By Jim Lockwood
Staff Writer

Shawna Bellaud's softball success stems from finding positive elements in her difficult days on the high school diamond.

When the Hooksett resident played for Manchester West, she was dedicated and competitive, even though softball was more of a social thing for certain players, the 19-year-old said.

Hooksett's Shawna Bellaud, 19, is enjoying a solid sophomore season with the New Hampshire Technical Institute's softball team. A team captain, Bellaud led the Capitals to an appearance in the New England Small College Conference championship game this fall. (Jim Lockwood Photo)

The experience of playing four years on a team not accustomed to winning helped Bellaud lead the New Hampshire Technical Institute fall softball team this year.

"It helps you face the fact that you're not always going to win a game," the NHTI sophomore said. "You have to take the wins with the losses. If you're a team that's always winning, you don't know what losing is. But you don't know what winning is (either). When you're losing and you get a win, it feels great."

When Bellaud joined the West softball team as a freshman, she was the only player from her town. The rest were from Bedford and Manchester.

Bellaud said the other varsity players looked out for her. She earned their respect once they realized she could help the team improve.

There was also a disconnect between the varsity and junior varsity squads, Bellaud said. When she was team captain as a senior, she refused to let the same thing take place.

She made sure the younger players had a positive mentor to follow, and hosted pasta parties to erase the imaginary line between the JV and varsity clubs.

For Bellaud, the biggest difference between her high school and collegiate experiences has to do with the practice schedule.

At NHTI, she said the schedule is more flexible. Her coaches understand players work to pay for their own education. Therefore, practices are worked around other commitments made by the athletes.

In college, Bellaud improved her pitches because the collegiate pitching circle is three feet farther from the plate than in high school. Specifically, she increased her arm strength so her fastball could still reach the same velocity. She also worked on making her curveball break later.

This year, Bellaud is the Capitals. only returning veteran and captain.

"She's a vocal part of our group," said NHTI head coach Kathy O.Connor. "The girls look up to her. They go to her with questions. She's warm and friendly, and is very approachable. She has the voice of leadership. She has the knowledge of the game that she can share with them."

Along with pitching, Bellaud also sees time at third base, outfield and catcher.

NHTI went 12-3 this season and earned a berth in the Northern New England Small College Conference championship game.

O'Connor said she was extremely proud of the improvements Bellaud made in her hitting game, too. This year, she posted a .574 average and occupied the third slot in the lineup.

She had a game-winning RBI triple against a club team from the University of New Hampshire on Saturday, Oct. 1, helping NHTI to the 1-0 home win.

In the fall, Bellaud plans to attend Lock Haven University and major in accounting.

"You try hard to get everyone into the game and be involved," said Bellaud, who coached West's pitchers last spring. "You have to take it for what it's worth. I loved playing the game, so no one could take that away."