March 29, 2007

LOGAN, Utah - When she is not on the softball diamond, you will find Utah State University senior first baseman Jamie Fife fishing at First Dam, playing her guitar or studying hard to become a first-generation college graduate.

Originally from Harrisville, Utah, Fife is her second year of play for the Utah State Aggie softball team, and the Aggies' 2007 home opener is Tuesday at LaRee and LeGrand Johnson Field when USU hosts in-state foe Utah Valley State in a doubleheader with first pitch slated for 2 p.m.

Fife is currently pursuing a double-major in exercise science and dietetics, and will graduate in May. She plans on pursuing a master's degree and wants to be a personal trainer and dietitian.

"I love school and I love athletics. When I think of my personality, I think of the Spectrum, and how it is always loud," Fife said. "It is that kind of fun energetic personality that I have. It is hard being that type of person because softball is what I do now, but after I am done it will be good to actually participate in student life."

For Fife, some of those student life activities include hobbies such as skeet shooting and exploring the Logan countryside.

"I was in Logan during the summer, so I would get myself and go fishing at First Dam, just me and my little tackle box. It's pink, of course, but Logan is laid back and real quite. It is fun that way,"Fife said.

Fife has also made a positive impression on USU first-year head softball coach Candi Letts.

"Fife always lives in every moment of every breath she takes. She pretty much is full of life. She just enjoys taking a breath and living that breath as best she can," Letts said.

"One of my main things is that one day I want to have a family of my own," Fife said. "I feel like that is a big part of the reason we are here. I also love working with people. I would love to work with different types of people to better their lives here as well as in other countries."

As a child, Fife said her parents instilled in her the attitude that she could accomplish such things. She said her dad has always been that type to want her to do better. Since neither of her parents graduated college, they have always pushed her to succeed.

"My parents have always been the ones to tell me 'you can do it, you can do it if you set your mind to it,'" Fife said.

Fife has been an anchor at first, providing solid leadership and talent.

Likewise, Letts said that Fife pushes each member of the Aggies softball team to succeed.

"She has the ability to be a leader and has on many occasions been a leader," Letts said. "What she wants is to have a good season, but what I think she also wants is for the younger players on the team to learn as much about the game as they can. She wants them to become more prepared to play games and have a successful career."

"I take being an Aggie to heart," said Fife, who missed the latter half of last season with a foot injury. "I have always thought of myself as a peculiar person. I have my own personality and my own way of doing things, so I just want to be remembered for something great. I have always wished that I could leave something behind."

Though Fife said she is still trying to figure out how she will one day leave her mark, she and Letts both agree that Fife lives every breath of life to its fullest.

Utah State softball is currently 9-17 on the season, surpassing last season's win total (8-38). The Aggies open Western Athletic Conference action Friday night at 7 p.m. (MT), at preseason WAC favorite and defending regular-season champ Fresno State.

Feature by Kami Isom, USU Athletic Media Relations