Nov. 21, 2013

This feature first ran in the Florida football game (Nov. 16) program
By Grant Brannon – Media Relations Student Assistant

Being an accounting major at the University of South Carolina is an intense and rigorous adventure for any student. Add to that the challenges of being a softball student-athlete, and you are left with virtually no time. Julie Sarratt, a redshirt junior from Gaffney S.C., handles the tough schedule with no problem, even when she was thrown a devastating curveball.

Julie said her biggest influence on her softball career has been her family. Sarratt’s father took her to the practice fields and games, she watched her brother, Justin, grow and compete as a pitcher in baseball, and her mother provided the strong support throughout her journey. Julie credits her decision to be a pitcher to watching her brother throw as they grew up. Justin is also Julie’s favorite athlete.

“Watching him as we grew up, he was always a pitcher, so I obviously wanted to be a pitcher as well. Baseball is a lot different than softball, but I wanted to try it out, and it just worked,” said Sarratt.

Sarratt had her fair share of options for college ball with offers from College of Charleston and Samford. She wanted to stay in-state, be a part of a solid program and play in a competitive conference. Sarratt decided on attending South Carolina and is proud to a part of program that has turned it around on the field, as the team has since Sarratt’s arrival on campus.

Overcoming adversity is a big part of Sarratt’s story. Sarratt underwent ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) surgery, more commonly known as Tommy John surgery, following her freshman year. While rehabbing, she was redshirted, missing her true sophomore season. Regardless, Julie said she was able to learn a lot from sitting on the sidelines.

“It was definitely a blessing in disguise. Sitting out that year made me grow up a lot and see the mental aspect of the game. Seeing things from the dugout gave me a different perspective, and it worked out really well,” said Sarratt. “It made me a lot smarter. Just knowing how I did feel with an injury, I know the limits of my body now.”

Throughout her rehabilitation, she had plenty of support from her family but especially her brother. Julie leaned heavily on him because he had also gone through Tommy John surgery while he played baseball.

“My brother had surgery while he was at Clemson and he came back from it and even played after college. I had that influence, and I could talk to him about the recovery.”

Pushing through surgery and rehab was a big step in her life, but Julie said she wouldn’t change her experiences for anything. The redshirt year helped her get ahead off the diamond as well. She was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll three times, a National Fastpitch Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete twice and to the 2013 SEC Softball Community Service Team.

“The extra year from my surgery has helped me a lot with my academics because it gives me that extra year to get my Master’s. When I finish ball, I’ll be finished with my Master’s and I’ll go right to work. It’s tough juggling the two, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything, it’s definitely a blessing.”

After she finishes school, Julie wants to work for a public accounting firm. She earned an internship with Eliot Davis Tax, Assurance and Consulting Firm, one of the largest firms in the region, for next summer.

Sarratt has battled through the surgery and successful rehab to become a key cog in head coach Beverly Smith’s pitching rotation. Last year after recovering from her surgery, she went 12-8 with a 3.25 ERA in 131.1 innings, leading the Gamecocks in innings, ERA, wins, complete games and strikeouts and emerging as the staff ace. Those many performances helped South Carolina make its first NCAA Tournament appearance under Smith. After a perfect 8-0 fall season, Julie says the team is looking to continue playing at the next level in the spring.

“Our goal is to always make postseason,” said Sarratt. “Now we are stepping up to try and win regionals, super regionals, and then go to Oklahoma City and compete for a national championship. We are at that next level of thinking.”

In her fourth year on campus, Sarratt uses her experience to help the underclassmen know what to expect. She will be able to work closely with the younger pitchers by sharing her own experiences and struggles in the circle. Julie said she feels no pressure stepping into her veteran role but instead thinks of it more as an acceptance of where she is in her softball career.

“Honestly I don’t even look at it as pressure; it’s just how it happens,” said Sarratt. “We were those freshmen who looked up to our upperclassmen, so I think it’s just transitioning into that role.”

A leader on and off the field, Sarratt is in position for more great things with the 2014 season right around the corner.