Scholar Athlete: Trinity freshman strives toward excellence in the classroom

Published 12:01 am Thursday, September 19, 2013

Trinity Episcopal School first baseman Hannah Fitt reaches to catch a ball last week in a game against Wilkinson County Christian School at Concordia Recreation District 3 complex. (Justin Sellers \ The Natchez Democrat)

Trinity Episcopal School first baseman Hannah Fitt reaches to catch a ball last week in a game against Wilkinson County Christian School at Concordia Recreation District 3 complex. (Justin Sellers \ The Natchez Democrat)

NATCHEZ — There’s a lot of pressure in the Fitt household for Trinity Episcopal day School freshman Hannah Fitt.

Fitt, a first baseman for the Lady Saints’ softball team, made all As on her most recent progress report, except for one 89 in geometry. But since Hannah shoots for a 93 in each class, the grade wasn’t quite to her liking, according to her mother, Tina Fitt.

“Her goal is to be valedictorian, so in order to qualify for that, she have to have a 93 or above in those rigorous classes her entire four years,” Tina explained.

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Hannah said her mother constantly pushes her academically, but she also said she’s grateful that she has the support at home.

“I’m glad she’s there to push me,” Hannah said. “I don’t think I’d push myself as hard as I do if she weren’t there. She’s a really good supporter.”

On the other hand, Hannah said her father, Ripp Fitt, isn’t quite as tough on her as her mother is.

“He’s a little more laid-back, but he still pushes me,” Hannah said.

Hannah said her relationship with her mother is good, and they often spend time talking about sports and watching LSU and Saints games together.

“We go out to eat and have mother-daughter time,” Hannah said.

Tina said she and her daughter have an openness with each other that allows them to get along well.

“We’re very honest with each other and always have been,” Tina said. “She’s a good person and a likeable kid, and she’s fun to be around. She’s very mature, and that’s a characteristic of being an only child, since she’s surrounded more by adults then she is children.”

On the softball field, Lady Saints head coach Miranda Doughty said Hannah is a pleasure to coach and is a team leader — even if Hannah doesn’t realize it herself.

“She’s not a loud person — she doesn’t stand out with her voice, but she does with her actions,” Doughty said. “Her attitude is always good. She’s very polite and respectful to me as a coach.”

Doughty said Hannah always takes whatever advice her coach gives her, which is why she enjoys coaching Hannah so much.

“She wants to learn and get better,” Doughty said. “She’s our No. 4 batter, and she’s been struggling the past couple of games, so she asked me what she needed to do. I told her, and she’s done it.”

And the fact that she listens makes a huge difference to Doughty.

“Sometimes you get to the point where you say something so many times and you’re like, ‘Why say it anymore?’” Doughty said. “It’s not like that with her, and it makes it so much easier as a coach.”

Hannah said she takes academics seriously because she wants to get a good job when she’s an adult and be able to support her family without having to rely on anyone else. She said she’s considering being a radiologist or a surgeon, though she doesn’t know what type.

Athletically, Hannah said she enjoys playing sports, but it’s not as important to her as making good grades.

“Sports are very important to me, but I’m not going to go anywhere further than (high school) with them,” Hannah said. “It’s just something I do for fun.”

In addition to softball, Hannah also plays basketball and is on the school’s dance team. Tina stressed, though, that she and Ripp would be OK with their daughter not being as involved in extra-circulars if it would make things easier for Hannah.

“If it ever becomes too much, it would be OK for her to back out of something — back out of a sport, back out of an honors class, back out of anything — because nothing is more important than her life,” Tina said.