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Etherington surprised to know she’s an All-State softball selection

Press photo by John Burbridge As a left-handed slapper, Shae Etherington hit above .500 to lead the Comets; as a speedy center fielder, the recent Charles City graduate played errorless defense.
Press photo by John Burbridge
As a left-handed slapper, Shae Etherington hit above .500 to lead the Comets; as a speedy center fielder, the recent Charles City graduate played errorless defense.

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — Maybe setting goals is overrated.

Take Shae Etherington’s “bucket list” for instance.

Sure, making it to the State Softball Tournament her final year with the Charles City Comets was something she had on her radar and helped turn into a reality this summer.

But to be selected as an All-State player …

“That wasn’t a goal of mine because I didn’t think it was possible,” Etherington said.

Even after leading the Comets in hitting with a .500-plus average, stealing 32 bases out of 34 attempts, and playing errorless and extra-basehit-robbing defense in centerfield, Etherington still didn’t believe it was possible.

“Are you sure?” an incredulous Etherington asked after being informed that she was named to the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Class 4A All-State Second-Team on Tuesday.

Taking time to scan various state softball websites on her phone for verification, Etherington still wasn’t completely sure about the relayed info.

“I guess if you say I am, I trust it must be true,” Etherington flippantly said. “It sure is a surprise to me.”

A softball player since her youth, Etherington’s organized fastpitch career concluded at the state tourney in Fort Dodge last week.

“The school I’m going to is a D-1 school,” Etherington said of the University of Northern Iowa, “so the only softball I’ll likely be playing there is intramurals.”

Etherington will study speech pathology at UNI.

“It’s helping people with speech or language problems,” Etherington said. “It may involve working with someone who’s had a stroke and has difficulty communicating with others.”

Speech-language pathology is a Master’s Degree entry-level profession that Etherington has committed herself to. She’s already attaining some experience while “shadowing” a mentor in the field.

“My studies are going to keep me occupied,” said Etherington, who was the only IGCA All-Stater from a team that finished fifth in Class 4A.

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