The lithe, but lethal 6-footer is 6-1 with an 0.17 earned-run average as a pitcher. She has allowed just 12 hits and has 49 strikeouts in 41 innings.
Offensively, she is hitting .615 with an astounding 16 hits in 26 at-bats. She has five doubles and seven runs batted in and, for good measure, is two for two in stolen-base attempts.
“She’s a cant-miss Division I [college] prospect,” said Qualin, who identifies Bauer as a quiet leader who commands more than demands respect from her teammates.
“She leads more by example than by words,” Qualin said. “But the girls really respect her. When Alex is around, nobody wants to mess up. She just gives a stern look and they all fall into line.”
Bauer said she is thankful for the infusion of talent that has come with the nine freshmen on the roster this season.
“We are a totally different team than we were last year,” said Bauer, who acknowledges the changes have, almost universally been for the good. “Four of our new freshmen play on a very good travel ball team. I just connect better with my teammates this year. I feel like we have more in common.”
The common ground is a love for softball and a conviction to competing, said Bauer, who began playing in a recreation league at age 5 and has been playing for a club team since she was 13.
Bauer’s commitment to improvement led her to a new pitching coach, who has helped her refine her craft with impressive results.
“I felt she would push me more and help me get to the next level,” Bauer said of Diane Lewis, whom Bauer also credits with helping her with mental aspects of pitching.
“I had mental stuff going on and she corrected the whole thing,” Bauer said. “Now, when I’m pitching, I’m able to just block everything out.”
