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44 | November 30, 2017 | The Lockport Legend SPORTS
lockportlegend.com
Going Places
Porters softball players, best friends to play college ball together
Jacquelyn Schlabach
Assistant Editor
Going to college can be
a big adjustment. But going
to college with a fellow
softball player and best
friend can certainly make it
easier.
Porters seniors Courtney
Schoolcraft and Elly Hagen
will have that luxury as they
signed to play softball at the
University of Southern Indiana
Nov. 13 at the LTHS
Fall Signing Day.
Schoolcraft has played
the sport since she was 8
years old, and Hagen started
playing when she was 6.
“I love competing on
the field, and I love playing
with my best friend,”
Schoolcraft said.
They began playing softball
together for the Lockport
Pride travel team,
coached by Hagen’s mom,
when they were 12 years
old. The friendship only
blossomed from there.
“They’re total opposites,”
Elly’s mom Brenda Hagen
said. “Elly is so obnoxious
and Courtney is so laid
back. They make the perfect
pair.”
It means a lot to Elly to
have her best friend play
softball with her at USI, she
said.
“It’s given me a lot more
comfort going into the
whole college thing,” Elly
said. “The college experience
is a lot for people and
knowing that I’m going to
have her not just behind
the plate catching, but in
the same dorm room as me,
getting food in the cafeteria
and having someone there
everyday is going to be
awesome.”
Schoolcraft is a catcher
and Elly is a pitcher, making
them a best-friend battery.
“I’m so proud of what
Courtney Schoolcraft fires a throw across the diamond during a game last season.
22nd Century Media File Photos
Celebrating signing day at LTHS are (left to right) Brenda Hagen, Elly Hagen, Courtney
Schoolcraft and Marie Schoolcraft. Elly and Courtney recently signed to play softball at
University of Southern Indiana. Photos submitted
they’ve been able to accomplish
on the field and in the
classroom,” Porters softball
coach Marissa Chovanec
said. “I’m lucky they came
here as players. They are
going to leave here better
than they came.”
Elly Hagen fires a pitch during a game for the Porters.
Schoolcraft started her
Porters career on the varsity
team freshman year, and Elly Hagen (left) and Courtney Schoolcraft have played
Please see sOFTBALL, 42 softball together since they were 12 years old.