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Mia Fung's star continues to rise at USF

Published  April 10, 2018 6:11pm EDT
Sports
FOX 13 Tampa Bay

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TAMPA (FOX 13) - Mia Fung was a star catcher at Strawberry Crest. Now she's making a name for herself at the collegiate level - at the University of South Florida. 

Fung blends power at the plate with speed on the bases. USF head coach Ken Eriksen grins as he describes Mia's skill set.

"She's a freak of nature," he said.

What truly sets Mia apart, though, is her determination.  

A devastating knee injury last season threatened to derail her career. She overcame the odds and the anterior cruciate ligament tear with her mindset.

"I wanted to make sure that when I came back, I wouldn't be different.", Mia says. 

"I think it's because I'm super hard on myself. Coach was telling me, 'This is your first practice, it obviously isn't going to be the same,' but in my head, I want it to be the same if not better," she said. 

Mia Fung suffered the injury five games into the 2017 season, but was ready to go by opening day 2018.

"It was one of those situations where you're not going to see her for two years", Coach Ken Eriksen says of the remarkable recovery. "But because of her athleticism, her drive and hard work, and determination, she was in the starting lineup [of] game one this year and has been so productive ever since."  

Productive in both the power and speed categories; her six home runs rank second on the team, and her six stolen bases in six tries currently ranks third.

Mia set the all-time record for stolen bases in Hillsborough County while at Strawberry Crest, and she's still running in spite of a futuristic form-fitting knee brace on her left leg.

Mia Fung has fond memories of her days as a Charger. She helped put the Strawberry Crest softball program on the map in 2013 when the Chargers went undefeated in district play and won 24 games in 27 tries.

"I love Strawberry Crest ", Mia says, " I loved everything about it. I just felt we were a big family, we were super close to the coaches , they let me in like I was part of their family. I loved it."

Mia Fung has found another family at USF.