Estancia product still swinging for fences

Kim Voisard is a baseball player. She used to be a softball player and a good one, but then she played in a baseball game and things changed. The slower pace of the game, the camaraderie it built; it was baseball, it was different and she could not go back.

So, just like all baseball players with a passion for the game, when her name was called, she was ready.

Voisard was formerly Kim Braatz, who starred in softball at Estancia High before moving on to Saddleback College, where she played her way into the California Community College Sports Hall of Fame before moving on to the University of New Mexico to be an All-American.

But now her country needed her to play baseball for the women's national team in the World Cup.

Voisard had not played baseball on a regular basis since leading the team to a gold medal in the 2004 World Cup, when she was named a tournament All-Star.

She made herself ready. Voisard, who turned 37 in July, made the move back to her favorite position, center field. She played right field in 2004.

Center field is a position that fits more than her skills; it fits her personality. In center, she can be a coach, lead the outfield while making sure teammates on either side of her are enjoying themselves.

For the tournament, held in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei, Voisard hit .389 and once again earned All-Star honors while helping the U.S. win gold.

She went seven for 18 in six games with three doubles, one triple, four RBIs and six runs. Against Cuba, she was three for four with two doubles and three RBIs. She finished with a .667 slugging percentage.

The Americans finished 5-1 in the seven-team tournament, outscoring opponents by a combined margin of 51-23.

While the six other teams in the competition all trained for an extended period of time, the U.S. team only practiced together for a month. But Voisard said the short preparation time made the outcome even sweeter.

"Striving for that goal in such a short time draws you closer together," she said. "We were like one big family."

This year's team was a little closer than the one in 2004. First-time manager Julie Croteau, with players ages 15 to 39, made a point to room older players with younger players in order to form one cohesive unit.