ST. JOSEPH – Headlines and statistics provide one view of an athlete's performance.

From that perspective, St. Joseph-Ogden's Hannah Bowen was a softball player of prominence this spring. The junior infielder not only set a state record for RBI during a season (97) but she also produced a total that ranks second on the all-time national list.

"It's kind of surreal," said Bowen, a natural right-hander who does two things left-handed: swing a softball bat and a golf club.

And yet, beyond and behind the accolades and the numbers of the person who was a narrow choice over Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley's Regan Romshek to headline the 21st News-Gazette All-Area team as Player of the Year, is a compassionate and caring teenager whose interests extend far past the realm of athletics.

First, Bowen's accomplishments. They were a source of conversation, unless she was the speaker.

There was the April 8 game against Tri-Point in which she belted three triples and afterward – still in uniform – joined All-Area teammate Stephanie Canfield for an ACT preparatory class taught by Jason Franklin. The instructor asked who'd won the game and Bowen shared the highlight of the Spartans' 11-5 victory. Franklin later relayed the conversation to Bowen's father, Terry.

"Hannah said Steph hit her first grand slam and was going on and on about how you should have seen it, she was on third base before the ball went over the fence," Terry Bowen related.

And her three triples?

They weren't as much as an afterthought. Franklin only learned about them when he read the next day's News-Gazette.

"I told Jason how it was awesome because she (Canfield) had just bunted and then, whack, it went flying over the fence and it was like the happiest I have ever been," Hannah Bowen said. "I literally had tears running down my face when I was batting.

"I guess I had a few triples that game, too. I really do not remember because it wasn't as exciting."

Bowen's emotions offer a paradoxical look at her stoic side as well as her sentimental nature.

"She cries at sad and not-so-sad movies, happy occasions, heart-warming events, but rarely cries when she is hurt," said her mother, Kathy Bowen, a junior high mathematics teacher at Clinton.

The opportunity presented itself early. As an 8-year-old, on a summer team based in Bellflower, Bowen was hit in the nose while playing catch at practice. She had to have it cauterized at the emergency room to stop the bleeding.

"When I am hurt, I don't like to cry," she said. "He (her father) has taught me to be a really tough person."

As an 11-year-old, she broke the end of her thumb, but Terry Bowen said "she played two more games in left field."

At the times when the tears flow freely, however, she figures it's a natural response.

"I get that from my grandpa and my mom," Hannah Bowen said. "Both of them are always crying at sad movies or happy movies or about anything that touches their heart. I have just picked up on that because I am the same way.

"My friends tease me sometimes, but it is all right because I really can't help it. I just have a warm heart."

Friendships are important to Bowen, who transferred from Blue Ridge to SJ-O after three semesters. The family had considered a move to St. Thomas More but settled on a school farther east and closer to Kathy Bowen's family in Danville.

The fact that the Spartans had a state championship on their softball resume was a bonus, not the impetus for the relocation.

"As a teacher, I was more concerned from the academic side," Kathy Bowen said. "She had great teachers at Blue Ridge, but they didn't have weighted classes. SJ-O has a tougher grade scale (93 percent for an A as opposed to 90 percent), which we felt would challenge Hannah more.

"Going to a better team was not the draw, but we did have a lot of respect for Randy (Wolken, SJ-O coach) and thought she would be more challenged athletically as well as academically at SJ-O."

An only child, Hannah Bowen didn't need introductions to many of her new teammates.

"I knew a lot of people," she said. "Steph Canfield is my best friend, and I'd played with Abby Immke, Emily Harms and Audra James. When I moved here, I was very scared, but I'm outgoing and made friends easily."

If there was any resentment to an outsider joining the ranks, it wasn't obvious to Bowen.

"No one showed me any hard feelings," she said. "No one was hostile."

For Terry Bowen, that was a welcome relief after what the family had endured when Hannah was a ninth-grader and broke the Blue Ridge record for hits in a season.

"With the problems she faced as a freshman from senior girls, written threats, eggs thrown at our house and threatening e-mails, SJ-O was a cakewalk," Terry Bowen said.

"Stephanie and Hannah are like sisters, and Audra James made it an easier transition."

Wolken said Bowen helped defuse any problems before they became an issue.

"If there was any resistance, when they saw how good she was and how hard she worked, it turned to, 'She'll make us better,' " he said. "She's very outgoing. She had friends from the first day.

"Steph helped her be accepted. Audra had open arms, Emily Harms was excited and Hannah and Abby Immke get along great."

Bowen, who turned 17 in April, didn't disappoint on the field. She earned All-Area first-team honors as a sophomore and followed that up this spring with her record-smashing season. Wolken was more impressed by a statistic other than the mind-boggling 97 RBI.

"She struck out three times (in 149 plate appearances)," Wolken said. "That's a totally amazing fact. We saw pretty good pitchers."

Wolken takes credit for putting her in the lineup, not developing the player who had committed to Oklahoma State halfway through her prep career.

"Her dad has done a great job teaching her situations," Wolken said. "I've never (in 31 years) had a player know how to handle situations as well as her."

Bowen's knowledge of the game includes studying opponents.

"She stole signs from other coaches all the time," Wolken said. "After the first inning, she'd say, 'Stay back,' meaning it would be a changeup."

Bowen and Canfield are both playing regularly for the New Lenox Lightning this summer. The team has tournaments eight consecutive weekends and will travel to Missouri, Indiana, Colorado and Georgia by season's end.

For now, softball is Hannah Bowen's focus. It will remain her priority for at least five more years, until she has completed her collegiate career.

"I've played a lot of games, but I can't get enough," she said. "I'd play every day if I could."

In the future, there will be other endeavors to conquer.

"My dream has always been wanting to work with children," Hannah Bowen said. "Plus, the Lord is a huge part of my life and always has been.

"I feel like God has blessed me with leadership skills. Therefore, I know he has a big job for me in the future and I feel that is missionary work, going to places like Mexico, Africa or Haiti to help out wherever I can.

"My church goes in the summer and since I have softball I never get the chance to go. After college, I really want to go all over helping. That is my lifelong goal."

All-Area First Team
PLAYER    SCHOOL    YR.    POS.   
Kaitlyn Barrett    Monticello    Jr.    OF
Hannah Bowen    St. Joseph-Ogden    Jr.    POY/Inf.
Stephanie Canfield    St. Joseph-Ogden    So.    OF
Casey Cromwell    Danville    Jr.    Inf.   
Elizabeth Everingham    St. Joseph-Ogden    So.    Inf.   
Jordyn Fones    Blue Ridge    Jr.    OF
Kelsey Gass    Rantoul    Sr.    Inf.   
Katie LaVoie    Watseka    Sr.    DH
Samantha Ledbetter    Tuscola    So.    C
Hanna Mennenga    Rantoul    Sr.    P
Regan Romshek    GCMS    So.    P
Mariah Skaggs    Schlarman    Sr.    Utl./P
Jordan Wheeler    Blue Ridge    So.    P
 

Second Team
PLAYER    SCHOOL    YR.    POS.
Kristyn Barrett    Monticello    Jr.    Inf.
Kaiti Bowen    GCMS    So.    Utl.
Erin Cowan    Watseka    Sr.    DH
Lynzie Fields    Schlarman    Jr.    OF
Abby Immke    St. Joseph-Ogden    So.    Inf.
Audra James    St. Joseph-Ogden    Jr.    OF
Morgan King    Danville    So.    OF
Becca Millage    St. Thomas More    Jr.    Inf.
Monica Rondon    Champaign Central    Sr.    C
Jenna Slifer    St. Joseph-Ogden    Sr.    P
Maddy Stutsman    Salt Fork    Jr.    Inf.
Logan Taylor    Danville    Jr.    C

Special Mention
PLAYER    SCHOOL    YR.    POS.
Kathryn Bahler    Prairie Central    Sr.    OF
Rachael Bishop    Villa Grove    Sr.    Inf.
Kayla Bryant    Westville    Sr.    Inf.
Lohgan Bryant    Schlarman    Jr.    Inf.
Tabitha Davis    Sullivan    Jr.    P
Ally Edwards    PBL    Sr.    C
Brittany Einck    St. Thomas More    Sr.    Inf.
Claire Feely    Champaign Central    Jr.    Inf.
Madison Frerichs    Tuscola    Fr.    OF
Kalli Gosser    Fisher    Fr.    OF
Allison Gwinup    Mahomet-Seymour    Sr.    Inf.
Sarah Hintz    LeRoy    Sr.    P
McKenzie Hodges    Danville    Sr.    P
Elyse Lippert    Bismarck-Henning    Jr.    C
Shelby Lust    South Piatt    Sr.    P
Megan McCord    Salt Fork    Jr.    C
Abbey McElwee    St. Joseph-Ogden    So.    OF
Brittany Moreland    Schlarman    Sr.    DH
Desiree Mouser    GCMS    Sr.    Inf.
Sierra Myerscough    St. Thomas More    So.    Inf.
Lindsey Nickelson    Heritage    Sr.    Inf.
Stacey Peters    Urbana    Sr.    Inf.
Katie Rutledge    Heritage    Jr.    OF
Hilary Smith    Heritage    So.    P
Lizzy Smith    Villa Grove    Fr.    P
Alex Stupek    Argenta-Oreana    Fr.    Inf.
Emily Taylor    Westville    Jr.    C
Stephanie Wessels    Prairie Central    Jr.    OF
Melinda Wilson    Blue Ridge    So.    Inf.
Kasie Woodworth    Unity    Sr.    OF

Honorable  mention
(School-by-school listing)
ARCOLA — Lauren Murphy, So., Utl.; Gretchen Stenger, Jr., Utl.; Taylor Thomas, Jr., P
ARGENTA-OREANA — Jenna Allen, Sr., P; Kandie Bloch, Fr., OF; Natalie Stoerger, Sr., Inf.
ARMSTRONG-POTOMAC — Kirsten Newnum, Fr., OF
ARTHUR-LOVINGTON — Allison Chancellor, Sr., C; Ashley Tabb, Fr., Inf.
BISMARCK-HENNING — Danielle Brown, Sr., OF; Hannah Hoover, Sr., Inf.; Frankie Shoaf, Jr., OF
BLUE RIDGE — Marcie Crawford, Jr., Inf.; Staci Gardner, Sr., Inf.; Devin Houser, Sr., OF; Jade O’Neal, Jr., C;  Casey Thomas, Sr., Inf.
CERRO GORDO — Shelby Proctor, Sr., Inf.
CENTENNIAL — Katie Blas, Jr., P; Julie Cutright, Sr., C; Abby Wiegand, Sr., Inf.
CHAMPAIGN CENTRAL — Jamie Anastasia, Sr., Inf.
CLINTON — Rachel Austin, Sr., Inf.; Meghan Matthews, Sr., Inf.; Bailey Walker, Fr., P
DANVILLE — Kaitlin Baxter, Fr., DH; Michaleen Forman, So., Inf.; Elisa Ramos, Jr., OF
FISHER — Amanda Cain, Jr., C; Caleigh Hennigh, Sr., P; Shannon Russell, So., OF; Lindsey Williams, Jr., Inf.; Chelsea Williamson, Jr., Inf.
GEORGETOWN-RIDGE FARM/CHRISMAN — Taylor Pearson, Jr., Inf.; Alyssa Sawyer, So., C
GIBSON CITY-MELVIN-SIBLEY — Jessica Hunter, So., OF; Valerie Mouser, Jr., Inf.; Shannon Zimmerman, Sr., Inf.
HERITAGE — Alex Danner, So., Inf.; Jana Huber, Jr., Inf.; Jenna Wyant, So., OF
HOOPESTON AREA — Kelsey Sollars, Jr., P; Chelsea Willis, Jr., C
IROQUOIS WEST — Karlyn Wilken, Sr., Inf.
LeROY — Stephanie Hintz, So., Inf.; Jordan Riddle, Sr., C
MAHOMET-SEYMOUR — Kendyl Cummins, So., P; Courtney Roberts, Sr., OF; Nikki Smith, So., C; Alie Tarrant, Fr., P
MILFORD — Jessica Cann., Sr., OF; Ashlen Portwood, So., C; Lexie Schuldt, Sr., Inf.
MONTICELLO — Sammi Thompson, Jr., Inf.; Jaimey Watrous, So., P
OAKWOOD — Kayla Johnson, Sr., C
PAXTON-BUCKLEY-LODA — Taylor Rubarts, Sr., Inf.; Liz Satterlee, So., P; J.J. Valentine, So., Inf.
PRAIRIE CENTRAL — Kaitlin Byrne, So., P; Lindsey Krippel, So., Inf.; Brittiany Tjarks, Jr., OF
RANTOUL — Katie Gehrt, Sr., C; Paige Harms, Sr., Inf.; Bridget Schlueter, Sr., DH
RIDGEVIEW — Brooke Ghere, Jr., Inf.; D.J. Hisle, Sr., OF; Taylor Zimmerman, Sr., Inf.
SALT FORK — Hannah Darr, Jr., P; Jessica Strowmatt, Jr., Inf.
SCHLARMAN — Sydne Bryant, Fr., Inf.; Darrian Chrzanoski, Jr., Inf.; Jessica Moreman, Sr., OF
SHILOH — Stephanie Hunt, Fr., P; Ashley Young, Jr., C
SOUTH PIATT — Katrina Freeman, Jr., Inf.; Shelby Helfrich, Sr., Inf.; Kayla Sheumaker, Sr., OF
ST. JOSEPH-OGDEN — Emily Harms, Jr., Inf.; Shelby Immke, Sr., C
ST. THOMAS MORE — Allie Cole, Sr., Inf.; Brooke Schmidt, So., Inf.; Alyssa Vodacek, Fr., Inf.
SULLIVAN — Hillary Bragg, Jr., C; Jessica Elder, So., Inf.; Brittney Lamendola, Fr., Inf.
TUSCOLA — Lexi Rogers, So., DH; Taylor Turner, Sr., Inf.
UNITY — Brooke Chilton, So., OF; Taylor Spivey, Fr., C
URBANA — Tess Allen, So., Inf.; Jasmine White, Jr., Inf.
VILLA GROVE — Tanaya Behl, Jr., OF; Sarah Showalter, Fr., OF
WATSEKA — Andrea Crook, Sr., Inf.; Lauren Krumwiede, Sr., Inf.; Kloie McCann, Sr., Inf.
WESTVILLE — Taylor Ceader, Jr., P; Taylor Poggendorf, Jr., Inf.

Final area rankings
SCHOOL (PREVIOUS) RECORD
1. St. Joseph-Ogden (1)    34-4
— Spartans return 93 percent of hitting, 45 percent of pitching
2. Danville (6)    19-13
—Vikings return 85 percent of hitting, 0 percent of pitching
3. Schlarman (3)    26-11
— Hilltoppers return 59 percent of hitting, 8 percent of pitching
4. GCMS (2)    25-9
— Falcons return 69.9 percent of hitting, 92 percent of pitching
5. Rantoul (4)    18-15
— Eagles return 23 percent of hitting, 0 percent of pitching
6. Monticello (5)    21-13
— Sages return 100 percent of hitting, 100 percent of pitching
7. Blue Ridge (7)    30-7
— Knights return 80 percent of hitting, 93 percent of pitching
8. St. Thomas More (9)    23-12
— Sabers return 75 percent of hitting, 48 percent of pitching
9. Watseka (­—)    23-11
— Warriors return 15 percent of hitting, 0 percent of pitching
10. Sullivan (—)    24-9
— Redskins return 100 percent of hitting, 100 percent of pitching