Schools

Johnson Keeps the Faith, Snags Top Spring Sports Athlete Award for Palos

Stagg's standout shortstop overcame an injury to pace the Chargers during a storybook season.

Faith Johnson, Stagg, senior, softball

Major Accomplishments/Awards

Johnson was an all-conference pick in the Southwest Suburban Red.

She was a Chicago Sun-Times All-Area Honorable Mention pick.

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She finished with a .438 batting average and 38 RBIs. She had an .814 slugging percentage with 14 doubles, five triples, six home runs and 31 runs scored.

She hit safely in 30 out of 36 games. She had two 11-game hitting streaks. And she struck out seven times.

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She was nominated two times for the Gatorade Athlete of the Year award.

She earned all-state recognition as a sophomore and then saw her junior year cut short by an injury.

Faith Johnson: In her Own Words

"This year was very special to me because, obviously, it was my senior year, but also I wanted to come back from my battle with my shoulder. I wanted to let myself know that I will still be able to play and this injury won't be the end of my career. Also, I needed to play my senior year not just for myself but for my mother. I made that commitment and I was out on the field every game."

Johnson said she will miss her Stagg coaches, including the Chargers' head coach, Missy Mason.

"I have never had three coaches that cared about the kids so much," she said. "They all were always there for me when I needed them. It will be hard to find better coaches than those three put together."

She drew inspiration from her mother.

"What my mom has gone through throughout her life is incredible," Johnson said. "She is one strong lady and the one I look up to the most. Everyday I see something different about my mom that I love. I will be more than happy if when I'm grown up that I am half of the woman my mom is. She is and forever will be my hero."

Personal

Johnson will attend the University of Illinois-Chicago. She will play shortstop for the Flames. She is undecided on a major, but hopes to one day work with young children.

She said she will remember the life-lessons she learned from playing softball at Stagg is, including to live in the moment.

"(You don't ever want to) take anything for granted," Johnson said. "I took my ability to play this game for granted, and then I was having shoulder problems. I felt like I learned how to play the game of softball again through my recovery of the shoulder."



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