CALEDONIA — Physical maturation only partially explains Cara Hopper’s improvement in the circle.
In eighth grade, Hopper was a “tiny” 85 pounds, but she already had dreams of playing softball in college, so she knew she needed to work hard to get better.
Now a junior, Hopper has benefited from working with a pitching coach and her father, Tony, and now has five pitches in her arsenal.
Hopper also has a difference mind-set in the circle. Armed with new-found confidence, Hopper has played a key role in the Caledonia High School fast-pitch softball team’s success this season.
Hopper earned victories against Hamilton, Louisville, and Lamar County last week to help Caledonia improve to 5-2. For her accomplishments, Hopper is The Dispatch’s Prep Player of the Week.
“I feel like I pitched really well in those games,” Hopper said of the Hamilton and Louisville games. “This year, I have consistently pitched well in every game, but I couldn’t do it without my defense. I am just glad to have my defense behind me to back me up.”
On Tuesday, Hopper struck out 10 and allowed only one hit in a 3-1 victory against Hamilton. On Thursday, she struck out three and had a single and two RBIs in a 14-1 win against Louisville. On Saturday, Hopper (4-1) struck out nine, walked one, and allowed only five hits in a 5-2 victory against Lamar County. She also had a single and received support from Taylor Renth (two singles), Kate Sanseng (double, RBI), Hope Burton (single, RBI), and Chelsea Goley (single).
Caledonia coach Robin Elmore said Hopper was aggressive in each of the performances and did her best to dominate the opposition, which is something the Lady Confederates want to do in each game.
“I felt like she has been pitching with a lot more confidence because she knows it is not all on her,” Elmore said. “She is having fun this year. It is fun watching her. She is really enjoying the game.”
Elmore said the emergence of Burton and Goley as pitchers and the improvement of the team’s defense, thanks in part to the return of slow-pitch softball to the school in the fall, have helped take pressure off Hopper. She also credited assistant coach Andy Finch, who works with the pitchers and the catchers, for helping Hopper to hit her spots better and to cut down on walks. The result is a pitcher who isn’t going as deep into counts and who is relying on her defense to do its part.
“She has done really well getting that first strike and putting the pressure on the batter, not the pitcher,” Elmore said. “The whole team has more confidence we can do this.”
Hopper agrees she has more control of her pitches and has a different attitude and is more able to stay in control mentally if things don’t go her way. She said that maturation is a matter of being older and understanding the game better.
“I think I have grown a lot,” Hopper said. “My pitching has gotten a lot better.”
Hopper uses a fastball, changeup, a drop curve, a screwball, and a knuckleball. She said she doesn’t have the biggest hands, but she is still able to use her nails to use the knuckleball effectively. She feels her fastball remains her best pitches but that she has the confidence and is consistent enough to use her drop curve in any count.
Hopper hopes all of those pitches will help her earn a scholarship to play softball in college. If she doesn’t pitch, Hopper hopes she will get a chance to play second base, the position she played on the varsity team before she became the team’s No. 1 pitcher.
“If I keep improving like I have been achieving, I feel like I will be able to realize that goal,” Hopper said.
Elmore also believes Hopper has a bright future. She said Hopper has a great work ethic that she feels will help her realize her goal.
“Cara wants to be good,” Elmore said. “She wants to be a great pitcher and that’s what it takes. She definitely has the talent and the ability. Like I said, slowly but surely it is coming together for us. I think she is confident in her teammates and realizes if I do my job and they hit the ball off me they’re going to make a play.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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