Sportlight

Amanda Paulus anchors VC’s infield

By Bond Brungard
Posted 3/28/19

Soon after Valley Central’s Amanda Paulus started playing T-ball, she was in a dugout, clamoring to always take her turn at the plate.

“Always grabbed my bats,” said Paulus, …

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Sportlight

Amanda Paulus anchors VC’s infield

Posted

Soon after Valley Central’s Amanda Paulus started playing T-ball, she was in a dugout, clamoring to always take her turn at the plate.

“Always grabbed my bats,” said Paulus, “saying when am I up, when am I up?”

Paulus, a junior second baseman, was getting ready for practice last week as the Vikings try to come back from a 3-13 season in 2018.

And she is expected to play a big part for the Vikings this season.

“She is the rock of our infield,” said Katie Farrugia, Valley Central’s coach. “She keeps everything solid in the infield. She communicates well.”

And Paulus returns after her first varsity season in which it took a little time for her to get used to play at that level.

“She struggled a little earlier in the year, but worked throughout the season,” said Farrugia. “She came a long way since then.”

After the team struggled during her first varsity season, Paulus said she and teammates returned this spring a tight-knit group, ready for more challenges this year.

“All the girls here, we are one big family,” said Paulus. “We put that glue together for this year.”

Paulus is expected to help anchor the infield, and at the plate, she can also make things happen.

“She hits well. Singles, doubles, gapers as much as she can,” said Farrugia. “She can also lay down a bunt. She will sacrifice herself for the team before anything else.”

Paulus wants the Vikings to be aggressive this season, and she’ll do her part by ensuring her offense and defense are working well.

“Really grip our claws into some competition,” she said. “I want to focus on shaking off errors and bad at bats. I just want to focus on keeping my head clear because I know I play best when I am clear, and I am ready to play.”