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Spanish Fork • The attribute that best defines Spanish Fork junior Jordyn Bate as a softball player is speed.

Speed with the bat has made her a fearsome hitter.

Speed from inside the circle has made her the backup pitcher on a deep staff.

Speed in the field has made her the team's leading base stealer as well as a reliable defensive performer for the top-ranked team in Class 4A.

"She has good technique and that helps, but the reason she's such a good hitter is that she has very quick hands," Spanish Fork coach Don Andrews said. "It's her bat speed that generates her power, and she's scary."

So much so that her coaches have been forced to adjust what they do in batting practice.

"We had to get used to her," Andrews said. "We have to remind ourselves that she hits the ball hard. I've learned to move pretty quick when she swings. She also swings late at pitches others would pass up. It keeps us on our toes."

Bate is batting .516 with 32 hits, including 12 for extra bases. She leads the team in runs batted in with 34, which is 13 more than Mallory Barber's second-place 21. Bate also has scored 29 runs, just four behind Barber's team leading 33.

Bate is a lefty, and Andrews said she also throws hard. She hasn't been called on to pitch that often because the team's ace, Cambrie Hazel, is so good, but she delivers when she gets the chance.

She's 2-0 with one no-hitter to her credit. She has recorded 23 strikeouts against just two walks and ranks second on the staff behind Hazel with a 2.00 ERA.

"She's pretty fast on her feet, too," Andrews said. "She has a good arm as a fielder as well, so we take advantage of that speed by using her in right field."

Jordyn and her older brother Zack agreed that the fast hands and feet were partly a genetic luck of the draw, but along with middle sibling Brady, they've all benefited from the time invested by their father, John.

"He knows a lot of the little tricks," Jordyn said. "He does soft toss up close and throws different pitches from farther back. My brothers would also pitch to me, with every throw switching different speeds and accuracy. I learned I could hit anything."

Zack said that confidence should be at the top of her scouting report.

"She's a better two-strike hitter than I am," he said. "I get a little nervous, but she stays in there and fights through each at-bat even if the pitcher's not on or wild."

He added that she's always excited about game days. "When she comes to the plate, her head's up and she's ready to hit every time," he said.

Zack said he's always been a little jealous of her ability to pitch left-handed.

"She's learned a lot of different pitches over the years and has good control with speed behind the ball." he said.

"People aren't used to left-handed pitchers, and she throws them off. It's a special ability. There's a different angle and a different break on the ball. She does use junk balls, but she can throw at all speeds, so that's in her favor."

Although she enjoys all aspects of the game, Jordyn's favorite thing is definitely hitting. In fact, it's what she does when she's bored. She hits off the tee in their backyard batting cage.

"I owe a lot to all of my coaches, my brothers and my dad for always believing in me and pushing me to do better," she said. "Right now it's just fun to play and I look forward to every opportunity." —

Jordyn Bate

School • Spanish Fork

Year • Junior

Position • RF, LHP

Batting average • .516

Runs • 29

RBIs • 34

SBs • 6

Pitching • 2-0

ERA • 2.00

K's • 23

BBs • 2