Hartl gives much of the credit for her miraculous recovery to Coach Jenny Allard, who, in her first year, has earned rave reviews from the entire team.

"I can't explain what she did for me. She never got off my back. She was always in my face. For awhile it was very frustrating," Hartl said. "But, I learned to suck it up. It made me though."

"Tough," as in a tough out for opposing pitchers.

But there was a time when Hartl wasn't as successful as she is today on the softball diamond.

"My first year [in organized softball], I played right field and batted ninth in the line-up," Hartl said. "I couldn't catch a ball to save my life, and couldn't throw much better than that."

But she kept playing.

The next year she moved to catcher. And hated it.

"I wanted to play shortstop," Hartl said. "I remember I was so jealous of my best friend, because she got to play shortstop and I had to be catcher."

Eventually, though, as she caught better pitchers, the game became more enjoyable. And when opposing players were able to steal, Hartl found she could throw them out.

Finally, in the eighth grade, Hartl decided that she truly wanted to be behind the plate.

"I started taking catching lessons in the eighth grade," Hartl said. "I pretty much picked it and went with it."

In El Modern High School, Hartl was named first-team All-League and twice won the Defensive MVP Award.

Hartl gained most of her experience by playing on a select traveling team that played top competition across the country.

Despite competing at such high levels, Hartl did not expect to have an impact ton he team as a freshman.

"When I came here on my recruit trip I thought maybe I could play," Hartl, a member of a strong freshman contingent who call themselves "The Six Pack" said.