June 3, 2005

Who turns down a chance to turn pro? In this case, someone with a great deal of sense. Kristen Brust spurned an offer to try out for the professional Juggernaut so she could hone her softball skills for the future.

Two weeks after graduating from Stony Brook University, Brust boarded a plane for California, where she will play for Storm USA, a women's team in the highest ranks of amateur play. Brust believes this will prepare her for a legitimate shot at making the National Pro Fastpitch softball league.

"The competition is 10 times better than I ever played against," Brust said by phone from Corona, near Los Angeles. "I'm going to play here this summer and get more experience. I think right now, that is what I need to do."

Stony Brook coach Megan Bryant said her former first baseman, the best softball player in school history, made the right decision. "It was quite a compliment to be invited to the Juggernaut spring training," she said. "[But] she may or may not have played with the Juggernaut, she might have gotten cut, then what do you do? She left it with them that she committed to the Storm and this was good for her development right now. They encouraged her to keep in touch."

Brust's college career statistics included a .347 average with 46 homers and 144 RBIs. She received her degree in social science and history, but softball remains in her immediate plans.

"I want to get my master's in education and then coach someday," she said. "But right now, I want to keep playing."