have, just sort of normal. Typically, 
have, just sort of normal. Typically, 
when I’m not in my head, I just 
when I’m not in my head, I just 
kinda push the nerves aside and try 
kinda push the nerves aside and try 
to be present, try to come through 
to be present, try to come through 
in the moment.”
in the moment.”

During her four-year stint at West 
During her four-year stint at West 

Orange, Blair amassed a reputation 
Orange, Blair amassed a reputation 
as a clutch player. In the regional 
as a clutch player. In the regional 
championship as a freshman, she 
championship as a freshman, she 
homered to snap a scoreless tie. A 
homered to snap a scoreless tie. A 
year later, she drove in the only two 
year later, she drove in the only two 
runs of the game on a single. A year 
runs of the game on a single. A year 
after that, she doubled in the only 
after that, she doubled in the only 
runs of the game. Then two games 
runs of the game. Then two games 
later in the state championship, she 
later in the state championship, she 
hit the triple. 
hit the triple. 

“I don’t know what it is about 
“I don’t know what it is about 

me, I just feel like if I’m getting too 
me, I just feel like if I’m getting too 
high then that makes me anxious,” 
high then that makes me anxious,” 
Blair said. “I just feel like staying 
Blair said. “I just feel like staying 
calm is what helps me do well under 
calm is what helps me do well under 
pressure. And I enjoy being under 
pressure. And I enjoy being under 
pressure, because I like producing 
pressure, because I like producing 
for my team.”
for my team.”

In high school, while a decorated 
In high school, while a decorated 

player, Blair hadn’t faced adversity 
player, Blair hadn’t faced adversity 
brought about by situations like 
brought about by situations like 
prolonged slumps. College, though 
prolonged slumps. College, though 
knocked on the doorstep. The next 
knocked on the doorstep. The next 
step in her softball career eventually 
step in her softball career eventually 
figured to include roadblocks that 
figured to include roadblocks that 
would test her confidence in the 
would test her confidence in the 
process. 
process. 

***
***
When she enrolled at Michigan, 
When she enrolled at Michigan, 

Blair left behind her high school 
Blair left behind her high school 
eminence and again readied to start 
eminence and again readied to start 
anew, the same worries resurfacing 
anew, the same worries resurfacing 

to stare her in the face. How 
to stare her in the face. How 
would she fit in as a newcomer on 
would she fit in as a newcomer on 
a veteran-laden team? How would 
a veteran-laden team? How would 
she acclimate to the higher-level 
she acclimate to the higher-level 
competition? Beyond softball, she 
competition? Beyond softball, she 
had other adjustments to fret about 
had other adjustments to fret about 
— transitioning from high school to 
— transitioning from high school to 
college is a beast in its own right.
college is a beast in its own right.

Thrust into a cauldron of 
Thrust into a cauldron of 

apprehension, Blair relied on what 
apprehension, Blair relied on what 
got her this far in the first place. 
got her this far in the first place. 

“I just didn’t want to make 
“I just didn’t want to make 

it bigger than what it was,” she 
it bigger than what it was,” she 
said. “That was just my mindset. I 
said. “That was just my mindset. I 
didn’t want to be so anxious about 
didn’t want to be so anxious about 
things like overpowering pitchers. 
things like overpowering pitchers. 
I’ve swung a bat for 10 years now. 
I’ve swung a bat for 10 years now. 
Eventually I’ll catch up.”
Eventually I’ll catch up.”

It didn’t take long. 
It didn’t take long. 
Blair got into Michigan’s batting 
Blair got into Michigan’s batting 

order for the season opener and 
order for the season opener and 
never left it, becoming an All-Big 
never left it, becoming an All-Big 
Ten First Team selection. She was 
Ten First Team selection. She was 
the first Michigan freshman in over 
the first Michigan freshman in over 
two decades to hit .400. She led the 
two decades to hit .400. She led the 
Wolverines in hits, doubles and 
Wolverines in hits, doubles and 
RBI. All the while, her confidence 
RBI. All the while, her confidence 
not once fluctuated drastically, 
not once fluctuated drastically, 
largely remaining steady from the 
largely remaining steady from the 
beginnings of nonconference play 
beginnings of nonconference play 
into the NCAA regional. 
into the NCAA regional. 

Success, though, can be a double-
Success, though, can be a double-

edged sword. The bar would 
edged sword. The bar would 
be raised for the encore, Blair’s 
be raised for the encore, Blair’s 
sophomore season, which is where 
sophomore season, which is where 
the most admirable aspect of Blair’s 
the most admirable aspect of Blair’s 
confidence comes into play.
confidence comes into play.

Her confidence is just that — 
Her confidence is just that — 

nothing more. It’s genuine and not 
nothing more. It’s genuine and not 
cocky, unaccompanied by brashness 
cocky, unaccompanied by brashness 

or arrogance, which lends itself to a 
or arrogance, which lends itself to a 
certain self-awareness. When Blair 
certain self-awareness. When Blair 
needs help, she recognizes it, and 
needs help, she recognizes it, and 
isn’t hesitant to seek it out. 
isn’t hesitant to seek it out. 

Immersed in her slump, Blair 
Immersed in her slump, Blair 

did just that. In mid-February, she 
did just that. In mid-February, she 
picked up the phone and sought the 
picked up the phone and sought the 
advice of a former teammate and 
advice of a former teammate and 
mentor. 
mentor. 

“I thought that just showed great 
“I thought that just showed great 

initiative,” Hutchins said. “She just 
initiative,” Hutchins said. “She just 
understands what she needs to do to 
understands what she needs to do to 
manage this. You can talk to her and 
manage this. You can talk to her and 
she doesn’t go, ‘Ugh, somebody’s 
she doesn’t go, ‘Ugh, somebody’s 
telling me what to do.’ She works 
telling me what to do.’ She works 
hard. She’s a positive kid. She’s 
hard. She’s a positive kid. She’s 
grateful for her opportunity and 
grateful for her opportunity and 
boy, I’ll take a kid like that anyday.”
boy, I’ll take a kid like that anyday.”

Blair didn’t stop at the phone 
Blair didn’t stop at the phone 

call. She worked tirelessly with the 
call. She worked tirelessly with the 
coaching staff to tweak her swing. 
coaching staff to tweak her swing. 
She consulted teammates and 
She consulted teammates and 
mentors alike for tips on the mental 
mentors alike for tips on the mental 
side of slumps, absorbing advice 
side of slumps, absorbing advice 
like a sponge. On her own, she took 
like a sponge. On her own, she took 
extra cuts in the batting cage. 
extra cuts in the batting cage. 

Slowly, she began to see tangible 
Slowly, she began to see tangible 

results. At the Judi Garman 
results. At the Judi Garman 
Classic the weekend of Feb. 28, 
Classic the weekend of Feb. 28, 
she registered nine hits and four 
she registered nine hits and four 
doubles across the five game slate, 
doubles across the five game slate, 
finding her footing in the two-hole. 
finding her footing in the two-hole. 
It was a performance punctuated 
It was a performance punctuated 
by a four-hit game against No. 25 
by a four-hit game against No. 25 
Texas Tech. Last weekend, she 
Texas Tech. Last weekend, she 
continued her turnaround with 
continued her turnaround with 
six hits in five games, raising her 
six hits in five games, raising her 
average up to .293. 
average up to .293. 

8A — Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

ALEC COHEN / DAILY

LEXIE BLAIR
And a turnaround hinged on confidence

Todd LaNeave had a question. 
Todd LaNeave had a question. 
It was the 2017 FHSAA Class 9A Florida 
It was the 2017 FHSAA Class 9A Florida 

softball state championship game and 
softball state championship game and 
LaNeave’s West Orange team was locked 
LaNeave’s West Orange team was locked 
in a scoreless pitchers’ duel with Palm 
in a scoreless pitchers’ duel with Palm 
Harbor. With one out in the bottom of the 
Harbor. With one out in the bottom of the 
sixth inning, West Orange’s most prolific 
sixth inning, West Orange’s most prolific 
hitter, outfielder Lexie Blair, was due up.
hitter, outfielder Lexie Blair, was due up.

LaNeave trusted his pitchers to keep 
LaNeave trusted his pitchers to keep 

Palm Harbor’s offense at bay through the 
Palm Harbor’s offense at bay through the 
next few frames. All his team needed to 
next few frames. All his team needed to 
take home the title, he believed, was a run 
take home the title, he believed, was a run 
of its own. 
of its own. 

Starved for a baserunner to put the 
Starved for a baserunner to put the 

offense into motion, LaNeave pulled Blair 
offense into motion, LaNeave pulled Blair 
aside and posed the question: 
aside and posed the question: Want to bunt? 
Want to bunt? 

Asking a .500 hitter like Blair to drop 
Asking a .500 hitter like Blair to drop 

down a bunt defies convention. In her first 
down a bunt defies convention. In her first 
two at-bats, though, Blair looked far from 
two at-bats, though, Blair looked far from 
her usual self. Each time she rolled over 
her usual self. Each time she rolled over 
the top of the ball, weakly grounding out to 
the top of the ball, weakly grounding out to 
first. Her tremendous speed, meanwhile, 
first. Her tremendous speed, meanwhile, 
made bunting an appealing option — not 
made bunting an appealing option — not 
only could she beat the bunt out, but also 
only could she beat the bunt out, but also 
steal second to get into scoring position. 
steal second to get into scoring position. 

Bunting, in that sense, presented itself 
Bunting, in that sense, presented itself 

as the easy choice for a scuffling player. 
as the easy choice for a scuffling player. 

But Blair never considered it. 
But Blair never considered it. 
“I was kinda laughing on the inside,” 
“I was kinda laughing on the inside,” 

Blair recalled. “I was like, ‘No, I’ll get it 
Blair recalled. “I was like, ‘No, I’ll get it 
done.’ I was confident.”
done.’ I was confident.”

Steady and self-assured amid the stakes 
Steady and self-assured amid the stakes 

of the moment, Blair stepped to the plate 
of the moment, Blair stepped to the plate 
to make good on her word. She stroked the 
to make good on her word. She stroked the 
pitch into the right-center field gap for a 
pitch into the right-center field gap for a 
triple. On the next play, she tagged up on 
triple. On the next play, she tagged up on 
a fly ball, bringing home what would prove 
a fly ball, bringing home what would prove 
to be the game-winning run.
to be the game-winning run.

“I’ll 
always 
remember 
that 
brief 
“I’ll 
always 
remember 
that 
brief 

conversation I had with her,” LaNeave 
conversation I had with her,” LaNeave 
said. “She goes, ‘Coach, I can do this. I’ll 
said. “She goes, ‘Coach, I can do this. I’ll 
extend through one.’ And then she does.”
extend through one.’ And then she does.”

Blair has long possessed a steadfast 
Blair has long possessed a steadfast 

belief in her own ability, the confidence she 
belief in her own ability, the confidence she 
showed in this moment being an attribute 
showed in this moment being an attribute 
she has rarely lacked. 
she has rarely lacked. 

This season, though, has marked a trying 
This season, though, has marked a trying 

junction. The challenging first month to 
junction. The challenging first month to 
Blair’s sophomore season at Michigan has 
Blair’s sophomore season at Michigan has 
revealed her inner confidence to be truly 
revealed her inner confidence to be truly 
indispensable. 
indispensable. 

***
***
At the beginning of the season, Michigan 
At the beginning of the season, Michigan 

softball coach Carol Hutchins spoke 
softball coach Carol Hutchins spoke 
candidly about how Blair would handle 
candidly about how Blair would handle 
expectations in her second go-around as a 
expectations in her second go-around as a 
Wolverine. 
Wolverine. 

“Sometimes, it’s just like, ‘I was really 
“Sometimes, it’s just like, ‘I was really 

good last year and now I’m supposed to 
good last year and now I’m supposed to 
be good,’ ” Hutchins said. “They put a lot 
be good,’ ” Hutchins said. “They put a lot 
of pressure on themselves. They get caught 
of pressure on themselves. They get caught 
up and they’re not in the moment. You 
up and they’re not in the moment. You 
know, she’s not going to be a secret when 
know, she’s not going to be a secret when 
we face other teams now.”
we face other teams now.”

As a freshman, Blair wasn’t necessarily 
As a freshman, Blair wasn’t necessarily 

a secret either — it’s hard to hide when 
a secret either — it’s hard to hide when 
you’re batting at a .406 clip. But, by batting 
you’re batting at a .406 clip. But, by batting 
in the three-spot, she had the luxury of 
in the three-spot, she had the luxury of 
hitting behind two potent seniors in Faith 
hitting behind two potent seniors in Faith 
Canfield and Natalie Peters. Last year, the 
Canfield and Natalie Peters. Last year, the 
opposition’s gameplan centered around 
opposition’s gameplan centered around 
containing Canfield and Peters. This year, 
containing Canfield and Peters. This year, 
it was bound to revolve around Blair. 
it was bound to revolve around Blair. 

The transition, 13 games into the 2020 
The transition, 13 games into the 2020 

season, wasn’t going swimmingly. Blair 
season, wasn’t going swimmingly. Blair 
was struggling, her batting average having 
was struggling, her batting average having 
dipped to a sluggish .175 following an 
dipped to a sluggish .175 following an 
0-for-10 stretch. She lost her claim to the 
0-for-10 stretch. She lost her claim to the 
leadoff spot, tumbling down to eighth in 
leadoff spot, tumbling down to eighth in 
the batting order for Michigan’s game 
the batting order for Michigan’s game 
against Liberty on Feb. 23. 
against Liberty on Feb. 23. 

“She’s having a cold spell,” Hutchins 
“She’s having a cold spell,” Hutchins 

said two days later. “It’s a hard thing. I 
said two days later. “It’s a hard thing. I 
think she’s struggled with that, trying to 
think she’s struggled with that, trying to 
find her way out of it. It’s really common for 
find her way out of it. It’s really common for 
a kid who has only known success when, 
a kid who has only known success when, 
at some point, the expectations become 
at some point, the expectations become 
greater than the actual performance. 
greater than the actual performance. 
Basically, for lack of a better term, it gets 
Basically, for lack of a better term, it gets 
in her head. And she’ll tell ya, ‘I’m in my 
in her head. And she’ll tell ya, ‘I’m in my 
head.’ So she’s got to get her mind cleared 
head.’ So she’s got to get her mind cleared 
out.”
out.”

In Blair’s case, as someone who found 
In Blair’s case, as someone who found 

unprecedented success as a freshman and 
unprecedented success as a freshman and 
hit north of the .500 mark all four years 
hit north of the .500 mark all four years 
of high school, prolonged cold spells are 
of high school, prolonged cold spells are 
foreign. But she knew that emerging from 
foreign. But she knew that emerging from 
this slump first required repairing her 
this slump first required repairing her 
confidence — which has been “a little up 
confidence — which has been “a little up 
and down this year.”
and down this year.”

She’s not shy about admitting this, in 
She’s not shy about admitting this, in 

part because she knows the importance 
part because she knows the importance 
of its maintenance. Confidence has always 
of its maintenance. Confidence has always 
been intertwined with her performance. 
been intertwined with her performance. 

***
***
When Blair was a freshman at West 
When Blair was a freshman at West 

Orange, the school had an oversized 
Orange, the school had an oversized 
student population, making tryouts for 
student population, making tryouts for 
any varsity sport uber-competitive. First-
any varsity sport uber-competitive. First-
years going out for the softball team found 
years going out for the softball team found 
the coveted spots even harder to come 
the coveted spots even harder to come 
by; LaNeave, based on prior experiences, 
by; LaNeave, based on prior experiences, 
believed freshmen were better suited for 
believed freshmen were better suited for 
the junior varsity squad.
the junior varsity squad.

Blair knew she belonged at the varsity 
Blair knew she belonged at the varsity 

level and quickly proved so, LaNeave 
level and quickly proved so, LaNeave 
describing her as “like a rockstar.” 
describing her as “like a rockstar.” 
Bypassing JV, though, meant Blair again 
Bypassing JV, though, meant Blair again 
found herself in an unfavorable situation. 
found herself in an unfavorable situation. 

The first five years of her softball career 
The first five years of her softball career 
were played out alongside lifelong friends. 
were played out alongside lifelong friends. 
Now she would be the youngest on a team of 
Now she would be the youngest on a team of 
predominantly unknown upperclassmen, 
predominantly unknown upperclassmen, 
seasoned veterans in the circuit, who were 
seasoned veterans in the circuit, who were 
two, three years older than she. 
two, three years older than she. 

Blair set out once more to prove her 
Blair set out once more to prove her 

worth to teammates and coaches alike, 
worth to teammates and coaches alike, 
jostling for playing time. She went about 
jostling for playing time. She went about 
her work modestly and patiently, but not 
her work modestly and patiently, but not 
without her backbone. 
without her backbone. 

“I 
didn’t 
really 
learn 
what 
her 
“I 
didn’t 
really 
learn 
what 
her 

personality was like yet, to realize that 
personality was like yet, to realize that 
she was just a quiet person,” LaNeave said. 
she was just a quiet person,” LaNeave said. 
“I later learned it wasn’t because she was 
“I later learned it wasn’t because she was 
nervous or because she didn’t think she 
nervous or because she didn’t think she 
could hang. That wasn’t it at all.”
could hang. That wasn’t it at all.”

As a bench player, in-game opportunities 
As a bench player, in-game opportunities 

were scarce. Yet whether it be a call to 
were scarce. Yet whether it be a call to 
pinch hit or pinch run, Blair attacked 
pinch hit or pinch run, Blair attacked 
every assignment with an unwavering 
every assignment with an unwavering 
confidence that she could deliver. She 
confidence that she could deliver. She 
made the most of every chance she was 
made the most of every chance she was 
given and, by the season’s 13th game, had 
given and, by the season’s 13th game, had 
cemented a spot in the starting lineup. 
cemented a spot in the starting lineup. 

From pinch-hitting to pinch-running, 
From pinch-hitting to pinch-running, 

Blair made the most of every opportunity 
Blair made the most of every opportunity 
she was given. By the season’s 13th game, 
she was given. By the season’s 13th game, 
she had cemented a spot in the starting 
she had cemented a spot in the starting 
lineup. 
lineup. 

With the premium of a starter’s 
With the premium of a starter’s 

designation, so too came a greater spotlight 
designation, so too came a greater spotlight 
and high-pressure situations. 
and high-pressure situations. 

None of it fazed Blair. 
None of it fazed Blair. 
“There were times where I would ask 
“There were times where I would ask 

her after the fact, ‘Were you nervous?’ ” 
her after the fact, ‘Were you nervous?’ ” 
LaNeave said. “And she’d say, ‘Oh yeah, 
LaNeave said. “And she’d say, ‘Oh yeah, 
definitely.’ Well, she didn’t show it. She 
definitely.’ Well, she didn’t show it. She 
just has a certain level of confidence about 
just has a certain level of confidence about 
her. Whenever she had an opportunity or 
her. Whenever she had an opportunity or 
the team needed her to come through, she 
the team needed her to come through, she 
always seemed to come through.
always seemed to come through.

“She never looked like she didn’t want to 
“She never looked like she didn’t want to 

be in that situation. She just carried herself 
be in that situation. She just carried herself 
with this confidence that, ‘OK, my team 
with this confidence that, ‘OK, my team 
needs me here and I can get this done.’ 
needs me here and I can get this done.’ 
There’s not many of those like her.”
There’s not many of those like her.”

Saying that Blair is immune to nerves 
Saying that Blair is immune to nerves 

would be naive. All athletes, at any level, 
would be naive. All athletes, at any level, 
fight bouts of nervous energy, and she is 
fight bouts of nervous energy, and she is 
no exception. What separates the most 
no exception. What separates the most 
successful ones from the rest of the pack 
successful ones from the rest of the pack 
is an ability to subdue any unease, not 
is an ability to subdue any unease, not 
allowing it to impact performance. Blair 
allowing it to impact performance. Blair 
has worked that serenity into her routine 
has worked that serenity into her routine 
seamlessly. 
seamlessly. 

“Personally, I feel like if I’m not nervous, 
“Personally, I feel like if I’m not nervous, 

then something’s wrong with me,” Blair 
then something’s wrong with me,” Blair 
said. “I feel like nerves are a good thing to 
said. “I feel like nerves are a good thing to 

JARED GREENSPAN

Daily Sports Writer

FIRST PITCH

CONTINUED BELOW

CONTINUED FROM ABOVE

MORE AT MICHIGANDAILY.COM

