Julia Montie, who mentioned always being a power hitter, hit a bit of a struggle in high school. But she did not let that stop her from being the best player she could be.
“In high school there was a little bit of time where I started slapping, which was just not [good]. I started struggling so I switched hitting. Then I went back, and I’ve been a power hitter ever since” Montie said.
That instance is just one example of a hurdle she faced along the way to playing high-level Division II softball. The constant though, were the teammates, coaches, friends and family that were also there for every step.
Having played since she was in T-ball, and staying with it throughout her college career, what made her stay in the game was the people she plays alongside.
“I really started to love it when I started to play travel ball,” the senior said. “You just meet so many people along the way. The majority of the people that I know in my life have come from different teams that I’ve played with.”
All the relationships she created and the coaches she got to work with kept her loving the game.
The senior outfielder is ranked sixth in SRU history in home runs, 11th in doubles, 14th in starts and runs batted in (RBI), 18th in games played and 19th in runs.
Montie ended last season with a team-best batting of .306 and led the charge with 13 doubles, one triple, and 12 home runs.
Her statistics are not something on her mind when she’s on the field.
“I don’t like to pay attention to stats as much as I can, I like to keep it away because stats definitely mess with my head,” Montie said.
Montie’s favorite memory resides on the field in a game against IUP last season. SRU was down by at least eight runs by the fifth inning. The White and Green turned it around in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game, but the weather was not on their side that day.
“They were about to call the game, the wind was insane, storms were coming in. We went on for another two innings trying to play against the weather. In the bottom of the eighth inning, I had a walk-off home run to end the game,” Montie said. “That was definitely the best game I’ve ever been a part of here. My teammates were so supportive and excited for me. It was a great feeling.”
Her teammates are not her only source of support; much of that also comes from her parents.
“No matter if I have a good game or a bad game, they greet me the same way after,” Montie said.
While other athletes might have parents who push too hard and act as a second coach, Montie’s parents let her play her game, and that is also a big part as to why she still loves it.
“I can go to them after a good or bad game and expect the same reaction from them and the same love,” Montie said.
Softball is not only a physical sport. For Montie, it’s a mental game too.
“Hitting has always been when I struggle mentally the most,” Montie said.
That is when a coach steps in to provide guidance and assistance, and head coach Stacey Rice did just that for Montie. Coach Rice was able to be a helping hand for Montie when it came to her mental game.
“[Coach Rice] has been really good about reassuring me about my performance and how I shouldn’t doubt myself,” Montie said.
Rice makes sure that Montie knows that she is trusted by the team and that the only person who doubts her is herself.
“She’s very good about giving me the cues that I need in the moment to help me get out of any struggle that I might be going through,” Montie said.
Rice was one of the most decorated hitters during her collegiate career at Slippery Rock. During her four years at The Rock, Rice had 175 starts of 179 games in total. She ranks first all-time in program history in runs scored (143), hits (186), doubles (37), total bases (334), and walks (86).
She holds single-season records in runs scored (40), doubles (15), home runs (14), total bases (119), walks (28), at-bats (145), games played, and games started (48).
Montie takes into account what Rice says she used as a player and tries to incorporate it into her game.
While she and Coach Rice are both power hitters, Montie’s strongest suit is found in the outfield. She feels most comfortable out there playing defense.
“I’m really good with covering ground and diving, putting my body on the line for the team,” Montie said.
Academics also play a huge role in Montie’s life. The Monroe High President’s List graduate has been a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Scholar-Athlete since her freshman year at The Rock.
Juggling school and sports can be a difficult task for anyone, but for the Ohioan, having an organized schedule is her way of solving the situation.
“I have everything planned out for the next two weeks,” Montie said.
She makes sure she has all her assignments and tests written down, and she stays on top of it because her schedule can change at the drop of a hat.
“Especially during season it’s really hard, cause in softball, the rescheduling happens often. We have a lot of cancellations, and we have to reschedule. So, our schedule is never known,” Montie said.
Having to balance academics and athletics cannot be easy for anybody, but Montie does it for the love of the sport and the love of her team.
“This has been the most connected and loving team that I’ve ever been a part of,” Montie says.
She knows that whether she’s at a game, or just at practice, her teammates will be there for her no matter what.
“I just feel so comfortable with my teammates and that’s very rare honestly. You don’t get that with every team,” Montie said. “So, this team is really special to me.”
