Van Buren senior Davis relishes role at top of lineup

When she steps into the batter’s box to begin her team’s first at-bat, Caroline Davis knows what must be done. As the lead-off hitter for the Van Buren Lady Pointers, it’s Davis’ responsibility to get on base and set the tone for the team’s offense. A table setter, so to speak. Some players may not like hitting lead-off. Davis, however, isn’t one of them. “I love it, it’s great,” Davis said. “I like to start off a game and I feel like if I can get on, then I feel like I’ve had the first impression of the game and make it seem like that the pitcher isn’t a big deal and she’s hittable and stuff like that, and it’s great.” Davis, a senior and four-year starter, also believes being the Lady Pointers’ initial batter helps the rest of her team relax while at the same time studying the tendencies of the opposing pitcher. “Usually before the game, everyone’s nervous and you don’t know what the pitcher’s going to throw, so first up when I get on base, it’s kind of like a deep breath to everyone,” she said. As a sophomore, Davis hit .360 and then last season, she hit .415 — including a .392 clip against 7A-West competition — while scoring 29 runs and driving in 10 more. Although her average hasn’t been quite as high this season, as she is currently batting .333, Davis remains a mark of consistency. She has had a hit in eight of the Lady Pointers’ nine games and has had three two-hit games, including Monday when she went 2-for-3 while scoring twice in Van Buren’s 5-1 win at home against Ozark. Davis is also the team’s leader in runs scored with nine. “I probably didn’t start out too great, but I came around a couple of games ago,” Davis said. “It was one of those things where I was like, I’ve got to go out with a bang and just have a good time, just stop worrying about doing good. “It’s my senior year and I just want to try and have fun and that really helped me a lot.” Davis hasn’t always batted lead-off. She actually began her career batting ninth before being gradually moved up to the one hole by coach Andy Williams. “We’re not geniuses, but we’ve got to get the top of the lineup on and let the middle drive them in and she gets on base a lot,” Williams said. “She doesn’t walk a lot, she can draw a walk but it’s not like she’s going to take a lot of pitches. But she can hit it.” And Williams went on to say Davis can hit it anywhere on the field, and against different defensive shifts. “If they’re playing shallow, she’ll (land) one over the shortstop’s head; if they’re in close, she’ll hit a hard ground ball past them,” Williams said. “If the third baseman’s (playing) back, she’ll lay down a bunt. “I always tell them, take a look at it and have a plan, figure out how you want to attack the defense and she seems to do a really, really good job of just putting the bat on the ball.” Moving up in the lineup has been among several transitions Davis has undergone in her career at Van Buren. She originally batted right-handed before shifting to hitting from the left side. In addition, Davis started out at second base before being moved to shortstop prior to her junior season. Like batting lead-off, it was a switch she grew to love over time. “I was really, honestly just terrified when I went on the field when I played second,” she said. “I had played shortstop when I was about 12 years old playing travel ball every weekend, so I didn’t realize it until I got over there, but that’s really where I’m most comfortable. “I’m really glad I got the opportunity to go over there. I feel like it’s a good leadership spot with all the different places I have to be and talking to everybody and stuff like that. ... That’s where I feel most comfortable.” Williams marvels at how Davis is able to display good range at short and be able to deliver a quick throw on a grounder. “I think the surprising thing for me was how good of a shortstop she was. ... She doesn’t have that arm (strength), which is what I was afraid of when we moved her to the left side of the infield, but she gets her body in position to where she gets rid of the ball faster,” Williams said. Davis was a part of a 7A state semifinal team as a freshman and back-to-back 7A quarterfinal squads her last two seasons. She knows what it’s like to experience success, and she wants to impart her winning edge to a mainly young group of Lady Pointers this season. ?(My) freshman, sophomore, even junior year, I was just like terrified to step onto the field and I just want to make them feel comfortable and have a good time,” Davis said. “When you realize that all your life you’ve been playing a sport and it’s about to be over, it’s like, ‘Why am I stressing out about this, this is supposed to be fun,’ and I want them to go out there and have a good time and do whatever I can to make it more fun for them.” If there’s something else which stands out about Davis at a Van Buren game, it’s the playing of her walk-up song. Not surprisingly, it’s the Neil Diamond hit “Sweet Caroline,” and when the Lady Pointers are on the road, Davis’ teammates will sing the song whenever she steps to the plate. What may be surprising is that she didn’t pick out the tune. “Coach Williams, that’s like his favorite song, so my freshman year, he gave us a little sheet where we had to write in our walk-up song and mine was already filled in,” Davis said. “I was like, all right. And it just kind of stuck, and honestly now, I couldn’t pick another song; it’s my song now. ... (My teammates) sing it the entire time I’m up to bat.” Davis, who possesses a 4.0 grade-point average, is active in several school organizations. She is the president of her senior class and president of the Beta Club, and she played on the Lady Pointer volleyball team as well at setter. She plans to study biology pre med at the University of Central Arkansas. Softball at the next level is not in her immediate future, however, so she wants to enjoy these next several weeks on the diamond and interacting with her teammates. “As a team this year, we’re just really a lot closer than we’ve ever been and I’m really glad I got to see that,” Davis said. “We’re not the strongest team right now compared to everybody else because we’re just young and don’t have a lot of experience, but our team chemistry is great. “It’s great to go out there and play like we’re best friends and I’m just really glad to end playing Van Buren softball with this great group of people.” The Lady Pointers (5-3) will host their annual River City Rumble tournament Friday and Saturday at the Field of Dreams complex.

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Van Buren High School Athletics

VAN BUREN SENIOR DAVIS RELISHES ROLE AT TOP OF LINEUP

BUCK RINGGOLD

Times Record | 3/29/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Submiited Photo