She's the young lady who seemingly has everything - other than free time.

From earning 14 letters to graduating with honors, to playing Pamela Whitmore in the school play, "South Pacific," to being Homecoming Queen to serving as Student Council President to serving as a dental assistant for her mother, Michelle Smith sees minutes pass as quickly as seconds.

"It's time management," the recent graduate from Catholic Central High School said. "I'm not off playing video games."

Still, how did she find the time to even play softball, let alone be voted All-Racine County Player of the Year by the county's coaches? The answer might be found in simply the will and determination that allows Smith to accomplish so much in life.

"What sets her apart from many other good players is her ability to carry a team with her desire to win," Catholic Central coach Bill Greskiw said. "There are good players and there are good players who are true leaders. She fits in that second category.

"The past two years, we've been especially young and especially diverse. Her determination and drive kept us focused and helped us be successful. In the past two years, we were 37-8 with two conference championships, a trip to state and another near miss (the Lady Toppers lost to eventual WIAA Division 4 state champion Oakfield in the sectional championship)."

Smith certainly has the athletic genes. Her late grandfather, Howard, was a defensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers from 1951-53. Her uncle Joe was a tight end for the University of Wisconsin from 1977-80. And her aunt Margie was one of the most successful female athletes in St. Catherine's history.

Combine her will with that genes and what we saw was an exceptional player who didn't have time to be exceptional.

"I often wonder how good she could have been had she concentrated on softball - practiced in the offseason and played at the club level," Greskiw said. "I honestly think that had she developed one more pitch, a dependable change-up, she could have been one of the greats."

If Smith falls a little short of that status as a softball player, she certainly meets the requirements of all-time greats in terms of making an impact at Catholic Central.

"I didn't ever want to have regrets in high school," she said. "If I had the instinct that I wanted to do something, I went with it. I tried to do everything - and I came close to it - but it was fun."

COACH OF THE YEAR: Greskiw made a pitch to his coaching peers during the All-County meeting for Waterford coach Jill Stobber to be named Coach of the Year. His sentiments weren't based on the fact Stobber isn't leaving the program to become athletic director at Whitnall but rather his longtime respect for her.

The other coaches obviously agreed with her, voting her that honor after she led a young Waterford team to a 14-13 record and into the WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinals.

"Jill works real hard at being a knowledgeable coach," Greskiw said. "She uses all available opportunities to attend clinics and learn from the great coaches who put them on. Jill has something going related to softball all year long. She doesn't rest on past accomplishments.

"I get to work with and talk to her girls all the time. And it's very clear how much they care about her. They're all good kids and Jill has a lot to do with that."

For Stobber, who led Waterford to a 146-99 record and four conference championships since taking over the program in 1999, winning this honor in her final season is something she cherishes.

"It's definitely a humbling honor," Stobber said. "To be respected by your peers that way when there were definitely other people deserving of it, is nice. It's nice to know that I have made a strong impact in the softball aspect.

"At the same time, I want to say it's a tribute to my kids and my assistant coach (Ellen Blair). Obviously, they made me just as successful."

THE MICHELLE SMITH FILE

SCHOOL: Catholic Central

CLASS: Senior

STATISTICS: Went 14-4 with a 1.06 earned run average and struck out 150 with 33 walks in 106 innings. She hit .383 with three doubles, one triple, two home runs and 18 RBIs.

HONORS: Two-time All-Midwest Classic Conference Player of the Year and Catholic Central Most Valuable Player. Was a Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association All-District 6 honorable mention player.

BEST GAMES: In a WIAA Division 4 sectional championship against eventual state champion Oakfield, Smith pitched a five-hitter and allowed two earned runs. Oakfield had a .401 batting average and scored 273 runs this season. Against Barneveld in the sectional semifinals, Smith pitched a two-hitter in five innings, struck out nine and walked one. She pitched a four-hit shutout with nine strikeouts against Belmont.

COLLEGE: Colorado State, where Smith will be a preferred walk on for the women's volleyball team.