Hometown Newspaper Reports on JSU Softball Sophomore Pitcher's Season
Alan Dell - Correspondent
Herald Tribune
06-21-2007

Reprinted here in its entirety.

Melissa Dowling

COLLEGE SOFTBALL

Dowling finishes good year with loss

EAST MANATEE -- It was a painful lesson, but it taught Melissa Dowling a powerful lesson. The former Lakewood Ranch High standout learned pitching at the highest level means taking nothing for granted.

The former H-T All-Area Player of The Year has known mostly success since her days pitching for the Mustangs softball team. However, those moments where she fell short of her expectations have left a lasting imprint. She just hopes it will all pay off in the end.

Dowling transferred to Jacksonville State University in Alabama this past year following one season with Manatee Community College.

She wanted to fulfill her dream of playing NCAA Division I softball, and the Gamecocks were in need of pitcher who could throw with velocity.

Dowling was the perfect fit.

"I decided it was the best opportunity I had. I could've gotten hurt if I stayed at MCC and then my career would've been over," she said. "The coach at Jacksonville came to watch me pitch and said she wanted me."

For a first-year player at the Division I level, Dowling was impressive. She was second on the team in victories (13), earned-run-average (2.70), innings pitched (132) and strikeouts (100) and threw four shutouts in 20 starts.

In the Ohio Valley Conference championship game, Dowling held a 3-0 lead and visions of helping her team to the NCAA regional danced through her head. Unfortunately, mistakes by Dowling and a usually solid defense ended the Gamecocks season in a 4-3 loss.

The 20-year-old gave up only four hits to Tennessee Tech; unfortunately, three were home runs, including one that ended the game and the season for the Gamecocks. It took Dowling a couple of weeks to get over the loss.

"I was upset with myself. They made adjustments, and I didn't," Dowling said. "I learned every pitch counts. They moved to the back of the box, and I should've gone outside more and used my drop ball more. I wasn't hitting the corners effectively as I wanted."

The biggest lesson?

"I learned you can't throw the ball by everyone and can't strike everyone out," Dowling said.

The season finale was the only disappointment for the sophomore. She is glad she transferred and enjoys the small-town atmosphere at Jacksonville State, where she feels a closeness to the fans and a family atmosphere.

"We are a Division I school with under 10,000 students. It's homey and everyone is nice to each other," Dowling said. The Gamecocks (35-23) return their two top pitchers -- Dowling and junior Karla Pittman -- and lose only one senior.

In her senior season at Lakewood Ranch, Dowling was 20-1 with a 0.39 ERA and struck out 214 batters in 143 innings. Her only loss came in the district semis when Port Charlotte beat the Lady Mustangs 1-0.

"That game hurt because there were seven graduating seniors on the team," Dowling said.

"This last game isn't as bad because I've got two more years to take it and put it in my game pocket."

See story at The Herald-Tribune's website: www.heraldtribune.com.

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