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Williams worked her way to top of lineup, game

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Story ran on Saturday, April 7, 2001

There has been a meteoric rise in her game since her first two years as a role player for the Tigers (22-19).

Once struggling to break the starting lineup, the outfielder is now the Big 12’s leading hitter, batting at an astronomical .469 pace - well ahead of the Tiger record of .410 by Kris Schmidt in 1988.

As a senior she no longer feels as much pressure as she did in her earlier years.

"When you’re younger you have pressure to perform and live up to expectations and I already failed all those years ago," said Williams with a chuckle and smile that has become well known to Tiger fans. "So I don’t have to worry about that anymore. I just feel that I have nothing to lose."

She entered the Tigers program as a highly-touted recruit, setting the national high school record for stolen bases while in Gaylord, Mich. Williams has since become more than a one-dimensional player by working relentlessly on her fielding and batting. Williams is often found after practices trying to perfect the slap hit technique that has put her on base more than half the time.

Both of Missouri’s leadoff hitters, Williams and sophomore Sara Vassmer, use this hitting technique to try to advance to first by running towards the pitch with the bat and placing the softball down the third base line. If done correctly, the two left-handed swinging speedsters can outrun the throw from third to first.

"It’s not really a power hit, it’s just finding that hole and beating the defense out," said Vassmer, who was the leadoff hitter last season before her struggles at the plate that have now placed her behind Williams in the lineup. "Karen does a good job of it and she’s been doing great this year. She’s been a great leadoff hitter, a real sparkplug."

Williams has improved all her numbers from a year ago, particularly in hitting - going from .292 in 2000 to the top 10 in batting nationwide. She has also upped her stolen base total from 12 last year to 20 and counting.

"It’s a tribute to her work ethic," said MU coach Jay Miller. "In her first couple of years here she couldn’t work her way into the lineup. A lot of kids would have quit and given up in that situation. Karen didn’t do that. She kept working, kept improving and it’s paying off for her this year.

"She’s having the best year of any player we’ve ever had here at the University of Missouri and we’ve had some great ballplayers over the last 20 years. She’s really set herself at a new level and is having an all-American-type year for us. It would be nice to see her get that kind of recognition."

When asked about the potential all-American honor, Williams said in her gee-golly mannerism, "Gosh, wouldn’t that be nice. I’ve heard little whispers about that and I try to block them out. I don’t want to get too excited, but it would be nice."

Williams, along with fellow senior Stephanie Falk, is seen as one of the team’s leaders in the clubhouse and off the field.

"Things change when you become a senior," said Falk, the team’s No. 1 pitcher and the only other senior on a young Missouri team. "It’s a matter of going out and ending on a high note.

"She’s worked really hard over the summer and it’s definitely showed. Karen’s always encouraging the outfielders, makes diving catches here and there and she’s a good role model. I think she has a lot of maturity to add to the team."