Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes. St. Bonaventure junior Brooke Bobbey (Poland) makes contact on a pitch during a contest at Youngstown State last week.

It takes plenty of determination and time to progressively improve from season to season, and for Brooke Bobbey, a junior at St. Bonaventure and graduate of Poland Seminary, she’s reaping the rewards of that this spring.

Being the centerfielder and lead-off hitter requires a lot of leadership qualities, something Bobbey has succeeded in.

“Honestly, just the experience. Seeing teams and pitchers over and over again, not being a freshman you get a lot more confidence with more at-bats and more plays you see on the field,” Bobbey said. “Don’t press. The outs, the at-bats, the plays will all come. Just relax and trust myself.”

Posting a batting average of .284, Bobbey has improved her numbers over the course of each campaign, currently leading the Bonnies with 19 hits and 10 runs.

Just as important, she has a team-high 15 walks and six steals. St. Bonaventure coach Mike Threehouse credits Bobbey’s success on her approach at the plate this spring.

“Her controlling her strike zone and maturity as a hitter,” Threehouse said. “She got put into that role. We lost our initial center fielder, and I turned to her and said, ‘hey this is what you want to do, you always wanted to play center field.’

“She took the bull by the horns and she’s been fantastic since day one and I’ve been really proud of her. She’s been our head light the whole time. Anytime Brooke gets on base, we know good things are going to happen.”

Having that quick and consistent lead-off hitter can lead to effective small ball for the Bonnies too.

“I honestly love the opportunity because I know my teammates trust me to be a leader and to be the lead-off hitter, so their trust in me makes me a better hitter,” Bobbey said.

As a left-handed hitter, she found herself in the outfield early on in Little League, but enjoys the challenges the role brings. Bobbey credits her teammates and who she has surrounded herself with at practice over the years for making her a better fielder.

One of those teammates is St. Bonaventure freshman Abby Farber. As a fellow Poland graduate, the duo’s connection and chemistry on the field goes back to when they were eight years old.

“It helps me be a little more comfortable knowing there’s somebody who I’ve always played with in the past, so it’s definitely a comfort thing,” Bobbey said. “I was so excited, she called me immediately after she talked to coach, and I was never more excited in my life.

“This is something we always talked about when we were little, so the fact that it’s actually a reality is amazing.”

Farber earned her first career start and RBI during the second game of a doubleheader at Youngstown State, but she looks up to Bobbey for guidance as a fresh face on the team.

“We always have good chemistry, she’d play in center field, and I’d play second base so we always work so well together to push each other to our limits,” Farber said. “She’s a great role model for all of us and pushes me to be my best and gives me confidence in myself.

“It’s really special knowing that Poland is a really small town and that we represent Poland all the way across the A-10.”

Threehouse sees the connection as one that benefits everyone.

“They’re all smiles around each other,” Threehouse said. “I know Brooke kinda treats her as a little sister, and tries to teach her the ropes and Abby is really learning and understanding what this game takes and what this game demands for your success.”