Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Olivia Lockhart

Olivia Lockhart is a freshman on the Cardinal Mooney High softball team. Over three games played March 4-8, Lockhart went 9-13 with three triples, a home run and eight RBIs. Lockhart is hitting .583 on the season as of March 11. 

When did you start playing softball?

Well, I actually played baseball my whole life. I just switched to softball in eighth grade. A family friend had been trying to get me to play ever since I was little. I just tried it recently — I was forced to try it — and I was like, "This is kind of cool." I kept playing from there. 

What's the biggest difference between baseball and softball?

There is a lot more situational hitting in softball. In baseball, you don't have to bunt a lot. You just try to hit the ball far. In softball, there are more situational things. It is also fast moving all the time. 

What is the appeal of softball to you?

It's not the same thing every day. You're always facing different pitchers and different situations. It's not repetitive. 

What is your best skill?

Base running. I have some natural speed, but my coaches also tell me that I'm smart on the base paths and that I am aggressive, but not too aggressive. 

What have you been working to improve?

There is always something I can improve with my hitting. My arm strength, too. I want to build that as I get older. 

What is your favorite memory?

It's probably when my Sarasota Little League All-Star baseball team won our district. I was 12. It was my last season of Little League. We played a team that had beaten us earlier, and we beat them the second time. I had a good game and it was a lot of fun. 

What has been the biggest challenge of playing at the varsity level?

Just helping us come together as a team. It's all brand new and you have to do it right away. The biggest thing in softball is working together. That's hard when we don't know each other that well. 

What are your goals for the rest of the season?

I want to finish the season above a .500 batting average. I have a high standard for myself. If I hit good then I feel good in general. 

What is your favorite food?

Probably burgers. I get them with cheese and ketchup. 

What is your favorite movie?

I love the new "Top Gun" movie. I did watch the original too, but I didn't pay that much attention to it. 

What is your favorite school subject?

Biology. I'm not the best at it but I find it fascinating. I like figuring out what happens inside of you and how it works. 

Which superpower would you pick?

Flying. That's a basic answer, but I mean, you can get anywhere whenever you want. 

What are your hobbies?

I like to go to the beach with my friends. That's the main thing. I like to lift (weights), too. 

What is the best advice you have received?

My coaches always say that 70% of the game is mental. I get in my head about a lot of stuff. If I don't have a good at-bat, I'll go to play the field and be upset at myself. But I'm trying to work on that. I want to put things past me and forget about them. 

Finish this sentence: "Olivia Lockhart is …"

Determined. I'm hard on myself about sports so that I stay on top of things.