One of the reasons why Glendale Mountain Ridge had won eight of its first nine softball games through Monday (March 4) was the all-around play of junior third baseman Corrin Green.

“She is consistent all the way around. She works really hard and is a good example for the other girls,’’ said Mountain Ridge coach Michele Markham.

Green is the team’s top power hitter, and on defense extends her body out in either direction, much like a hockey goalie, to stop the ball.

She has a strong arm, and, according to Markham, “the most beautiful hands I’ve seen.’’

It was because of that strong arm that Green was a catcher during her early club-team days. She has gone between catcher, third and first through most of her career. She played third base as a freshman at Mountain Ridge, then was behind the plate as a sophomore and now is back at third, with Rheyca Riley handling the catching duties.

“I like third a lot better,’’ Green said. “You always have to be prepared. You have to communicate with the whole field, be more involved.’’

Markham said Green has shown good leadership qualities.

The strong arm helps Green when she makes throws across the field to first.

“It might seem like a long throw for some people, but for me, it’s not that long,’’ she said.

When she swings the bat, she hits line drives and sometimes sends the ball over the fence.

Her average hovers in the mid .400s and as for the home runs, “I don’t really try to hit them. I know they will come.’’

Hitting a home run makes everyone happy. Green looks at her parents, smiles and begins a joyous jaunt around the bases to greet the swarm of teammates waiting at home plate.

Playing softball offers a good opportunity for Green to interact and have fun with her teammates. Some of the young players will ask her questions about how to play.

She tells them and shows them.

“You have to practice hard, listen to your coaches and just work hard on and off the field,’’ said Green, who also knows the importance of academics, with a 3.5 grade-point average.

She already had made her college commitment to New Mexico State.

“I’m excited to go there. When I went there, it felt like home. It felt right,’’ she said.

Between now and then, Green can continue to work on improving her game and help the Mountain Lions go deep into the Division I state tournament.