Melissa Moore has already surpassed her stats from the 2008 season.
Moore, a senior from Oklahoma City, is leading the Stars with nine home runs with 28 RBIs on the year.
“Being a senior, I feel like I need to push myself more,” said Moore. “It’s my last season and I want to play my best for the team.”
Last year, Moore pounded eight home runs with 40 RBIs and a .310 batting average.
“2008 was my first season with the Stars, and it took me some time to adjust to the program,” Moore said. “OCU has a highly competitive and winning program. I transferred in from a junior-college program, so I was adjusting to the program and learning what was expected of me from my teammates and coaches.”
After a self-proclaimed slump last year, Moore has turned her batting and confidence around.
“I had to go back to basics and break down my swing,” said Moore. “After a season of not playing well, I felt like I needed to step it up. Last season is a motivator for me right now for feeling confident. It’s a matter of not second guessing yourself and doing what I know how to do. It’s what I have been doing since I was 4 years old.”
As for any athlete self-confidence is something that is hard to maintain.
“I set the bar so high for myself, that when I don’t meet my own standards, I start to lose confidence,” Moore said. “Being able to build that confidence back up and getting through it has definitely been the biggest thing that I have had to overcome in my softball career.”
The Stars, currently ranked fourth in the NAIA with a record of 25-1, have their eye on a national title.
“We have such a great group of girls,” Moore said. “We all mesh really well together and we all push each other and expect a lot from one another. As a team we are working towards going to the national tournament and bringing home the title.”
More on Melissa:
Reason I picked OCU: Because of the great softball tradition
I never leave home without: My cell phone
Favorite team: Oklahoma
My worst fear: Not being successful
My prediction for the upcoming season: Becoming national champs
