SJ-O’s Martinie to join Shore at Southeast Missouri State
By FRED KRONER
Some athletes have an internal push or an intense drive to succeed and achieve success at a high level.
For others, there’s an external nudge, such as a quest for a college scholarship or simply the desire to play a sport beyond high school.
For a few, they derive motivation and inspiration from both internal and external sources.
St. Joseph-Ogden senior Addy Martinie has held firm to a philosophy that led her to receive – and accept – a scholarship offer from Southeast Missouri State (which had an enrollment of 9,927 in the fall of 2022) to play softball.
“The key to my development was adopting a mindset that if I’m not first, I’m last,” Martinie said. “This mentality pushed me to work harder, strive for excellence, and never settle for anything less than my best.
“It fueled my determination and resilience, helping me grow both personally and athletically. Greg Izard (her personal hitting coach) has been instrumental in my development. Not only has he helped me improve my hitting, but he’s also been a major support for my mental state. He’s like a second father to me.”
Despite being a three-sport varsity athlete at SJ-O – volleyball, basketball and softball – the 5-foot-9 Martinie found time to work on her softball skills individually as well as with her summer travel teams.
She listened and learned from coaches with a variety of philosophies.
“All of my coaches have played a role in my development, both good and bad,” Martinie said. “Some have taught me how to fight through adversity, which has been invaluable in my growth.”
Away from SJ-O softball – where she has been coached by Larry Sparks – Martinie played for the Diamonds, the Blaze, the Mattoon Pride and Louisville Sluggers.
It was through her time with the Sluggers that she developed a connection to SEMO.
“My recent travel ball coach (Renee Gass) was an alum and maintaining contact with SEMO’s coaches played a role in connecting me with the opportunity,” Martinie said. “Attending a camp down there in the winter and getting into contact with them afterwards, further solidified our connection.”
She visited the school, located in Cape Girardeau, Mo., last summer and ultimately committed to a program which has won at least 30 games in three of the last four years and maintains a current 30-game home winning streak.
At SJ-O, Martinie has developed into one of the area’s premier power hitters.
As a freshman, she was the Spartans’ Rookie of the Year and swatted seven home runs. As a sophomore she slugged 10 homers and batted .467. As a junior, Martinie pounded 17 homers and drove in 57 runs while batting .439.
She is not just known for her ability to hit the long ball.
“She has always had a big-time arm,” said SJ-O’s Sparks, who also coached Martinie in middle school. “The year after COVID, we were allowed to do fall practices.
“We put a gun on her and she was clocked at 65 mph throwing across the diamond (from third to first base).”
Martinie earned All-State recognition as both a sophomore and as a junior.
“Coming off two back-to-back All-State seasons, it’s no surprise that she has the opportunity at the Division I level,” Sparks said. “She is coachable because she is willing to work. She has a big bat and will fit in well.
“I told her it never gets old having players sign a letter of intent to live out their dream.”
Martinie established her goals at a young age.
“I first set the goal of competing in college when I was around 10 years old,” she said. “Watching older girls commit and continuing to be able to play in college sounded like a dream to me.
“Having amazing people like Greg Izard (hitting coach) and my dad (John Martinie) by my side, pushing me to be the best, has been a game-changer. Their support and guidance have fueled my determination.
“I’ve put in the hard work, both on and off the field, honing my skills defensively, offensively, and mentally. It’s been a challenging, but rewarding process.
“Combining their influence with my dedication has brought my goal of becoming a D1 softball player to reality.”
Martinie never lost sight of the dreams she envisioned as a youngster.
“Participating in a sport in college has always been a goal of mine, and that goal has never wavered,” she said. “I’ve been passionate about sports since I was young, and the dream of competing at the collegiate level has been a driving force for me.”
Besides Southeast Missouri, Martinie had interest from Florida International University, Bradley, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and Missouri.
“It’s always exciting to hear back from multiple schools and have options to consider,” Martinie said.
As she narrowed down her college choice, Martinie said several factors were more important than others.
“First, coaches played a significant role in my journey,” Martinie said, “so finding a coach who believed in my potential and supported my growth was crucial to me.
“Second, the campus environment is important. I wanted to feel comfortable and at home in the place where I will be spending the next four years of my life.
“Distance from home is another factor that I considered. I wanted to be far enough away from home, but close enough where I would still be able to see (family) often.”
She didn’t rush into her decision.
“I also spent time in prayer, asking to be led in the right direction,” Martinie said. “And it all pointed towards SEMO.”
Martinie took visits to both SEMO and Missouri. She felt the family vibe at SEMO first during an unofficial visit.
“I ultimately settled on SEMO because I fell in love with it,” Martinie said. “Coach (Mark) Redburn was like my dad and Greg (Izard).
“I considered the academic programs they offered and the overall culture of the school. It was important to me to choose a school that felt like the right fit and where I can see myself thriving academically and athletically.”
Martinie plans to major in criminal justice before attending law school to become an attorney.
“In 10 years, I see myself practicing law and making a difference in the field of criminal justice,” she said.
On the softball field, Martinie hopes to make an impact sooner than later at SEMO.
“I see myself fitting in as a key contributor to my college team,” Martinie said. “With my mindset and determination, I believe I can earn a starting spot.
“Coach Redburn has even said that it’s not impossible for a freshman to be a starter. I’m ready to work hard and prove my worth on the team.”
Her future coaches haven’t given her a specific list of areas on which she should focus.
“They’ve just encouraged me to keep training and working hard, which I fully intend to do,” Martinie said. “I believe continuous effort and dedication will help me grow in all aspects of the game.”
Concentrating on just one sport should enhance her development.
“Once I reach college, I believe I can grow and improve by adopting a healthier eating regime and a more structured workout routine,” Martinie said. “These changes will boost my performance and overall well-being.
“I love the fact I could be in the position of stepping right in and contributing. That’s exactly what I want. It’s an exciting opportunity for me to showcase my skills and make a positive impact from the start.”
Her softball career originally started when she was 6 years old. Besides third base – which Martinie calls her favorite position – she has also logged innings at shortstop, first base and catcher.
Sparks believes her versatility will be an asset at SEMO, though he knows where he would pencil her in the lineup.
“She could play either corner position, maybe shortstop, left field or DH, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a better third baseman than her,” Sparks said.
Though it took time for Martinie to decide which college to attend, there was never any hesitation about which sport she would pursue.
“While I’ve participated in basketball, pickleball and volleyball, I’ve never favored any of them more over my main sport,” she said. “Each one has helped me become a better athlete, but my heart has always been with the bright yellow ball.
“When I step between those white lines, it’s like everything else just disappears. It’s an incredible feeling of focus and pure passion for the sport.
“It’s my happy place, where nothing else matters but the game and giving it my all.”
Softball checks all of the boxes for Martinie’s interest in sports.
“The appeal of softball for me is definitely the competition,” she said. “There’s nothing quite like the thrill of going head-to-head with another team, pushing myself to perform at my best, and working together with my teammates to secure a win.
“As for what I liked about the sport, well, I loved everything about it. I enjoyed the teamwork, the competitiveness, and the thrill of being out on the field.
“From the crack of the bat to the cheers of the crowd, there was just something special about the game.”
Martinie, who has a career .419 batting average for three years on the SJ-O team with 34 home runs and 119 RBI, is strong in most facets of the game.
“When I evaluate myself, I consider my defensive skills as one of my strengths,” she said. “I’ve been the most consistent glove and had the strongest arm on every team I’ve played on.
“Offensively, I have the ability to hit for power in all areas of the field. I’ve always been a power hitter. It’s been a consistent part of my game since I started playing.
“While I’ve never been the fastest baserunner, I’ve been able to take extra bases due to my high softball IQ.”
Entering her senior season, Martinie’s 34 career home runs rank fourth on the all-time SJ-O list. She trails only Bailey Dowling – the all-time IHSA career leader – (65), Shayne Immke (51) and Elizabeth Everingham (46).
The distance from St. Joseph to Cape Girardeau, Mo., is about 250 miles. The move will require a transition period.
“I do expect that the transition of going far from home for college might be a bit harder at first,” Martinie said. “But like my dad has always told me, it’s all about adapting, overcoming challenges, and ultimately achieving my goals.
“It may take some time to adjust, but I believe in my ability to make the most of this new chapter of my life. I’m very close to my family members. They’re my rock, and their support means the world to me.”
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At SEMO, Martinie will become teammates with another former Champaign County all-star player.
Mahomet-Seymour graduate Aubrie Shore is entering her junior year at SEMO and is coming off a banner sophomore season when she led the Redhawks to an Ohio Valley Conference championship and a 20-2 mark in league play.
After starting 43 of the 43 games SEMO played and batting .347 with seven home runs and 33 RBI last spring, Shore was selected as the Ohio Valley Conference’s co-Player of the Year. Her slugging average in conference games only was .842.
Nationally, she was chosen to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Midwest Region third team.
Shore, a 5-foot-6 first baseman, also struck out just five times in 135 plate appearances and did not ground into a double play. After hammering 10 doubles, she had a .610 slugging average for the season.
The conference championship was the school’s third since 2019.
As a freshman, Shore was a key contributor on a 30-24 team. She played in 25 games and made 23 starts.
She compiled a .299 batting average and a .687 slugging average, finishing the season with six home runs and 16 RBI. She struck out just seven times in 75 plate appearances.
