To say Hannah DeArman is determined to play softball is an understatement. The Rhea County sophomore's perseverance is more specific than that.
DeArman is determined to play catcher. One might say she'd even give up her right arm to do so.
In a manner of speaking, that's what has happened.
DeArman began playing softball at age 5 in a coach-pitch recreation league in Dayton. When she was 9 and eligible to play for the first time with live pitching, DeArman became fascinated with becoming a catcher.
Two years ago, she was ready to make the transition from middle school to high school softball. The Lady Eagles' starting catcher had just graduated, and DeArman's sights were set on moving into that role.
Then while playing summer ball for the Tennessee Blast, a fateful throw during a practice ended up having life-altering repercussions. DeArman suffered a torn labrum and torn bicep in her right throwing arm.
"It was like ripping a piece of paper," DeArman said. "It hurt real bad."
She had surgery in August 2014, with three anchors inserted to reattach the labrum cartilage to the bone. She then had to go through physical therapy, which included exercises designed to repair her bicep.
DeArman required a second surgery in February 2015. Two more anchors were put in place, and her bicep had to be clipped.
She asked doctors about returning to a softball field one day. She said she was told "it probably wouldn't be the best thing to do."
So what did DeArman do? She taught herself to throw left-handed.
"I was not about to do all that therapy again," she said. "But I had no idea it would end up like this. I learned how to tie my shoe with one hand. I had to write left-handed for a long time.
"I didn't want to stop playing. It wasn't time. I never even thought of quitting."
DeArman did not play her freshman season at Rhea County but dressed in uniform and kept the scorebook in the dugout to remain a part of the team.
She would also throw with teammates during warmups before games. Left-handed teammate Delaney Smith, Rhea's center fielder and leadoff batter, let her borrow a glove.
After last season, she spoke with Rhea coach Leah Price about her future. Price wasn't opposed to her continuing to pursue her dream of catching again, but the coach was cautious.
"I thought it was going to be a long shot," Price said. "But I told her, 'If you love the game that much, we'll work at it.' And she did. She worked outside of team practices. January, February came around, I'd see her throw, and she started looking fairly natural."
Price decided to fill the catching vacancy with junior Ashton Hill, a former second baseman. Senior Kelsey Sherrill, who has been through shoulder surgery with the same doctor as DeArman, has stepped in at second base.
"I know gaining the strength to come back is hard," Sherrill said. "I can't even imagine having to switch arms. That's crazy. She's an inspiration to everybody on the team with her dedication and persistence."
Designated player, similar to baseball's designated hitter, has been DeArman's primary role this season on a team that has winning records both overall and in District 6-AAA. Price also has given her playing time behind the plate when the coach believed the Lady Eagles had a comfortable enough lead to make substitutions.
Coupled with her handling the catching duty on the junior varsity team, that may satisfy DeArman to some degree.
But not completely.
"You wouldn't know she wasn't left-handed if you didn't know her story," Price said. "She's been an inspiration for all of them to keep working. She's overcome a lot.
"Her mind for the game is so sharp. If she wants to coach one day, she'll be really great at it."
DeArman may already have a jumpstart on that coaching career by trying to forecast next year's lineup. Sherrill's graduation opens the spot at second base - where Hill, the current starting catcher, used to play.
"I want to start at catcher," DeArman said. "I knew it was going to be hard to get there, but that's still my goal.
"We're losing our second baseman. Ashton plays second base. So if I can come back with a good enough arm
"Hey. I've got plans, man."
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.