Veronica Grant came from California and had to learn a new position. Teammate Lisaira Daniels transferred away from her home in Georgia and only arrived in January. 

Both faced difficult transitions this year when they came to Syracuse, but softball helped them develop a unique bond that made the change a little easier.

‘They feed off of each other and boost each other’s confidence,’ SU head coach Leigh Ross said. ‘It’s a great combination with those two.’

And it’s a combination that the team benefits from. Grant and Daniels have anchored the top half of the Orange batting order all season long, while also controlling the outfield where they play side by side — Grant in center and Daniels in right. The two combined to hit .333, while scoring seven runs in a strong two-win performance for the Orange this weekend. 

From an offensive standpoint, Grant and Daniels are arguably the two best hitters on the Syracuse roster. Daniels leads the team with a .382 average, and Grant is second among everyday players at .330. Combined, they have 79 hits this season, which is just over 32 percent of the team’s total.

The duo is particularly dangerous when batting first and second in the order. In the 12 games in which Grant hits leadoff and Daniels follows, they have combined for more than two hits per game and 21 runs scored.

‘Every time Roni (Grant) gets on base, that’s my fire, that gets me going,’ Daniels said. ‘I get really excited when she gets on base.’

Their connection is just as strong in the outfield. When Grant made the transition from second base to center field, Daniels was there to teach her and help her adjust to the subtleties of a new position. 

‘Since (Daniels) came here she’s calmed me down a lot from the mental aspect of playing and making sure that I go out and have fun,’ Grant said. ‘Pretty much, she was a mentor to me.’

Many times when an infielder moves to the outfield they view it as a demotion, Ross said. But she explained that seeing how good Daniels was in the outfield helped Grant embrace the position wholeheartedly.

They have grown so comfortable with each other in the field that they automatically understand what the other is thinking. Daniels said she knows that whenever she can’t get to a ball that Grant has her back, and vice versa.

‘She doesn’t even have to say words in English, and I will know what she’s thinking about,’ Grant said.

Ross likes the idea of Grant following in Daniels’ footsteps. All season long she has been looking for more emotion and enthusiasm out of her players, and that is exactly what Daniels brings.

In the game on Sunday against Providence, Friars pitcher Corinne Clauss threw up and in toward Daniels’ head. She responded with a few steps toward the mound and a competitive scowl on her face. Perhaps an empty threat, but the fiery edge was certainly evident.

‘That’s the thing that we’ve been missing in this program,’ Ross said. ‘Obviously she wasn’t going to charge the mound, but I just wish I could see some more energy and some more passion. You can’t be like that all the time, but at the right time it’s great for our team.’ 

But it’s important to keep things fun, they said. You can’t be serious all the time. So once the game is over, they let their colorful personalities show.

After Sunday’s win against Providence, Grant hopped on Daniels’ shoulders in an attempt to scare one of their assistant coaches. When that went awry, they proceeded to tuck the assistant’s socks into her shoes.

‘We just have fun,’ Daniels said. ‘I mean, a game is a game, but you have to have fun out there. We’re both silly, so it’s just fun to play with her.  

‘She’s a fun partner in crime.’ 

mjcohe02@syr.edu

Published on April 12, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Contact Michael: mjcohe02@syr.edu | @Michael_Cohen13