Lexi Moon used to cringe when it came to her spot in the lineup.
Now, it’s the pitcher who ought to be nervous. They won’t be able to stop the anxiety if they’ve heard anything about what the Lakota senior is doing at the plate.
She has 37 hits in 72 at-bats for a .514 average. She has at least one hit in every game except one.
“Before every at-bat, I didn’t want to hit,” she said. “I thought negatively, and I struggled. Now, when I’m on deck, I want to hit the ball. I want another shot off the pitcher. That change in mindset is the biggest difference between me and my younger self.
“To find that switch, that positivity, has been the key. Find the pitch I want to hit. Just going up with confidence.”
Her intent used to be simply to make contact. She thought too much, particularly about everything that could possibly go wrong.
Now, she wants to put her best swing on the pitches she likes.
“It never helped,” she said of thinking. “It’s just a game. Simplify it. Go in and hit the ball.”
Moon batted .506 and was first-team in the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division as a junior. Her average was .388 as a sophomore, but she wanted to do more damage with a little more authority.
“I’ve had some big hits,” she said. “I’ve never been a big hitter. I was 4 for 4 in a scrimmage with Genoa. Line drives and hits off the fence. ‘Wow.’ Against Van Buren, I hit the fence three times. Those are big hits for me. That’s great. It builds confidence.
“Find a pitch to hit hard.”
Suddenly, overconfidence is a consideration, on a pace for a hit every other at bat. She knows it remains difficult, however, and she wants to learn from every at-bat.
“That would get me thinking,” she said of forgetting how she got here.
She was 5 for 5 with a triple and double in a win over Van Buren. She has only five strikeouts.
“I don’t like to strike out, that’s for sure,” she said. “Being able to not fall deep in counts and work the count (ahead).”
She occupies the leadoff spot in the lineup for the first time in her career. She’s scored 30 runs.
“Especially starting the game, see pitches and have a disciplined at-bat,” she said. “Relay to teammates what she’s throwing. It’s an important spot in the lineup; you want to get on base and get it started out of the gate. Be smart, but be aggressive.
“I want to steal; move into scoring position. Get as many bases as I can.”
Opponents also know about her glove as she prides herself on defense. She started at shortstop since she was a freshman, although she missed half the season with a shoulder injury.
“I’ve played the game my whole life,” she said. “That IQ, I wanted to use it. Coming in as a freshman, you have to start at the bottom, starter or not. Believing in myself and knowing my role and taking advantage of that has helped me grow.”
She continues her career at Heidelberg University.
“I’ve had a dream to play in college since I was young,” she said. “I’m super excited. It’s been a long and stressful process. There’s always pressure to perform. It was a big relief to commit. From the beginning, since sophomore year, I could see myself being there.
“I took multiple visits. It’s felt like home. When I was younger, I had to play Division I. Growing up, I found myself and the player I was, so finding my spot at Heidelberg was big for me. To accomplish a goal from when I was a little girl, to see that pay off has been great.”
Lakota (10-10, 6-6) has a young roster, with four freshmen in the batting order and three in the field. Freshman Aubriana Wyant had a walk-off hit in a win over Old Fort.
“This year has been a rebuilding year,” Moon said. “Girls are moving positions and moving in he lineup, finding what works best. I know my role as a senior. I had some great upperclassmen. I have to be a leader and pick everybody up.
“Being that great teammate. That’s the most important part.”
mhorn@gannett.com
419-307-4892
X: @MatthewHornNH
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Lexi Moon wanted to do more damage for Lakota softball
Reporting by Matthew Horn, Fremont News-Messenger / Fremont News-Messenger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
