RACHEL GRESHAM | staff writer
The Cougars won 9-1 and 3-2 on Saturday, March 21 in a doubleheader against Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) opponent Hope International. The win gives Azusa an overall record of 18-10 on the season.
Throughout the season, senior catcher and third baseman Natalie Mickelson has offensively led the team. Mickelson is currently hitting with a .384 batting average, three home runs and 24 RBIs.
Mickelson is co-captain of the softball team and entered this season with 22 career homeruns, only a few short of the all-time Cougar record of 38 held by Lorna Lyttle.
“Whenever you hit a homerun, it’s such a great experience. Everybody is cheering you on because not everyone can do it. I’ve been blessed with the strength to be a power hitter,” Mickelson said.
Fellow senior co-captain Camille Hundley admitted that she heard Mickelson’s name in travel ball at age 14. According to Hundley, Mickelson has always been a top hitter and great fielder.
“I get excited every time Natalie gets up to bat,” head coach Carrie Webber said. “Two games ago, they tried to intentionally walk her, so they threw it way outside and she slammed it for a triple over the right fielder’s head and ended the game. It’s just fun to watch her play.”
Mickelson switches between catcher and third base. Growing up Mickelson played everywhere except the outfield, making her a versatile player.
“I like both positions. If you play one position too much than you miss the other one. I like the control I have behind the plate, but at third you get to dive and make great plays,” Mickelson said.
In her five years as a Cougar, one spent as a redshirt due to shoulder injury, Mickelson has had three different coaches.
“It’s been a good experience,” Mickelson said, “It’s challenged me because I would become comfortable with one coach and then have to learn a whole new scheme of things and become the player they wanted.”
According to Mickelson, coach expectations were the hardest thing to adjust to. Mickelson’s first coach, Sharon Lehman, was very laid back and easy to play for, as Mickelson had had coaches that put her down as a player in high school.
Mickelson’s second coach, Lori Kwiatkowski had a more agressive style of coaching.
Although Mickelson thought about leaving Azusa Pacific, she is glad she stayed. Several girls quit because of the coach situation, which was the only reason Mickelson would have left, but the coaching change solidified her decision to stay.
With current head coach, Webber, Mickelson is more comfortable than in previous years and can be supportive of her team. Mickelson states that the easiest adjustment is playing relaxed without all the pressure.
“From having three coaches, I have learned a lot of different coaching styles that will help me when I start coaching. What I liked and what I didn’t like from all the coaches, I can use to become the coach that I think I would want to have,” Mickelson said.
As a sports psychology major, Mickelson desires to become a physical therapist as well as a softball coach for her children and high school.
Mickelson is close to her teammates because she sees them everyday.
At her upcoming wedding in June, three of Mickelson’s bridesmaids are current and former teammates.
Mickelson values the relationships she has formed as the best part of softball.
“You go through so many things together. You have to stick together to get through it. Your bond is so much stronger because of the struggles,” Mickelson said.
Mickelson chose Azusa Pacific over Division I schools against her traveling coaches wishes, because she wanted a Christian perspective.
“Even growing up, people knew that I was different, and that’s defined me as a player,” Mickelson said. “Softball is just one part of myself, so I thought it was more important to me to have a Christian environment to grow in. Softball is going to end, but my faith isn’t.”
Hundley said that Mickelson always picks up the team’s spirits when they are down, and that Mickelson is the mother of the team.
“Natalie leads more by example. She is not a huge vocal leader, but she’s a hard worker is determined to be the best ball player she can be,” Webber said. “She is an attentive listener and very reliable and as a coach. I couldn’t ask for anything more. She has a great year going so far, I look forward to the way she ends.”
