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Siblings Sparked Player's Enthusiasm For Softball

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By JOHN CEBALLOS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 6, 2008

RUSKIN - Lennard High School senior Nicole Pangelinan credits her family for getting her interested in baseball.

"There are a lot of us packed into our house - I've got two brothers, two sisters and two stepsisters," she said. "So we all used to play together, and that's how I really got into it."

Now, in her second season playing third base and catcher for the Longhorns, Pangelinan, 17, has developed a new family on the field.

"Right now, softball is my life," she said. "The reason I like the game so much is because it's all about team and family."
Pangelinan was with her other family during practice Jan. 30 as the team prepared for its first regular season game - Tuesday at home against Tampa Bay Tech.

"She's a very talented player, and one of the leaders on the team," head coach Mindy Miltner said.

Despite her dedication to the team, Pangelinan said Miltner never lets the team forget what is most important.

"Coach is telling us all the time that school is the most important thing," Pangelinan said.

With that in mind, she already has plans for when she graduates from Lennard.

"Right now, I want to join the Air Force and eventually become an FBI agent," Pangelinan said.

While she's happy to leave the door open to play softball at the collegiate level, Pangelinan has a definite idea of what she wants to do.

"First, I wanted to be a police officer because I like to crack down on people, but now I think I'd rather work for the FBI," Pangelinan said. "If I got to play softball too, that'd be great."

GET TO KNOW

WHO: Nicole Pangelinan
AGE: 17

SCHOOL: Lennard High

GRADE: 12th

SPORT: softball

FUTURE PLANS: Plans to join the Air Force and study criminology

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555 or jceballos@tampatrib.com.

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