by MARK CAUL

Lehman’s Monique Johnson was a key reason the Lady Lobos made great strides in their softball program this year. (Photo by Judy Cooper)

When Feliciana Torres’ lazy pop fly settled into San Marcos second baseman Anyssa Gonzales’ glove in foul territory for the final out of their crucial match-up Monday night, Lehman’s playoff dreams were a distant memory.

A win would have given Lehman the inside track in securing their first playoff berth in school history.

Instead, it was the Lady Rattlers who were able to escape with a 1-0 home win and clinch the district’s final playoff spot.

But despite the disappointing loss, there were very few tears shed in the Lady Lobos’ dugout as they silently filed out into the cool night.

Among those Lehman players was junior Monique Johnson, who has run the gamut of emotions during her three seasons in the Lehman softball program.

Three seasons ago, Johnson was a part of a Lady Lobo team that failed to register a single win in only their second season of varsity softball.

Back then, a one-run loss to an established program like San Marcos would have elicited mass hysteria among the Lehman faithful.

Although Lehman softball has definitely increased in stature over the past three years, Johnson’s meteoric rise has been just as notable.

Johnson has gone from an inexperienced, raw first-year freshman to the team’s best hitter and arguably its best defensive player in her finest season to date.

“I think Monique hasn’t even scratched the surface on how good she will be before she leaves Lehman,” Lady Lobo head coach Nicole Herrera said. “She has come a long, long way since her first game as a freshman. She wasn’t confident and she had a lot to work on. Now, she can hit the ball to anywhere on the field and her defense has really got us out of some tough situations. She’s been awesome this season.”

In her first two seasons, Johnson would often take the wrong route to fly balls in the outfield or let balls drop directly in front of her in center field.

And at the plate, Johnson lacked the confidence it took to be a leadoff hitter so despite her speed was deposited in the ninth spot in the batting order.

Johnson’s father Warren can remember his youngest daughter’s early struggles but never lost faith that Monique could play at the varsity level.

“She would get frustrated sometimes when she would misplay a ball or not be able to get a hit,” Warren said. “But she put in the extra work and made it a point to play against better completion over the summer. Now, she’s starting to see that her hard work is playing off.”

Now, a few summers after joining a select team featuring Lehman teammates Liz Valderaz and Feliciana Torres as well as current Hays players Amanda Ruiz and Dani Alvarado, the speedy 16-year old has now blossomed into a college softball prospect.

“When I got on that team, I started to get a lot more confident in myself because of all the good players we had on our team,” Monique said. “I just wanted to work enough so that I could compete with them.”

Warren also enlisted former University of Texas star Christa Williams to help Monique with her stance. Williams recommended the world famous Papa Jack’s Gap-to-Gap hitting mat to help with her hitting technique.

The results have been staggering as Johnson has slugged a team-leading eight home runs (six of them inside-the-park jobs) and has driven in more than 15 runs during the district campaign.

In her best performance of the season, a home loss to rival Hays, Johnson went 4-for-4 with a pair of triples and drove in five runs.

“Monique has been hitting the ball well all year long.” Herrera said. “She is very confident and focused at the plate. To go from being undisciplined at the plate in her first two seasons to becoming our clean-up hitter this year is pretty amazing.”

Not only has Johnson shined at the plate, but she has saved the Lobos numerous times with one of her trademark catches in center field.

“She can get to almost any ball in the gap or anywhere,” said Lehman senior third baseman Liz Valderaz. “It really has helped to have somebody with her speed in the outfield.”

The Lady Lobos won eight games in 2009 and will finish with a school-record twenty wins this season.

Herrera believes Johnson has been among the four players who have played a big role in the program’s amazing turnaround.

“Monique and our seniors have really helped put this program on the map,” Herrera said. “I’m just glad she stuck it out and didn’t give up when things weren’t looking so good three years ago.”

Even though her Lady Lobos playoff run fell a game short this season, Johnson is grateful that her team will finish with a school record 20 wins and that she is able to contribute to a program that has become very competitive in such a short period of time.

“We’ve come such a long way in three years,” Johnson said. “Back when we were losing every game I had no idea we would be fighting for a chance to go to the playoffs.

Hopefully, next year will be our year.”