Sammy Fernandez paces Syracuse on the base paths

Sammy Fernandez is only one swipe shy of tying her career high in steals — with half a season to go.

The junior leadoff hitter uses her speed and wit on the base paths as Syracuse’s (17-9, 3-3 Atlantic Coast) top base stealer for the second consecutive season. Fernandez leads the Orange with 13 swipes and ranks fifth in the ACC. Despite leading SU in steals last year, she’s getting better jumps, reacting quicker and timing pitchers better to be more of a threat at the top of the order.

“Once you get that first stolen base,” Fernandez said, “it’s like, ‘Oh, you want to do it again.’”

Fernandez has always been fast enough to steal, but hasn’t always been the runner that she is now. When she gets caught stealing, she said a poor jump and late reaction time slowed her down. To compensate, she’s taking better leads.

Since October, Fernandez has worked twice per week on her jumps from first. She trains her reaction time and first step to ensure she’s early on her jumps. Leads are the most important part of stealing any base, she said.

“That first step is basically what will determine if you’re out or safe,” Fernandez said.

She trains her reaction time with situational drills and game-like experience. But the jump comes with heavy lifting. Fernandez works more with the team’s strength and conditioning coach, William Hicks, in the weight room building her explosiveness. She’s one half step faster, assistant coach Alisa Goler estimates.

“For someone like Sammy who came in and already was blessed with some speed,” Goler said, “working in the weight room and just strengthening the muscles and just building up the endurance and the stamina … That’s probably why it’s translated.”

The difference shows in her stolen base numbers (13) compared to her first two seasons’ combined total (20). Fernandez also is on pace to shatter her career high in runs (29). Through 26 games she already sits at team-high 24 runs.

Fernandez’s increased activity on the base paths spurs offensive production from the two, three and four hitters. Alicia Hansen hits in the two-hole behind Fernandez. When Fernandez gets on base, Hansen said she’s more comfortable. Pitchers tend to throw more strikes when someone is on base.

“It’s really important to have a base runner like her,” Hansen said. “You can trust her on the bases.”

While she’s not at the plate, Fernandez studies the opposition. She reads the outfielders to see how deep they are. She looks at the pitcher’s grip and studies her windup to see if she can jump on a changeup and steal second. Then she looks at head coach Mike Bosch for the sign.

“I feel like I have the green light with my speed,” Fernandez said. “The coaches will always like aggressiveness on the bases.”

The coaches especially notice her speed and aggressiveness during practice. Bosch clocks the players regularly on their times going around the bases in all different combinations. Fernandez consistently ranks among the top competitors. She’s carried that into games in becoming a threat to opponents.

“They always say, you don’t have to be fast, you just have to be a smart base runner,” said senior two-way player Sydney O’Hara. “But she’s both.”