a lot of ball and now, being around her
college squad, I think that brings a lot of experience and
maturity to the team," Warriors coach Bill Fligg said. "She's
just a true leader. She could probably coach this team if I
wasn't here and she'd do just fine."
Fligg said his other players have responded to LaRocque's
work ethic, which has in turn raised the level of the team's
practices.
She has also given the Warriors (29-15-6) a boost
during competition. In four pool play games Sunday, she went 3
for 9 but is hitting over .400 since joining the team and is
just as solid defensively.
The Warriors went 2-1-1 in pool play and earned the second
seed from their pool for today's single elimination
tournament. Courtney Banks doubled twice to lead them to an
11-1 win over the Xplosion early in the day while Jennifer
Fligg and LaRocque's younger sister, Lindsay, each had two
hits in a 3-0 win over the DC Jets.
LaRocque said being back in a leadership role is different
after having older players by her side at Mines to mentor her
on and off the field.
"I try to (lead) but I don't think it's my position this
year," said LaRocque, whose father, Monte is a Warriors
assistant. "I'm not here to say, 'Look at me, c'mon.' None of
that. I think they are comfortable enough to do it by
themselves. But it's always nice to have someone to pump them
up. I try to do that at least.
"College is a lot different. I have to remind myself,
'Okay, I'm on scholarship. I have to do my job.' But here,
it's fun and you can let loose and there's not as much
pressure."
Being able to play with the Warriors is one of the perks of
being young for her grade, LaRocque said. There aren't many
options for college players who want to play in the summer.
Two of LaRocque's Mines teammates went to Europe to play
this summer. Two others, Gina Ross and Rissa Laubhan, are also
young enough to play for 18-under teams this summer and are at
the Stazio tournament.
The Warriors tied Ross's Pony Express team, 3-3.
"We talk so much trash but we have a good time; it's
nothing like a rivalry at all," LaRocque said. "They're just
like my best friends."
After a rigorous school year and season at Mines, LaRocque,
a business and economics major, said she considered taking a
break and doing something besides softball this summer. But
those ideas didn't last long.
"My dad coaches and I get to play with my sister one more
year," LaRocque said. "It's fun. And what else am I going to
do over the weekend, work? No. I wanted to do this."
