Hutchins Reflects on What Has Enabled Peters to Have a 'Fantastic Career'
4/27/2019 9:29:00 PM | Softball, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Natalie Peters is the kind of player coaches can't get enough of on their teams. Players like the University of Michigan's veteran center fielder can be counted upon to make a difference. They are the glue. They are the inspiration. They are the lowest of low maintenance.
The glow in Wolverine head coach Carol Hutchins' face in describing her after Saturday's (April 27) 8-0, five-inning win over Penn State showed that Peters is an absolute joy to coach.
"She just shows up every day to help her team," said Hutchins. "She's unsung, and I'd really like to see her carry herself with more moxie."
Hutchins turned her head to one side, got a glint in her eye and stuck out her chest, adding that an "I belong in that role" persona would fit Peters well.
"But she does understand her role," Hutchins continued. "She works hard at it, and is one of the nicest, most thoughtful people I've ever met. Her commitment to her team is just … you can't compare it to anybody.
"She's just committed every day and the epitome of selfless. Kids have to have a certain amount of selfishness to be great, and she's just so selfless. But I'll tell you what, she's had a fantastic career for us."
Peters has been a three-year starter who takes hits away with her anticipation, speed and glove. She also gets plenty of hits -- 161 for her career -- with an improved slap stroke while occasionally getting her weight back and taking a traditional, fluid swing.
The senior from San Diego was at it again against the Nittany Lions, going 2-for-2 and scoring two runs while driving in one. She accounted for more runs than any other Wolverine in the run-rule win over Penn State, and is among the team leaders in virtually every offensive category.
Peters is fourth in both batting average (.343) and on-base percentage (.445), is tied for second with nine doubles and third in both runs (36) and hits (47). She leads the team in getting hit by 13 pitches and is tied for the stolen-base lead with 11 in 12 attempts. Her six sacrifice hits are second and she also has 21 RBI.
Nearly every one of her offensive statistics is up from last season. Though, she's never had a poor season, batting .361 and .312 as a sophomore and junior, respectively.
"I'm really just trying to take it one pitch at a time," Peters said. "I'm just trying to embrace every moment and situation – not hold onto the negatives and cherish the positives."
Hutchins has noticed how Peters' new approach has led to improvement.
"Her confidence has gotten better (this season)," said Hutchins, "which helps her game be more consistent. She's a kid who will put too much pressure on herself or beat herself up when she doesn't do well enough. She's just been a little better at letting the game be the game. Sometimes you're not perfect and you don't have to be perfect. She's a perfectionist, and that (mind-set) lets her be more even keel."
Peters provides dependability and spark as the No. 2 hitter in the batting order.
"When Faith (Canfield) doesn't start us," said Hutchins, "Natalie does a fantastic job of starting us when Faith doesn't. Faith got us on the board with the first at-bat (Saturday) and then Natalie coming back and hit it hard (for a single).
"Natalie can do a little bit of everything. She's power, slaps, and her slap's been back this year. It was a little off last year. She can just make so many things happen with her speed, and at the top of the order there's a lot of good stuff going on up there. She's right in the middle of it."
Peters bats behind senior second baseman Canfield (.388, 46 runs, eight homers and 34 RBI) and ahead of freshman left-field sensation Lexie Blair (.429, 19 doubles, five homers and 46 RBI). Senior first baseman Alex Sobczak (.368, nine homers and 35 RBI) bats cleanup behind them.
That group got freshman starting pitcher Alex Storako a 3-0 lead in the first inning, and Storako did the rest, holding Penn State to a leadoff single in the first inning and nothing more, while striking out nine and throwing what Hutchins referred to as a "no-walker" game.
It was a win in which everyone contributed and Michigan (36-11, 18-1 Big Ten) -- winners of 24 of its last 25 games – pitched, hit and played defense in excellent fashion.
Peters didn't have a ball come her way in this game as the Nittany Lions hit only two to the outfield, but she chases down almost everything that comes her way. Peters has only one error with 46 putouts this season, and didn't have a miscue last year.
"You've got to cover everything," Hutchins said of center fielders, "and she's just been outstanding. She's gotten better every year defensively as well. She just keeps getting better."
When Peters gets that great jump on a ball hit to the gap, it's because of the "one-pitch focus" she employs on every pitch, never knowing when the split second gained in anticipation is going to make the difference between a double for the opposition or a highlight reel-worthy catch.
Peters has only one homer, and tends to get overlooked because her contributions aren't as dramatic. But true to her "selfless" nature, Peters isn't about being noticed. She's about the game, and her teammates and coaches.
Her classmates are particularly close friends.
"We all just really care about each other," said Peters. "That's special to see. We all have good perspectives on things, I feel."
Hutchins said that Peters might be quiet by nature, but gets across important points.
"Natalie is a leader on the team," said Hutchins. "I mean, you're a leader when you're a senior patrolling the outfield. And she does little things. I see her every day picking up all the bats and putting them in a certain order in the bat bag. Kids who do the little things -- her and Faith have been outstanding all year with making sure the dugout's picked up, and that the little things get done.
"You can say, 'Does that matter?' It matters, and takes care of details. She shows up to help us -- whatever it is. She didn't have such a great game offensively yesterday, and she came back today and got after it. That's what leaders do. They lead by example, and watching her is certainly inspiration to somebody else. That's what leaders do. They inspire."
The Wolverines will play their last regular-season home game Sunday, and for the seniors it will be an emotional afternoon.
"I try not to think about it," Peters said before pausing. "It's not any different than any other game -- same old, same old."
The faraway look in her eyes with that response exhibited just how hard it is going to be to treat it like just another game. But it's something competitors strive for in order to keep the focus necessary to perform.
What has she enjoyed most about these four years?
"Everything, really," Peters said. "Playing, school, experiencing the different weather. I've just met my bestest friends."
Her parents, Sheri and Glenn, have flown in from San Diego along with her sister and brother-in-law, Rachel and Andrew Hnat. Her "Nana" and "Papa," Diane and Rodney Fendall, are here from Sacramento along with her aunt and uncle, Nonie and Jim Manker.
Only her parents had seen her play at Alumni Field before this weekend.
"They're all really loving it," said Natalie. "We haven't been able to do much yet. I had three finals due Friday. But at least (Sunday), I'll be able to hang out with them more. We've just kind of gone out to eat at this point."
Alexander, Canfield, Sobczak and designated player Mackenzie Nemitz are the other seniors who will be taking a final bow before the home fans, and taking part in the pregame ceremony with their families.
Someday they will come back for games like several recent softball program graduates did Saturday.
"It's the joy of my life," said Hutchins, "seeing all of those kids and reconnecting with them."
Peters and her classmates will still have three games to play at Maryland before the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament. They came in as freshmen making it to the Women's College World Series and would love to go out the same way.
Each will have left their mark on a special program, and for Peters it will be her "thoughtful" nature, selfless commitment to team and ability to keep the inning going with her bat while sometimes ending the other half of the inning with her glove.
Like Hutchins said, Peters has had a "fantastic career," even if she does it with consistency as opposed to a big bang.
