Sisters share a passion



THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

SPORTS MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2013

Softball

C9

Track and field

IVAN SEKRETAREV

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Usain Bolt has a record-tying eight career golds at worlds.

Bolt ends worlds with three golds By Pat Graham ASSOCIATED PRESS

COURTNEY HERGESHEIMER

DISPATCH PHOTOS

The Abbruzzese sisters, from left, Amanda, 20, Laramie, 19, and Molli, 16, all have scholarships to play Division I softball.

Sisters share a passion By Isaac Teich FOR THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

T

here’s a saying that goes, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” But what happens when talent does work hard? The answer — the Abbruzzese sisters.

Meet Amanda, 20, Laramie, 19, and Molli, 16. They are softball-playing Abbruzzese siblings blessed with great talent and driven by an exceptional work ethic. Amanda and Laramie became decorated players during their high-school days at Upper Arlington, earning scholarships to play softball at Ohio State and Bowling Green, respectively. Molli has two years of high school left at Ready and has committed to play at Toledo. “They’re tenacious,” said Bowling Green coach Shannon Salsburg, who recruited Laramie. “They just want to get after it and win, and that’s a special trait.” The sisters got involved in sports at a young age. “When we were little, we did all kinds of sports,” Amanda said. “I (played) soccer, volleyball and basketball.”

State coach Kelly Schoenly said. “I think it’s great for the family.” Amid the craziness of their softball lives, the Abbruzzese sisters still manage to do “normal kid” things. “I love dogs,” Amanda said, smiling. Laramie: “I like hanging out with my friends, just doing fun stuff.” Molli: “I like to shop and we’re out on the road, I think it’s But there was something hang out with my mom and my about softball that appealed to good preparation for them to know who they’re representing brother.” them more than any other Although the dynamic of the and what they represent.” sport. A typical summer day for the family is changing with only “It’s a team sport, and it’s also one Abbruzzese sister left in the Abbruzzese sisters consists of a sport within,” Amanda said. house, the sisters’ devotion to Added Laramie: “I like that a early-morning workouts at the the game remains the same. gym, followed by two hours of lot of it is mental, too.” “My freshman year (at Ohio softball practice, culminating Their passion and commitState), I didn’t get to play as ment to softball was molded by in tournaments almost every much as I wanted,” said Amanweekend. their father, John Abbruzzese. da, who will be a sophomore “They’re just self-driven,” “(John) is very knowledgethis year. “I know now what the able of the game, and he wants John said. “Being in sports has coaches expect of me … and really helped. They’ve been the best of his kids,” Ready what I have to do to get where I coach Jen Goff said. “He doesn’t fortunate to be around good want to be.” kids and good coaches that push them further than he Amanda said she expects to have always emphasized workthinks they can go, but he compete for a starting job in ing hard.” knows what to expect from the outfield. Todd DelBoccio coached them and pushes them there.” As a freshman at Bowling Amanda and Laramie at Upper Since the sisters began playGreen, Laramie plans to conArlington and notes that their ing for the Ohio Nightmare tribute in any way she can. work ethic is second to none. travel team years ago, their “My goal is to work as hard as “Before the game, (Laramie) softball careers have taken them from California to Florida is out there with her father,” he I can,” she said. “Just do whatever I can to help contribute to said. “Sunday mornings, she’s to every part of Ohio. They’ve the team.” out there with her father. They even played in South Dakota. Toledo likely can expect the put a lot of time in to craft their John thinks his daughters’ same thing from Molli. skills.” softball travels have taught “It just seems like they’re kids All that hard work has paid them important life lessons that people want to be off. about independence and ac“To have three of them enjoy around,” DelBoccio said. “They countability. eat, drink and breathe softball.” “A lot of times they had to be the same sport and play at a [email protected] high level is very rare,” Ohio on their own,” he said. “When

“They’re just self-driven. Being in sports has really helped. They’ve been fortunate to be around good kids and good coaches that have always emphasized working hard.” — John Abbruzzese

MOSCOW — Usain Bolt stumbled on the track, even almost fell down. But it wasn’t in a race. No, this near-tumble happened in the middle of his celebratory dance, when a barefooted Bolt hammed it up after winning a third gold medal yesterday on the last day of the world championships. He even tossed his spikes into the crowd. In the last race of the championships, Bolt grabbed the gold-colored baton for his anchor leg of the 400-meter relay and churned toward the finish line, huffing and puffing to generate more speed. Not that he needed it. Justin Gatlin couldn’t catch him. The rest of the field couldn’t catch him, either. Very few can catch him. “For me, my aim is to continue hard (toward) the greatness thing,” said Bolt, whose team finished in 37.36 seconds, tops in the world this year. “Continue dominating.” He did that, winning gold in the 100, 200 and in the relay. With that, Bolt tied Carl Lewis at the most decorated athlete in world championships history. Lewis won eight golds, a silver and a bronze; Bolt has eight golds and two silvers. Michael Johnson is the only other athlete with eight golds at the championships. Matthew Centrowitz had quite a performance in the 1,500, surging down the stretch to finish with a silver medal. His father, Matt, never got a chance to earn a medal in Moscow because of the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Olympics. “It’s still weird coming into this country and this venue, knowing that he would’ve raced here, 30-some years ago,” Centrowitz said. “Getting that silver medal was sweet enough.” Too bad his father didn’t get to see the finish. The power went out just as he watched the race at a sports bar back home in Washington, and he had to scramble to find out the result.