“Being a good teammate is about supporting your other teammates when they are doing great, and when they are doing poorly,” explains junior outfielder Amanda Lorenz, who we rank as the top prospect in the Class of 2015.

In today’s blog, she talks what makes a good—and a not so good—teammate and why being supportive to another player is so important.

Amanda, a centerfielder from Moorpark (Calif.) High, has committed to Florida and is such a dangerous leadoff hitter that some teams have walked her to lead off games rather than risk the damage she can do with her bat!

In 2013, Amanda won several national, state and local honors at the high school level including MaxPreps Underclass All-American, CalHiSports.com All-State and Ventura County Star Player of the Year after batting .626 with 17 home runs and compiling a spectacular 1.377 slugging percentage.  In 96 at-bats, she only struck out once and her sweet swing has some saying it’s one of the best batting strokes to ever come out of Southern California.

Amanda plays for the OC Batbusters and helped lead Team Mizuno-Stith to the PGF 18U National Championship game this past summer.  In 2012, she was part of the 16U team that won the PGF national title.

Click here to read Amanda’s earlier blogs and those from our other outstanding bloggers!

Also, check out the video of Amanda after she learns of being named No. 1 in the 2015 class

 

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One of my favorite topics is how to be a good teammate.

We can’t always choose our teammates. Just like we can’t choose our family. I am blessed to say that I have the best teammates I could ever ask for on the Batbusters.

Last season on Team Mizuno, I played with Hannah Flippen. Hannah is the second basemen and No. 3 batter for the University of Utah now. No matter how Hannah was doing, she always had the same expression on her face, cheered everyone on, and did absolutely everything she could to help our team achieve our goals.

She is the ideal teammate any player or coach could ever ask for.

Being a good teammate is about supporting your other teammates when they are doing great, and when they are doing poorly. Without your support, it may take them longer to get out of their slump. And with your support, they may keep up their hitting streak.

Bad teammates are only for themselves. They don’t care if the team wins or if teammates do well. They just want to do well and get recognition.

I had an experience with a teammate before who would always try to act like she was superior to everyone on the team and would be upset if she didn’t get the recognition she thought she deserved.

Play softball because you enjoy it and love to compete with your team!

Although I don’t do as great of a job as hiding my emotions if I’m doing poorly, I always support my teammates in their best and worst times. Because at the end of the day, I know my teammates are the truest friends I will ever have.

Also, I’ve found that if I am doing poorly, supporting my teammates who are doing great helps me stay positive in getting some hits of my own in my next at bats.

Positive thoughts create positive results. Don’t be negative and keep supporting your team. Nothing is better than knowing each girl in your dugout has your back at all times.

Til next time!

Amanda