Changstrom grows into leader for champion Hawks

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BY LORI GRIFFIN / Lincoln Journal Star

“Oh, snap!”

Those two words, spoken by teenage girl during a select softball game, have come to describe that young woman today.

Becca Changstrom expects perfection from herself, and that strive for perfection beginning at an early age has shown in her three-year high school career.

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Lincoln Southwest's Becca Changstrom pitches against Millard South in the A-2 District championship on Oct. 10. (LJS file)

Lincoln Southwest's Becca Changstrom pitches against Millard South in the A-2 District championship on Oct. 10. (LJS file)

And after leading Lincoln Southwest to the Class A state softball title last month, the junior pitcher today is named the honorary captain of the Lincoln Journal Star Super-State softball team.

In her second summer of 14-and-under competition with the Lincoln Swingers, Changstrom threw a pitch that she knew wasn’t quite right.

“Becca went to throw a rise ball, and I don’t know if she lost her footing or her grip slipped or what … but the second the ball came out of her hand, she yelled, ‘Oh, snap,’ just like some little Valley girl,” Waverly coach and former Lincoln Swingers coach Brook Ruhter said.

“Everyone was laughing and that was kind of our theme for the summer. If something didn’t go quite the way we planned it someone would holler, ‘Oh, snap.’ ”

Things have worked perfectly for Changstrom this season.

The two-year varsity player finished the season with a 25-6 record and a miniscule 0.54 ERA.

At the plate, Changstrom hit .431 with eight doubles and 27 runs scored. She also stole nine bases.

Changstrom hit .490 against teams with .500 records or better.

“Becca’s work in the offseason to become stronger made a difference this year, adding two to three miles per hour to her velocity,” Southwest coach Mark Watt said.

“She also has more composure in the circle and a better command on her pitches. It just shows the maturity she has on her.”

Changstrom, a junior varsity starter as a freshman, has climbed her way up, following some of the top pitchers in the state at Southwest.

“As a freshman, she was behind (current Nebraska player) Madison (Drake) and three others vying for the starter position.

“Becca was happy to be the pitcher for the JV because she got the extra playing experience,” Watt said.

Changstrom got her start in Babe Ruth baseball, tagging along to her brother’s games with her parents.

Changstrom, who played soccer and basketball as well, even played a season of baseball.

“I started playing baseball just because I wanted to do something in the summer,”Changstrom said.

After beginning select softball play at age 9, Changstrom grew to love the game, deciding to make the game her focus.

“Softball was one of my favorite sports and I cut down a lot of the activities I was in just to be able to play,” Changstrom said.

Two of her teammates are also honored as Super-Staters. Senior outfielder Ashley Janssen and sophomore utility player Alex Schmidt both are first-time honorees.

Ralston senior Mariah Montgomery is honored for the third time, while senior Molly Negrete of Millard South and Papilllion-La Vista senior Megan Southworth are two-time honorees. Papio’s Lindsay Redding was a second-team selection last season.

Reach Lori Griffin at 473-7174 or lgriffin@journalstar.com.