Playing The Corner!

If they're lucky, a coach might get the opportunity to work with a player like Randi Rea once in their career.  It isn't enough to simply say that she possess the complete package of skills and smarts, Randi has that indescribable "it" factor that so many coaches talk about and so many players work to develop.  While her skills on the field speak for themselves and the awards at the end of the season will be omnipresent, Randi is so much more than a simple great student and great athlete.  The Collins Hill third baseman has the opportunity to be one of the most talented student athletes in Gwinnett County.

Since she began playing softball at an early age, Randi has experience success.  Randi was a member of a Collins Hill youth traveling team that won 36 games in a row when she was 12 years old.  The same team finished their season with a ranking of 17th in the nation.  In addition, Randi's traveling team won several state tournaments and competed in countless national events.  Coach Charles Miller, the head coach of Randi's traveling team has had the chance to watch Randi play from a young age and had countless positive compliments for his third baseman.  "From an early age, it was easy to see that Randi is immensely talented," said Miller.  "She was naturally quick and blessed with instincts on the field that typically take years of practice and game experience to develop."  Perhaps the highest praise that Coach Miller has given to Randi is his description of how she effects the teams she plays against.  "You can see the other teams adjusting to where she is on the field and when she comes to the plate."  "She's one of the few players I've coached that literally changes her opponents approach to the game."

The coaching staff at Mercer University noticed Randi's talent quickly.  "I was told by Coach Miller before we started playing a game in the summer that some of the coaches from Mercer would be in the stands watching the game," said Rea.  "We were playing in an exposure tournament and lucky for me I played really well in the field that day and had three hits at the plate."  After the game, Coach Mike Raynor of Mercer University invited Randi to the main campus in Macon and offered her a scholarship.  "After hearing what he had to say about my game and how good I could become, Mercer felt like a natural fit."  "I believe that I can really take my game to the next level and the school offers everything I could want in a university, it was a natural fit."

Perhaps the only thing that is more impressive than Randi's play in the field is her top-notch performance in the classroom.  Randi currently holds a 4.0 grade point average at Collins Hill and ranks in the top five percent of her graduating class.   In her college entrance exams, Randi scored 1800 on her SAT and she is currently enrolled in three advanced placement classes, Calculus, Economics and Government and English.  "I wish I could make the school work seem fun and exciting but it's a lot of work," says Rae.  "I get home from practice, have a quick dinner with my family and then I'm usually up till midnight working on homework or studying for upcoming tests."  Whenever her softball career is over, Randi claims her goal is to attend medical school and eventually become a pediatrician.

Randi's work ethic in preparing for softball mirrors her work ethic in the classroom.  "I'm currently enrolled in an athletic training class at school which I take five days a week."  "In the summer, I'm usually up by 7:30 am running for an hour before working on some of the stretches and strength building exercises that Coach Miller has given us."  Even during the periods when Randi is struggling in the field or at the plate, she is constantly trying to improve her performance.  "You can see she is constantly trying to make herself better," remarks Coach Miller.  "She never lets a slump bother her and is quick to forget the times when she makes an error."  "Randi knows she's put in the work to be a great player and that bad times are going to turn around eventually."

With all of the compliments in regards to her academic and athletic talents, Coach Miller believes that Randi's greatest strength is her focus on being a great teammate.  "I've never once heard anyone complain about Randi or the way she's interacted with any of her teammates," said Miller.  "She's always the first person to offer others congratulations during successful times and encouragement during struggles."  Randi has remarked on the importance of strong team togetherness when it comes to championship play.  "The teams that are out there having fun, cheering each other on and celebrating the wins together are the teams that are going to have be in contention at the end of the season."

Randi's ultimate goal for her senior season at Collins Hill is to reach the state playoffs.  "I absolutely believe we're going to make it to state this year," boasts Rea.  "It's been a goal of mine and I want to do everything I can to help my teammates reach their potential so we can play at our very best." 

Favorites:

Food:  Mom's Macaroni and Cheese

TV Show:  The Gilmore Girls, she owns every season on DVD

Music:  Rascal Flatts

Book:  The entire Harry Potter series or The Poet by Jodi Pickles

Subject in School:  History