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Gibsonburg graduate Alaina Haubert struggled last year at the University of Findlay, but is gaining confidence while excelling as the starting third baseman for the No. 11-ranked and undefeated Owens Community College softball team.
"I think I've improved 100 percent," Haubert said, while noting she has doubled her batting average from last season.
In fact, Haubert, who hit .243 with 20 runs, 15 RBI, 17 walks and a .371 on base percentage in 103 at bats at Findlay during her freshman year, is the seventh best hitter in the nation (as of April 20) at .521 this season for the Express.
"Alaina came in doubting herself," said Owens head coach Duane Lanham. "However, once she bought into our program, you could see her confidence grow. We've been able to bring out the best in Alaina based on what we do here."
Haubert hit .409 as a four-year starter under Kyle Leatherman at Gibsonburg, where she also won First Team All-SLL, Second Team All-District, Second Team All-District, Second Team All-SLL and Honorable Mention All-District honors during her career. So, at Owens, she is getting back to that level of success.
She said things started clicking for her at Owens towards the end of the fall season. Lanham and hitting coach Kevin Snyder have helped her work on her swing, among other things.
"It seems like every aspect of my game has improved," Haubert said, "from my swing, to being more aggressive running, to my fielding."
In the team's only conference doubleheader thus far this year against Cuyahoga, Haubert displayed that improvement as she went a combined 7-for-8 with six runs, a double, a triple, a home run, two stolen bases and five RBIs.
Haubert is still working on trying to develop her opposite field game, too. Basically, she's working on trying to drive the ball to right field with more consistency.
"With Alaina, its two things," Lanham said. "She has to continue to get better and better defensively, which she is working hard at. Also, as a hitter, she can't press it. You can't let your batting average dictate how your batting goes."
At Owens, aside from her batting average, Haubert leads the team in home runs and RBIs with five and 32, respectively.
"It seems, from fall until now, that I've grown so much," she said.
She said it's a totally different atmosphere at Owens than it was at Findlay, where she said the atmospere was much more laid back. The improved intensity has helped Haubert and her teammates get off to a 24-0 record this season. They are the only undefeated team in the nation's top 25.
"We've grown so much as a team," she said while talking about her team's chemistry. "We have much more confidence as a team. We have the confidence that our teammates are going to catch it and hit it."
Haubert also noted that she enjoys that her Express teammates are always cheering and loud in the dugout.
Coach Lanham said that if you were to take Haubert and fellow local teammate, Kristen Roznoski of Cardinal Stritch, off the team, you would be taking a large percentage of their offense.
"Alaina is pure power, and she is very comfortable out of the three hole."
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