North Carolina State University Athletics
Miranda Ervin Says "YES!" to a Busy Summer
8/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Aug. 10, 2005
RALEIGH, N.C. - Miranda Ervin has stayed busy in her two years at NC State. On the field, the rising junior has played in 114 games in two years as a catcher with the Wolfpack Softball team, while off the field she has progressed in school and stayed busy throughout the summer. Last summer she played softball in California. This summer the Huntersville, N.C. native travelled to the Women's College World Series to take part in the NCAA's YES! Clinics - the Youth Education Though Sports Program. Ervin has also balanced workouts, a Coca-Cola internship and recently a trip back to California for a 23 and under National Tournament as a member of the Virginia Legends.
"They put us in charge of a group of kids at the YES! Clinic and I was coaching the oldest group who were still in high school," Ervin said. "I was their coach for the day and went with them from station to station teaching them skills of the game, sportsmanship and even life skills. It was a great experience."
Her experience with the kids, many from underprivileged areas, helped her awareness grow, and it also showed Ervin what she has always known. When her playing days are up, she has a desire to work in softball after her playing days are done.
"I've always known that I wanted to stay in softball after my playing was done, I can't just be away from the game," Ervin said. "I enjoyed my work with the kids and think I can be a good teacher of the game of softball."
Apart from coaching her group of kids, Ervin was able to watch most of the Women's College World Series in early June, as the YES! Clinics are held during the NCAA Championships at the sites of various team sponsored sports by the NCAA. She learned a few things that can help the third-year Wolfpack program improve and hopefully advance to the postseason for the first time in school history.
"The players at the World Series were intense from the minute they walked on the field for the duration of the game," Ervin said. "If it was a seven inning or ten inning game each player on the team had a role, whether you were on the field or on the bench. One girl on Texas' team, the only thing I saw her do all weekend was high-five [Texas pitcher] Cat Osterman when she came off the field. Once a team learns what their role is on a team, the better that team will be in playing together."
Ervin took time off from her summer internship with Coca-Cola to travel to the World Series, but as the first job she has ever had, she was able to gain valuable experience from working in Wake County with various promotions.
"I worked as an intern for sales and marketing, and we organized and ran a promotion called Community Connection," Ervin said. "We had a contest for Backyard BBQ, took surveys and promotions at stores around Raleigh, and promoted Vault, the new energy drink. Our goal was to go to 50 stores and successfully install these programs, and we were able to get 42 to complete it."
The job helped her deal with time management and also opened her eyes culturally to the diverse populations in Wake County.
More diversity became a part of her summer this week, as she and many ACC rivals joined a 23 and under squad to compete in a national tournament in Lancaster, California.
With her summer winding down, Ervin will prepare for her third season as the first freshman class in school history continues it's impressive run heading into its third year. Last season saw the Wolfpack post 41 wins and a .500 finish in the ACC, including a win in the ACC Tournament over North Carolina, the first tournament victory in school history.
