Muhammad beats a path to success for Rogers softball

Marion Muhammad is fast – possibly the fastest softball player in the Greater Spokane League.

But even Muhammad couldn’t outrun one opponent as a Rogers High junior: fatigue.

“I was trying to work a full-time job and do Running Start,” the senior said. “That wasn’t working out well. It was hard to focus on all three major things.”

As a sophomore who had recently arrived from Chicago, Muhammad burst on the local softball scene, running down fly balls, stealing bases and earning second-team All-GSL honors.

But her junior year was a letdown.

So she left McDonald’s, left Eastern Washington University (“It was just too hard to get there,” she said) and concentrated on her studies – and softball.

Both are paying off.

Next year she is off to Lubbock, Texas, and will attend Texas Tech, where Muhammad will major in pharmacology and reunite with her sister.

And the hits and steals are back on the diamond – along with success for the Pirates.

Rogers is 6-2 in GSL play, tied for fourth and in good position to earn a 4A district playoff spot, the first step to the state tournament. The Pirates last appeared at state in 2002, and in their three appearances have finished as high as second (1995).

“We set our main goal, and it’s simple: We want to go to state,” she said. “Hopefully, we’ll get there. I know we’ll get to (districts). I’m really excited about that. I know we’ll do it.”

Muhammad is hitting .571, and is among the GSL leaders with eight stolen bases.

She’s also among the GSL leaders in articulation, vivaciousness and confidence.

“I’m a very relaxed hitter, and very aggressive when I go up to the plate,” the leadoff hitter said, “but at the same time, you have to pitch to me because I’m very picky.”

The pickiness is appropriate. The Oakland A’s, major league baseball’s most selective offensive team, is Muhammad’s favorite – she wears No. 3 in tribute to her favorite player, Eric Chavez – and she spent spring break in Oakland, Calif., visiting her father.

“I love playing softball,” she said. “It’s my life sport, because my dad played baseball and he introduced major league baseball to me and I fell in love with it. It’s just a fun, relaxed game.”