As befitting a star athlete, it took a little recruiting to get Gaylyn Hoshide on the University of Utah softball team.
Only it was Hoshide, the Utes' shortstop for the last four years, who did the recruiting.Living in Hawaii, Hoshide knew she would have to be the active agent in her recruitment. So she made a videotape of her play on the field and sent it, along with her stats, to Utah, Utah state and several other schools.
The video is something Utah's softball coach, Jo Evans, remembers well. "It had waterfalls, Hawaiian music, and her skills." As a result, "we went out on a limb and offered her a full scholarship . . . banking on the video because we needed a shortstop," Evans says. "We couldn't be happier the way it worked out."
Evans describes Hoshide as a complete player. Offensively, Hoshide is a model of consistency at the plate. She has only four strikeouts in 168 at-bats. Her slugging percentage (.429 as of May 9) is one of the team's highest. "She is a real good contact hitter," says Evans, "It is real hard to defend her.
"Defensively, she has great range and quick release . . . she is real smooth and real fluid . . . she has great hands."
Hoshide's talent has not gone unnoticed. As a sophomore she was named to the All-WAC Team. Last year, she received Honorable Mention All-WAC. This year, Hoshide has been named "Player of the Week" in the WAC conference. She made the all-tournament team at the New Mexico State Tournament earlier this season.
Hoshide describes herself as a perfectionist. "Even when I make a play, if I don't get it fundamentally right then I feel that I want to do it perfect."
Evans agrees Hoshide is a perfectionist but says "she is exceptional at bouncing back."
Case in point, Hoshide's errors, 26, are close to a team high. But almost all of those errors came at the start of the season and, according to Evans, Hoshide "is now in a mode where she isn't making any mistakes."
Hoshide got her nickname, Scooter, from Evans, who first called her that because she scooted around the field and reminded her of a former player who was also called "Scooter."
As the regular season winds to a close this weekend for the Utes, the end of Hoshide's career is also imminent. The Utes will play in the NCAA Regionals May 20-21.
Hoshide will graduate from Utah next spring in commercial recreation management and plans to return to Hawaii after graduation.
She says she'll miss playing for Utah. Naturally, the feeling is mutual. "She's the most genuine, kind-hearted player I have ever coached . . . I love her like my family," says Evans. "She is a great kid, has a great attitude, and is always a team player."