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Student-Athlete of the Week: Dulce Amaya

Series: Student-Athlete of the Week | Story 40

Dulce means "sweet or mild" in Spanish, but the Niwot catcher by that name was a tough out on the softball diamond last week. After belting a game-tying double against Severance on Sept. 1, she exploded at the plate against Thompson Valley to lead the Cougars to a 17-0 victory. But if senior Dulce Amaya is hard on opposing pitchers, she embodies her name off the field and her relentlessly positive leadership has been a "huge" factor in his team's recent turnaround, according to Niwot head coach Bobby Matthews.

"She's just doing it by her actions, not so much by words. She's such a great teammate, so positive, and she's a joy to have around."

Amaya is a newcomer to the 2020 Cougars varsity squad, but not a newcomer to the sport. After a brief stint with the team as a freshman, she made her way back this year to find an opening at catcher, a position she's always loved to play. So far, Amaya has been a solid presence for Niwot behind the plate, and makes an excellent target for freshman pitcher Anne Booth, who has been a pleasant surprise for Niwot in the circle. Amaya has also embraced the leadership aspects of the position and its role as captain on the field, despite origins as a "quiet kid."

"You get to be involved in every play, and you get to be a leader of the team," Amaya said of why she chose to be a catcher. "You have to know your team's weaknesses and their strengths, and you have to know your pitcher, all of her pitches, and what she's good at. You also really have to lead your team into knowing each play."

Amaya has also been a formidable presence at the plate for Niwot in 2020, even if it was hard to tell during the Cougars' 0-3 stretch to open the season. She is hitting .381 through seven games, with a total of eight hits, seven runs, and five RBIs. Luckily for the Cougars, much of this offense has come at opportune times, especially in the past two games. Against Severance, she hit a single in the bottom of the seventh with the tying run at second base, then went on to score the winning run in the 6-5 victory. During the blowout against Thompson Valley two days later, she recorded two hits in a single inning, including a bases-clearing triple that delivered Niwot a win by mercy rule. Afterwards, she credited her clutch hitting to growing confidence, and said she sees clear signs it is growing among her youthful teammates as well.

"I noticed that we were playing individually and for ourselves a little bit," she said, referring to the opening losses. Reflecting on Niwot's three wins in the past four games, she said, "But I know that I have grown stronger with my team, and we've adapted to play together more, and I think that's led to our success. We're just having more fun playing the game this week and that's led us to go far."

Matthews has also noticed the senior's growing confidence, and pointed to the 7th-inning hit against Severance as a key moment in the season both for her and for the team.

"I think the biggest thing for her is that she is so coachable," he said. "She listens to everything we ask her to do, and you see it... She's just a positive person, and she brings that to the field, and that's huge to have that because we weren't going to have any seniors. But now we have a kid who's really relishing the fact that she's playing softball again in high school."

While she is relishing high school softball, Amaya wouldn't necessarily say she is relishing the remote opening weeks of her senior year. As one of the busier students at Niwot-she is also a cheerleader, member of Link Crew, and member of student council-many of Amaya's usual activities have been curtailed and traditional fall milestones such as homecoming have been put on hold or are going virtual. That hasn't left much besides homework and softball for the outgoing Amaya, and she often ponders what might have been but for the pandemic.

"This was not what I was expecting for my senior year," she said frankly. "I just really want to be involved with the school as much as I can, especially this last year to make it as fun as possible. All of my cousins go to the school and that would have just made it the best year."

Though remaining positive, as she is determined to do, is a daily struggle, Amaya remains grateful for what she has and tries not to focus on what she, her classmates, and people the world over have lost to the pandemic.

"I tell myself every day to have a positive mindset and hope for the best. I thank God every day that I at least get to play softball and have a season, and I know that there will be better things to come in the future."

 

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