Although his confidence had been wavering earlier in the season, when Jayda Coleman stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the 10th inning of OU’s contest against No. 17 Tennessee, his poise returned.
In the Sooners’ closest contest of the season, Coleman hit a two-run homer over the left field fence in the 10th inning of No. 1 Oklahoma (15-0)’s 9-8 win over the Volunteers (9 -5). ) on February 26 at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
Coleman went 6-for-15 in the tournament as he helped the Sooners to five wins and outscored opponents 42-14. Despite her and her team’s impressive performances, the sophomore outfielder remains dissatisfied with the results.
Coleman said Thursday that he has been struggling with his confidence and that the mental aspect of the game has been a challenge. The Colony, Texas, native mentioned that these mental struggles stem from feeling like she hasn’t played to the best of her abilities this season. Coleman, who is currently hitting .405 on the season, said it will take more than one big hit to fully reshape her confidence.
“Sometimes you have to know this game is about failing,” Coleman said. “These last 15 games, I’ve been struggling mentally and I really feel bad about myself.”
However, Coleman has not fought alone. Prior to the tournament Mary Nutter, OU coach Patty Gasso spoke about the importance of mental toughness, while junior wide receiver Kinzie Hansen detailed her issues with confidence and mental preparation, saying she has to do more mental growth than fitness to improve your game.
This understanding has helped Coleman, who credited her coaches and teammates with helping her combat a rocky start to the season. In particular, Coleman said her relationship with first-year pitcher Jordy Bahl has helped her psychologically. The two are part of a close-knit locker room whose friendship goes beyond the diamond.
“I have great players around me that help me all the time,” Coleman said. “Tiare (Jennings) is like, ‘Get out of your head, Jayda, and just do what you have to do,’ and I’m like, ‘You’re right.'”
Gasso has also trusted Coleman. The Sooners outfielder compared her personality to that of Gasso’s husband, Jim Gasso, saying the two are always energetic and said she and Gasso have a great relationship on and off the field.
Coleman may be disappointed in her performance at the plate, but she remains a team leader who brings energy to the field and to the bench, calling herself “the Energizer bunny.” The Colony High School alum also takes responsibility for keeping the team’s spirits high and making sure the chemistry stays strong.
“You always feel Jayda Coleman from center field,” Bahl said. “I think (the intensity) is part of what unites us so much … when we step on the court, we are warriors going into battle.”
Coleman’s disappointment also stems from her high expectations after a breakout freshman season in which she was named to the All-Big 12 and All-Big 12 Freshman teams and was part of the NFCA All-American First Team.
In his first year with the program, Coleman posted a .444 batting average, 53 RBIs, and nine home runs. She also had a stellar year on the field, posting a .979 fielding percentage.
Coleman says that practice and repetition will help her regain her confidence. After a week off, the center fielder is looking the right way and will have the support of her teammates and coaches against Minnesota at 5 pm on March 7 in Norman.
“I never realized how mentally healthy I need to be to play at this level,” Coleman said. “Mental health is a very important thing for college athletes.”
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