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Click Here 42 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, January 31, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend December 19, 2003 She’s letter perfect Eagle Point’s Bateman has earned 11 letters in four sports, including basketball, where she’s made a record run By KEVIN GOFF Mail Tribune EAGLE POINT — At the end of the 2004 school year, Eagle Point High will be in need of some assistance. The help-wanted poster could read: In need of full-time student/athlete capable of competing year-round in multiple sports. Must be willing to assist those in need, steady a middle infield, leap to great lengths and obtain multiple varsity letters. OK, so Eagle Point isn’t likely to fill the shoes of senior do-everything Kristina Bateman. Bateman, who has collected 11 varsity letters in a multitude of sports — and that’s not counting a couple letters yet to come — is currently a starting guard on the Eagles’ girls basketball team. Advertisement Behind a pair of record performances by Bateman, Eagle Point has raced to a 4-0 start in nonconference action. The 17-year-old tied the school record in assists with 11 against Yreka, Calif., on Dec. 2, then took the mark for herself one week later with 12 assists during a victory over Henley. "I had no idea," says Bateman of her record-setting performance. "We were down at halftime, and I wasn’t really focusing on anything else but helping us win the game. "Then after the game, someone told me I had 12 assists. I was kind of surprised." Bateman committed herself to being a leader on the floor this season, and so far it’s paid off. She also didn’t play volleyball this fall — she claims it wasn’t one of her strong suits — for the first time in her prep career to focus on basketball. "In the past, I’d try to fastbreak and wouldn’t get the ball," says Bateman, who plays an off-guard but fills the vacancy at the point when starter Salina Sychla heads to the bench. "This year, I thought I’d try to push the ball and focus on getting other people the ball." It wasn’t a smooth start for the 5-foot-8 Bateman, but she’s had four years to mold herself into a dominant force on the court. Bateman, who found little playing time as a freshman, took over a starting spot the next season and hasn’t given it up. "I think she’s gained a lot of experience since last season," says Eagle Point coach Bob Kleker. "She’s reading the floor better and making the correct pass. "Kristina has this knack of being able to thread the needle (with passes). It makes coaches hold their breath a little, but then when it gets through, you just say what a great pass it was." Aside from assisting the offense, Bateman is the Eagles’ defensive stopper. "When we’re playing man-to-man defense, it’s a given that Kristina has (the other team’s) top scorer," says Kleker. He points to one game in particular that shows Bateman’s defensive worth. Last season, with the Eagles visiting SOC powerhouse Ashland, Kleker handed Bateman the assignment of shutting down Southern Oregon Conference first-team all-star Hilary Huyett. Huyett finished with a hard-earned 14 points, but Bateman made her work for them. "A player like Huyett is going to get hers," says Kleker. "But Kristina held her down and kept us in the game." The Eagles lost that Ashland game and didn’t get a sniff of the state playoffs, but Bateman and her teammates lost several tight contests that could have gone either way. When the basketball season concluded, Bateman didn’t have time to ponder the what-might-have-beens. Softball and track and field came calling. Bateman has juggled the two spring sports in the past but may resign her spot as the starting shortstop in softball to concentrate on track. Bateman finished third at the district meet in the triple jump last year and figures to be one of the top competitors in the event with the graduation of the top two SOC finishers. The lure of a place at the Class 4A track meet and getting ready for college — she plans to attend Oregon State University next fall — could help fill the void left without softball. Eagle Point’s void will be much larger come next fall. Reach reporter Kevin Goff at 776-4480 or e-mail [email protected] . 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