Shortstop looms large: Diminutive Varner coming up big for Prospect

Amy Varner effortlessly runs down ground balls hit deep in the hole between shortstop and third base or over the bag at second.

Then she comes up throwing the perfect bullet across the infield to first baseman Mary Kate Ward.

The Prospect senior makes it look easy.

That's why she is an all-area shortstop and ready to lead the Knights' softball team again after their winningest season in school history.

"My parents (Dan and Anne) have had me throwing a ball ever since I could walk," Varner said. "I love getting ground balls. I love the range you need to cover while playing short. I like backing up the pitcher on every throw back from the catcher and just being a leader in the infield. I love taking charge and I love everything else about playing the position."

Prospect fans also love Varner's abilities at the plate.

She set a single-season school record last spring with 59 hits while batting .453 with 29 runs, 15 RBI, 10 doubles and 17 stolen bases as the leadoff batter.

"I would love to re-live last season," said Varner, who will sign a letter of intent in April to play for Saint Joseph College, a Division II program in Rennselaer, Ind., where her sister Jenny also played.

"Every day was so much fun. I couldn't wait to get up each morning and go to our early morning team meetings. It was an unbelievable season. I loved every minute of that season. It was so great."

Prospect has had its share of great shortstops through the years. Varner is right there with the best of them.

With 124 career hits, Varner's next one will tie the school record.

The 5-foot-3 senior would like nothing more than a repeat of last year's 30-5 season before she moves on to college to possibly study environmental science.

A National Honor Society student, Varner ranks 108 out of 516 in her class and owns a grade point average of about 4.5 on a 5.0 scale.

She is a member of Knights Way (staff chosen leadership program) and has participated in LEAP (Leaders Energizing in Athletics at Prospect) and LEAP2, Service Club, and KUNI (Knights Under No Influence).

Varner has also been a three-year varsity tennis player and spent two years in basketball before giving it up after sophomore season to prepare for softball.

Her biggest influence in softball has been father Dan, who played basketball and baseball at St Francis De Sales High School.

"Without him, I would not be the player I am," Amy said. "He is my core. I constantly rely upon his encouragement, constructive criticism, and moral support.

"He is always willing to practice with me any day of the week and hit me buckets upon buckets of ground balls, pitch me balls, play catch with me in front of our house no matter how cold it is outside, and take me to all the different tournaments in the summer."

Varner also spent plenty of time watching her older sister's games at Prospect and Saint Joseph. Jenny was an all-area pitcher for Prospect, where she now teaches and is a softball coach.

"She is 10 years older than me, so she was my real idol," Amy said. "When I was little, I so much wanted to be just like her."

Now, many aspiring high school softball players want to be just like Varner.

"Amy is a wonderful girl to have on a team," said Prospect coach Brenda Martin. "She is truly a team player and very modest about how she contributes. Her offensive and defensive skills are remarkable, and she strives to be excellent during practice and games."

Varner's fluid defensive skills at short have prevented many opposing rallies.

"Her quickness at shortstop and her dependable glove are a dynamic duo," Martin said. "Rarely does someone get a base on Amy when she is making the play."

On offense, don't be surprised to see a little more power from Varner, despite her 5-3 stature.

Last summer, she belted her first home run over a fence while playing for her travel team (Outburst) coached by her father.

Her 200-foot fence clearing shot in Denver, Colo. went to dead left field. The 3-run shot gave her team a 1-run victory.

"Amy's short, but mighty," Martin added. "She is a self-motivator. She is not only an excellent and powerful hitter, but a smart player, too. I always tell the girls hitting is contagious and they should feed off Amy.

"She is the inspiration for our team's offense, Whenever she got on base, we most likely scored last year."

Varner wants to raise her on-base percentage to .600 or .700 and increase her stolen bases after she was in the mid-20s as a freshman.

And Varner feels she has one of the best first baseman in the area.

"I've been playing with Mary Kate forever, I can't imagine playing with anyone else at first base," Varner said. "I have 100 percent faith that she'll get any ball I throw She can read them like no one else and knows exactly where I'll throw the ball."

For the first time in years, Varner will not line up at short with Anne Sciurba to her right. The former Knight four-year varsity third baseman is at Drake.

"Anne and I had been playing together since second grade," Varner said with a smile. "I'm going to feel lost without her out there."

The Knights will feel a major loss without Varner at short next year.

"Amy will be missed in the years to come," Martin said. "But we are excited about how she is going to lead the team this season."