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The ball and bat sports are easy in theory.
But hitting is probably the most difficult thing to do in any sport. Don’t tell that to Clyde graduate Mya Stiefel.
“You hit the ball and you go,” she said. “I was aggressive. ‘You’re hitting this ball.’”
High school wrestling girls America, girls wrestling in Ohio can each celebrate independence
The mentality led to only five strikeouts in 77 at-bats. The third baseman scored 31 runs, drove in 29 runs and batted .468 as a senior.
She was a different hitter. She used to pop out frequently and decided to make changes in the batting cage.
She was dropping her hands. The science of hitting isn't easy when you begin to break it down.
She placed a towel around her neck and took slow swings in her bedroom, with and without a bat. If the towel remained in place, she knew she was on the right plane.
She eventually started to see the ball better.
“I needed to get it done,” she said. “I worked to keep my bat level. The secret is putting confidence in yourself. Putting pressure on yourself takes away what you should be thinking. The main goal, the whole season that I wanted, was to have fun.”
Her approach also included treating every pitch like it could be her last. She decided before the season she didn’t wish to continue her career in college.
“Knowing it was my last year, every game could be my last,” she said. “I did as much as I could for the team. I never stopped going.”
She earned most outstanding performer honor in the conference.
“In the whole league, it means a lot to be that player they chose,” she said. “Freshman and sophomore year, I was always hoping for rewards like that.”
Her favorite season highlights came with the glove, rather than bat. She recorded all three outs at third base in the same inning in one game and snared a likely hit and caught a runner off second base for a double play in another.
She called it the "saving runs game." She also likes to remember when she scored on Madison Myers’ hit to cap a run-rule victory over Bellevue in a district semifinal. She was first-team all-league as a junior as well.
“I wanted more,” she said. “I knew I had to work harder. It was a big surprise (to earn it).”
Stiefel was a starter from Day 1 as a freshman at third base. She did a little catching as a senior.
Prior to high school, Stiefel was the oldest girl on her Astros team. Her early varsity experience enabled her to transition smoothly as a leader.
It’s a Clyde tradition for seniors to pass down a responsibility to deliberately foster team bonds. Stiefel got a head start with her ownership.
“Bring in that sisterly love,” she said. “Everybody is included.”
It wasn’t just Stiefel who improved at the plate. The entire team took pride in its work.
“Everyone just decided to work hard on hitting,” Stiefel said. “Everyone was going through cages twice and taking situations. We worked to feel calm in pressure moments.”
The Fliers thought they’d have an opportunity to defend a conference championship with returning player of the year Taitum Jeffrey in the circle. Jeffrey, however, missed the season with an injury.
“In the offseason, at open gyms, it was a little concerning,” Stiefel said. “Taitum has her spin and her speed and her spots. I was more anxious when I learned Taitum was injured.”
Suddenly, Clyde became an underdog. Myers, a junior, had the unenviable task of stepping into Jeffrey’s role.
Myers responded by earning first-team status in the league.
“She took it on full bore,” Stiefel said. “I’ve known Madison for years. How she pitched and how she prepares, but at first I was nervous. The speed change is different, but I knew she could hit her spots. Seeing her go with the strikeouts and hitting spots, it spiked everybody’s confidence.
"From JV to varsity, right before the season. I’m proud of her, and I’m proud of the team.”
Clyde (15-9, 9-1) finished first in the SBC Lake Division last season. The Fliers reestablished conference supremacy with three consecutive championships.
“Freshman to senior, we leveled up every year I played,” Stiefel said. “Getting used to Coach (Marc) Marshall’s practices and how we play. I focused on myself, and I helped others work on what they needed to work on.
“The whole season was special. We worked harder to the goal.”
[email protected]
419-307-4892
X: @MatthewHornNH
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Mya Stiefel helps Clyde softball respond to adversity, underdog status
Continue reading...
But hitting is probably the most difficult thing to do in any sport. Don’t tell that to Clyde graduate Mya Stiefel.
“You hit the ball and you go,” she said. “I was aggressive. ‘You’re hitting this ball.’”
High school wrestling girls America, girls wrestling in Ohio can each celebrate independence
The mentality led to only five strikeouts in 77 at-bats. The third baseman scored 31 runs, drove in 29 runs and batted .468 as a senior.
She was a different hitter. She used to pop out frequently and decided to make changes in the batting cage.
She was dropping her hands. The science of hitting isn't easy when you begin to break it down.
She placed a towel around her neck and took slow swings in her bedroom, with and without a bat. If the towel remained in place, she knew she was on the right plane.
She eventually started to see the ball better.
“I needed to get it done,” she said. “I worked to keep my bat level. The secret is putting confidence in yourself. Putting pressure on yourself takes away what you should be thinking. The main goal, the whole season that I wanted, was to have fun.”
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Her approach also included treating every pitch like it could be her last. She decided before the season she didn’t wish to continue her career in college.
“Knowing it was my last year, every game could be my last,” she said. “I did as much as I could for the team. I never stopped going.”
She earned most outstanding performer honor in the conference.
“In the whole league, it means a lot to be that player they chose,” she said. “Freshman and sophomore year, I was always hoping for rewards like that.”
Her favorite season highlights came with the glove, rather than bat. She recorded all three outs at third base in the same inning in one game and snared a likely hit and caught a runner off second base for a double play in another.
She called it the "saving runs game." She also likes to remember when she scored on Madison Myers’ hit to cap a run-rule victory over Bellevue in a district semifinal. She was first-team all-league as a junior as well.
“I wanted more,” she said. “I knew I had to work harder. It was a big surprise (to earn it).”
Stiefel was a starter from Day 1 as a freshman at third base. She did a little catching as a senior.
Prior to high school, Stiefel was the oldest girl on her Astros team. Her early varsity experience enabled her to transition smoothly as a leader.
It’s a Clyde tradition for seniors to pass down a responsibility to deliberately foster team bonds. Stiefel got a head start with her ownership.
“Bring in that sisterly love,” she said. “Everybody is included.”
It wasn’t just Stiefel who improved at the plate. The entire team took pride in its work.
“Everyone just decided to work hard on hitting,” Stiefel said. “Everyone was going through cages twice and taking situations. We worked to feel calm in pressure moments.”
The Fliers thought they’d have an opportunity to defend a conference championship with returning player of the year Taitum Jeffrey in the circle. Jeffrey, however, missed the season with an injury.
“In the offseason, at open gyms, it was a little concerning,” Stiefel said. “Taitum has her spin and her speed and her spots. I was more anxious when I learned Taitum was injured.”
Suddenly, Clyde became an underdog. Myers, a junior, had the unenviable task of stepping into Jeffrey’s role.
Myers responded by earning first-team status in the league.
“She took it on full bore,” Stiefel said. “I’ve known Madison for years. How she pitched and how she prepares, but at first I was nervous. The speed change is different, but I knew she could hit her spots. Seeing her go with the strikeouts and hitting spots, it spiked everybody’s confidence.
"From JV to varsity, right before the season. I’m proud of her, and I’m proud of the team.”
Clyde (15-9, 9-1) finished first in the SBC Lake Division last season. The Fliers reestablished conference supremacy with three consecutive championships.
“Freshman to senior, we leveled up every year I played,” Stiefel said. “Getting used to Coach (Marc) Marshall’s practices and how we play. I focused on myself, and I helped others work on what they needed to work on.
“The whole season was special. We worked harder to the goal.”
[email protected]
419-307-4892
X: @MatthewHornNH
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Mya Stiefel helps Clyde softball respond to adversity, underdog status
Continue reading...
