There is a new Daniels atop the Syracuse softball all-time steals list.

With a trio of stolen bases last weekend, senior center fielder Shirley Daniels passed her older sister, Lisaira Daniels, for the most stolen bases in program history.

“It’s nice to hold a record,” Shirley said, “because it means you’re good at something. Especially since my sister held the record, it’s cool that it was just us and an ‘in the family’ kind of thing.”

Shirley entered the season needing just 10 steals this season to unseat her sister. After this weekend, the leadoff hitter has 73 in her career as a prolific base-stealer for the Orange (10-14, 3-3 Atlantic Coast). Lisaira played in the program from 2009-12, and collected 71 steals in an illustrious collegiate career.

Shirley has proven to be invaluable to SU, by using her experience to help younger hitters and providing a methodical approach at the top of the Orange order.

Daniels maintained that she and Lisaira don’t have an ultra-competitive relationship, and said she knows that her sister will be proud of her when she tells her the news.

Stealing bases has become not just an aspect of Daniels’ game, but the predominant feature of a complete skill set. She set the single-season stolen base record last year when she swiped 35 bags, breaking her sister’s mark of 29.

Safe to say, Daniels is confident in her abilities.

“If I know the catcher’s not that great,” Daniels said, “I’m probably going on the first pitch.”

As a senior captain this season, Daniels has also put an emphasis on trying to mentor the largely young Syracuse squad. Head coach Leigh Ross raved about Daniels’ willingness to provide guidance to the younger players and give them a confidence boost.

The praise means a lot to Daniels, especially for someone who started off the season hitting just .194 through her team’s first 11 games.

She has since rebounded, hitting .361 for the Orange over the last 13 games, and is currently in the midst of a four-game hitting streak.

“It’s nice to have that mix from your leadoff hitter,” Ross said, “that she can hit for power or drop a bunt, defenses don’t know how to play her.”

Daniels takes a lot of pride in her hitting ability, with Ross raving about the “sheer power” she brings behind each swing. As a leadoff hitter, though, she recognizes her role in the lineup may be different than everyone else’s.

As badly as she might want to take a swing at the first pitch every time, she becomes the liaison at the start of each game and is expected to see a lot of pitches to give her teammates a good scouting report on the pitcher.

“My main thing is to just get on base,” Daniels said. “Whether it’s a hit by pitch, dropping a bunt or slapping, I just want to use my speed to get on base.”

Her teammates see and admire the same base-running ability that SU’s opponents do, and are glad to have her on their side.

Freshman pitcher Sydney O’Hara realized quickly the type of player Daniels prides herself in being.

Said O’Hara: “She never holds back. She gives it her all out there.”

Published on March 19, 2014 at 1:00 am

Contact Connor: cgrossma@syr.edu | @connorgrossman