A LEFT TURN; SWITCH WORKS FOR WILLIAMS.Byline: Brian Dalziel Daily News Staff Writer It was the middle of her sophomore season when Valencia High's Melanie Williams Melanie Williams is a United Kingdom based singer. She is best known for singing on the hit record "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" alongside the Manchester dance outfit Sub Sub (who later became Doves). needed a batting makeover. ``I was batting right-handed and it wasn't working out,'' Williams recalled. ``I had only started playing softball in the eighth grade, so I didn't really know how to play and nobody taught me how to hit. ``So coach (Donna) Lee said we should switch our swing around to the left side. I wasn't going to say no.'' Said Lee, ``Her biggest asset is her speed and that's why we turned her around.'' So Williams made the switch, even if it was uncomfortable. ``It was really hard,'' she said. ``It was like writing left-handed. I didn't know what to do and I didn't have any control.'' Lee worked with Williams on her new look, and by the end of the season, Williams became one of the best slap hitters on the team, which propelled her to leadoff over the next two seasons. Williams will display her talents Monday as the 18-year-old senior closes out her four-year varsity career in the 13th annual Daily News All-Star Game An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league. The players are often chosen by a popular vote of fans of the sport and the game often occurs at the halfway point of the regular season, although this is not the case for some all-star games at Cal State Northridge. ``She's one of the best slap hitters in our league,'' Lee said. ``There are a lot of good slap hitters out there, but a lot of the girls have been doing it for a lot longer time. There were so many times that she would hit the ball and she'd be safe at first base.'' Williams showed this season that she could also hit for power. In 25 games, she hit .407 (37 for 91), scoring 22 runs and hitting three home runs. ``This year she excelled at hitting away,'' Lee said. ``She really worked hard at power hitting over the summer. And a lot of her hits, they were true hits, not just slap hits. She's come a long way with her hitting.'' Williams' speed allowed her to steal around 15 bases - four of those coming in one game - as she helped the Vikings to a third-place finish Noun 1. third-place finish - a finish in third place (as in a race) finish - designated event that concludes a contest (especially a race); "excitement grew as the finish neared"; "my horse was several lengths behind at the finish"; "the winner is the team with the in the Foothill League. ``We finished the season a lot better than we expected,'' said Williams, whose team was 12-15 overall. ``I think we should have won a lot more games than we did. But we did really good, because we had a couple new people on the team and a lot of our games could have gone either way. ``We lost to Saugus in the last inning on a fly ball that was lost in the sun. Some things didn't go our way, but maybe next year they will have a little bit more luck.'' Coming into the season, Lee needed a shortstop. She decided to move Williams from center field, where she played the previous two seasons, into the infield. Williams, who was named the school's Female Athlete of the Year Athlete of the Year
``She's a good defensive player and I needed a shortstop and she's the best athlete with the quickest feet and hands,'' Lee said. ``She was just awesome. She was a bit tentative at first. But she did a really good job.'' Williams has been accepted academically to Fresno State, where she plans to walk on to the softball program. Right now, though, she's working on her all-around game, playing travel ball this summer for the Shilos team based out of Granada Hills. ``I love travel ball,'' Williams said. ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. what I'd do without it. I like going out on the weekends, but I'd give up all my summer time for travel ball. I love softball I Love Softball is a Famicom game about softball. The object is to win the championship using female softball players. This game is a one or two player game. If the player loses one game, then he has to start all over again. and to be able to do it all year is really great.'' AT A GLANCE What: 23rd annual Bernie Milligan Daily News All-Star Baseball All-Star Baseball is a baseball video game series developed and published by Acclaim Entertainment. The series began in 1998 with the release of All-Star Baseball '99. Game and 13th annual Daily News Softball Game. When: Baseball game Noun 1. baseball game - a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs; "he played baseball in high school"; "there was a baseball game on every empty lot"; "there was a desire for National League is at 1 p.m. Saturday (11 a.m. home run derby This is about the Major League Baseball contest. For the 1959 television show of the same name, see Home Run Derby (TV series). The Home Run Derby is an event played prior to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. ); softball game is at 4 p.m. Monday. (2:30 home run derby). Where: Baseball game at Stengel Field in Glendale; softball game at Cal State Northridge. Who: The best graduating players from the San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. , Antelope, Simi and Conejo valleys, as well the Camarillo, Burbank, Glendale and foothill areas. Tickets: $5 at the gate or at the Daily News, 21221 Oxnard St., Woodland Hills. Note: Former Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are a professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium. pitcher Mark Gubicza CAPTION(S): Photo, Box PHOTO Daily News All-Star Melanie Williams hit .407 and scored 22 runs for Valencia High. Jeff Goldwater/Daily News BOX: AT A GLANCE (See text) |
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