26 SportsUnion | APRIL 2019
college
Softball
You never know what’s going to happen when you come from
a small school and get thrown into a big pond. Some might
struggle, while others could thrive. It’s a crap shoot.
By Matt Ondesko Managing Editor
Coming from Notre Dame
Academy in Batavia, Han-
nah Bowen didn’t know
what to expect when she
stepped on the campus of
Clarkson University last
fall. She was a standout on
her high school softball
team, but wasn’t too sure
that would translate into
success at the college level.
Well, her worries are no
more.
All Bowen did last year
was start 34 games at short-
stop while ranking second
on the team with a .318 bat-
tling average. You could say
she acclimated herself well
to her new surroundings,
and out away all doubt that
she was going to struggle at
the next level.
“I had the mindset that I
would be learning from a
senior shortstop most of my
freshman year. I knew when
she got hurt I had to step
up and gain confidence.
As the season progressed, I
was able to get in the right
mindset and learned to stay
Getting
noticed
positive no matter the cir-
cumstances,” stated Bowen.
“I know last year was still a
learning year for me and I
can honestly say I learned
a lot especially from my
teammates on the field. I
have been playing softball
for many years but there are
always new things to learn
to make yourself a better
player, like learning to be
mentally tough. I also know
that there is always room
for improvement and I am
excited for what this season
has in store for the team.”
Getting to Clarkson was
no easy feat for Bowen.
Coming from a small school
like Notre Dame there isn’t
many opportunities to be
seen on the big stage. She
didn’t come from a softball
powerhouse like Williams-
ville East, Lancaster or Or-
chard Park.
It was little old Notre
Dame. Bowen knew that if
she wanted to play at the
next level that she would
have to promote herself.
Taking the time to get tapes
out to coaches, emailing
coaches was something that
she had to do.
While it could get frustrat-
ing at times, Bowen took it
as a challenge, and one that
she accomplished when she
was offered to play at Clark-
son.
“It was stressful because
you have to start the pro-
cess early as the recruiting
process has grown over the
years. I didn’t start until
the end of my junior year
start of my senior year and
senior is stressful as it is,”
stated Bowen. “I also knew
that I wanted to play soft-
ball in college and I knew it
was my job to get myself out
there. My advice to current
high school students is to
get yourself out there ear-
ly and make sure the coach
knows you are interested.
Everything happens for a
reason and I am thankful I
ended up at Clarkson.”
You could say that Clark-
son is as close to an Ivy
League as one could get.
The school has very tough
academic standards and
balancing sports and aca-
demics is not easy. For in-
stance, every Tuesday Bow-
en is at the local hospital all
day for class.
That is just some of types
of things that Bowen is do-
ing as she balances her aca-
demic responsibilities with
her athletic ones.
“The longest day of the