Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 5, 1990 TAG: 9004060402
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-1 EDITION: SOUTH
SOURCE: Bob Teitlebaum Sportswriter
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Spring, however, is hectic because the Vikings junior is participating in track, softball and AAU basketball.
But Fisher finds her biggest problems during track and softball season.
Last week, for example, Fisher played in a softball game against William Byrd while the girls' track team ran against Franklin County.
"She [Fisher] has designated days with track and designated days with us," said Northside softball coach Lynn Richmond. "If there are meets or games involved, we just work around it."
Fisher played against William Byrd and didn't run or jump against Franklin County because the softball game was a district contest and the track meet was not.
If there are no conflicts, Fisher practices or plays softball Monday, Wednesday and Friday. She runs or practices track on Tuesday or Thursday. Games or meets in either sport take precedent over practice.
The fact is that Fisher's heart is into basketball and softball. Track is a diversion. But what a diversion. Last year, without practicing, she won five individual events in the Blue Ridge District track meet.
Fisher runs both hurdle events and might participate on the mile-relay team this year. She also does the long, triple and high jumps.
"I'm into team-sport programs," Fisher admitted. "I just like to play with other people rather than by myself."
So why does she even participate in track?
"I think I can get a scholarship in basketball, but if not, there's track [as a backup]," said Fisher.
She says her grades are average, except for math, which gives her trouble. Fisher expects to have no trouble qualifying under NCAA Proposition 48 guidelines (700 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test and a 2.0 grade point average) if she is offered a Division I scholarship.
The fact is that Fisher is as talented as she is busy. She was picked second-team All-Timesland girls' basketball as a junior and made second-team All-Group AA last fall.
She was picked as the athlete to watch in USA Today this fall, which says a lot for her versatility and ability.
For all the sports, Fisher likes basketball. When it comes to the cage game, she's a playing junkie.
"A majority of the year, she's involved with basketball," said Northside girls' coach Marilynn Bussey . "She's had a good experience with AAU basketball. She's traveled to state and national competition.
"I know last summer, we didn't see her a lot because she was playing AAU. We went to team camp when she was back, but she didn't go. It was a good time [for her] to take a break."
The 5-foot-8 1/2 Fisher averaged 18.2 points a game. "She did a much better job this year of challenging herself," said Bussey. "Last year, I didn't always feel she pushed herself.
"She wasn't a practice player. Some players aren't. They'll give you everything they have in a game. This year she was a practice player.
"As a freshman, I felt like she wasn't thinking all the time. If we were in a man-to-man defense, she had a tendency to chase after the ball wherever it was. This year she had a total picture [of what we wanted to do]."
"Patti's a very talented young lady," said Richmond, an assistant basketball coach. "Whereas different people learn at different levels, I can tell Patti exactly what I want her to do and she does it. Some people have to practice, practice, practice to do it."
Fisher ran track in junior high. Northside started softball the year she entered high school, and Fisher soured on track.
"I wasn't going to run track [last spring]. Coach [James] Wolfe asked me to go to the district meet. I missed a softball game for that meet," said Fisher.
She eventually qualified for the Group AA meet and placed fourth in the 300-meter hurdles and fifth in the high jump against athletes who had practiced much of the spring and some who had run indoors meets.
As much as she likes team sports, Fisher dislikes track events that feature only running.
"The field events and hurdles have something more to them than just running around the track," said Fisher.
Fisher has not played for great teams. As a sophomore, the basketball team suffered through a losing season with only eight players. The softball team didn't win a game.
Thanks in large part to Fisher, the Vikings' girls' track team finished second in the Blue Ridge District and fifth in the Region III meet.
She explains her baseball and basketball success because of competition at an early age against boys. "I played baseball for a rec club when I was 6 years old with boys."
Because she played baseball rather than softball that most girls play, Fisher said she's used to the speed in fast pitch softball.
Before she entered the recreation basketball program, she played against older brother Mike. "I was 8 years old, and he taught me most of the moves," said Fisher.
Despite her ability, Fisher isn't a showboat and she doesn't hog the ball. As a shortstop in softball, she is controlled as she takes charge. As a guard in basketball, she's always willing to pass to teammates.
"I don't like to be a ball hog. We had enough people to pass the ball to last year like Heather Dent. If I threw her the ball, she'd usually make it," said Fisher, who had 4.8 assists to go along with her scoring.
It's easy to figure Fisher's interests. "Sports are a main part of my life. My parents begged me not to play softball. They thought it would be better if I concentrated on track. But I said I wanted to play.
"If it wasn't for sports, I don't know what I'd do. Sports is all I ever do."
Richmond says she has no idea what Fisher's best sport is. "As far as track goes, she's super. She's a complete team player."
"She's a take-charge type player, but Patti's not a showboat. She has a lot of energy. The older she gets, the more she's learning how to gear it in a controlled manner. Last year she did her own thing. Now she's channeling it in the right direction."
Despite mastering three sports, Fisher is going for a fourth next year. "I'll probably play volleyball as a senior," said Fisher, who then won't have a moment's rest.
by CNB