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
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