Lewis-Palmer's Bryant is peak performer of week

With two swings of her bat, Lewis-Palmer junior first baseman Emily Bryant added two more wins to the Rangers' record. In only her second week of league play as a member of the varsity, Bryant drove in the go-ahead runs in Lewis-Palmer wins over Woodland Park and Widefield. Bryant's third-inning home run against the Gladiators gave the Pikes Peak No. 2 Rangers the lead for good.

Why do you think you've been performing so well under pressure recently?

I just get up there, and when your team needs you, you try to pull through for them. This last week I've gotten some good hits, but I'm hoping this won't be anything out of the ordinary for me.

Do you think knowing that you're in a clutch situation makes you a better hitter? Do you get nervous?

I think everyone gets a little nervous (laughs). But for me, I think it's about trying to make it work out for the rest of the team. When you know you've got a few runs on the board, it makes everyone else relax a little too. And it definitely takes some pressure off your pitcher when you get back out on the field.

Have you ever been a pitcher?

I was when I was pretty little. I started playing when I was in third grade, and I liked being involved in every play, so I just started pitching. As I got older, I moved to first base where I still get to be involved in a lot of the action. Plus, I'm tall. (laughs).

Did being a pitcher teach you anything about hitting?

I was pretty young, but even then, I guess you think more about what kind of pitch you would throw in certain situations. I think I've learned a lot more by playing on teams with good pitchers.

Do you have pitches that you know you shouldn't swing at but can't lay off?

I like pitches right down the middle, but sometimes I reach too much on the outside of the plate.

So you think you can keep up this kind of hitting? Do you think of yourself as a power hitter?

I hope so. I worked with a hitting coach over the summer to just kind of get my swing consistent, and I'm feeling pretty good. I guess I have more of a power-type swing, but I'm not looking to hit it over the fence every time. If I can get a base hit, I feel like I've done my job.

What else have you learned from working with a swing coach? Do you have any drills that are really effective for you?

We worked a lot on my mental game. Just concentrating on the situation and focusing on the pitch. Instead of just swinging for anything I think I can reach, I try to look more for ones where I won't have to change my swing too much. I like to work with a tee a lot because it helps me with placement and seeing where I should be looking for pitches.

Is this how you thought your first few weeks on varsity would go?

(laughs) Well, it's kind of how I hoped they would work out. When the season started, I wanted to hit at least .333 and I'm somewhere in the .390s right now. So that's been good.

And your three home runs so far this year?

Well, I always start out looking for the line drive to move the runners or get on base. But sometimes they just keep going.