Potent bat, slick glove help keep North on top

By GREG STILES

Megumi Hackett doesn't cast lengthy shadows on the softball diamond.

She stands all of 5-foot-2, doesn't hide a cannon up her right sleeve and outfielders don't take a step back when she strides to the plate.

All the North Medford High School junior shortstop does is quietly vacuum up the left side of the infield and reach base with uncanny frequency.

"She's works her tail off," says North coach Larry Binney, "and always does the right thing to make the team better."

Hackett has thrived in relative obscurity on a team loaded with all-star players. She's never been named all-state, and first-team all-conference honors have eluded her. But if Hackett feels slighted, she doesn't let on.

"I don't really care what happens to me," Hackett says. "I just want the team to be successful. Whatever I can do to make the team successful, I'll do it."

She's been instrumental in helping the Tornado earn back-to-back appearances in the Class 4A state finals. Binney inserted Hackett at shortstop early in her freshman season, shifting incumbent Kelly Dixon to second base.

Binney also wedged the slap-hitting Hackett between leadoff hitter Jill Rutter and catcher Missy Coe and the order hasn't changed in three years.

"I was the new one in there, but the sophomores and juniors around me really helped," Hackett says. "Kelly Dixon helped me out a lot. We were always talking, and I don't think I would've got through my freshman year without her."

Hackett hit .327 with an on-base percentage of .479 in 31 games as a freshman, led the team with 27 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. As a sophomore, Hackett led the team in plate appearances (117), on-base percentage (.542) and 18 stolen bases. She finished second to Coe with a .405 average in 31 games.

After going 3-for-5 with a walk in a doubleheader sweep of Eagle Point Tuesday, Hackett leads the top-ranked Black Tornado with a .491 batting average, a .546 on-base percentage, 27 runs and 18 stolen bases.

"She puts a lot of pressure on the defense," Binney says. "She has a knack for mixing drag bunts and slaps. She reads defenses well and puts the ball where she has a high chance of getting on base."

Hackett prefers to credit her teammates and coach.

"I've been reaching base a lot, but it's been pretty easy when you've got Missy behind you and Jill Rutter ahead of you. When Jill gets on, Larry will hit-and-run or bunt-and-run. With Jill's speed, you have to make a quick decision."

As a result, North often starts a game with two runners aboard and none out with a pair of two-time all-staters coming to the plate.

"I just have to get on base and the rest of the lineup will get me home," Hackett says.

As integral as Hackett is to North's offense, her glove might be more important.

"Her defense has been outstanding," Binney says. "She makes those nitty-gritty plays."

By nature of her position, Hackett also gets stuck with the sticky chances. When left-handed pitcher Tracy Bealer gets a batter to nub the ball off the end of the bat, there's a good chance it will dribble Hackett's way.

"You have to give Tracy credit for getting a weak ground ball," Binney says. "But sometimes that turns into a pretty tough play for the shortstop."

Although she played four seasons in the Tornado Tuff Amateur Softball Association program before arriving at North, Hackett wasn't necessarily expecting to make a big impact. Moreover, she had played mostly at second base until the eighth grade.

"My arm had always been pretty weak, but I think it got stronger my freshman year," Hackett says. "It's not like I've got a tremendous arm now, but (assistant coach Rod) Rumrey worked with me a lot and pushed me."

Her sophomore season, she worked on her feet.

"Last year, I worked a lot on my range, and that helped me out a lot," Hackett says. "I have a lot more to work on _ like getting rid of the ball sooner."

North is 71-8 during her time with the club. Winning has been second nature for the Tornado, which finished second in the state two years ago and tied for the 1997 crown.

"Losing gave us more incentive for last year, and it was the same last year, not being able to take it all for ourselves," Hackett says. "The co-championship has given us more incentive for this year. We feel confident, but we can't dwell on what happened in the past; we have got to prove ourselves this year."