Tamara Statman likes action. She likes to be in the middle of it all.
More precisely, she likes to lead the action.
If all goes as Statman has planned, she'll be leading us all in 2044 as President of the United States. But before she gets to the White House, her next 31 years will be filled with action on and off the softball field.
Tamara "T" Statman produces plenty ofstrikeouts for Horizon High. She's usingthose K's to raise money for those whocan't afford skin cancer treatments.
Courtesy photo
First, there is two-plus more years of high school, where she has a couple of goals – maintaining her 4.0 grade point average and helping
Horizon (Scottsdale, Ariz.) reach the state finals.
Admittedly driven by goals, Statman said her other high school goals include becoming Arizona's Gatorade Player of the Year for softball and earn All-American honors from MaxPreps, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and Under Armour.
As a member of the Horizon golf team, she'd like to play in the state tournament. And there's the matter of moving beyond her third-degree Black Belt in taekwondo.
After high school, her plan is to maintain her academic prowess at the University of Arizona, where she will be a member of the Wildcat softball family. She verbally committed last fall.
While at Arizona she wants to pursue a degree in sports management and contract law. More on that a few years down the road.
It sounds like Statman is planning for an action-filled future. Not surprising for someone who says she does homework and the Rubix Cube for fun.
Statman said she thrives on pressure situations and getting things accomplished, and that is what separates her from other softball players.
"I have a high softball IQ," she said.
As a result, Statman - who goes by ‘T' - is one of the top sophomore pitchers in the country and has helped get Horizon off to an impressive start, enough to have them ranked among the top teams in Arizona and a brief stint in the
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Softball Rankings.
Last year, as a freshman, she won 19 games and struck out 217 batters. She also batted .421 with six home runs and received her share of postseason accolades.
But there's more to Statman than impressive stats and lofty goals.
Statman is committed to play at theUniversity of Arizona.
Courtesy photo
The 217 strikeouts was among the top totals for a freshman in 2012. With more than six weeks left this season, she has 145, and that bodes well for the Arizona Skin Cancer Foundation because Statman takes action.
Teaming with her dermatologist, Richard L Averitte Jr., Statman has formed "T's Ks" to benefit the foundation. Money raised from her strikeouts (Ks) will be used to help pay for treatment for those who cannot afford it.
"My father has had multiple successful surgeries and I have had one myself last year. I have always protected my skin, wearing SPF-type long sleeve shirts and a hat, on and off the softball field for years now," said Statman. "I also wear goggles and, when pitching, I have my trademarked grunt "IE" (which means more power).
Statman noted that most types of skin cancer have been linked to long-term sun exposure. Therefore, "You can take steps to reduce the likelihood that you will be diagnosed with skin cancer."
Over her remaining high school softball seasons, Statman will be promoting and raising awareness for skin cancer on and off the field.
"The way you can help is to donate as little as a nickel or up to $1 or more per strikeout this high school season," said Statman. Her strikeouts are tracked on her MaxPreps profile page. For more information, see her website
www.tstatman2015.com or the Arizona Skin Cancer Foundation's at
www.skinexam.org.
First-year Horizon coach Linzie Collins calls Statman a natural leader.
"For someone who wants to be president, they better be a natural leader," said Collins. "She is the most goal-oriented person I have ever met."
Collins knows all about goal-oriented people. She played at Arizona and caught Hall of Famer Jennie Finch from the time they were 10 until they won a national championship as Wildcat seniors.
"Like Finch, she is intense, and just like Finch, she has great composure," said Collins, who noted that Statman came up to her before the season began and asked "what goals I had for her."
Those goals, by the way, include school pitching records and a state title.
"She's got great maturity," said Collins. "It's awesome to see the dedicated side to her, but she has a sense of humor. She would do anything to go out of her way to do something for a stranger. She's a perfect fit for the Arizona (Wildcat softball) family. I can see why Mike (Candrea, head coach at Arizona) wants her."
That composure was tested recently in the Desert Mountain Tournament - Arizona's prestigious midseason tournament that attracts most of the state's top teams. In pool play, Basha (Chandler), ranked No. 13 nationally, treated Statman to a 13-3 mercy rule defeat.
But she bounced back with impressive efforts against Canyon Del Oro (13 strikeouts), Red Mountain (10 strikeouts) and 13 strikeouts in a four-hit championship win over Basha.
Statman, left, poses with the DesertMountain Tournament title trophy alongsideASU signee Margaret Stahm.
Courtesy photo
She also had nine hits in 15 at bats and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
"We weren't all on the same page in the 13-3 loss to Basha, but once we got it squared away, we clicked," said Statman. In the tournament, she defeated five of Arizona's Top 10 teams. Combined, those foes were 76-11.
That's an impressive effort for someone who has been told she's too short to be a softball pitcher. "I want to prove them wrong, so I do something with a softball every day," she says. ‘It makes me work hard."
Collins said working hard is something Statman knows well.
"She is focused from the minute she walks into the clubhouse," said Collins. "You can tell she's been thinking about the game (or practice) all day. She works hard on and off the field."
Collins was quick to point out that despite Statman's success and drive, she is "still that girl who has a great sense of humor and many other interests.
"She has made an impact on my life," said Collins. "She's that positive player every coach wants. Again, it's easy to understand why coach Candrea wants her."
Being a Wildcat is still two-plus years away and there are many goals and a lot of action long before then.
This season, T's "K Total" goal is 250.
As for the presidency?
"I don't have a personal agenda," said Statman. "I just want what is best for this country. I feel feel like we're losing the point."
More on that a few years down the road.
