Recent LHHS grad Siera Sproul (left) poses with new UTSA teammate Katie Burton at a recent meeting. Sproul, who had commited to ACU, got an opportunity to get a softball scholarship to UTSA - and took it (Sproul Family photo)

This past Sunday was the 18th birthday for recent Liberty Hill High School graduate Siera Sproul.

However, the former LHHS softball and volleyball star got a birthday present – a Division I birthday present.

Sproul, who had committed to Abilene Christian University last year (Dec. 16), announced she had been offered – and accepted – a softball scholarship to the University of Texas-San Antonio, an NCAA Division I school and a member of the Southland Conference.

Sproul signed on to UTSA two weeks ago.

“I’m very excited,” Sproul said Sunday over the phone. “UTSA offered me more and I got a really great deal to play for them. It’s great to get an athletic scholarship to UTSA – it’s a fine school and I like everything down there.”

Siera Sproul (center) is joined by two of her select team softball coaches, Jessca Spring (left) and Chrissy Short (right), at the Westin Hotel in Westminister, CO, as Sproul signs on to play Division I softball at UTSA (Sproul Family Photo)

UTSA had been one of the schools Sproul considered before announcing on Dec. 16, 2009 that she was headed to ACU, an NCAA Division II school, for softball.

But as summer rolled on things developed with UTSA and Sproul – who was in Colorado at the time – got an offer to play at UTSA two weeks ago.

“I’ve always hoped to play Division I softball,” an excited Sproul declared. “My new coach (Lori Cook, who just completed her fifth year at UTSA) told me I’d play the outfield, which is where I’d want to play.”

Academically, Sproul (who will attend freshman orientation on Aug. 9) is looking “to be a physical therapist.”

Needless to say, Sproul’s parents (Buddy and Tammy) and her brother (Steven) will have a much better chance to visit Siera at UTSA (about an hour-and-a-half away) as opposed to if she had gone to ACU (about three hours away).

“They’re all very happy about the shorter distance and travel time, and so am I,” Sproul remarked. “I’m very, very close to my family and I love them very much. This will be great for everyone.”

The UTSA Roadrunners finished 23-29 overall this past spring, including a 15-15 conference mark. The Roadrunners missed out making the conference tournament by one game, ending a streak of six consecutive postseason appearances.

Siera Sproul is introduced at last week's 11th Annual Austin Area All-Star game, a game dedicated to just-graduated seniors (Thunderstruckphotos.com Photo)

Final Score by Chuck Licata

Last Wednesday (June 16) was officially the “last day” of high school athletics for one of LibertyHillHigh School’s “legends.”

Siera Sproul – class of LHHS, 2010 – represented the Lady Panthers (and on a larger scale, the Liberty Hill community) in the 11th Annual Austin All-Star Game, played at WestlakeHigh School.

I’ve done work with the game – which features just-graduated seniors from the Austin/Central Texas area and awards scholarship monies for the MVP from each squad – for 10 of the 11 years it’s been in existence (I had an out-of-town trip one year). It’s my favorite charity with which to donate my time – it raises funds for our local student-athletes, it promotes local softball and the two people I work with (Barbara Gerard and Chuck Slovacek) are a blast.

LHHS grad Siera Sproul played the outfield during the Austin All-Star game last Wednesday (Thunderstruckphotos.com Photo)

This particular game, though, will be very special because of Sproul’s presence.

If you’ve read any of my articles or columns over the past three years, you know I’ve called Sproul “one of the most under-rated female student-athletes in LibertyHillHigh School history.” Some day when I start an LHHS Hall-of-Fame, she’ll be on my first ballot.

In case you didn’t know, here’s Siera’s “credentials” listed in the All-Star Game program: “Siera has earned four varsity letters playing softball and three playing volleyball for LibertyHillHigh School. Her softball honors include Offensive Player of the Year (2010), First Team All District (2009), Second Team All District (’07, ’08) and Academic All District (’07, ’08). Her volleyball honors include Setter of the Year (2010), Academic All District (’08, ’09, ’10) and Second Team All District (2009).

“Siera was named to the National Honor Society, named Distinguished Graduate, earned Panther Award (’07, ‘08), and won a Presidential Award (2009). Siera played for the Texas Blaze, Comets and Stix Gold teams. She will be on the ball field for AbileneChristianUniversity next year.”

Siera Sproul was robbed of a hit in her only at-bat - she hit a line drive down the right-field line that was caught (Thunderstruckphotos.com Photo)

Okay, so now you kind of get an idea why Siera’s name should be listed among LibertyHillHigh School’s best ever.

Anyone who came in contact with Siera also knew she was a class act. In talking with several of her teammates over the past couple years everyone had the highest regard and respect for Sproul. Her former mates said she was a “quiet” leader but someone who wanted to push her teammates – and herself – to their ultimate limits to perform their best, both on and off the field.

Back in September (2009), I interviewed Sproul about the LHHS volleyball team which had yet to live up to its high expectations.

After the interview, I asked her if one of my previous columns – one which stated the volleyball team needed someone to “step up” and “take charge” in clutch situations – was a fair assessment. Since I’d interviewed Siera and talked to her over the years, I figured she’d give me an honest answer.

She didn’t disappoint.

Siera told me, “Yes, it was fair. In fact, I cut it out and showed the team. But to be honest, Chuck, we don’t need just one player to step up in clutch situations – we need the entire team to step up and perform to our own expectations!”

Lo and behold, those Lady Panthers stepped up in a huge way; they not only made the playoffs but “stepped up” their way to the Region I semifinals.

And don’t think for a second Sproul wasn’t among the protagonists on that team. It was just one highlight in a career full of highlights – again, both on and off the court or playing field.

Siera Sproul will be missed by many in the LHHS community. She’ll be among those LHHS graduates who will not only be great examples for the younger students coming up, but will also be talked about for many years to come.