Nicolle Rose lends royal touch to Ferris team

Nicknames in sports are as old as the games themselves.

Monikers like “the Babe,” “His Airness” and “the Kid” are as identifiable as the athletes themselves.

In the case of Ferris softball catcher Nicolle Rose, her nickname is pretty true to life.

The Saxon senior is referred to as “Princess” by her teammates, because Rose is the Ferris High School Lilac Festival princess this year.

“They call her ‘princess,’ at practice and at games,” said Ferris head coach Linda Bushinski. “They kind of dig it, and they think it’s pretty neat that she’s doing that.

“She just laughs and smiles.”

“I’m not someone who has a real princess attitude about things,” Rose said with a laugh. “I’m kind of one of those people who play around in the dirt and stuff.”

Playing the position of catcher will do that. Unlike many softball players though, Rose didn’t begin playing until she was in seventh grade.

“I actually hated softball,” said Rose. “My friends were going out, so they got me to go out. I didn’t have a position to play, so the coach had me try out whatever position I wanted, and I loved catching.

“I’ve always played catcher and third base.”

Rose has come from an almost recreational outlook on the sport to becoming the Saxon captain the past two seasons.

“She brings leadership to our team,” said Bushinski. “She’s our No. 4 hitter.

“She actually has the most power. She does bring power to bat when she does make contact.

“The biggest thing is she provides most of the team leadership on the field.”

“I get along pretty well with all the girls,” Rose said. “We have kind of a split team.

“We have some freshman and sophomores, and some juniors and seniors. That’s where I’m called on for leadership, especially with freshman and sophomores on the team.”

The catcher is often looked upon to be the captain of the infield defense, but Rose is much more than that to the Saxons.

“Her communication with those kids, she understands where we’re at as a team, and she’s so good at talking to the kids and making it fun,” Bushinski said. “She has a real ability to make people laugh, even in the most difficult times, which is good.”

While starting her career as a reserve player in the program, Rose has become a starter by improving her ability both offensively and defensively for the Saxons.

“She’s come a long way in two years,” Bushinski said. “Her blocking has come a long way.

“We really haven’t had strong pitching since she’s been here. She doesn’t have the strongest arm, but even if we had just average pitching, she’d be throwing a lot more kids out.”

“Definitely my blocking has got a lot better,” Rose said. “A large part of that is better pitching. I feel like experience has given me a much calmer head behind the plate. …

“I think I had to improve, because last year, I didn’t hit at all,” she said with a laugh. “I’m hitting pretty well.

“I don’t know what my batting average is, but I usually go 1-3 or 1-2 a game, not always, but my hitting has improved from last year. My coach has worked an awful lot with me on my swing.”

Rose, who will attend the University of Idaho in its honors program next year, is hoping her hard work will pay off not only for this year’s team but future Saxon clubs.

“Obviously we want to win some games,” Rose said. “We want to have some fun.

“I think all of us seniors hope that the freshman and sophomores become juniors and seniors … and they think were positive examples. Part of being a role model and a leader in anything is that we leave a lasting impression.”