Halkiotis setting the bar for GW softball

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Halkiotis setting the bar for GW softball

by Jennifer Beekman | Staff Writer

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Every day former Sherwood High softball standout Chrysanthi Halkiotis, a four-year starting center fielder at George Washington University, steps onto the softball diamond in 2008, she knows she’s a day closer to the end of her competitive career. And while she’s dreading hanging up her glove and cleats for good, she’s turned that energy and sense of urgency into a record-breaking season for the Colonials.

Though George Washington is just 8-23, 4-8 in the Atlantic 10 conference — the top six teams advance to the A-10 tournament and GWU is currently in seventh — Halkiotis (21, of Brookeville), has been spectacular. Through Saturday, she was batting a team-high .386 (well above her previous best, .287, last season). And she was leading the country with an average of 0.48 doubles per game. She has 15 for the year, a new school single-season record, and has 31 in her career (tied for first all-time at GW).

But the numbers don’t end there. Halkiotis’ two grand slams, her first two grand slams ever, also set the Colonials’ single-season mark. And, she’s just four hits from becoming the second-ever Colonial to record 150 base hits in her career and is two runs batted in shy of tying for second on the program’s all-time RBI list. This season she not only leads GW in batting average and doubles, but in hits (39), RBI (19), total bases (66), walks (11), slugging percentage (.699) and on-base percentage (.451).

‘‘I never dreamt of playing past this level, so subconsciously I know this is it, it’s now or never,” Halktiotis said. ‘‘It’s an honor to be able to hold a record or lead the country in something or possibly break a record, even if it’s just at my own school. I feel very accomplished. But I’m still just trying to hit the ball. If it’s a double, it’s a double.”

As an NCAA Division I scholarship player, Halkiotis is clearly talented. She knows the ins and outs of softball. But what separates the talented athletes from the successful talented athletes is being receptive to constructive criticism and instruction.

And Halkiotis is. She’s not trying to break records or be a standout — she didn’t even know she was close to breaking the doubles record until a teammate brought it up. She just wants to be the best softball player she can be and she’s open to suggestions.

‘‘Offensively, this is definitely my best season,” Halkiotis said. ‘‘And I attribute a lot of that to paying more attention to pitch sequences and patterns. One of our teammates [Colleen Kegler] had season-ending surgery in December and she’s been documenting all that and taking it really seriously. And I’ve been using that a lot more this season and it’s really helped me.”

Playing college softball, though a lifelong dream for Halkiotis, has been a huge time commitment. A psychology major with a concentration in communications, she devoted more than 20 hours each week to practices and games. She’s sacrificed having an active social life and much free time, but she’s fine with that.

Softball has enhanced her college experience; given her a group of close-knit friends and confidence she’s drawn on in other aspects of her life. And now, a senior leader, she’s relishing in the opportunity to convey her passion for George Washington softball to her younger teammates the way older teammates did for her.

‘‘Sometimes I look back and can’t believe I was able to do all this,” Halkiotis said. ‘‘It’s something that will stay with me forever. It’s nice to be able to accomplish goals you’ve set for yourself and especially to perform so well in my last season. It’s the greatest feeling, being able to put your mind to something and achieve it.”

Notes: Halkiotis has started 127 of 130 games in her GW career. She has an even .300 career batting average. She has 10 games left in her career, unless the Colonials can reach the A-10 tournament.