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	The Ypsilanti Courier A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Heart and soul

Strimpel lifts Railsplitters' varsity softball to new heights

By Bruce Mason, Special Writer

PUBLISHED: June 14, 2007

Ypsilanti Lincoln's Julie Strimpel has got, what her coach and friends call, a lot of heart when she plays on the diamond.

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After breaking her wrist two summers ago, Strimpel bounced back and earned All-Southeastern Conference first-team honors in 2006.

This season, the Lincoln senior earned honorable mention All-Southeastern Conference honors. She also was awarded as an honorable mention All-District.

"Tough player," said Lincoln coach Karne Sexsmith, adding that Strimpel is one of the tougher players she has seen in a while. She just "keeps fighting back."

After leading the team in hitting in 2006, Strimpel hit .489 this season for the Railsplitters. She rotated in the No. 3 and 4 spots in the line up with teammate Chelsea Slovinski. The two were also a double-play combination, with Strimpel playing shortstop and Slovinski at second base.

Strimpel also pitched this season. Something she was not able to do last season because of that broken wrist.

"She kind of got back into the groove of wanting to do it," Sexsmith said. "It helped a lot more with having her as our pitcher."

As a role model at Lincoln, Strimpel was "always on time, always ready to go," according to Sexsmith.

Dedication is how Sexsmith described Strimpel's heart and desire to play. And now that she will be graduating, Sexsmith said she will miss both her bat and glove.

"It's going to be big shoes to fill," Sexsmith commented.