During her first three years at UL, junior shortstop Nerissa Myers has developed quite a reputation around the Ragin’ Cajun softball community.

As her career has unfolded, some have remained true, some have proven just a little misunderstood and the most important of all is the one that matters most to Myers herself.

The most common reputation is that she’s quiet and shy. While both are true, some aspects of it have changed.

"Socially, I’ve gotten a lot better with my teammates," Myers said. "With the media, I’m still a little shy, but this program teaches you to face your fears and run to the roar. I try to watch Ashley (Brignac) and Christi (Orgeron) and follow in their footsteps in that area. They’re very good at it."

While many UL fans may not have heard Myers say a whole lot during his career, sophomore third baseman Natalie Fernandez says that her teammates hear Myers talking on the field on nearly every play.

"We hear her voice after almost every pitch," Fernandez said. "Being my first year at third base, we’re constantly talking on the field. She helps me with what to do, where to stand, what the batter did in her last at-bat, whether it was in the air or on the ground. She has a great knowledge of the game. She’s definitely the defensively leader on the field."

Another reputation is that she came to UL as a slow-pitch softball team without any fast-pitch experience. Myers said she did play slow-pitch throughout her formative years, but did play on a fast-pitch traveling summer team prior to college ball. What was completely new to Myers was this idea of transforming her hitting style into becoming a slapper.

"It just kind of started one game in Texas (as a freshman)," Myers said. "Coach Mike (Lotief) asked me to try it. He was trying to make me a triple threat at the plate. At the time, I didn’t realize what he was doing. I wasn’t completely lost. I had played with girls who did it before, but I was like, ‘I’m kind of strong, why am I doing this?’ I just didn’t then what coach Mike was seeing."

After slapping for the rest of her freshman year, Myers did some of both as a sophomore and then was transformed into a primary run producer during this season. Needless to say, that idea was a good one. Myers enters this weekend’s NCAA Regional at Lamson Park hitting .390 with 16 doubles, two triples, 12 homers, 74 RBIs and 20 stolen bases.

"To me, it’s all fun," said Myers, who currently leads the nation in runs scored per game (1.45) and is fourth nationally in RBIs per game (1.29). "It just depends on what’s needed at the time. I love slapping. I love bunting. I love hitting.

"I did have some expectations for this season, but the high expectations more so came from the coaches and my teammates. They had high expectations of me. I tried to do what they wanted me to do (offensively)."

More than just put in glittering offensive numbers, though, Myers has earned a reputation as a clutch hitter when the game’s on the line.

"I think that’s because she’s so focused," Fernandez said. "I think she knows that every pitch is important. She doesn’t take any at-bats off. She competes on every pitch. Every pitch is crucial to her."

What Myers really loves, though, is playing defense. He’s developed quite a reputation for the highlight-film play.

"Playing defense has always been my passion," she said.

With that said, Myers readily admits that her defensive game has improved since arriving at UL, not just the offensive part.

"I needed help," she said. "I needed help with new drills to work on my back-hand and on slow rollers. I worked hard on trying to become more of a Derek Jeter-type shortstop."

Myers, though, said that it’s not just her that strives to make the big play with the glove.

"That’s the mentality of our whole team," she said. "We wall want to make that diving catch to end an inning. We’re all playing for excellence."

That quiet reputation means to many that Myers is focused and determined, not a big fan of small talk and silly games. She’d have a hard time arguing with that one, but it’s also a characteristic of UL’s program overall — which has made the two a perfect fit.

"I decided to come here because they had just gone to the World Series," Myers said. "So why not go there? They had great coaches and a winning group of girls.

"My career here has been very intense and very focused. That’s what I like. That’s not just me, though. That’s all the girls here. Everyone here is so mentally into the game. I wouldn’t have it any other way."

After watching Myers transform herself from a slapping defensive web gem into a power-hitting, defensive standout, some have even suggested that Myers is actually the team’s Most Valuable Player this season.

Myers will have none of that.

"This team is not about one player," said Myers, who was the National Player of the Week from March 12-18. "We believe that, because it’s true. Everybody on this team plays a big role on this team. To me, the MVPs of our team are girls like Shelbee Rodgers and Prophet Gaspard and Allie Chenault and Maggie (Ham) who throw batting practice to us. We wouldn’t be the hitting team that we are without them."

Myers said while she looks forward to being a senior leader on the Cajuns next year that every player on the team can be a leader.

Every player, in her mind, can perform the duties of an MVP softball player.

Myers just hopes that she’s got the reputation of doing whatever it takes to help the Ragin’ Cajuns win.

"That’s what it’s all about," Myers said. "Our goal isn’t so much to get the World Series. Our goal is to win the World Series. We want it. We can do it."