Ladyhawks Living the Dream

By KSNN
- Tweet
- Pin It
Updated: August 15, 2017

In the last 15 years, the Ladyhawks have had some stellar young women not only play softball but several other sports as well as excelling in school. Many have gone on to college on scholarships, played professional sports, and become coaches themselves. Ladyhawks Coaches named just a few that came to mind including: JJ Hartung, Jennifer Grutz, Amber Frame and Tiffany Rubin.

J.J. Hartung

18U Coach Rich St. Angelo recalls athlete JJ Hartung: “We called her ESPN. Her desire and effort to play softball was second to none.” She played with the Ladyhawks for 3 years realizing her dream to play D1 at Loyola Marymount University (class of 2010) as a starting third baseman, right fielder and team captain. She majored in Communications on a 4-year scholarship. A 1st Team All-Conference player for the Pacific Coast Softball Conference, Hartung was awarded Player of the Week honors during her sophomore year and still holds the third best overall batting average (.405) in LMU history. She went on to play professional softball for the Centrals in the Netherlands receiving the team MVP and helping the team reach the playoffs for the first time in club history. She recently earned a Master’s degree in Physical Education from Azusa Pacific University and works as an assistant coach at San Diego City College.

Jennifer Grutz majored in kinesiology at California Baptist University (class of 2010). She played softball with the Ladyhawks, three years of varsity tennis, and four varsity water polo seasons in high school. She was an LA Times All-Region team choice in softball, two-time All-Desert Valley League selection and All-CIF first team in water polo as a senior. She led Riverside Community College to the state title and an undefeated 35-0 record in water polo in 2008. She was selected Orange Empire Conference and Southern California Region co-MVP. In two seasons with the California Baptist Lancers, Grutz scored 192 goals, making her fifth on the CBU career list. In 2009, she posted the fourth best single-season goal total with 101 and then followed that up with the program’s sixth best scoring season at 91 goals. In 2010, Jennifer Grutz signed on to play water polo professionally in New Zealand for the Maranui Water Polo Club, one of the oldest and most successful clubs in the well-established New Zealand Water Polo Association.

Amber Frame majored in physical education at Morgan State University (class of 2012) with career ambitions as a physical therapist. She was a three-sport letter winner in softball, volleyball and basketball in high school. She was a first-team All-Valley Vista League selection in volleyball and softball her sophomore through senior seasons (2005-07). She earned rookie of the year honors in basketball (2006), Baldwin Park Female Athlete of the Year and Wendy’s High School Heisman nominee (2007). She was on the honor roll all four years and earned the scholar athlete award during her sophomore through senior years. She played softball for Pasadena City College (2009-2010) under Coach Elaine Martinez. She led the Lancers in hitting (.343) and was the team’s pitching ace with a 13-9 record and 3.25 ERA. As an All-South Coast Conference second team utility player, she batted .337 with team highs in RBI (18), doubles (nine) and on-base percentage (.472). She led the conference in walks with 26. She transferred to Morgan State University, with sophomore transfer Tiffany Rubin.

Amber Frame (left), Tiffany Rubin (right)

Tiffany Rubin majored in business at Morgan State University (class of 2013). She was a two-sport letter winner in softball and basketball in high school. She received a number of recognitions: two-time All-Almont League first team selection, two-time MVP of the Almont League in softball, two-time All-California infielder and a three-time All-Area for Pasadena. She also helped the Aztec basketball team to four straight Almont League titles and a combined 40-0 record. Earning Almont League MVP honors as a senior, she played in all-area all-star game. On top of her sports ambitions, she graduated from high school a year early. At Pasadena City College, Rubin was one of the top defensive shortstops in California finishing with a .957 fielding percentage and .303 batting average. She transferred with junior transfer Amber Frame to Morgan State University.

—————————————————————————————————————————-

Author: Melanie Carbine

Melanie Carbine currently writes for several education blogs, vlogs about her travels, and teaches middle school in the DC Metro Area.

rightnow