2008 Woodie Awards
Freshman Shines At Plate
Softball
Chris Brodeur
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: Sports
Freshmen on the UConn softball team often serve as lackeys for their older teammates, taking orders from veterans who apply the same treatment they got before they were given their shot on the diamond.
Not Melissa Lucas. She's having way too much fun for orders. While other rookies await delegation on whose job it is to carry the bucket of balls and who's got the bats, Lucas is busy carrying the team at the plate and dispensing the laughs in the dugout.
"I like to joke around a lot and laugh and I don't really think about the pitches," Lucas said of her approach in the batter's box. "When I don't think I do my best."
The reigning Big East Player of the Week was at it again Wednesday, as UConn dispatched of Sacred Heart in a doubleheader sweep in its first home games of the season at the Connecticut Softball Stadium.
Lucas drove in the only two runs for the Huskies in a game one shutout and later came within inches of a three-run homer in the second game, driving a ball off the top of the wall in left as part of a five-run second inning that effectively ended any chances the Pioneers had of coming away with a split.
Always the most visible Husky to come off the field in between innings, Lucas charges in from her post in right when the third out is recorded and proceeds to the high-five line in skips and bounds to seek out open palms.
Her carefree attitude, along with her apparently thought-free approach to hitting, has amounted to a team high .400 average and three home runs. She's tied with teammate Sarah Neuschwander with 12 RBIs with three coming in yesterday's victories.
UConn head coach Karen Mullins couldn't help but smile when asked about Lucas's early contributions.
"She's fun to coach," Mullins said. "She loves the game and she has a tremendous passion. We knew she was a great hitter when we recruited her and she's been an impact player for us already."
While the Massachusetts native has made the leap from high school to Division I softball look simple, she credits her teammates with easing the transition.
"They've been so supportive," Lucas said. "It's completely different than high school. It's so much more intense and there's a lot more practice."
Lucas gets her first taste of Big East competition Saturday as UConn travels to Providence for another doubleheader.
"I can't wait to play them," Lucas said. "We got off to a rough start but we're doing awesome right now and I think we can do extremely well in the conference this year."
Not too many athletes would be quick to admit to not thinking and laughing as a recipe for their success, but Lucas is making it work. As long as she does, there won't be a whole lot of bags to carry.
Contact Chris Brodeur at
Christopher.Brodeur@UConn.edu.
Not Melissa Lucas. She's having way too much fun for orders. While other rookies await delegation on whose job it is to carry the bucket of balls and who's got the bats, Lucas is busy carrying the team at the plate and dispensing the laughs in the dugout.
"I like to joke around a lot and laugh and I don't really think about the pitches," Lucas said of her approach in the batter's box. "When I don't think I do my best."
The reigning Big East Player of the Week was at it again Wednesday, as UConn dispatched of Sacred Heart in a doubleheader sweep in its first home games of the season at the Connecticut Softball Stadium.
Lucas drove in the only two runs for the Huskies in a game one shutout and later came within inches of a three-run homer in the second game, driving a ball off the top of the wall in left as part of a five-run second inning that effectively ended any chances the Pioneers had of coming away with a split.
Always the most visible Husky to come off the field in between innings, Lucas charges in from her post in right when the third out is recorded and proceeds to the high-five line in skips and bounds to seek out open palms.
Her carefree attitude, along with her apparently thought-free approach to hitting, has amounted to a team high .400 average and three home runs. She's tied with teammate Sarah Neuschwander with 12 RBIs with three coming in yesterday's victories.
UConn head coach Karen Mullins couldn't help but smile when asked about Lucas's early contributions.
"She's fun to coach," Mullins said. "She loves the game and she has a tremendous passion. We knew she was a great hitter when we recruited her and she's been an impact player for us already."
While the Massachusetts native has made the leap from high school to Division I softball look simple, she credits her teammates with easing the transition.
"They've been so supportive," Lucas said. "It's completely different than high school. It's so much more intense and there's a lot more practice."
Lucas gets her first taste of Big East competition Saturday as UConn travels to Providence for another doubleheader.
"I can't wait to play them," Lucas said. "We got off to a rough start but we're doing awesome right now and I think we can do extremely well in the conference this year."
Not too many athletes would be quick to admit to not thinking and laughing as a recipe for their success, but Lucas is making it work. As long as she does, there won't be a whole lot of bags to carry.
Contact Chris Brodeur at
Christopher.Brodeur@UConn.edu.
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