Katie Weimer may seem comfortable on the softball field, but her roots are in the baseball diamond.
Growing up, there was no softball league for Weimer, a freshman occupational therapy major and catcher for the Bulls, to join.
“I started at a really young age, I was one of the only girls on the tee-ball team,” Weimer said. “I played baseball when I was six years old, I knew a couple of girls from school who were on a house softball team and I started through that.”
Weimer has played in 41 games this season and has nine home runs, 40 RBIs and a batting average of .333. There are eight games remaining in the season and she is three RBIs away from breaking the school's record for most RBIs in a season.
Buffalo softball (14-27, 8-6 Mid-American Conference) seems to be moving forward in the right direction. Despite a tough start to the season, the Bulls have stepped up their game going into the home stretch.
At the forefront of it all has been Weimer.
Coming into this season, softball coach Trena Peel was adamant that her freshmen-heavy lineup would come full-circle when it came time for conference play.
As this season has progressed, so has Weimer’s game. Her first six games she only had two hits, three RBI’s and two runs. Now, her coaches and teammates have come to expect great things from her every time she steps up to the plate.
“She’s been hitting the ball out since opening weekend,” Peel said, “We thought ‘Oh my god if you don't hit a home run we would be surprised.’”
Throughout her high school career at Orchard Park High, Weimer earned four letters and was captain of her team for one year. In her senior year, Weimer led her team to a state title with a batting average of .567, 49 runs scored and eight home runs. The title was the first in the school’s history.
That year Weimer was also named Class AA New York State Player of the Year.
However, like many great hitters, Weimer spent time at nearly every position on the diamond, from pitcher to first base to second and the outfield, until she finally found her home behind the plate.
Weimer’s best softball games may still be ahead of her as she continues to practice and maintain her hot streak. This past weekend, throughout Buffalo’s three-game road sweep against Bowling Green, Weimer had two home runs and four RBIs in just nine at-bats. The Bulls scored at least nine runs in each game.
If Weimer can sustain and continue her freshman success, she could very well be one of the greatest players in program history.
This weekend the team travels to Kent State for a three game series for more MAC play.
Edward Goldschmid is a sports staff writer and can be reached at sports@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Ryan Hagen | UB Athletics
