Diamondback Online - The University of Maryland's Independent Daily Student Newspaper

Sarah Dooley's first mistake as a member of the Terrapin softball team might have come during the three months before this season started.

"It was a Halloween party we had," the junior pitcher said. "We all had to write a story. I mentioned I used to be an Irish dancer, and the team of course talked me into doing a little jig for them. They have me doing it all the time now."

"Its crazy," coach Laura Watten said. "I've never seen anyone do it except on TV. She can do the Riverdance because she's done it all her life, and it's awesome."

So it only seems fitting that it's to the tune of "I'm Shipping Up To Boston" by Dropkick Murphys that Dooley makes her frequent trips to the pitching circle.

Dooley, who is thriving in her first season of Division I competition after transferring from Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Fla., has quickly established herself as one of the Terps' top pitchers and is often the first arm Watten throws at a new opponent.

"She's probably our key person on the mound," Watten said. "She's got a lot of endurance and is very healthy and physically strong. She's very dependable and consistent, and our defense is confident playing behind her."

Despite her success, no one can seem to agree on why Dooley has be so effective so quickly. Teammates and coaches credit her work ethic and competitive fire; Dooley says she owes it all to her teammates and coaches.

"It all has to do with an amazing group of girls and the coaches we have," Dooley said. "It's been a big step for me, but I've learned so much since I got her in the fall."

Those fall lessons appear to have paid off.

Dooley currently leads the team in ERA (1.75), wins (12), complete games (7), innings pitched (120.1), strikeouts (102) and opponents' batting average (.178). However, since she is usually pitted against the opponent's top pitcher, she also leads the team in losses (7).

Along with junior Meredith Nelles, the only holdover from last year's pitching staff, Dooley has provided solid, consistent starting pitching for a team that got off to the best start in program history.

At Gulf Coast, Dooley was named a NJCAA first-team All-American in 2005. She holds the most wins and strikeouts in the school's history despite not being a "strikeout" pitcher, and her success has translated to the ACC.

"She is more of a movement pitcher who sets a great tone on the mound and is very intense and good-natured also," Watten said. "We knew physically she would be strong because of how she was recommended, but it's important to have that mentality that fits your system."

That intense on-field mentality is one that takes a step back off the field, where Dooley is soft-spoken and would rather have all the attention be on her teammates instead of herself.

But, as she has gotten to know the team, she has begun to open up and reveal her goofy, zany side, complete with her finest Jonathan Papelbon imitations.

"She's very quiet around people she doesn't know. She doesn't like a lot of attention," said sophomore pitcher Lindsey Wright, a fellow junior college transfer and one of Dooley's closest friends on the team. "It took me a lot of time to get to know her, but she's actually hilarious. She's a goofball. She's still very quiet in meetings; you'll have to ask her to talk."

In fact, there only seems to be one thing that Dooley really gets vocal about.

"There's never a negative thing that comes out of her unless if it's her being hard on herself," Watten said. "There are just very special people in the world. She's definitely one of those people that has something different that people are drawn to and makes people feel better when she's around them."

As a multi-sport athlete from St. Louis, Mo., who began playing on an all-boys team at the age of 5, it has always been Dooley's dream to pitch for a Division I softball team.

"It's been an amazing experience so far," Dooley said. "I've learned so much and come a long way. I can't say enough about the girls and the coaches. I have confidence we're going to turn things around and come out on top this season. I really have a positive outlook for this team; we have a lot of potential."

If the Terps do ship up to the top of the conference ranks, it will be in large part thanks to Dooley's strong arm, her competitive spirit and good-hearted nature.

That, and the Riverdance.

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