By Charles Prince

The North Jefferson News



A quick check of the highest batting averages in the North Jefferson area reveals that three of the top six hitters in our area are also full time pitchers. At the top of the batting average list in North Jefferson sits Hayden freshman Mara Conner, who’s hitting .571 this season. Closely following Conner is Fultondale eighth grader Cadi “Boo” Oliver, who’s hitting .562. In sixth place is Mortimer Jordan freshman Blair Johnson, who’s hitting .417. All three have shown their hitting prowess, but they also take a regular turn pitching for their respective clubs.

Do these girls have an advantage at the plate because they know how to get batters out while in the pitching circle? The players don’t necessary think so, but the answered varied from player-to-player.

“I don’t think my pitching helps me be a better hitter, expect for the fact that when you’re pitching you want to help yourself at the plate and hit,” Conner said.

“Yes, being a pitcher helps me hit,” Oliver said. “When I’m pitching I know I want to get ahead in the count, so I want to throw strikes. When I’m at the plate, I know the pitcher is thinking the same way and will throw something around the plate on the first pitching trying to get ahead.”

“I don’t think it really helps me hit,” Johnson said. “I guess it keeps you strong, but besides that I don’t think my pitching helps me hit.”

The trio not only agree to disagree on their pitching helping their hitting, they each gave a different explanation for their fast start at the plate so far this spring.

“I think the biggest difference in my hitting is that last year I was an eighth grader on the varsity who had never played high school ball,” Conner said. “Now, I’m an experienced high school player who knows how to hit high school pitching.”

“I’ve been using a Hit-a-Way at home to improve my hand-eye coordination and it’s help me get off to a good start since the first game when I went 1-for-4. I hadn’t used it until after that game, but it’s helped me since then,” Oliver said.

“I’ve always been a hitter,” Johnson said. “I work on it a lot in the off season with my travel ball coach and I’ve always been a good hitter.”

All three have their own approach to successful hitting.

“I move way up in the batters box, so I can swing before the ball breaks,” Conner said.

“If I had a hit the first time up, I’m expecting different types of pitches in different locations the next time I hit,” Oliver said.

“I watch the ball as soon as it leaves the pitcher’s hand,” Johnson said. “That gives me the right timing to hit.”

One thing the three have in common, they play travel ball in the off season and each said their being able to continue to play when school is out helps them once the school season begins.

All agree that travel ball pitchers tend to throw faster and have more movement than high school pitchers, but as Johnson pointed out, “there are some good high school pitchers who are tough to hit.” So far this year, the trio hasn’t had a very tough time with any pitcher they’ve faced.