From the Dugout: Amanda Chidester
2/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball, Features
Growing up in the shadow of the Michigan softball program in Allen Park, Mich., freshman Amanda Chidester dreamed of playing for the Wolverines. She excelled throughout high school, leading her Cabrini HS team to three straight trips to the state championship games -- winning the title as a sophomore (2006) and junior (2007) -- as well as countless individual honors. The transition to collegiate softball can be tough for a lot of freshmen, but it didn't take long for Chidester to make an impact in the U-M batting lineup
The U-M rookie headlined the Wolverines' offensive efforts at the season-opening FAU Kick-Off Classic (Feb. 6-8), batting .563 (9-for-16) over the five-game tournament with six RBI and five runs scored. Chidester notched the game-winning hit in each of Michigan's first three games. She used an RBI single to the left-side gap to push U-M ahead of Pittsburgh in the eighth inning (3-1, Feb. 6), gave Michigan the only lead it needed with an RBI double in the first frame vs. Long Island (4-0, Feb. 6) and did likewise vs. Maryland (8-0, Feb. 7), smacking a first-inning, two-RBI triple to rightfield to kickstart Michigan's first run-rule victory of the year.
With the season underway and Michigan off to a great start against some tough non-conference tournament competition, Amanda took a minute to chat about her transition to college softball, her vocal presence in the U-M dugout, and her awe over playing for the Wolverines.
On the transition to college softball ...
"The game is a lot faster. It's a lot more draining than high school games too. The base running is totally different. After the ball is hit, there would be times in high school where I automatically knew I could go because there was no way they were going to catch it. But in college, you don't necessarily assume they won't catch it. That's something I have to get used to."
On her quick start serving as a good confidence builder ...
"I think it helps a lot. But I just have to stay within myself, trust myself and keep doing the things I've been doing. I don't want to think too far ahead. That will help keep pressure off of me. The team is so supportive of me, and it helps a lot to have them behind, telling me to do what I can do best. They don't ask for anything more."
On the Wolverines' hitting lineup ...
"We all just need to make sure that, with each at bat, we do whatever we can to get on. I know that if I can get on, my teammates will hit me around, especially having Maggie [Viefhaus] right behind me. I know that she'll do something to move me, and if she didn't, then Dorian [Shaw] was right after her. Our hitting lineup is so strong that, individually, we don't have to overdo it. You just need to focus on getting a base hit or a walk, because you know that they'll be behind you. As a hitter, that's a great feeling. In high school, sometimes you put the pressure on yourself to do it all. But here, it's a lot easier just to take one at a time."
On the U-M team gaining momentum at the plate ...
"We did a lot of live pitching over the winter, and I think that helped me a lot. I didn't go into that first tournament panicked about facing live pitching for the first time since fall ball. It's great for us to face Jordan [Taylor] and Nikki [Nemitz] in the cages, because it definitely gives you a good feel for it. It certainly isn't any harder when you get into games, because I know I'm facing, in practice, two of the top pitchers in the country. Sometimes you can get a hit off of them -- sometimes -- and you can take that into the game and know that you just need to be patient and wait for pitch, and you'll get a hit."
On her contributions to the team ...
"I think being vocal is one of my strong points. I have never just hit for a team before, so sitting on the bench, waiting to hit can be tough. But I also think it helps me, because I know that it's my role. I am put in there to hit the ball and get on base. As a player, that's exactly what I need to do because that's what they expect me to do. I'm an energetic, loud person, so it felt like I was in a cage, sitting on the bench. So, the best thing I could do was cheer for my teammates, make sure they knew how many outs there were and just support them. That's been one of my stronger points on this team, talking, loosening people up and just having fun out there."
On growing up a Michigan fan ...
"Growing up, coming to camps, I was that little kid that just desperately wanted to play with the team. When I was at the clinic this year and got to see all the little kids from a Michigan uniform perspective and see them sitting where I was-- I just thought, 'I can't believe I'm here.' I've always dreamed of coming here. It's a feeling that I wish everyone could experience. Before we left on our first trip, we watched the highlight video from last year. I watched it from the perspective of being a fan last year. I was still in awe of all the players; they were so good. Now I'm playing with all of them."
On the potential of Wolverine team ...
"I think we're going to be a great team. We all get along so well, and we all play so well together. I think if everyone keeps with the roles our coaches assign us, I think we'll do really well. We just need to keep going out there and playing with the passion that we have and know that we're Michigan softball and we can compete with anybody."
On Michigan's tough tournament schedule ...
"We're really looking forward it. Who wants to only play teams on the bottom It's competition, and it will really give us a test as far as how well we can play. It's going to be great, and it's going to help us to know that we can play with the best. It's good to face these teams early. It gives us a good sense for what's to come."
