Sr Focus: Hansome enjoys playing softball at Brownstown

Shelley Hansome said when she entered the spring of her freshman year at Brownstown Central, she figured softball would be a lot of fun to play, so she tried out for the team.

Hansome said as she looks back, it was a good decision. "I'm very glad I decided to play. Over the last four years I've played every position except for first base." She says second base is her favorite position.

She has played in the outfield this season, and said she enjoys the challenge of playing right field. "The balls seem to curve to the right and they seem to rise because the ball is coming off the bat sideways."
She said she enjoys catching fly balls. "That is the fun part for me."

Hansome said she has enjoyed batting. "I love hitting. I've had a couple of doubles and a triple. I've been doing better, and been more aggressive, and I know I've had a lot of fun batting. I'm getting more confident.

"The low, outside pitches are the hardest to hit. Timing is very important because in one game you could have a really slow pitcher, and the next game face a really fast pitcher, so you have to be able to adjust to the timing of the pitcher."

Hansome said she faces tough pitchers in batting practice in Jessica Peters and Cheyenne Riley. "They throw you all of their pitches. They just don't throw you straight fastballs down the center. They throw them outside, and they throw rise balls and curves.  They're still trying to get you out."
"Softball has been a blast."

She said she enjoyed performing with the drill team at the basketball games. "It was always an adrenalin rush. It was something I looked forward to."

Hansome was manager of the cross country team for three years. "That was fun. The girls were all real nice and they seemed to take care of you. They would look after you and treat you real nice, so it was real nice to be around them."

Shelley Hansome file
Parents: Bryan and Jean Hansome

Siblings: Bridgette, Karmen

Sports: softball 4 years, drill team 4 years, cross country manager 3 years

Success in sectional: "We're just all have to stay positive and continue working as a team together because I know we can do it."

Academics: "I've taken AP chemistry, AP biology, and AP English. A lot of the teachers are real nice and they help you through it. It's a struggle, but you still do it. I have a great grade point average, a 3.85, and it's been tough to keep it up with sports and everything."

Glad to be a senior: "Yes I am. I'll miss it but I'm ready to move on."

Message to elementary students: "Sports are a great way to meet other people that you wouldn't normally meet. A lot of people look up to you as a role model, which makes you feel really neat. I encourage everyone to do it. It is something that will keep you in shape, and also keep you on you toes. It's great to know that people look up to you and they admire you for doing something that you like."

Future plans: Attend IUPUI