University of Massachusets Athletics
Morin A Spark At Leadoff
May 26, 2006 | Softball
May 26, 2006
AMHERST - In the first inning of the first game of last weekend's NCAA regional at the UMass Softball Complex, Amanda Morin tapped her head at second base.
Her gesture told the batter, University of Massachusetts catcher KJ Kelley, that a change-up was coming. Kelley waited and crushed the pitch over the fence in left field for a two-run home run that was the game's only offense.
The middle of the Minutewomen order has earned considerable praise this season as Kelley caps her impressive career, while freshman Whitney Mollica begins a promising one of her own.
But while Kelley did the heavy lifting, the play was the latest on the long list of easily overlooked but indispensable traits that Morin has brought to UMass offense this year.
Morin had been a solid but unspectacular part of the Minutewomen lineup in her first two years, hitting .284. She started this season hitting seventh as UMass coach Elaine Sortino juggled the top of the order looking for a catalyst in the leadoff spot. She tried Candice Molinari, Lauren Proctor and Kristi Stefanoni, but wasn't satisfied.
Morin, who had been a free swinger in her first two seasons, wasn't a natural choice. But on St. Patrick's Day in Boca Raton, Fla., Sortino tried the junior in the leadoff spot.
Against No. 24 North Carolina, Morin went 2-for-4 with an RBI as the Minutewomen beat the Tar Heels 4-0.
Morin doesn't get all the credit. But before she hit leadoff, UMass was 7-8. The Minutewomen are 33-6 since.
It's not a coincidence. Morin is leading the team with a .411 batting average. She's scored more runs this season (53) than she did in her first two seasons combined (47).
Morin hasn't totally abandoned her free-swinging ways as her 13 walks are among second fewest among UMass regulars, but she's become a much more patient hitter. She regularly goes deep into counts, especially in the first inning, to give her teammates a chance to examine that day's pitcher.
'She always wanted to be the leadoff hitter so she had to be able to take pitches and hit good pitches,' Sortino said. 'She used to just get up and whack anything you threw at her that was close. She's grown up and she's gotten a lot better mental focus.'
'I like batting leadoff,' Morin said. 'In the beginning of the year I was batting seventh. I worked hard to show her I should be the leadoff hitter. I just try to set a good tone for the whole game. Show them we're here to play and let everyone know what the pitcher is throwing.
'I try to work the counts a lot more and not swing at the first pitch every time,' she continued. 'If it's a good pitch, I'm going to swing at it. I'm just trying to drive good pitches. I try to work the counts a lot more and not swing at the first pitch every time. If its a good pitch, I'm going to swing at it.'
If Morin doesn't get on, Sortino counts on her to provide a quick scouting report on the pitcher. Sortino said, 'After her at bat she'll come back to the dugout and she'll say she throws this, this, this and this. She's got curve, she's got screw. This is working well. That isn't so hot.'
Morin will be analyzing Eileen Canney at 4 p.m. Friday when the Minutewomen face Northwestern in the first game of a best-of-three series in the NCAA super regionals.
Whether the pitcher is sharp or not, Morin has been connecting, especially lately. She led off with a home run in Sunday's regional championship game.
'I trust myself a whole lot more than past years,' Morin said. 'I'm a lot more comfortable at the plate.'
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. For more UMass coverage including a frequently updated UMass sports blog, go to www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/umsports