Local Pitcher the Picture of Versatility
Posted by Alexa Maremaa on Oct 29, 2006 - 10:00:00 PM
BEVERLY HILLS—At age 3 she killed her neighbor’s piranha with a home run. At age 17 her fastball is improving at a velocity of 5 mph a year. But for Brianne "Bree" Nemiroff, softball is only one piece of the plan.
The senior starting pitcher for Beverly Hills High girls’ softball, Nemiroff can back a hitter off the plate or play a Sonata in C major on the viola.
In fact, Nemiroff is recognized around the Beverly campus for her duel interests.
“I’m kinda known for having a viola on one shoulder and a softball bag on the other, so I can’t get through a door,” Nemiroff joked.
Nemiroff’s love for music led her pick up the guitar for the first time last summer and she plans to major in music at college next year.
But make no mistake about it—the only rival to Nemiroff’s versatility is her intense competitive spirit. Take her mentality on the mound, for instance, where she intimidates opposing batters with a stare.
“I try to look at a batter and try to interpret their stance and how they approach hitting,” Nemiroff explained. “If they look confident, I try to bring them down. If they look scared, I try to bring them down. If they are good, I try to prove to them I’m better.”
No wonder No. 13 Michigan is scouting her. Nemiroff would make a great addition to a Wolverine squad that is losing senior starter and former Big-Ten Pitcher of the Year, Jennie Ritter. But Nemiroff is keeping her options open and applying to 10 colleges around the nation, including University of New Mexico and Arizona State.
Nemiroff holds a special position for the Normans, having played on the varsity squad since her sophomore year and being one of the few girls with softball as her primary sport.
But injuries sidelined Nemiroff for four weeks last season.
“My release was off, I was throwing the arm out instead of snapping,” Nemiroff recounted. “My shoulder was dislocated slightly; the nerve was hurt all the way down to the pinky.”
But just like she won’t let a few nerves keep her from playing rock guitar in a Battle of the Bands on campus, Nemiroff won’t allow her injury to hold her back this year, her last at Beverly.
“I’m trying to be very optimistic for this season and develop more pitches,” she said.
Namely, Nemiroff is working on velocity, variety of pitches, fastball, change, trying to get a curveball and drop-ball, and speed on the bases.
And Nemiroff’s goals keep growing, including the desire to try out for the Olympics her freshman year in college. It wasn’t until she watched the 2004 Olympics, Nemiroff thought, “I need to do that.”
“I’ve been improving at such a rate, 10 miles per hour a year. I was at 25-30 [mph] when I started, now I’m up to 55, and we think I’ll be up to 60 by start of season,” she said.
Tryouts for Varsity finished last week, and Nemiroff is excited to get back out on the mound, especially against Ocean League rival Santa Monica. The powerhouse Vikings beat Beverly twice last season by a combined score of 13-4.
The Lady Normans posted a 13-12 record last year, 6-4 in league play. The team reached the CIF-SS Division III Playoffs, but lost to Lancaster 8-0.
Multitalented and competitive, Nemiroff will surely be an asset to Beverly this season, and to any university where she takes the mound.
Serving Bel Air, Benedict Canyon, Beverly Hills. Brentwood,
Laurel Canyon, Los Feliz, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Melrose, Santa Monica,
Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Topanga Canyon, Westwood & Hollywood Hills.
