When it comes to high school athletics, most things tend to slow down in the summer.

But not so for incoming senior Marshfield softball player Brianna George, as she’s facing a steady stream of high-velocity pitches as she’s joined the premier 18-and-under A softball club the Eugene Thunder — reigning Northwest Region champs, in fact — for the summer. And given that throughout her three years as a Pirate, George’s strength has always been as a defensive player rather than a hitter, batting against the competition she’ll face this summer in the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) represents a unique challenge.

“It’s a pretty big jump for her, just because she hasn’t played a lot of ASA in the past, It’s a higher level of hitting and a higher level of pitching.” said Thunder coach Bob Hammitt, who heads up Marist’s team during the school year. “Her strength is in her defensive skills. The improvement area is in her hitting. She just hasn’t seen the kind of pitching she’s going to face this summer.”

Joining an ASA club like the Thunder would be roughly the equivalent of stepping into a prep all-star league during the school year. The Thunder hand-picks its roster, and usually allows players on via tryouts. George, who’s an all-star in her own right, having made first-team all-league honors in the Class 5A Midwestern League the past two years, was asked to join outright, however, since Hammitt had noticed her when she played a game at Marist earlier this year.

She fits into the Thunder as a second baseman and outfielder, and defensively George is strong. But the Thunder coaching staff has been working her hard to get her up to ASA-caliber batting.

“I’m getting a lot of help with my hitting,” said George. “(The pitching) is just a little faster. It’s like the top pitchers in our league this year, probably a little bit better.”

Marshfield softball coach Floyd Montiel, who’s coached George through three years of play, described George as the best defensive infielder the team’s had in a decade and said she’d fit right in as an outfielder because of her superb throwing arm.

“She’s got a gun,” he said. “She could play outfield and be great.”

And Montiel also noted that George has stepped up her batting. George struggled from the plate as an underclassman, but emerged as the Pirates’ leading hitter last year as a junior. The improvement has come mainly as the result of George’s work ethic and competitive drive.

“She is fiery. I think sometimes the kids are a little scared of Brianna, she’s so competitive.” said Montiel. “Everybody likes Brianna, though.”

Playing in the ASA is a unique opportunity for George, not only as an opportunity to improve through a higher level of competition, but also as a chance to get noticed. Last weekend, for example, the Thunder traveled to Las Vegas for the Junior Olympics Invitational, a venue populated by the best clubs the South-west and West Coast has to offer and plenty of college talent scouts.

“It’s good exposure,” said George.

The Thunder placed fifth, beating the Southern California Blasters 4-0 but losing to the California’s Bay Area Sorcerers 3-0 in the tourney quarterfinals.

June 20-22, the Thunder will compete in the Hall of Fame tournament in Oklahoma City.

Aside from the benefit of performing in front of scouts, though, the opportunity to become a better ball player by spending  is very real. And Hammitt said he sees plenty of potential in George.

“Brianna’s pretty versatile — she can play anywhere in the infield,” said Hammitt. “She’s definitely a kid that has the potential to do very well. When we asked her to join, we were looking at where we could go with her, not where she was at. She certainly has the athletic ability, skills and desire to be a better player and to be able to hit and compete at this level.”

Sports Writer Joe Hansen can be reached by calling 269-1222, ext. 237, or by e-mailing jhansen@theworldlink.com.