Sierra Rock, former catcher for the East Bay High School, signed her letter of intent alongside head softball coach Glenn Rodriguez. Rock will play catcher for the Lady Hawks at Hillsborough Community College.
After a years’ hiatus from softball Sierra ‘C.C.’ Rock, a former starting catcher for the East Bay Indians, decided she wanted to get back in the game. At the end of March, surrounded by friends and loved ones, Rock signed a letter of intent to play with Hillsborough Community College (HCC) Hawks.
Rock first started playing softball in elementary school. “I remember I was watching a baseball game and I saw Derek Jeter play,” said Rock. “I decided then and there that I wanted to play baseball like him.” While she could not play baseball like Jeter, she was immediately enrolled in a softball league.
Her love for softball continued throughout elementary school, middle school and high school, where she earned her starting catchers spot for the Indians. Her junior year at East Bay was a memorable one for Rock, as she helped the team claim the 2010 State Championship—the first ever state championship for East Bay High School.
“I just kept praying while I was up to bat ‘Please, just let me hit the ball’. And I did. I hit the ball, ran to second and prayed to the Lord,” said Rock, laughing. “I get goose bumps just thinking about it. I wear my ring proudly.”
Upon graduating East Bay in 2011 at the top 10 percent of her class, Rock decided that she wanted to take a break from softball in order to focus on her college classes. For the last year she has taken a full-course load of classes at HCC, where she is majoring in criminal justice, as well as working part-time and volunteering at South Shore United Methodist Church.
After attending several softball games at HCC as a spectator, Rock realized how much she missed the game. Well-known in the softball arena for her athletics and hard work, head softball coach, Ray Seymour, spotted Rock in the stands and asked if she was interested in getting back into the game. Rock was officially awarded with a full ride athletic scholarship with the Lady Hawks for next season.
At the signing Rock’s high school coach, Glenn Rodriguez, said, “CC has always been talented, always worked very hard and always did what I asked her to. I know that she will do great things and I am honored to be here.”
For more information on Hillsborough Community College, visit www.hccfl.edu.
