Sophomore pitcher Kayla Meeks’ journey to the Hornet softball team has been a long and difficult one. She once went to Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles. In 2005, Meeks was a freshmen sensation, as she went 13-4 with a league best ERA of 0.99, good for 15th in the nation. She had even pitched against the Hornets, helping her team beat them in a regular season game that helped the Lions win the conference title that year. She was well on her way to being the ace of that team for a long time when she made a life-changing decision.

She liked Marymount, but it didn’t have the major and classes she wanted, so she made the decision in her sophomore year to attend a community college until she can figure out where she wanted to go next. But, not being able to play softball until she got out of community college was agonizing for her.

Meeks had played softball since she was 8 years old and she didn’t let the time off stop her from keeping in shape and practicing.

“All I did was practice at home with my dad,” Meeks said.

After a year off, Meeks decided to go to Sac State. She, like so many others who have played here, said she fell in love with Sacramento, the quiet campus and the softball program.

“People here are great. I wish I would have started here and been here longer,” Meeks said.

Meeks was worried about what her place on the team would be, coming from a rival school and not playing for a year which, she admitted, had made her “very rusty.” Right away, her worries were put to rest as coach Kathy Strahan and her fellow players made her feel welcome.

“We’re all best friends. The whole team has a positive relationship and mentality,” Meeks said.

Meeks also knew that she was coming to a team that had conference winning expectations and a star pitcher, Cassie Cervantes.

With the season beginning poorly and Cervantes having injuries that forced her to miss games, Meeks gladly stepped into the role as the ace pitcher.

Even with her in the lineup, the team’s record is well below expected.

“It is so frustrating. We’re such a good team. I don’t know why we’re losing,” Meeks said. Meeks still believe that, with conference play beginning, the team still has a chance to improve its play and win the conference. “Our record right now doesn’t reflect the way we have been playing,” Meeks said. “We definitely have a chance.” She is still adjusting to the Hornet system and playing the full season, but hopes to get back to her freshman year numbers. Off the field, she is quite taken with Sacramento.

“I like it so much better up here, and the campus is beautiful,” Meeks said. Coming from the always-busy and crowded streets of the L.A. area to the more quiet Sacramento can do anyone good.

Meeks lives alone off-campus and she definitely stays busy.

“We have four-hour practices every day, the season never ends,” Meeks said.

Meeks will continue to play hard and set an example.

Last year, she didn’t even play; now she is the ace and has the full confidence from everyone on her team, including her coach. “She knows what it takes to be a champion” Strahan said. Lamont Weaver can be reached at [email protected]