Senior Profile: Hawkins attains goal of playing in Pac-12

Photo courtesy of Cheridan Hawkins

NEVER GIVE UP — Cheridan Hawkins never gave up on her goal of playing for a Pac-12 college, and through hard work and determination she has realized her goal. Hawkins will play for the University of Oregon.

Dedicating one’s self to a goal takes a strict discipline, especially when that goal is to play in the Pac-12.

Anderson senior Cheridan Hawkins, 17, works out two days a week doing cross fit training for one hour, then she spends three hours every night hitting and pitching.

According to the senior, every Thursday she makes the six hour round trip drive south to Concord where she works on her hitting for a little over an hour and then her pitching for an hour and a half.

“I hit Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the high school. For an hour and a half I hit and then I pitch for an hour and a half,” explained Hawkins of her schedule.

She went on to add that the team has been practicing at the shop at her house, so Hawkins has to get in her pitching practice before everyone arrives.

Hawkins said she started playing softball when she was 6 or 7 in the Anderson Little League, a few years later at age 10 she was a part of a traveling team.

“I would play up (a level), so I was young for my age and grade,” said Hawkins of being on the traveling team.

“I’ve had to give up a lot to be able to do what I needed to do. I wouldn’t take any of it back,” stated Hawkins.

Her dream was to play softball in college for a Pac-10, now Pac-12, school. Back in November Hawkins dream became reality as she signed to play softball for the University of Oregon. She received a 75 percent scholarship to play for the university.

“I did want to go to college and play softball, but it wasn’t real until I saw my sister do it. She got a scholarship to play softball,” said the future Duck.

Last season, Hawkins broke the strike-out record with 510 and this season her personal goal is to break her own record. She added the team goal is to repeat their NAL and Northern Section titles, but to go undefeated. The Cubs finished last season 31-4.