May 6, 2008

Berkeley - Through the grind of a collegiate softball season that can reach up to 75 games and extend from early February through mid-June, senior third baseman Katie Vickers has found the perfect diversion to keep her centered in her busy life.

"Writing helps me escape," she said. "It is a great platform for me to be original and imaginative." A San Diego native who arrived at Cal after a brief stopover in Georgia, Vickers wants to turn her writing into more than just a leisure activity. This summer, she plans to work with Michael Silver, a 1988 Cal graduate, former senior writer at Sports Illustrated and current columnist for Yahoo! Sports.

Vickers will spend time with Silver learning the profession, honing her writing skills and building contacts, while hopefully securing an internship sometime in the near future.

"He has been out to a lot of our games," said Vickers. "And that is how my mom introduced me to him. During my sophomore year, he was really close to Haley Woods' family, so I got to know him better that way, too. "I've always wanted to break into sports media, and I would always go online and read his articles on Sports Illustrated and Yahoo! He is a definite inspiration."

Although he has never technically "mentored" anyone before, Silver has groomed others in the industry, most notably ESPN anchor Josh Elliott. At the same token, Silver explained that he has absolutely no reservations guiding someone, especially like Vickers, who he has closely followed throughout the years.

"I hope that she can learn that there is a work-ethic component that blends itself with an interpersonal component." Silver said.

"It's about building relationships and bonding. It's about getting into people's worlds and getting to the heart of the story. I think all of that helps a journalist. I really feel that Cal, and the Cal mentality, really lends itself perfectly to that concept. We (Cal alumni and students) are the type of people that are going to throw themselves out there in this world. Katie is someone that has had to fight and claw her way to get where she is at today. She has a chance to be a step ahead of everyone else. Anyone who is that fired up about being in this profession, I'm willing to make that dream happen."

Adding to his enthusiasm is the fact that Silver will be helping a player from his favorite college team, although it didn't start out that way when he was editor of the Daily Californian. While writing for the school newspaper, Silver often poked fun at the softball program until one day when a member of the team marched into his office and took the time to explain how great of a sport softball really is. Something in that conversation changed his perception, and he has been a loyal fan ever since.

Now, Silver gives the Golden Bears a presence on the national stage almost weekly with regular items in his column, a tradition he started several years ago when he was at Sports Illustrated.

"I think working with Michael this summer will help me develop an appreciation for the profession and learn things I probably never knew existed,"

Vickers said. "I'm looking forward to the challenge no matter how big or small the task may be. This is what I'm passionate about, and I'm just really excited that he is taking time out of his schedule to help me get started on the right foot in the industry."

Vickers, who transferred from the University of Georgia in 2006, hit a slight speed bump when she got to Cal because it does not offer journalism as an undergraduate major. However, she did not let that deter her spirits by taking other classes that can help her reach her dream. She is currently an American studies major with an emphasis in media and pop culture.

"I love to write," exulted Vickers when describing what attracted her to this profession. "And just being an athlete and what I have gone through as an athlete is special in itself. I think both of those things will help me succeed in life. I would love to be in a position where I can write creatively and use my own style with no restrictions."

On the field, Vickers has used her resourcefulness to become a solid contributor to the Bears' success. In her first season at Cal, she saw action in 60 games and produced 41 hits and 28 RBI. She followed up in 2007 with an even better campaign with 49 hits, 19 runs and 37 RBI, and she has returned for her senior year as the Bears' third baseman this spring.

"She's been a great person coming into our program," said head coach Diane Ninemire. "She came in and was an immediate impact player for our program. She didn't skip a beat when she came in and quickly earned a starting role at third base. This year, she is doing a great job offensively for us with her hitting and RBI production. She has just been an outstanding addition to our program."

Vickers' decision to transfer to Cal was two-fold: one was to be nearer to her San Diego home, and the other was to be at an institution that was more tailored to her personality.

"I'm very happy with the move to Cal," said Vickers. "I'm closer to family and I can feel great about receiving a degree from Cal. It has meant everything to be here. Everyone - coaches and teammates - greeted me with open arms when I transferred. I love Berkeley. It is the perfect fit for me. I love the culture, the diversity and the freedom to be you and express how you feel. I know that not only am I a better athlete, but a better person because of my time here. "

Like most student-athletes at Cal, free time does not come often because of the hours put into practice and the classroom. As a student, Vickers said that Cal has challenged her in ways she never thought possible. "The curriculum and coursework at Cal is strenuous," she said. "You can't just get by - especially in my major. The professors know how push you to be the best you can be. I've learned how to improve my writing skills, among other things.

"It's hard to have outside interests away from softball and the classroom," Vickers added. "Those two things take up a large part of my life. But when I do find myself having some free time, I just love to read and write. They serve as outlets for me to think and be creative and explore new ways of thinking I never thought possible."