No gap in Tai's talents

Versatility defines Wellesley player

Keri O'Meara is a recruiting maniac. She's been that way since Wellesley College brought her in to start its softball program five years ago.

She dedicated her first year solely to scouting players - from June to August, five days per week, locally and nationally.

One of her best recruits, though, Amanda Tai (inset), actually found her. The four-year Melrose High catcher first placed a call to O'Meara.

The next thing you know, O'Meara was tracking down Tai (pronounced Tay) at a local tournament game, inviting her to a clinic that Wellesley hosts every year, and selling her on the school and the team, which qualified for the conference playoffs in its inaugural season.

O'Meara fell in love with Tai's potential. Yes, she was a catcher, but O'Meara saw Tai filling gaps at third base and centerfield nicely.

"I knew the fact that Amanda could play anywhere on the field for us was going to be very helpful," she said. "I basically told her that we needed her to come in and continue to help build the program and that I felt that she could be a really big impact player for us."

And that was regardless of where O'Meara put Tai in the lineup. "Wherever I need to be, I'm willing to take that on," Tai said. "I think that's really important for people who can play different positions to go there."

Tai has been a starter since she stepped on the field for Wellesley, playing every position except pitcher and first base. She's as versatile at the plate as she is in the field, going from a slap hitter early in her career to a free-swinging leadoff hitter this spring as a junior.

In 14 games, Tai has been sawing balls in half, hitting a team-high .422 from the leadoff spot with 23 total bases and 11 runs, earning a NEWMAC player of the week honor, and pushing the Blue to a 10-3-1 start.

"You look to your leadoff hitter," O'Meara said, "and that has to be your most consistent hitter and someone who's going to get on base for you, and she's certainly someone that's getting that job done."

Last week on a long road trip to California, Wellesley stunned defending Division 3 national champion Linfield College, with Tai setting the table with a two-out single, then scoring the tying run from second on a double by senior catcher Kara Wong.

The win, Tai said, was huge for a program with a collection of huge wins in its short lifetime.

"I couldn't even imagine us getting this far," Tai said. "Everyone works well together, and I think that's what's gotten us this far. We mesh well as a team and we never give up."