Francis Howell Central junior softball player Amelia Raziq has been one of the more prolific home run hitters in the area this season. She credits her success to having a simplistic approach to hitting and to getting an abundance of practice reps.
When it comes to hitting a softball, Amelia Raziq likes to subscribe to the K.I.S.S. method – ‘Keep it simple and straightforward.’
That methodology has allowed the junior utility player for the Francis Howell Central softball team to kiss more than her fair share of softballs goodbye as one of the area’s leading home run hitters.
“I never go up to the plate trying to hit a home run,” Raziq said. “I find when I try to do that, I end up popping out. I just try not to overdo everything. I try to feel my mind clear and keep positive thoughts.”
Those ‘positive thoughts’ have led to eight home runs, including a state record tying four in a game and two in an innings in the team’s 23-7 win over Holt in which she also added eight RBI.
The big day against Holt has laid a foundation for, as of press time, a .531 batting average, and a 1.094 slugging percentage while she has added 12 doubles and 24 RBI for the Spartans (10-8).
Central coach Aaron Pearson said that Raziq is mashing the softball so well that only unusual field dimensions have stopped her. The Spartans played in an event recently where if typical 200-foot fences were used, the ballpark wouldn’t have held many of her moonshots.
“Amelia is a special young lady and a fierce competitor,” Pearson said. “She is the career home run leader at our school now and only in the middle of her junior year, and in a school that has hit some home runs in the past. We were at the Lake of the Ozarks (Sept. 13-14) and she would have four more if we weren’t on (fields with) 230-foot fences.”
For Raziq, growing up with parents who spent time as high school coaches has helped her immensely.
While Abe has worked in soccer and wrestling and Loraine worked in swimming, Amelia has been able to learn from her parents’ exploits as mentors.
“I think my parents being coaches has helped me tremendously,” Amelia said. “They coached for a long time so they know a lot about the little things like mindset, they have also taught me a lot about hard work and that nothing in this world is just given to you, so they have always stayed after if I wanted extra reps or woke up early if I wanted to get a workout in.”
Raziq said that her sphere of softball influence goes beyond her parents.
She said that she’s been fortunate to have many coaches around her contribute to not only her success but her relentless drive to be her best.
“To me, the more reps you get the better and more prepared you will be for game time so if that means I’m the first person on the field and the last to leave so be it,” Raziq said. “I have also been blessed with coaches who will stay after practices with me so I can hit more or get more reps fielding that without them none of this would be possible.”
While her gaze is firmly affixed upon this season, Raziq said that her thoughts do turn to this winter, where she will continue her wrestling career, and beyond.
She said that she hopes the beyond would include continued time on the diamond and a specific field of study.
“I keep my grades pretty good, and my favorite subject would probably have to be my publications class because I get to take pictures which I love to do,” Raziq said. “I get to go to a lot of sporting events and take pictures all for a class. I would love to play softball in college if the opportunity is possible. I would love to go to a big (Division) I school, and I would also like to go into sports management or marketing.”
