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Amy Vetula throwing

Softball Mark McGee

Vetula Displays Consistency In Times Of Unpredictability

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – She walks to the plate humbly and views a field that is usually untarnished by play. She is the leadoff hitter with all of the responsibilities that go with it.

Amy Vetula knows the importance of her role, but she is not dismayed by it.
"It is stressful," Vetula said. "You are the first one going against a team and you want to set the tone of the game. It really stinks when you don't get on especially in the first at bat.

"There is definitely more pressure on your shoulders, but I try to not let it affect me too much. I try to do my job with every single at bat. I have my ups and downs, but I just try to put the ball in play. It can be really frustrating when you don't get your job done, but I don't let it get me down because you are going to fail more than you succeed."

In a season filled with unpredictability, Vetula has been the model of consistency for the Lipscomb Lady Bisons softball team.

"She is very unassuming in the way she carries herself," Lipscomb coach Kristin Ryman said. "She gets her signal, looks down and gets ready for the next pitch.

"She is somebody who is such a constant for us. "She is someone you can count on. She has consistently found ways to get on base, drive in a run and be a spark for us. She really embodies what we look for in a leadoff hitter."

Don't ask Vetula about her statistics because she doesn't pay attention to them. But for the record she is batting .340 with 23 runs and 36 hits, all team season highs.

Her 13 runs batted in are tied for third best on the team.

"I try not to look at my stats, but that is hard to do," Vetula said. "I try not to be like, `oh my gosh I have to get a hit'."

New Position, Sort Of
Like all athletes, Vetula has dealt with the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a junior she is also adjusting to playing shortstop for the first time on the Division I level.

It is a position she played regularly in her younger years. But when she came to Lipscomb, she was moved to the outfield for her first two seasons.

Vetula's return to the middle infield was delayed by the veteran presence of Peyton Ward at shortstop and Hannah DeVault at second. Ryman is quick to point out Vetula's shift from the middle infield to the outfield was not because of a lack of talent.

"We knew she could fill in at shortstop or second," Ryman said. "She played one weekend for Hannah, the only five games she missed, and did a great job. We have always known she was more than capable of playing in the middle infield and that this could be her future.

"She always looked up to Peyton who brought more of a vocal ability to direct traffic. Peyton had a confident presence and body language. Amy admired that. It became a cool relationship between those too."

Vetula knew she had big shoes to fill since Ward had started for four seasons.

"Peyton set the standard so high," Vetula said. "I played left and center my first two years here. I had to learn how to play in the outfield when I came here because I had never played there before. Now I am having to learn to play in the infield again."

Vetula's versatility was what convinced Ryman to sign her out of Creekview High School in Canton, Georgia.

"As soon as I saw her, I knew she was a player I wanted," Ryman said. "With her athleticism and quickness, she jumped off the page. She was a tough out.

"She brings so many intangibles at her position and so much talent. She is an exciting player to watch and is always in the middle of the action. She is so versatile. I knew she was a player who could come in here and have an immediate impact."

Humble and Quiet
Known for her humbleness, Vetula often has to be urged by Ryman to speak up on and off the field.

"I think she is naturally more of a lead-by-example, do what I do, play hard type of leader," Rymans said. "There are so many moments where I joke with her and say you have important things to say…I know you do.

"She is someone who stands out because of her abilities rather than being super vocal right now. But I want her to continue to grow into a player who can be there when we need to have somebody who lights a little bit of a fire, to have a calming presence or to break up an opponent's momentum by calling time to say a little something to our pitcher."

When Vetula does speak the gravity of what she has to say is heavier.

"Coach Ryman has challenged me to be more of a leader, because I am not really vocal," Vetula said. "When I do say stuff, I really mean it.

"It has always been in the back of my mind. I know how much of a leader Peyton was. I didn't feel as much pressure back then because we had others who could step up."

Ryman knows any words from Vetula have an impact on her teammates.

"Because she usually doesn't say a lot, her words are impactful when she does say something," Ryman said. "She is one of those who has a lot of valuable things to say. They are important things for the team to hear. She is a leader for us either way, but I love when she speaks up."

Ryman would like to see Vetula have more of a presence on the field as well through the way she carries herself.

"Body language says a lot about you as a leader at times," Ryman said. "When you are not as vocal as a player your physical presence and how you carry yourself on the field are even more important."

There is a fine line between being confident while not appearing to be cocky.

"I think that is hard for players who are pretty humble," Ryman said. "It is hard for them to wrap themselves around what that would look like and how they would do it without being cocky.  Her understanding of how to embody confidence through her body language is something she is going to continue to grow in."

It Takes a Thief
On the base paths Vetula is also a threat. She leads the team with 17 stolen bases. She has only been thrown out once.

"I have always been pretty fast," Vetula said. "A lot of base stealing is about getting your timing down. You have to get a good jump. It is skill, being quick and reading a pitch.

"I think you are born with the abilities to think quickly and run fast. You have to be confident. If you are doubting yourself, you are probably going to be thrown out."

Her ability to consistently get on base makes her even more effective on the base paths.

"She has a lot of savvy to her when she is on base," Ryman said. "She may not say much but there is an inner fire.

"That bodes well for her. She is definitely a spark for our lineup and a tough out."

In the seventh grade she made the change to the left side of the plate. As primarily a slapper, she is able to use her speed more effectively hitting from the left side.

"I have always been small," Vetula said. "I have never had a lot of power. I had a hitting coach to teach me how to hit from the left side. I have never gone back."

Still Learning
Vetula started playing softball as a five-year-old. Neither of her parents played the sport, but she remembers watching baseball games with her grandfather. 

Geena, her twin sister, wanted to take dance lessons. Vetula wanted to play softball, so much so that she stopped playing basketball and running track early in high school.

"My freshman year I was the only player in my class to make the varsity softball team," Vetula said. "I was named player of the year for the region. I didn't think about it so much at the time."

One of the keys to Vetula's success is she knows she is still learning about how to play the game and is eager to improve.

She watches film of opposing pitchers, especially the way they throw to slappers. She also still sends videos to her hitting coach, Jennifer Maloney, in Canton. She provides Vetula with ways to tweak her hitting.

"In travel ball coach Neicy Echols always stressed the importance of being a student of the game," Vetula said. "She also taught me the importance of hitting your pitch and fouling off the pitcher's pitch…all of the nuances.

"I played with really good softball players, I am thankful for them and for the coaches I have had. They taught me how to play the game right."

The unpredictability of the season from week-to-week and the adjustment to being back at shortstop after a two-year absence have contributed to making this season an all-around learning experience. Her philosophy is to control what she can control and work past the obstacles.

"I know I am not playing the best I can play at shortstop, "Vetula said. "I love playing defense and I know I can be better defensively.

"I know hitting-wise I have things to work on during the summer. I know I can be faster. I am trying to find a good flow with the team. It has been hard."

That desire to constantly be a better player is why she was named as a preseason ASUN All-Conference selection. She batted .342 last season and .321 as a freshman, earning her a spot on the ASUN All-Freshman Team.

Just like her stats, Vetula doesn't concern herself with personal awards.

"Amy is very unassuming in what she does," Ryman said. "She doesn't seek a lot of personal accolades. She wants to do her best for the team. She wants to win championships.

"She is very driven competitively even though she is not our most vocal player on the field. She has been that for us the last couple of years from the moment she got here as a freshman. I'm so proud of how she continues to grow. Amy is a difference maker for us."
 
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Players Mentioned

Amy Vetula

#1 Amy Vetula

OF
5' 6"
Sophomore
Peyton Ward

#5 Peyton Ward

IF/OF
5' 10"
Senior
Hannah DeVault

#9 Hannah DeVault

IF
5' 4"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Amy Vetula

#1 Amy Vetula

5' 6"
Sophomore
OF
Peyton Ward

#5 Peyton Ward

5' 10"
Senior
IF/OF
Hannah DeVault

#9 Hannah DeVault

5' 4"
Senior
IF
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