As she saunters out to the pitching circle, you can tell that she is full of exuberant confidence.

She knows what she needs to do, and she does it in way that makes you understand the kind of player she is.

Nicole Deatherage is shining as both a pitcher and second baseman for the hornet softball team. So far this season, the 5-foot-7 junior has compiled a 6-2 record and 1.79 ERA in the circle, while leading the Hornets to a 14-4 mark.

Deatherage leads all Hornet pitchers in strikeouts (47), innings pitched (58 2-3) and wins (6). This is no surprise, considering she led the pitching staff in almost every statistical category last season.

“She is a dream to work with,” Hornet head coach Kathy Strahan said. “I raise the bar and she just goes up with it.”

Two weeks ago, Deatherage threw her second career no-hitter against New Mexico. She struck out a career-high eight batters and walked none over six innings. The Hornets scored their eighth run in the bottom of the sixth inning, thus ending the game due to the eight-run rule.

On Feb. 25 she was named the Pacific Coast Softball Conference Pitcher of the Week after striking out seven batters and retiring the first 12 she faced, helping the Hornets beat San Jose State in the first game of a doubleheader.

What else makes this junior so special is her versatility.

When not pitching, she is usually found occupying second base. At the plate, her batting average is .323, which is the fourth highest batting average on the Hornets.

Under the watch of her father and grandfather, who both grew up playing baseball, Deatherage began her softball-playing days at the age of nine.

Tentative at the start, the Cameron Park, Calif. native has developed into a die-hard athlete.

She works hard to pitch well every time she takes the circle and to be on a successful team. “Winning is very important. However, the most important thing is working hard,” she said.

Growing up, Deatherage admits that she didn’t really have any major softball or baseball role models. However, she always knew that she wanted to be a successful softball player.

Like many accomplished athletes, Deatherage has her own superstitions. Prior to each pitch she always makes sure to touch the dirt and wipe off the mound.

Her favorite pitching moment came as a sophomore when she was named Big West Conference Pitcher of the Week after throwing her first career no-hitter against Providence.

Deatherage is looking forward to the rest of the season, especially the Capital Classic Tournament, which Sac State hosts from March 20-24.

“We have a great time,” said Deatherage of her team’s early season success. “This is the most fun team I’ve been on in a long time.”

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