Last season, Amaya Espinal made the transition from being a third baseman into a catcher. It proved to be a worthwhile move.

This season, the junior has been hitting in the team’s fourth position, or cleanup spot, and Espinal again has adjusted well.

Through the Zephyrs’ first half of the season, Espinal was hitting .438 with three doubles, five RBIs, and had an on-base percentage of .438.

Espinal has been happy doing her part, and she is confident her teammates can continue to jell.

“My season is going really well so far,” said Espinal earlier this season. “There’s definitely a difference with the team this year since we lost a lot of players last year, but it’s nothing we can’t handle and we’ve been adjusting well together.”

Hitting fourth hasn’t been an issue.

“I’ve actually been enjoying hitting fourth, and it’s a lot of pressure,” said Espinal. “But I like being in a spot where I can help bring people in and contribute in big moments. Defensively, I’m primarily catching, which I love, and I’ve really been focusing on leading the team from behind the plate.”

Head coach Jeff Vivian has been pleased with her development.

“For Amya, the growth that she has made on and off the field has been a gift to this team,” said Vivian. “She has earned the trust of the coaching staff and her pitchers. She has such great command of the field from behind the plate.

“Offensively she is one of our most productive hitters in the lineup. She’s really adapted to hitting fourth in the lineup. She has a good hitting plan when she goes up there and you need that as a four hitter because most teams will work around that spot in the lineup.”

Espinal sees her team on a productive path that was paved by their annual Myrtle Beach trip. Yet, there have been some adjustments along the way.

“This year feels a little different overall just because of the changes in the roster, but it’s also been a good opportunity for people to step up and grow. The Myrtle Beach trip was a really great experience. It helped us bond more as a team and also gave us a chance to compete and see where we stand early on.

“I think we’re still building chemistry, but we have a lot of potential and I’m excited to see how the season continues.”