Senas melancholy as she nears her final at-bat

She’s second on Florida State’s career home run list and in the top 10 all-time in hits, doubles, RBIs and stolen bases.

She leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in triples and runs scored and is the starting center fielder on a team that is 44-6 and ranked sixth in the country.

Florida State’s 21-3 record in conference is the first time in the history of the ACC that a team has won at least 20 regular-season conference games.

Yet, when asked to look back on her career at Florida State, Courtney Senas had a surprising answer.

"It’s really sad that I have no more time to live up to the expectations for me," the 2010 Mililani alumna said in a phone interview on Tuesday.

"When I first came in as a freshman, a lot of people expected a lot from me and I expected a lot from myself, and honestly as OK as I am doing right now, it’s not anywhere close to what was expected."

It’s hard to believe a career .315 hitter who will likely earn first team all-conference honors for the second straight season could feel that way.

But that’s the chip Senas has always played with. Her desire to be the best is why she grew up wanting to play baseball against the boys instead of softball.

It’s why she’s nervous about playing her final collegiate home series this weekend against Georgia Tech.

It’s why she’s every bit as worried as she is excited about playing in the NCAA tournament one more time.

Because when it’s over, it really is over.

"Pretty soon something I’ve worked at for 20 years of my life is going to be over," Senas said.

"It sucks because it’s a sport not big enough like MLB that you can make a living off, probably.

"It’s why I wish I took school more seriously. Everybody always told me that softball would only take me so far and they’re right because now it’s about to be pau. I don’t know what I’m going to do with my life."

Fortunately, it’s not over just yet.

After this weekend’s series against the Yellow Jackets, Florida State will compete in the ACC tournament next month.

With 44 wins, the Seminoles have locked up Senas’ fourth straight trip to a regional. FSU was bounced in the opening weekend of the NCAA tournament her first two years before advancing to a super regional last season.

Now the goal is breaking through and playing in the College World Series.

"I’m hoping this is the year because this is probably one of the best all-around teams that we’ve ever had at Florida State," Senas said. "We have all of the tools to win the title. We’ve played Alabama and all of the high-ranked teams and easily could have won all of those games.

"We definitely have the talent and all of the tools to win that title. We’ve just got to play good at the right time."

Senas will take part in the senior game festivities on Sunday with her mother in the crowd at JoAnne Graf Field.

Janette Senas is making the 10-hour flight and drive to Tallahassee, Fla., for the first time.

"You never know how it’s going to be or how sad you will feel, but when I see my mom I probably will cry," Senas said. "It’s sad to think about how fast the season went by and how much I’ll miss the game when it’s finally over.

"I’ve worked 20 years of my life at this and I don’t know anything else."