by Darren DeLaune
MNN Sports Writer
HENRYETTA — To be a member of all-state team in a sport says that members are among the best in the state of Oklahoma. To be a two-time all-stater means a player ranks among the best.
Danielle Bear just graduated from Henryetta High School where she grabbed both all-state honors in fast and slow pitch softball. This is a first in Henryetta Public School history.
Ever since she was a little girl, Bear has always wanted to play on the diamond with her brothers and sister. Her family could tell something good was going to come from playing in the dirt and getting acquainted with the game at a very young age.
Her father Daniel talked about her younger days spent with her brothers.
“We knew she could play when she was out there with boys her age and older and beating them, in baseball,” Bear said. “Boys used to get mad because she would hit homeruns off of them.”
Bear set a lot of goals for herself during her final season.
“My goals for this year were to make all-state,” Bear said. “Also to get better every day, to push myself and strive to be better, and use my skills at playing softball to help me to get to the next level, in which I did. I’m very happy that I will be playing at the next level.”
Bear played a big role this year in softball, where she had to be the rock to help keep her team going.
“I wanted to show leadership to everyone on our team,” Bear said. “Not just the younger players but everyone. There were times when we all needed some motivation so they helped me just as much as I helped them.”
Bear will be heading to Warner, Okla., next year to play for Connors State College. Eastern Oklahoma State College and Seminole State College were also scoping her talents but her family made the decision to choose Connors an easy one.
“I want to play for Connors because they are close to home for me and my family,” Bear said. “It is not too big, which makes me think of Henryetta.”
“I want to play third base, but wherever my coach wants to put me at is where I will play. I want to get out there and play,” she said.
Her high school coach, Sheri Freeman, knows that she will be missed at her alma mater.
“As a coach, I will be missing Danielle so much from our team,” said Freeman. “As a part of Henryetta schools, I will be missing her so much more. I’m so proud of her at how she put school first. I do not get a lot of students that are that committed. To be able to juggle school, sports and helping the community, shows what a great person Danielle is to everyone.”
Bear is using this time in summer to get ready for next season. Like this season, she knows that there will be new challenges and new goals to set for herself and her team and this year, she is going to do everything to meet those challenges and goals and surpass them.
Bear is Creek-Seminole and her parents are Daniel and Melissa Bear. She is of the Hotvle (Wind) Clan and Nuyaka Tribal Town.
(Story provided to us by Muscogee Nation News, to read this and others visit @ http://www.themuscogeecreeknation.com
