Molly Shasteen and Morgan Hatch have been playing softball together for 11 years and recently signed to play ball for Stetson University in the fall.
Stellar stats
Morgan Hatch holds Timber Creek’s single-season record for home runs with 8 and RBIs with 45. Molly Shasteen batted .419 last year with 29 runs scored.
The ritual happens before most innings and after great plays—Molly Shasteen and Morgan Hatch high-five, their second high-five misses and then their patented 'Bump' evolves into a full-body jump and 'booty' bump in mid air.
It’s a tradition the Timber Creek seniors started sometime in the 11 years they've played softball together. Heading into college recruitment season, this year was looking to be the last time they’d do their dance on the field. But this dynamic duo was too good to split up. Call it fate but, blasting off to the next level of their sport, they’re both planning to play for the Stetson University Hatters in the fall.
Stetson Head Coach Frank Griffin may not have been attracted to the friendship angle for the pair, but he certainly appreciated their impressive statistics. Last year Molly played second base and outfield for the Timber Creek Wolves, batting .419 with 18 RBIs and 29 runs scored. Morgan played first base and batted .446. She broke the school’s single-season record for RBIs with 45 and tied the single-season home run record with 8.
The two had known each other since they were 6 years old, playing in the East Orange Little League together but they got really close when Molly joined the same travel team as Morgan, the Central Florida Sting Black several years ago.
Steve Hatch, Morgan’s father, manages the Sting Black team.
“I’ve watched them play and practice for 10 or 11 years now,” Steve said. “They play year round and that can mean up to 200 games. Win or lose, it is the character behind it that I love best. They are phenomenal athletes.”
Molly believes one of the keys to her athletic accomplishments has been the chance to play with the Sting Black.
“Everyone on this team is so good, you always have to try to do better,” she said. “Joining this team got me a lot of exposure to colleges.”
Morgan is quick to credit her parents as the key to her success. Her mother is the team mom, which means a lot of administrative responsibility.
“He has always been there for me,” she said. “He comes to practice and helps out. He owns his own business and he takes time off to do this.”
And while the parents took care of the behind-the-scenes work, the girls honed their skills for college-level ball. But now the duo won’t just be working together on the field, they’ll also live together in the dorms at Stetson. When asked if they’re worried it’ll affect their friendship they answer that they’re already inseperable.
“We’re together 24-7 and we know how each other acts,” Molly said. “I’m excited for us to be dorm-mates.”
“We know when one is cranky and to leave them alone,” Morgan added with a laugh.
Equally competitive
Both girls have their competitive sides but express it very differently: Molly gets angry at losses and is more aggressive while Morgan uses it as fuel to strive for excellence.
“Molly is an excellent competitor. It doesn’t matter whether she is in a practice drill or a game, she is a tiger,” Steve said.
“Morgan works very hard at what she does. She has become recognized as a big hitter.”
Stellar students
Despite all their time spent on the field, both girls perform well in the classroom too.
Molly has a 3.6 GPA and Morgan has a 3.7 GPA on a weighted scale.
They said they’re both looking forward to being part of Stetson University.
“The campus and the softball field are really beautiful,” Molly said. “It reminds me of up north in Ohio. I really liked the coaches and the players.”
“I liked the campus,” Morgan said. “It is a smaller school with a better student-to-teacher ratio. I know a lot of the girls there.”
As the Stetson players get to know Molly and Morgan, the “Bump” may reappear on the Hatters’ field.