Tyler Having Solid Season
by Steve Ramirez, Whittier Daily News
May 16, 2005 Good things and eventually good things happen to you.
It's an old adage, but it happens to be true for former La Mirada High School softball player Lacy Tyler, whose freshman season at Big West Conference-champion Long Beach State has been a total surprise.
"I didn't know what to expect this year,' Tyler said. "I know I didn't expect to start. I just wanted to try my best and contribute in any way I could.
"I'm very pleased with how I've done. There's no way I thought I could do this well.'
Tyler has adapted quite nicely to Division I. She's started 46 of the team's 53 games and hit a very respectable .252 during the regular season. The team's starting shortstop is also a strong candidate for BWC Freshman Player of the Year honors after hitting five doubles and four home runs with 21 RBIs.
"The competition is really tough up here at this level,' Tyler said. "But you just try to play up to (the level of everyone else). You just have to play harder and work harder.'
She's also taken advantage of the pitching rubber being three feet further than the 38 feet it was in high school, but she's also not sure if it's a real big plus on the batter's side.
"It's helped,' Tyler said. "But the pitchers (in Division I) throw faster than they did in high school, so it's about the same. They are throwing from three feet further back, but they are also throwing about five miles per hour faster. You just have to adjust.'
Tyler is coming off a solid weekend as the 49ers (39-14, 19-2) wrapped up the regular season and prepared for this weekend's NCAA regionals with a three-game sweep of UC Riverside. She went 4 for 10 in the series with two RBIs, including hitting her fourth home run in the regular season finale on Saturday.
Now Tyler wants to help the 49ers earn a trip to the Women's College World Series in early June. The road to Oklahoma City, Okla. begins this weekend. Long Beach State, which lost in the regionals last season, will be in a four-team bracket at Fresno State.
"It's a very good feeling,' Tyler said of winning the Big West and the potential of playing in her first regional tournament. "I'm glad I was able to contribute (this year).'
"I don't know what to expect (this weekend) since I've never experienced it. I'm excited about it, I just don't what to expect. However we finish, I'll be happy with that.'
Tyler isn't the only former area player to contribute to the 49ers' success this season.
The Long Beach State roster also includes La Habra's Jennifer Martinez and St. Paul's Franciska Morlet.
Morlet, a former Del Rey League MVP for the Swordsmen, hit .250 in a part-time role during the regular season.
Martinez, meanwhile, also saw limited action. But the freshman pitcher was solid in the team's 5-0 victory over UC Riverside on Saturday. She limited the Highlanders to just three hits and struck out four in pitching a complete-game shutout. |
