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IllustrateD volume 24, issue 5 87 f s o f t b a l l f e a t u r e : a n d i e v a r s h o BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com S he took batting practice at Wrigley Field. She sang the national anthem at Veter- ans Stadium in Philadelphia. She became fast friends with Jimmy Rollins, meeting him in the minor leagues in Reading before he became a major league MVP. She traveled in style on charter flights, surrounded by big leaguers. Andie Varsho had an uncommon child- hood, jet-setting across the country as the daughter of a player and coach in minor and major league baseball. She may never really have felt settled, not with all the bouncing from state to state, depending on which franchise Gary Varsho was working for at the time. She spent half her school years as a kid at home in Wisconsin, the other half in Florida, where spring training held just as much importance as school. She played baseball, not softball, until eighth grade. But she wouldn't have wanted it any other way. "I loved it," she said. "It was just life. That's just what we did. That's how he worked. It was fun." The lifestyle fostered a passion for the game, an ultra competitive spirit and a ridiculously high standard for suc- cess that's served Varsho well. By the time her senior season is complete as a member of Purdue's softball team this summer, she'll leave as one of the program's most accomplished hitters. With a fifth-inning single on April 5, she became the school's all-time hits leader. Her .392 average through her first three seasons put her atop that career list, and she's only solidified that spot in her final season, challenging the school's single-season mark of .454 with a .444 average through the team's first 48 games. If she continues at that pace, she'll crush the former career mark of .374. She's also in the top five all-time in doubles, triples, runs, stolen bases, walks, on-base percentage and slug- ging percentage. "When she's feeling confident, I don't think there's a pitch that can beat her," said Stephanie DeFeo, who worked with Varsho as Purdue's hitting coach last season and is now at Mercer. "Those are dangerous players, kids that really only get themselves out. There's not one pitch that can beat her. She gets the game. She understands what it takes to be good. "She doesn't just hit for power. She doesn't just hit for singles, doubles and triples. She hits for average as well. She is a very consistent hitter. She's literally one of the best players that I've ever coached." Despite the upbringing, the physical and personnel re- sources available, the superior skill set and athleticism, the heady approach to hitting, Varsho says she "never" could have guessed her career would have gone this way. Tom Campbell There's been plenty to smile about for Andie Varsho (right), whose stellar senior season has cemented her as one of the program's all-time best hitters. Born ready Versatile Varsho uses resources to excel