Lake Brantley Softball Player Hannah Marien Voted ITG Next Florida Female Athlete of the Month
As Lake Brantley continues its run through the Class 7A softball state playoffs, the impact senior Hannah Marien has had on the Patriots’ success this season cannot be expressed enough. One of the top pitchers in Florida, Marien has enjoyed an outstanding senior season, ranking among statistical leaders both statewide and nationally (witness her jaw-dropping 0.11 ERA, for example). Marien has been named our ITG Next Florida Female Athlete of the Month for April, receiving 45.69% of the votes.
Considering the impact Marien has had on the Patriots in the last month, the numbers speak for themselves. In her eight April pitching appearances, she didn’t allow a single earned run, while racking up 94 strikeouts and surrendering only eight walks and 15 hits.
While the numbers are certainly great, Marien’s impact on this Lake Brantley team and program overall goes well beyond the field, according to Patriots head coach Jacob Stanley.
“It’s hard to measure just how impactful Hannah has been towards our success this season and towards the program as a whole, especially [for me] as a first-year coach,” Stanley said. “Hannah’s dominance in the circle can be easily identified through her stats and in turn has helped us win a lot of games. What isn’t as easily identified is who Hannah is behind the scenes, a leader in every sense of the word. She has been instrumental in leading our varsity roster that features nine underclassmen. Her positive impact on our program will be felt for years to come.
“I think there are a number of things that have equated to Hannah becoming the player she is today,” Stanley said. “Most importantly is her work ethic on and off the field. From daily workouts and training sessions to a strict diet, she has committed to preparing herself physically in ways that most athletes are not. Additionally, very few players are driven by competition the way Hannah is. She is a competitor and she wants the ball in the circle no matter who the opponent is.”
Stanley and the Patriots know exactly what they are getting every time the senior takes the field, something that benefits the team overall.
“To put it simply, Hannah gives us a chance to win every time she is in the circle,” Stanley said. “As a coach I know I have to do what it takes to get her one or two runs of support and she most likely is going to take care of the rest. In close games or tight situations, we are fortunate enough to have one of the very best in the circle. There’s no one I’m more confident in to get through it.”
Congratulations to Lake Brantley’s Hannah Marien, our ITG Next Florida Female Athlete of the Month.
