Samantha Beasley is the third daughter in a house of seven daughters. She began to play softball at the age of four following her sisters into the world of T- ball. Players normally begin at five, but if your dad is coach you can squeeze in a bit early.
Samantha enjoying the San Diego ocean breeze
Her father taught each of his girls to pitch and catch from the outset. Samantha's grandmother will never forget when Samantha was just a tiny girl of six playing in tournament in El Centro. The heat was sweltering and after about three straight games, Samantha could barely stand on wobbling legs to rise from behind the plate to return the ball to the pitcher.
Another family memory is when, at the age of ten, Samantha pitched every game for a week in Stockton California, in weather over a hundred ten degrees, to bring the San Diego Renegades travel ball team a National 10 and under fastpitch championship.
The endurance she captured as a youth has served her well over the years as she has become one of the ten best girls high school players in the state in 2007.
Steele Canyon 2007 CIF Champion team
Sam Beasley brought Steele Canyon High School it's first CIF Championship in 2006, as basically their main pitcher, with sister Erika ( a good pitcher in her own right) used as relief, when they gave Sam a break.
In 2007, Samantha took Steele Canyon to CIF Championship a second time. Sam could be touted as the girl who could do it all. She finished her senior season with 62 hits – one shy of a division record set by Mira Mesa's Lisa Dodd in 2003. Beasley had seven home runs, 24 RBI, 46 runs and a .521 batting average this season. She also compiled a pitching mark of 15-4 and had a hand in nine shutouts. Beasley notched an ERA of 1.12 with 148 strikeouts
Overheard when interviewed by reporters after the division playoffs, in which she tied a section record, hitting three home runs in the semi-final game against Cathedral High School, Samantha remained modest, knowing it takes a whole team to win, she gave equal credit to her teammates.
Samantha Beasley ~ San Diego Aztec
Beasley was named to the CalHiSports All-State team as the Medium Schools Player of the Year. Also, repeated as member of the All-CIF first team. She was named to the EA Sports All-American team picked by Student Sports. And was Union-Tribune Player of the year for 2007. Samantha was also named to the All American team, which is the top thirty girls in the United States.
A tradition in baseball is to retire the numbers of the the greatest players of all-time. Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Padre player Tony Gwynn. Personally, I've never heard of anything like this for softball. However, Steele Canyon High School is honoring Samantha by retiring Beasley's No. 7 jersey, after a high school career that will hold school records for years to come.
Samantha and two of her Aztec teammates
Samantha will start her pitching career as a San Diego State Aztec in a few short weeks. One of two starting pitchers, Sam is looking forward to new highs facing the toughest top teams State has faced in years.
As far as softball is concerned, I think blonde, blue-eyed, and
Beasley with a great attitude spells All-American girl.
