KINISTINO — Personality as well as pitching not only brought Kinistino’s Etta Van Burgsteden to McCook Community College but allowed her to thrive there.
The daughter of Darla and Gerald Van Burgsteden played her first season of softball at the McCook, Neb. school last spring. MCC competes at the junior college level. On the mound, Van Burgsteden was second on the team in appearances (29) and innings pitched (70.2). She was tied for second in wins (11) and strikeouts (38).
“She was a competitor for us and really carried us early on in the season,” said McCook Community College head coach Josh Barnes, who noted that Van Burgsteden can also swing the bat.
However, the MCC team was as pleased with Van Burgsteden’s personality as it was with her pitching.
“What impressed me the most about Etta is she is just an amazing person,” Barnes said. “She always had the same attitude everyday, and her teammates loved playing for her.”
Van Burgsteden enjoyed how close the McCook Community College softball team became.
“Any individual on the team would do anything for a teammate and that made the season so much easier having a team that felt like family,” she said. “I’ve gained so many great friendships with people from all around.”
McCook Community College draws students from all over. During the last school year, students hailed from 17 different countries. Barnes casts a wide net when looking for players and came across Van Burgsteden’s online video.
“I liked her potential, so she came on a visit,” Barnes said. “I loved her personality and had to have her! Luckily she chose us.”
When she visited McCook, Van Burgsteden liked the size and atmosphere of the school as well as the friendliness of the faculty and the community. After spending school year there, Van Burgsteden still enjoys those aspects. The nursing major likes the how much one-on-one time she gets with her professors. Van Burgsteden also appreciates the community of McCook, which had a population of 7,698 in the 2010 census.
“McCook was a smaller city and coming from a small town it wasn’t as much of a change compared to a large city would have been.”
One thing noticed Van Burgsteden noticed about college softball was how committed you need to be.
“With college ball, the game is your job,” she said. “You have to show up everyday prepared for anything. You play for your teammates everyday and if you aren’t performing at your best you are letting down your teammates that are showing up for you.”
Van Burgsteden got her start in softball on a league team in Birch Hills. She went on to play for the Prince Albert Aces and, when it formed, the Melfort Spirit. Van Burgsteden suited up for the latter squad and the 222s fastpitch program for four years. She said she had great coaches on all of the teams she played on but noted the 222s’ Keith Mackintosh had the biggest impact on her game.
“He helped me with my swing and since then I’ve never been nervous to step up to the plate,” Van Burgsteden said.
