Tiger enthused about slowpitch

When the Greater Spokane League introduced slowpitch softball as a varsity sport three years ago, it was met with a less than resounding endorsement.

In fact, only five schools that had fastpitch softball fielded teams.

For Lewis and Clark High School’s Melissa Porter, though, the choice of ignoring slowpitch and just playing fastpitch was never an issue.

“I think a lot of the fastpitch coaches look down on slowpitch and think it’s a waste of time and don’t want their girls doing it,” said the senior Tiger shortstop.

“I don’t know why they would think that. I think there’s a bad rap on slowpitch.”

“I think they brought slowpitch softball for the fact that there were a lot of people who wanted to play sports, so it brings a bit of a more relaxed atmosphere,” said Porter. “Those people who don’t really know how to play softball get a chance to work on that.

“People like myself who have played softball for a long time get a chance help them. They have time to learn.”

Fortunately for the Tigers, Porter and the school decided to give slowpitch a try. Porter has taken on her role as leading player, teacher and leader with unbounded enthusiasm, leading the Tigers to a 3-0 record over the first two weeks of the slowpitch season.

She went 4-5 with 3 RBIs in a win over Ferris last Friday while leading the Tiger defense from her shortstop position.

“Her bat is real strong, but she’s got a real solid defensive game as well,” said Tiger Head Coach Tara Groves. “She’s just a solid athlete.”

“What I’m most impressed with is her leadership this year,” added Groves. “She’s just taken every project on and has been in charge and taken care of everything for me.

“She’s been my go-to girl. She’s really stepped up and been a great leader.”

In fact, Porter has almost become an ambassador for the sport, spreading the word of slowpitch to anyone who will listen.

“I played it the first year we had it, and I try to kind of tell people about it,” said Porter. “I’m hoping it will be known as another varsity sport and not just a little side thing to even out boys and girls sports teams.”

Porter, who played third base for the Tiger fastpitch team last spring, welcomes the opportunity to improve on her game with the slowpitch team in the fall.

“I get the chance to work really hard for fastpitch season, but I also treat this like I treat fastpitch,” she said. “I don’t think of it as warm-up for my ‘actual’ season. This is my season. I have a big heart for it and just love playing it.”

“I’ve been playing softball (on a team) since I was 12,” Porter continued. “I started in elementary school and I just kept with it.

“I played ASA softball in the summers, and I just kind of got in a groove of hitting a fastball like that.

“I just love it, and I can’t get enough of it.”

While sharing the same ball, fastpitch and slowpitch softball have quite different challenges for Porter.

“Since the ball is a little easier to hit, there is a lot of long balls hit, so I don’t get quite as much action (in the field in slowpitch),” said Porter. “When I’m batting, it’s a lot harder to slow down my swing and get into the rhythm of slowpitch because I’m so used to not having much time to think about it (hitting in fastpitch).”

Porter says there is one definite advantage to the slowpitch game, though.

“I don’t get as nervous for my games,” she said. “Usually game days I get really, really nervous, but in slowpitch I feel more of a leader for the team.

“It feels good to have other people to help, and it makes me feel good to help them.”

The senior hopes her success on the slowpitch diamond carries over to the Tiger fastpitch team in the spring one last time before taking off from Lewis and Clark.

“I’m probably going to join the Air Guard pretty soon,” Porter said. “I’ll go to basic over the summer. Then I’ll hopefully start college, somewhere close like WSU or Eastern.

“My dad flies in the Air Guard, and it’s a great opportunity to go to college.”