Mary Schorn never set out to be a dual-sport college athlete before stepping on Clark College’s campus two summers ago.
But she’s a better time manager than ever before because of it.
“I like being busy,” said Schorn, 20. “I know when I need to get stuff done.”
In an era of youth sports specialization, Schorn shines doing more as a two-sport standout for Clark. In softball, she’s the Penguins’ top hitter after a fall volleyball season leading the Northwest Athletic Conference in total digs as a libero.
Her softball coach, Meghan Crouse, said the sophomore has Division I talent for softball and highlights Schorn as a total-package player.
But she’s also a total-package athlete. She joins teammate Jodi Thomasian (women’s basketball) as the softball team’s other dual-sport athlete.
Schorn totalled 615 digs on the volleyball court this past volleyball season, and her 5.21 digs per set ranked fifth conference-wide. In the spring, she switches to softball as the Penguins’ starting center fielder. Her .565 batting average in the lead-off spot with 12 runs scored and five stolen bases are tops on the team that’s 2-5-1 overall entering Saturday’s NWAC doubleheader hosting Chemeketa.
A three-sport prep standout, Schorn won Oregon 4A state titles at Banks (Ore.) High School as a senior in volleyball and softball.
Softball may be her passion, but volleyball is her first love. That’s why she decommitted from her initial college choice to play softball, Yavapai College near Phoenix, Arizona, for softball in favor of Dunn’s volleyball program at Clark. Softball then became an add-on bonus.
Both sports keep her plenty busy, Schorn said. In an academic calendar year, she gives herself one week off at winter break, but a quick transition awaits.
“I start softball that day,” she said, noting that at times, she needs a few extra days to give her body a break. … “it’s hit or miss sometimes, but it’s worth it in the end.”
Crouse, in her third year as softball coach, and volleyball coach Mark Dunn work together to share Schorn. Off-season workouts for one sport don’t interfere with Schorn’s in-season sport.
But her skills as a libero in volleyball, a position that’s primarily a back-row defensive specialist, transitions well into softball.
“With all the cuts and angles you make in volleyball,” Schorn said, “it’s the same thing for softball.”
Communication is just as key. Crouse, in her third year as Clark’s softball coach, praises the sophomore’s leadership among other attributes that makes Schorn “a diamond in the rough,” the coach said.
“That caliber doesn’t come around often and it doesn’t come to community college often,” Crouse said. “She’s a game-changer, for sure. You have to have her in the game. She’s a game-changer and she will change the course of the game.”
Schorn said she’s finding the second year as a dual-sport college athlete easier than her freshman year. And her secret to success remains elementary: make the most of every day, Schorn said.
“Go in and learn something new everyday,” she said. “Be better than you were the day before.”
