The Captain With A Cannon

STARKVILLE – March 27 was a turning point for Chloe Malau'ulu.

It wasn't because Mississippi State scored its first runs of the season against an SEC opponent. It wasn't because MSU came so close to its first conference win of the year. No, the reason that day in Fayetteville, Arkansas, sticks out for Malau'ulu has more to do with what didn't happen than anything that did, and it set the tone for the rest of her season.

In the bottom of the fourth inning with the Bulldogs trailing by just one run, the Arkansas hitter popped a blooper into shallow left field that fell in for a single and scored a runner from second. That runner proved to be the difference in an 8-7 loss. And that ball that fell in? It probably should've been caught, at least if you ask Malau'ulu.

"I didn't dive," she remembered, "and it dropped in between me, Madi [Kennedy] and Brylie [St. Clair]. I was probably the closest one and should have called it off. From that moment on, I was like, 'I'm never going to let this happen again. I'm never going to let a ball drop anywhere near me ever again.'"

Two innings later she had her chance to make good on her promise to herself. A ball was lifted into deep foul ground down the left field line. Malau'ulu got a great jump, took one last step off the chalk of the foul line and snagged the ball with a diving effort.

It was one of many highlight-reel plays to come as Malau'ulu put together one of the most-impressive defensive seasons ever by a Bulldog outfielder.

"After that play in Arkansas where that ball kind of got past her and she could've dove for it and probably would've made an amazing play on it, I think after that it really was a step up for her," Brylie St. Clair said. "She said 'Nothing hits the ground,' after that."

Malau'ulu finished the season with just one error all year. Her contributions were recognized by the coaches in the SEC when she was voted the right fielder on the league's All-Defensive team. Among outfielders with at least 50 chances, Malau'ulu ranked sixth in fielding percentage, and she led all SEC players with seven outfield assists.

"It was really cool to see that I was getting recognition for defense because I feel like, a lot of times, we get recognition for hitting or most home runs, most career hits or something. It was cool to see that I got chosen for something defensive, especially as an outfielder."

Malau'ulu credits assist coach Tyler Bratton for improving her arm from the outfield. The team practices relays to the point that Malau'ulu feels like they're second nature. Bratton's keys are making sure it's a cut-able throw – lower is better than higher – and making sure the ball is always going to a base ahead of the runner, never behind her. But perhaps, his most-important teaching point for Malau'ulu was to always find the pitcher's circle.

"Because I'm playing right, left, center, it's going to be hard if I'm looking different places for that cut in a split second," she explained. "Wherever I am, I just look at the circle and Madi [Kennedy] or Paige [Cook] is going to be right around there. I just look for Madi, grab, go and boom. I know she's going to get it in to wherever the runner's about to go."

Her arm was clearly one of her biggest strengths, and it contributed to some of her favorite memories of the year, like when she threw out a runner at the plate in the NCAA Tournament that she didn't expect to have any chance on. It all came together on that play. Malau'ulu rushed back to the wall, turned, found Kennedy and let the Bulldogs' shortstop handle the rest.

"That runner should've been there," Malau'ulu remembered. "We were thinking let's get the trail runner, but when I threw it to Madi they were telling her dish. It was such a nonchalant, okay-we'll-just-try-to-go-for-it and the throw was perfect to Mia's [Davidson] glove. We were like, 'Are you kidding me? That worked?'"

"I'm always just getting it in. Keep my throw low and get it in on time. I feel like as many times as we threw out assists, it shouldn't have been as surprising, but each time I was like 'Hey! Let's go!'" - Chloe Malau'ulu

"I'm always just getting it in. Keep my throw low and get it in on time. I feel like as many times as we threw out assists, it shouldn't have been as surprising, but each time I was like 'Hey! Let's go!'" - Chloe Malau'ulu

Still Malau'ulu doesn't consider her throwing ability her greatest strength. It's not her consistent fielding percentage or her ability to play every position either.

"I know this isn't really a softball thing like throwing or catching, but I just think I take charge out there – Leadership," she said. "No matter where I am, I know I'm going to get the outfield to be on board with me. It's getting that same aggressive mindset. I know that doesn't have like a number or measurement, but I think that's my strength."

That leadership was often on display as she helped teammates adjust to new roles. Teammates like Jackie McKenna, a catcher who took on a starting role in the outfield this year. Malau'ulu taught her the finer points of how balls tail differently off a lefty or righty's bat and how different pitchers' tendencies result in different types of contact. She did it while also building her teammates' confidence at the same time.

"My favorite part of playing in the outfield with Chloe is that I'm very, very confident in her, and I know that she's confident in me too," the sophomore said. "It's fun playing with her because I know her ability, and she trusts my ability. It's nice having somebody who believes in you and is as confident as she is in the outfield."

Mississippi State University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Chloe Malau'ulu

Jackie McKenna

Brylie St. Clair

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