Canaan BurnettCHICKAMAUGA, Ga. - Canaan Burnett's recent decision to commit to Stetson University made sense on two reasons for the Gordon Lee High School sophomore.
As most teenagers to, she loves the beach. As her commitment shows, she also loves softball, so choosing the DeLand, Fla., school takes care of two things at once.
Burnett, who was a key cog in the Lady Trojans' recent Class AA championship, informed Stetson coaches she had accepted their offer on a visit this past weekend.
"I've always wanted to play ball in Florida," she said. "I've always loved palm trees and the beach, and once I got the offer I had to jump on it. Some of my family have mixed feelings about it being eight hours from home, but they said if I'm happy they will be happy."
The pitcher, who was mainly a designated hitter for the 37-2 state champion Lady Trojans this past season, has had a connection with Stetson for some time.
"When I was younger I was pitching with (assistant coach) Amanda Lindsey from Chattanooga State, who had graduated from Stetson," Burnett said. "She kept pushing the school and she would send information to their coaches about me. I was too young at that age to be recruited, but once I got older and the process started, I looked at it.
"The coaches watched me pitch several times over the summer and asked me to visit. It's an amazing academic and athletic school. and I just fell in love with it."
Burnett was 5-0 this year and batted over .300 following a scary incident late in the summer in which she injured her back.
"I was at regular practice and bent down to pick up my tennis shoes, and my back just went out," she said. "I strained my L5 (vertebra) and spent three months doing physical therapy. I still have to work on it, but I know how to keep it maintained."
Gordon Lee coach Dana Mull said Burnett's makeup will take her a long way in the coming years.
"She's a determined pitcher," Mull said. "She just wants to prove to everybody that she's a good pitcher and she carries that determination to the field. We haven't used her as much being behind Emily (Armour), but next year I look for her to settle into a bigger pitching role."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296. Follow him at twitter.com/youngsports22.