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Glasford teen off to play ball in Canada
ICC athlete lone Midwest resident on NJCAA team playing in Canada Cup
July 3, 2003
By SHARON OBERHOLTZER
Reprinted with permission of the Journal Star
Gordon is working two jobs, playing softball with the Pekin Lettes on Wednesdays and every other weekend, and taking a working - or more acurately, playing - vacation to Softball City, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
The Illinois Central College sophomore is among 13 members of the National Junior College Athletic Association softball team that will be playing in the 2003 Canada Cup International Women's Fastpitch Tournament against teams from the United States, Canada and Australia.
"The Bloomington Hearts, a women's team, will also be there," she said.
The Illinois Elite Force is also on the schedule of 16 teams.
The junior college players are scheduled to play the Bloomington Hearts the second day of the tournament. Canada is their opponent the first day and the USA National Team the third day. Other opponents include the Stratford Brakettes and teams from China and the Philippines.
Tie-breakers, play-offs and the gold medal game round out the final three days of the tournament that runs Saturday through July 13.
Amy plays third base and left field for both Illinois Central College and the Pekin Lettes. She was one of two ICC softball players chosen this year for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Midwest Region Junior College Team, making the second team as an infielder. She also is one of six ICC softball players on the NJCAA All-Region XXIV honor team.
Becky Gordan remembers her sister's ball career beginning when Amy was 4, but Amy herself disagrees.
"I played T-ball and quit. Then I started again at nine," she said.
Middle sister Colleen also played softball while Becky was into soccer.
In addition to softball, Amy participated in volleyball and basketball at Illini Bluffs High School.
But it was the softball that won her a full-ride scholarship to ICC, where she is majoring in athletic training.
"It's kind of like sports medicine, but you travel with the team, kind of like a physical therapist," she said.
The Glasford teen has made the rounds of a number of traveling teams in the area from the Hollis Park Little Foxes to teams in Limestone, Washington and Peoria. She even played for the IB Diamonds coached by "my grandpa, Marvin Gordon.
"He built a batting cage and a basketball court at his house for his grandchildren to practice. He has nine grandchildren and most of them use it," she said.
It was a coach from Briarcliffe College in New York who suggested she be named to the NJCAA team.
"We played against them in St. Louis and he suggested three ICC players for the team," she said.
Being the only one picked from ICC and the only one from the Midwest is exciting, Amy Gordon said. Other team members are from Ontario, California, Arizona, Texas, Utah, Nevada and Oklahoma. They won't be meeting each other until they get to British Columbia - Amy is heading there today.
Her parents, Doug and Sandy Gordon, are planning to make the trip to Canada to see their daughter play.
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