Prep softball: Grantsville's Matthews provides potent bat for

It cane be a little worrisome to listen to the way Grantsville softball coach Heidi Taylor describes the independent streak of senior Amy Matthews, then factor in that hair styling is a major interest in the high schooler's life.

No, Matthews does not show up to school with pink hair, a mohawk, spikes or anything like that.

If anything, she is rebellious in the opposite direction.

"I haven't even dyed it yet," Matthews said about her long, straight hair, acknowledging that many her age are far beyond her in that aspect.

Where Matthews' strong sense of self comes into play is in places like sports. She was a starting guard for the Grantsville girls basketball team and a starting outside hitter for the volleyball squad.

The senior is batting over .500 and has socked five home runs this softball season in her last turn wearing a Grantsville uniform.

"She doesn't let things get to her," Taylor said. "She's always had this attitude that she was going to do her thing. It's a contagious attitude."

Matthews has been on the Cowboys' varsity softball team since she was a freshman, when Grantsville ended up third in the Class 3A state tournament.

The Cowboys started this season by winning seven of eight games and entered the week 14-5.

"I'm planning on us doing really well [in the postseason]," said Matthews, who plays right field. "I think this team has a lot of potential. Our team just really works together. We have good team unity."

Matthews already has plotted a career course after high school. She plans to pursue a career in cosmetology, and says that while she's sad her high-school career is ending, she's also "ready to move on."

In the meantime, it's one more go for her high school, and Taylor is glad to have her there. While the Cowboys coach said that Matthews has the physical characteristics — quick hands, good eyes — that make her a threat at the plate, it's the intangibles that make her valuable.

"She is the type of person that every coach wants on the team," Taylor said.