The No. 16-ranked St. Thomas softball team (21-1, 33-5) is having another strong season under coach John Tschida, but one player on the team is making noise that hasn’t been heard before this season, or at least not as loud.

Sophomore designated hitter Brenna Walek is leading the team in RBIs, home runs and total bases, and she is tied for first in doubles.

Walek said her season’s success is a result of what she does both on and off the field.

“It’s been a lot of hard work,” Walek said. “It’s not just what you do inside of practice, but putting the extra cuts outside of practice.”

Last season, Walek totaled 6 home runs and 14 RBIs at the end of her freshman year. Tschida said she made a lasting impression on him ever since high school.

“She’s dangerous,” Tschida said. “She was when I saw her in high school. She loves to hit. I think she’s grown up having a passion for hitting and learning about hitting, so for her she’s just dangerously powerful.”

Walek is showing she’s got the bat to lead this team to victories, including a 6-0 win against St. Ben’s earlier this month, where she drove in every run for the Tommies with three home runs in three at bats.

Going forward into the conference playoffs and NCAA playoffs, Walek said she doesn’t feel any pressure because the team is so well-rounded.

“We’ve got a pretty solid lineup,” Walek said. “I feel like we’re good one through nine.”

Senior third baseman Brooke Selisker said if the team keeps its head in the game, it’ll have a shot at Tschida’s fourth national championship.

“We have a lot of potential,” Selisker said. “We all hope and dream of a national championship. We can if we work hard enough and we win the mind game, which is even tougher than the physical aspect. If we win that game, the possibilities are endless, and we can go pretty far.”

Jesse Krull can be reached at krul7386@stthomas.edu.