Softball player receives honorable mention from American Midwest Conference

Senior integrated media major Lesley Nielsen earned her spot on the Honorable Mention All-Conference team in the American Midwest Conference this May with a .325 batting average and .910 fielding percentage.

The American Midwest Conference (AMC) sponsors seven sports at nine colleges, all of which are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), according to their website. The term "All-Conference" refers to the culmination of the most talented players in the conference. Nielsen was selected specifically for the Honorable Mention team.

"I had to be a team player because I actually didn't start out as a catcher. I just worked hard and had great sportsmanship." Nielsen says of her award. Currently home for the summer, she didn't receive the news until days after the announcement.

Beginning at the age of 5, Nielsen always considered softball her favorite sport. She began as a first baseman and occasional pitcher and did not have a lot of catching experience before college.

Coach Tim Price offered her the position as catcher when she transferred to Stephens, but Lesley originally turned it down because of a hurt knee. After some consideration, she decided to take the position.

A daily practice for the softball team would consist of running, stretching, hitting drills and field training. In addition to that, Nielsen and fellow catcher Kelsey Benson would work with the pitchers on drills more specific to their catching technique.

While good sportsmanship kept Nielsen strong, she attributes her success in the AMC partially to her teammates.

"They helped me when I was struggling at times. They had confidence in me when at times I was down."

Nielsen received similar mention and awards during high school for her softball performance but had not yet earned any during her college career. And as a small college that is not necessarily focused on athletics, Stephens can say the same thing. The athletic teams on campus tend to not draw as much student involvement compared to other events such as the fall and spring musicals and The Annual Spring Student Designer Fashion Show. Not many teams or individual players are recognized for their talent, so Nielsen's nomination rises above.

"It actually feels like I am helping the school athletics by getting the school out there and noticed," Nielsen says. "But I feel really accomplished because this is a great award to get and I feel so proud of myself."

Although during the season it might seem as though softball runs her life, Nielsen's personality expands beyond a catcher's mitt. If the pressing Stephens homework deadlines are met, she enjoys taking long drives and blaring loud music. She and fellow teammates Brittany Tutt and Casey Martin also joined forces in a different way this season, by creating quirky sing-a-long YouTube videos to popular radio hits.

Nielsen will remain at home in St. Johns, Ariz., before her senior year starts and another softball season arrives.

Despite the Stars softball team being on an 18-game losing streak, Nielsen is looking forward to experiencing another season of softball.

"Softball is coming out to be a really strong sport, and I'm grateful to be apart of it."