When 蜜柚直播 coach Mike Candrea says that he continues to be impressed by a player, that鈥檚 pretty heady stuff.
After all, he鈥檚 coached some of the best who have ever played college softball at UA and for the USA Olympic team.
And if you know anything about the man who has coached at 蜜柚直播 for 34 years and counting, he鈥檚 a straight shooter.
Yet, senior third baseman Malia Martinez seems to take it all in stride. While she takes the compliment in, this all-around player doesn鈥檛 get too high from it.
鈥淢y biggest thing is just being where your feet are,鈥 Martinez said.
She doesn鈥檛 let any outside talk get in her head when she steps between the lines. Her approach is simple 鈥 focus on the task at hand.
蜜柚直播鈥檚 Malia Martinez (17) busts a solo shot to make it 5-1 over Mississippi in the fifth inning of Game 2 of the NCAA Super Regional at Hillenbrand Stadium, Saturday, May 25, 2019, 蜜柚直播, Ariz.
鈥淲hen we鈥檙e throwing in the beginning, I really try to work on having good throws, proper spin, and hitting my partner in the chest,鈥 Martinez said. 鈥淔or ground balls, I really try to like take pride in that and I try to make a goal to not bobble any balls throughout that time.
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鈥淪o, focusing on one thing and then moving on to the next and taking pride in each drill. I think really helps me work on certain things at a time and not get too overwhelmed.鈥
The No. 4-ranked Wildcats (9-1) will all use this approach when they host the USA Olympic team 鈥 and their teammate Dejah Mulipola 鈥 at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Hillenbrand Stadium.
The focus has paid off. Since settling into third as a starter 鈥 her freshman year she played behind Katiyana Mauga, the UA and Pac-12鈥檚 all-time home run leader 鈥 her numbers, both offensively and defensively, have steadily improved.
This offseason she worked on making quicker adjustments and has been watching specific at-bats to see 鈥渨hich counts work best for me鈥 and seeing how she can consistently improve them.
Even though it鈥檚 early in the season, her batting average is at .345, she is slugging .586 and she has six runs, six RBIs and four doubles. Last year, she hit .339 with 14 homers and 57 RBIs in 62 games.
Candrea said that the key for her offensive output is her quick hands and that she 鈥渃an see the ball a little bit deeper. She鈥檚 learned to hit the ball to all fields, which has helped her.鈥
Whether she鈥檚 up at bat or in the field her teammates have complete trust in her.
蜜柚直播's third baseman Malia Martinez gets a grounder from UTEP's Ariel Blair for the first out of the first game or double header at Hillenbrand Stadium, Wednesday, April 3, 2019, 蜜柚直播, Ariz.
With a .952 fielding percentage and only one error to date, it鈥檚 easy to see why.
鈥淓very time I see a ball get hit to third base, I automatically am already waiting for the third out,鈥 said pitcher Alyssa Denham. 鈥淚鈥檓 already halfway in the dugout because I know that Malia is about to make a play. I have so much confidence in her.鈥
Candrea said Martinez, who will play a big role for the Wildcats this season, is playing with confidence.
鈥淪he understands the game, understands what she needs to do, but she鈥檚 got a really good work ethic,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 think right now what you鈥檙e seeing is just the fruitions of all her hard work.
鈥淎nd her opportunities at 蜜柚直播 to be able to be in that lineup and be among some good players and she鈥檚 improved a lot.
鈥淪he鈥檚 improved 鈥 in the weight room, she鈥檚 improved with her skills, (her) skillset. She鈥檚 a great teammate. I can鈥檛 think of anyone that I鈥檓 cheering more for than Malia Martinez to have a great year because she definitely deserves that.鈥
