2016 SOFTBALL MEDIA GUIDE

Message from President Widmer Heartland Community College is in for another exciting season of Hawks softball. On behalf of everyone at HCC, we wish them continued success. After previously being crowned Mid-West Athletic Tri-Champions four straight years and six times overall, the Hawks softball team finished last season 17-9 in the MWAC. They held an impressive overall record of 30-17 and hope to continue their stellar performance this year. Athletics is one example of the varied Heartland student life program. Participating in intercollegiate sports helps students prepare for life beyond the classroom and value collaboration, diversity and leadership. We’re proud of our program and athletes who regularly contribute to their school and communities. Please join me in wishing the 2016 Hawks softball team the best of luck this spring!

Rob Widmer

President, Heartland Community College

Message from Nate Metzger, Athletic DirectorHeartland Community College is proud to begin its ninth season of intercollegiate competition in the National Junior college Athletic Association. We look forward to upholding HCC’s winning tradition this year.

Heartland’s student athletes have established a strong tradition of exemplary sportsmanship and have provided excitement to the overall student life experience. Whether you are involved in Heartland Athletics as a spectator or as a participant, you are sure to enjoy the thrill and passion of intercollegiate sports.

Our on-the-field competitors share the same high academic standards as their fellow classmates and we expect their graduation rates and grade point averages to reflect their commitment to education.

Thank you for your support and GO HAWKS!

Nate Metzger

2016Spring Schedule

* Indicates Mid-West Athletic Conference opponent.Gold indicates home game;

(DH) indicates double headers.

All home games will be played at the Corn Crib unless otherwise stated.The stadium is at 1000 W. Raab Rd. in Normal, east of Heartland’s main campus.

Visit www.heartland.edu/athletics for the most current schedule.

DATE DAY OPPONENT PLACE TIME

Mar 5-Mar 11 Sat-Fri 2016 Dot Richardson Spring Games Clermont, FL TBA

March 16 Wednesday Rock Valley CC (DH) Home 3:30 PM

March 17 Thursday Illinois Central College* (DH) Home 3 PM

March 19 Saturday Spoon River CC* (DH) Canton, IL 1 PM

March 20 Sunday Spoon River CC* (DH) Home 1 PM

March 23 Wednesday St. Louis CC-Meramec (DH) Home 3 PM

March 25 Friday Lincoln College* (DH) Away 2 PM

March 26 Saturday Lincoln College* (DH) Home 1 PM

April 2 Saturday Parkland CC* (DH) Home 1 PM

April 3 Sunday Parkland CC* (DH) Champaign, IL 1 PM

April 5 Tuesday Rock Valley CC (DH) Rockford, IL 3 PM

April 9 Saturday Lewis & Clark CC* (DH) Godfrey, IL 1 PM

April 10 Sunday Lewis & Clark CC* (DH) Home 1 PM

April 13 Wednesday St. Louis CC-Meramec (DH) St. Louis, MO 2 PM

April 16 Saturday Lincoln Land CC* (DH) Home 1 PM

April 17 Sunday Lincoln Land CC* (DH) Springfield, IL 1 PM

April 22 Friday Illinois Central College* (DH) East Peoria, IL 6 PM

April 23 Saturday Danville Area CC* (DH) Danville, IL 1 PM

April 24 Sunday Danville Area CC* (DH) Home 1 PM

April 30 Saturday John Wood CC* (DH) Quincy, IL 1 PM

May 1 Sunday John Wood CC* (DH) Home 11 AM

May 5-7 Thurs-Sat Region 24 Tournament East Peoria, IL TBA

May 13-14 Fri-Sat District Championship TBA TBA

May 18-21 Wed-Sat NJCAA National Championship Clinton, MS TBA

Bayli MitchellINF/OF, 5’3”, R/R, FRHillsboro, IN

03

06 07

11 13

09

10

04 05

Hannah SmithP/OF, 5’7”, L/R, FRMinier, IL

Riley Phipps3B/OF, 5’8”, R/R, SOMattoon, IL

Chrissy GadburyP/1B, 5’8”, R/R, SOWhite Heath, IL

Kendra GorhamP/OF, 5’6”, R/R, FRElmwood, IL

Marcy SerranoINF/OF, 5’2”, L/R, FRPeoria, IL

Jennifer WoodC/1B, 5’8”, R/R, FRWest Chicago, IL

Kelsey CookINF/OF, 5’5”, R/R, SOAnderson, MO

Lauren Summers2B, 5’3”, R/R, SOBloomington, IL

2016

ROSTER

14

19

24

17

21

34

18

22

42

50

Jessica WeaverP, 5’6”, L/L, SOEast Peoria, IL

Casey Jefferson1B/SS, 5’3”, R/R, SOBloomington, IL

Jennah HernandezINF/OF, 5’7”, R/R, FRChicago, IL

Jessica BrooksC/OF, 5’6”, R/R, SOAledo, IL

Josie St. PierreOF, 5’5”, R/R, FRCerro Gordo, IL

Micaela ChildressINF/OF, 5’8”, R/R, FRHomer, IL

Cassie KuizinSS/OF, 5’4”, R/R, SOSpringfield, IL

Megan SpainINF/OF, 5’5”, R/R, FRDawson, IL

Katie WilsonC/OF, 5’11”, R/R, FRCanton, IL

Katie Wooldridge2B/OF, 5’6”, R/R, SOAlton, IL

SOFTBALL COACHES2

016

Steve Leverton, Head CoachSteve Leverton begins his third season as the head softball coach at Heartland Community College, having compiled a 66-38 record. Leverton has been a part of Heartland Community College softball for five years and brings more than 30 years of coaching experience to the team. Under Leverton, the HCC softball team won the MWAC Championship in both 2014 and 2015, while also being named an Academic All-American Team.

While at Heartland, Leverton has coached:• six All-Region players

• one Region Player of the Year and one Region Pitcher of the Year

• one First Team All-American and one Second Team All-American

• eight First Team All-Conference players and four Second Team All-Conference players

• one MWAC Player of the Year, one MWAC Pitcher of the Year and one MWAC Freshman of the Year

• 14 Academic All-Conference and three Academic All-American players

For more than a decade, Leverton coached the East Peoria Express, where his teams won three national titles, five state titles, and numerous final four appearances in tournaments throughout five states. Over his 30 years of coaching, Leverton has guided the development of numerous college athletes, teaching them to balance their academic and athletic responsibilities successfully. He currently coaches an independent girls’ fast pitch 16U team.

Leverton is a lifelong resident of East Peoria and enjoys spending time with his wife Missy and their six children.

Megan Rich, Assistant CoachMegan Rich is in her sixth season as an assistant coach at Heartland Community College. Rich graduated from Olympia High School in 2004 and earned a full scholarship to Olney Central College, graduating in 2006. She continued her education on a softball scholarship at Robert Morris University in Springfield.

Rich earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management. In addition to her coaching duties, Meghan is pursuing a degree in nursing at Heartland.

Roger Graves, Pitching CoachRodger Graves is in his first year coaching at Heartland Community College, working with the Hawks’ pitchers and catchers. Graves has coached in the East Peoria Express Fast-pitch organization for the last eight years, helping lead the Express to three state and one national championship. In those eight years, Coach Graves has been instrumental in the overall development of many players, several of whom have earned college scholarships.

When not on the softball diamond, Coach Graves enjoys spending time with his wife Dana and their two daughters and son.

Amanda Fazzari, Volunteer AssistantThe Heartland coaching staff has a new volunteer assistant, Amanda Fazzari. While playing for Division III Illinois Wesleyan University, she earned All-Conference and academic All-American honors. Fazzari has spent the past year as an assistant softball coach at Hinsdale South (Ill.) High School and previously served as an assistant for the Tulsa Eagles youth travel softball team in Oklahoma.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in business, with a marketing concentration, from Illinois Wesleyan in 2014. Amanda anticipates completing her master’s degree in kinesiology and recreation sports management from Illinois State University in 2017. As a graduate assistant, she enforces NCAA rules and evaluates the academic credentials of all prospective student-athletes for admissions and eligibility purposes.

A Wheaton native who played for Glenbard South High School, Fazzari now resides in Bloomington, Illinois.

1500 W. Raab Rd. • Normal, IL 61761 • 309.268.8000

www.heartland.edu