The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

High School Sports

July 11, 2010

Wyoming East’s Mullins signs to play at Concord

By Dan Stillwell Register-Herald Sports Writer

Christian Mullins is going to miss being a catcher.

The recent Wyoming East graduate will probably revert to her natural position of second base when she next takes the field as a Concord Mountain Lion.

“I’m really comfortable at second, but I actually like catching a lot,” Mullins said. “It’s a more intense position. You’re in on every play.”

Mullins, who recently signed a letter-of-intent with Concord, was a model of versatility in her four years as a Warrior.

She played left field as a freshman and both shortstop and second base her next two seasons.

This spring, with East needing a catcher, she moved behind the plate.

It was a good move for both her and the team. Mullins worked well with talented pitching duo Chelsea Whitten and Brandi McGraw, helping the Warriors compile a 17-6 record.

The move wasn’t easy. Catcher is a physical position  — foul balls hit you, baserunners crash into you and it’s tough on your knees — but Mullins quickly adapted.

“It’s rough,” she said. “But once you’re into the game, with the intensity of it all, you really don’t feel it until afterwards.”

Her bat certainly didn’t suffer. She batted .583 with 37 runs batted in, 14 doubles, three triples and two home runs.

Mullins’ totals not only earned her a first-team catching spot on the Class AA all-state team, but drew attention from Concord.

One trip to Athens and there was no question where she would continue her education and softball career.

“I loved it as soon as I got there,” she said. “I liked the coach and the players seemed easy to get along with. And it’s not too far from home.”

Some players don’t like having their parents at games. Not Mullins, however.

“My dad (former Pineville High School sports standout Chris Mullins) pretty much taught me everything I know. He’s the one who works with me after practice,” she said.

“He was at almost every game and I like having him there. I can ask him what I’m doing wrong at the plate and he’ll tell me and I can fix it then. It’s like having my own batting coach at a game.”

From all indications, Concord will utilize Mullins at second base. Bye-bye, catching.

“They talked to me a little about playing second,” she said. “There’s no guarantees about a starting spot. They may throw me in there and see how I do.”

She’ll miss playing for the Warriors, who had a winning record in each of her four seasons.

With a senior-dominated team, this had looked to be East’s year to reach the state tournament in Vienna. But Independence, a team the Warriors had beaten twice in the regular season, prevailed 7-2 over them in the regional semifinals.

“It was disappointing, but we had a lot of goals and achieved most of them,” Mullins said. “We really came together as a team this year and had fun.

“Even if we didn’t go to states, we worked hard and we had a good season.”

— E-mail: dstillwell@register-herald.com

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