Long Beach Favorite

Softball infielder Amanda Favorite remanins dependable

By Jay Seidel, On-line Forty-Niner

May 12,1998

 

A few things in life are guaranteed: death, taxes, and senior Amanda Favorite starting at second base for the Long Beach State softball team.

Favorite has been the starting second baseman for The Beach for 236 games. This ranks her second all-time at Long Beach.

 

In her four-year career, she has started almost every game for The Beach (the exception being one game early in her freshman year).

 

She is considered by some to be the "Cal Ripken" of 49er softball due to her longevity in the sport.

 

Favorite cites her father as a major role model in her life.

 

"It's nice to be compared to Cal Ripken, but my dad has been a big role model for me," she said with a smile. "He kept me going when I would feel burned out."

 

Favorite started playing competitive softball in leagues when she was just seven years old.

 

"I started playing just league ball," Favorite said. "But when I was around 10 or 11 years old, I started playing softball year round."

 

This San Bernardino native received league honors in high school for her performance in both softball and basketball. However, Favorite decided to follow her heart and pursue collegiate softball instead of basketball.

 

"I didn't think I could go to a Division I school and play competitively in basketball due to my height," the 5-foot-4 senior said. "I decided on softball because it was always my favorite anyway."

 

After being raised in a desert environment, Favorite prefers the more coastal atmosphere of The Beach.

 

"I love it here," she said. "It's so much of a sports school."

 

The criminal justice major will graduate this December but already has plans for the summer.

 

"I have been drafted by a professional softball team to play in during the summer," she said. "There is also a professional women's baseball team here in Long Beach that I was thinking about also. So that's my summer, playing for one or the other."

 

Favorite leads The Beach in career walks (91) and sacrifices (69).

 

"As the No. 2 hitter, it's my job," she says sarcastically, "so I'm glad I'm good at it."

 

Favorite is currently ranked second in career runs (97), eighth in career at bats (679), fifth in stolen bases (21), seventh in RBIs (62), ninth in doubles (18) and is tied for seventh in career hits (171).

 

She will look to improve her totals as the team travels to Seattle this weekend to compete in the NCAA Regionals.

 

The Beach (ranked No. 15 in the nation) finished 38-18 overall and will play Louisiana State on Friday afternoon.

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