Coming into the 2003 softball season, Claire Sua had what could be described as an impossible task: replacing UCLA legend Stacey Nuveman’s bat and presence in the cleanup spot.
“I feel great, I feel prepared for it hitting behind Stacey last year, I felt like it was a good step for me,” junior designated player/first baseman Sua said. “And I know I have great hitters both in front of me and behind me, no pressure.”
While Sua has not quite matched Nuveman’s amazing numbers, she has fared quite well, hitting .333 with 16 home runs and 46 RBI and a .708 slugging percentage.
These numbers are coming off a year where Sua admitted she pressed, hitting only .291.
“I think this year I am not trying so hard, I find myself just trusting myself and relying on my talent instead of trying to force things,” Sua said. “Which really helps me out so just trying to relax more and do what I do best, because you can set yourself up for failure.”
Failure has not been much of a problem this year for the slugger as she has provided great protection for All-American third baseman Tairia Mims.
“Claire has the ability to carry our team offensively. When she’s on it’s great,” senior second baseman Monique Mejia said. “It’s tough for the three, five and six hitters to drive in the runs all the time, and when Claire’s on, it alleviates all the pressure. I hope she continues to do well. I get the feeling that when she does well, all of the other hitters start doing well.”
Like many great hitters, Sua realizes that pitchers sometimes try to pitch around her by feeding her a variety of curve balls, drop balls and change-ups, but Sua has learned to hit less-than-perfect pitches.
“I think that the one thing that is kind of interesting is that if you are a pitcher you can’t throw around Tairia because she is bookended with Claire.” coach Sue Enquist said.
“I always enjoy how opposing pitchers pitch to Tairia, knowing that Claire is looming on deck, and it’s wonderful to be a coach on their side knowing what they are capable of doing; they are just an incredible 1-2 punch.”
More often than not, opposing pitchers pitch around Sua.
“I think just being in the position I am in, with Tairia and Tasha (lead-off hitter Natasha Watley) in front of me, you don’t really get to see many pitches,” Sua said.
“So you are basically looking for, can I hit this pitch, can I hit it well, and not thinking about decisions, because pitchers are not going to give us the perfect pitch – you have to learn how to hit bad pitches”
She evidently has learned that well because, as many motorists know, she can hit a bad pitch well out of Easton Stadium, past the evergreens beyond center field, and on to Sunset Boulevard.
But Sua is a modest player who does not revel too much in her home runs and does not try to show up the opposition by watching them unnecessarily.
“Whoa, that’s about it, all right that was cool, you don’t expect that, then when it happens, wow that’s cool, I’ll take that.” Sua said, describing her reaction to when she hits a moonshot home run.
She has even developed a boisterous following at home games. When she comes up to bat, her teammates yell her name and her boyfriend and some of his football buddies scream loud enough to make sure the pitcher knows that the powerful hitter is coming to the plate.
“I like that, I think it’s a funny one – when my boyfriend and the football players come the guys do it (yell) extra loud. I used to hate being called by my last name when I was younger and now I like it; I think its fun.” Sua said.
Coach Enquist not only thinks watching Sua is fun, but believes in Sua’s versatility and maturity.
“Claire is unique, she has had a presence on the field that is senior-like since the day she got here. She is very versatile; she plays first, she can pitch, she is a key hitter for us.” Enquist said. “I like her presence on the field. She is extremely confident without being a yakity-yak. I love that presence about her.”
With her modesty and her sweet swing, Sua will be instrumental for the Bruins as they start postseason play today in Fresno at the NCAA regionals.
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