Greenville Lady Wave softball standout, Susie Blocher honored for All-American award
GREENVILLE – Greenville Senior High School recently honored All-American Susie Blocher at halftime of the Green Wave boys basketball game with Tippecanoe before a large home crowd.
“It was kind of nerve wracking to think the whole community is behind me but at the same time that’s what got me here,” said Blocher. “It took everybody in Greenville behind me – my coaches, my teammates, family and the whole community.”
“Amazing young lady and family,” said Lady Wave veteran softball coach, Jerrod Newland. “Susie works hard and surrounds herself with great people. She deserves everything she gets and she has some awesome TEAM goals for this spring.”
“It’s a great honor for Susie but not only that, it’s a great honor for our program,” said Greenville Athletic Director, Aaron Shaffer. “To recognize Susie’s accomplishment as an All-American last year – the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association is an elite group of young people that get selected to that every year.”
The power hitting Lady Wave catcher/first baseman received the award for her play as a junior and is beginning her final season for Greenville as a four year starter.
“It definitely takes a lot of work and it takes a lot of your time,” Blocher stated. “If you are willing to put that time in it pays off in the end and being a student athlete and juggling a lot of things it’s not for everybody but for the ones that make it part of their lives it definitely is worth it in the end.”
“Kids like Susie work hard and compete but in a team sport like softball it takes more than just the one,” said Shaffer. “I’m sure Susie would tell you the same thing that it requires a lot of hard work and dedication and good teammates.”
Blocher recently signed to continue her education while playing softball for the Muskingum University Lady Muskies softball program.
“Susie hits the ball extremely square and hard,” Coach Newland noted. “Great athlete but an even better student. She will be a future star at Muskingum University and again so proud of how she is rewarded for her hard work. Her parents did a great job paving her way.”
The prestigious award has been placed in the Greenville Senior High School trophy case where it will permanently reside.
“At first Coach Newland and Mr. Shaffer offered it to me because I won it,” said Blocher. “They thought I would like to keep it at home as a memory but I was thinking it belongs right here because this school is what made it possible for me to have it, not just me – I didn’t want to just keep it for myself.”
“It’s a nice looking award,” said Shaffer. “It will be one when people walk by it will catch their eyes so it’s nice to be able to have that in the trophy case for years to come.”
