Former Jacket Softball Player Trying Out for National Team (8/10/06)

BILLINGS, MT – Cami Rainey had a standout career at Montana State University-Billings, playing a major role in jumpstarting a fledgling softball program.  Next week she’ll try to take her game to the next level when she travels to Grand Prairie, TX, to attend an open tryout for the U.S. National Team.

Rainey played for the Yellowjackets from 2002 to 2005, finishing her career near the top of the school record books in nearly every offensive category.  The Terreton, ID, native was instrumental in helping the program—started in 2001—reach the NCAA Tournament in 2005.

For roughly four months Rainey has been training around her work schedule to prepare for the August 19 tryout in Grand Prairie.  It’s the last of four open tryouts the National Team will hold this year and is expected to have a large attendance.

“I was sitting with Jenna Haacke (current Yellowjacket junior) in the middle of March,” says Rainey.  “She was looking at it on the web and said I should do it.  I said ok.  I found a trainer (Dan Biehl) and started working out around the middle of April.  I researched all the requirements and knew I could do it.  The only thing I worry about after being out of it a year is the live hitting.”

Rainey, who plans to tryout as a second baseman, believes she can meet the objective criteria U.S.A. Softball sets for National Team members.  Those criteria for infielders include bat speed over 50 miles per hour, throwing speed over 55 miles per hour, home-to-first base running time of 2.95 seconds or faster, home-to-home running time of 12.5 seconds or faster, and at least 30 pushups.  Rainey says both her bat speed and throwing speed exceed 60 mph and she easily does the 30 pushups.  Her running times have been close to the minimum times.

“I like to challenge myself,” she says.  “This has been a big challenge for me and I’ve learned a lot from it.  It’s been a good experience.  It’s been tough…draining at times.  It’s been mentally and physically draining, but it’s been worth it.  Whether I make it our not, I gave it a shot.”

Rainey was primarily a shortstop during her four seasons as a Yellowjacket.  As a senior she was a first team All-Pacific West Conference and first team NCAA West Region selection.  She batted .341 for her career, still the second-best average in school history.  She also ranks in the career top 10 for games played (6^th at 155), games started (5^th at 149), at bats (4^th at 458), runs scored (2^nd at 91), hits (2^nd at 156), doubles (1^st at 38), home runs (7^th at 11), RBI (6^th at 61), total bases (3^rd at 229), slugging percentage (3^rd at .500), and on base percentage (3^rd at .367).  Her 206 put outs are also a school defensive record.

For the past two summers Rainey has been working at Hilands Golf Club in Billings.  Once she started training for the National Team tryout, her days would start around 6:00 a.m. at the golf course and end late in the evening following training sessions.  For the final two weeks before the tryout her boss at Hilands, Pete Grass, has allowed her time off to rest and complete final preparations.  Rainey is spending that time training in Ontario, Oregon, with current Yellowjacket senior Megan Moeller.

“At first the training was easy,” says Rainey.  “Once I had a full time job I would have to be at work at 6:00 and work a full eight hours of rigorous work.  Last summer I would go home and sleep because it was so draining.  This year I would go right from work to my workout.  Sometimes the workouts would last six hours.  I would lift for two hours and then work on softball for two hours.  Three times a week I would do speed training.  I worked out five days a week.

“It was very draining.  That’s why I’m in Oregon now.  I knew I needed to let my body recover.  I relax during the day then go workout in the evenings with Megan and her sister.  One thing that put stress on me was my body couldn’t take the softball workout after working all day.  That’s the big reason I came here, to focus on the softball part of it.”

Always confident on the diamond, Rainey feels good about her preparation for the tryout.  She says she has gained speed and strength during her training and feels she is in top playing shape.  So, what are her chances and how will she make sure she stands out in the eyes of the evaluators?

“As far as my chances go, I believe I’m going to succeed,” she says confidently.  “That’s just how I am.  I’m going to go into it with everything I have.  I know there are girls who are faster, but I always believe I’m the best athlete out there.  I think my defense is my strong point.  I can do some things that other players can’t do.  Not many players run through the ball and throw off the opposite foot on the run as well as I do.  For being little, I can hit pretty well.  My biggest weakness is my speed.  Other than that I’m confident going in.  I’m ready for it.”

As with every great venture, Rainey hasn’t reached this point alone.  The list of people that have helped her over the past few months is lengthy and includes former teammates, current players, university staff, and people in the community.

“A lot of people helped me out,” says Rainey.  “Dr. Gray (MSUB athletic director Gary Gray) was very supportive.  He made sure I had the facilities I needed.  Kim Lemmens (new MSUB softball coach), right when she came in, asked if there was anything she could do.  My professors, like Keith Edgerton and Jay Shaw, have been very supportive.  Ken and Jude Miller were very, very supportive.  They were kind of like my mom and dad in Billings.  Of course, my family has always been there for me, very supportive of everything I've done.

“My boss gave me the time off because he’s very supportive of what I’m doing because it’s a great opportunity for me.  I don’t know how many bosses would give the time off to relax and train for this.   My trainer put a lot of time in to make sure I had my workouts going.  I couldn’t have done it without the Moellers, and David and Rosilee Hein made it all possible by getting my ticket to Dallas and back.  Just a lot of people have been so supportive.”

With all that support, Rainey must feel as though she will have a whole team rooting for her when she flies to Texas next week.  While that’s true, all those who have been a part of her quest no doubt already feel like she’s succeeded.  At 7:30 a.m. on August 19, Rainey will be the first Yellowjacket softball player to have a tryout with the U.S. National Team.  That’s a success story by itself, but nobody who has spent much time around Rainey will be surprised if she makes the cut.