It’s always a little scary beginning a new job. For professional athletes, it’s no different, and rookie season can be intimidating. However, for first-year player Danieca Coffey, it seems as though the intimidation factor isn’t there. She has the second-highest batting average on the Volts, hitting .370. She’s slugging .556, has seven RBIs, and has even added some pop with a home run.
When asked what has made the rookie so good, Volts head coach Kelly Kretschman praised how she’s been a sponge.
“She’s done a really good job of learning as fast as she possibly can from as many people as she possibly can.” Kretschman also noted, “Her ability to make an adjustment is faster than a lot of people I’ve seen.”
But how has she been able to adjust so quickly and with so many people? Well, just like in the working world, when you have good co-workers, adapting to a new job becomes easier. And so that’s what Coffey did after some instruction from her head coach.
When Coffey arrived at training camp, Kretschman pointed her in the direction of University of Washington standout, Sis Bates. Since joining the pros in 2021, Bates has been helping the newcomers adapt to the game.
“When I was a rookie, I was just so intimidated by coming in and felt almost a little bit of impostor syndrome,” Bates said. “So I just try to give our rookies all of the confidence in the world and let them know how welcomed they are. I want them to feel empowered.”
Coffey quickly became one of the rookies Bates embraced.
“Daneica and I have gotten along really well. Aliyah Andrews is my best friend, and since they both played at LSU, she told me I was going to love Danieca.”
And she does. From the way that she competes, to the how she works on and off the field, Bates was impressed with the first-year pro.
“At batting practice, we’re talking the game and slapping,” Bates explained. “She’s such a competitor and it’s so cool to see her do what she does. She pours into everybody else and does whatever the team needs.”
For as much praise as Bates gives Coffey, Coffey gives even more to Bates and the other vets who have helped her along the way.
“Defensively, Sis has helped me a lot,” the rookie said. “She’s worked with me on moving my feet, keeping my eyes behind the ball, and just going with the flow of fielding.”
But it doesn’t just stop there.
“Sis helped me with my confidence,” Coffey said. “Especially working with another slapper. Sometimes when you play the game, you forget you’re needed as much as the big hitters, and she has helped me to understand my value.”
In addition to Bates, Coffey talked about how she’s absorbed info from all of the other players as well to elevate her game to a level that she didn’t even know was possible.
“Jessi Warren took me under her wing when I was playing third base,” said Coffey. “When I moved to the outfield, it was Amanda Lorenz. I learned from Sierra Romero. And, I cannot forget Kelsey Stewart-Hunter. I grew up watching her, when I met her, I was clinging on to every single word she was saying because that is who I wanted to be like.”
She said they’ve shown her how to rebound from mistakes and shift her perspective even when things aren’t going right. And, as they’ve taught her, she’s been able to give back to them.
“As they’re teaching me stuff, I can teach them stuff,” Coffey said. “Giving back the energy they give to me and reminding them just how good they are is what I try to do.”
The concept isn’t new – teammates helping teammates – it’s been a premise of Athletes Unlimited Softball since its inception.
“When I was a rookie, so many of the pros poured into me,” Bates said. “So I am just trying to take little snippets of that and pour into everybody else.”
From vets to rookies, rookies to vets, co-workers and teammates to coaches – the pouring into one another leads to success for the Volts.
Maria Trivelpiece is currently the Director of Video Communications and Reporter at the American Athletic Conference and a softball color analyst. Trivelpiece was an outfielder at Fordham University and still stays involved with the game through coaching and covering the sport. You can follow her on X M_Trivelpiece or Instagram @_mariatrivelpiece
