Nicholson plays on with softball scholarship to Patten
University
GILROY – Pitcher Melissa Nicholson never expected to get a scholarship to play softball in college. In fact, she wasn’t even looking for one as the left-handed hurler finished off her sophomore campaign at Gavilan College two seasons ago.
“I wasn’t expecting to play anywhere else after here,” said Nicholson, a 2001 Gilroy High graduate. “I wanted to transfer to go to school some where, but not to play.”
Sometimes things happen when you least expect it, and that’s exactly what happened to Nicholson – who just completed her first season on scholarship at Patten University in Oakland.
“I always wanted to get a scholarship, but I never thought I would get one,” Nicholson said. “I just kind of ran into it.”
For two seasons, Nicholson was the Lady Rams’ ace pitcher and both years the team played against Patten University. Well, Patten’s head coach Bob Olivera took notice and, knowing she was a second-year player, inquired about her to Gavilan assistant Bruce Nicholson, not knowing it was Melissa’s father.
“Gavilan hasn’t been doing well, but we beat them a couple of times,” said Nicholson, whose father immediately passed the information along to her. “I was kind of leery going there, but I was not looking to play for the best team. I was just looking to play.”
At first, Nicholson, who admits she is “stubborn”, did not even want to go visit the campus. It took some convincing before she decided to make the trip up to Oakland.
“I was expecting to hate it,” she said. “I was hoping I would, but it was what I was looking for and I didn’t even know what I was looking for.”
Patten University is a small non-denominational Christian School in the middle of Oakland. The sports teams play in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
The 21-year-old decided to take the scholarship and lived on campus in the dorms. She majored in liberal studies with a concentration in history and a minor in biblical studies. She attends chapel twice a week.
Nicholson not only enjoyed the classroom environment, but also was continuing to be part of a team.
“It was so much fun,” Nicholson said. “We did a lot of traveling to Oregon and up and down California. Next year, we’re going to Iowa.”
Like most Gilroyans, she started playing tee-ball in the local little league. Nicholson then played one year of Pride Softball in Morgan Hill and two years at Gilroy High School as well as at Gavilan College. It all prepared her for a smooth transition to Patten.
“(Softball) keeps me in shape and it keeps me busy,” Nicholson said. “I meet a lot of people because we travel a lot and make new friends.”
Nicholson was a starting pitcher as well as a utility player who got some action at first base and in the outfield. The junior batted .245 in her first season with 13 hits in 28 at-bats and five runs-batted-in. The team finished with a 5-35 overall record.
“We have some really good players. We’re a really young team. We have like six or seven freshmen,” Nicholson said. “The competition is totally different. It was definitely a step up. It was very difficult, but that made it that much more fun.”
