Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
GoHeels Exclusive: Here We Go
February 7, 2019 | Softball, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
No matter how many times she reaches base or even how she gets there, Leah Murray's North Carolina softball coaches and teammates react the same way every time.
"When she gets on, we're like, 'Oh, man, here we go,'" head coach Donna J. Papa said. "'She's going to steal a base or we're going to score. She's going to do something.'"
Over the last two seasons, Murray's given them no reason to think otherwise.
As the Tar Heels' leadoff hitter, she's been a tone-setter, posting a .403 on-base percentage and scoring 80 runs. As a basestealer, she's swiped 72 of her 78 career bags, the third most in school history and only 25 shy of breaking Tiffany Tolleson's record.
But as valuable as Murray, now a senior, has been on the field, she's meant just as much, if not more, off it.
"She's just somebody who has a great demeanor and is such a team player," Papa said. "She's very invested, works so hard, both in the classroom and on the field, and tries to be the best teammate she can be. If you had to check off all these categories, she checks off all the boxes."
Growing up in Huntersville, N.C., Murray said she was always a UNC fan. She often visited Chapel Hill for athletic events, along with one of her best friends, whose family owned football and men's basketball season tickets. When she wasn't there, Murray watched softball on TV, even before she started playing the sport at 8 years old.
Eventually, she began aspiring to play in college.
"Back then, it was so different than it is now," said Murray of softball. "Just seeing how it's changed and wanting to be a part of that experience is something that I dreamed about all through middle school and high school."
At some point during the latter, Murray said that dream started becoming a reality. And after setting Hough High School career records for hits (142), batting average (.582) and stolen bases (39), she came to Carolina in the fall of 2015.
Murray appeared in 54 games as a freshman, making 40 starts. She batted .316. But she said her swing was typically longer than it needed to be.
So, in moving to the leadoff spot as a sophomore, Murray embraced a simpler approach at the plate, placing more of an emphasis on making contact. Naturally, she settled into her role as a slapper, using her speed and exceptional bat control to get on base by any means necessary.
"If I look at slappers and what their job is and what they do," Papa said, "she absolutely has the best bat control of I think any slapper I've had come through here and a lot of slappers I've seen around the country. … She does a lot of hard slaps, a lot of stuff up the middle. She can also do a one-handed drag. She can also swing, and she can power slap.
"Her game is very versatile. She's not just one dimensional from an offensive standpoint."
If one aspect of Murray's game has drawn more attention than any, though, it's been her base-stealing prowess.
The first player to lead the ACC in stolen bases in consecutive seasons since Tolleson in 2002 and 2003, Murray said base-stealing has always been a strength of hers. But she's made significant strides in that area during college.
She credited much of her success to Molly Caffelle, the team's strength and conditioning coach for Murray's first three seasons. Murray said she benefited from the plyometric exercises that Caffelle had her and her teammates perform before workouts. She also learned the importance of creating a positive shin angle with her first movement.
"With Molly helping us with all of our starts and Coach Barc (Chelsey Barclay) pushing us to always get better with baserunning, it has really taken off," Murray said. "They taught me how to dive headfirst into a base, and that's honestly made the biggest difference."
Murray's off-the-field impact has been just as extensive.
For the last two years, Murray has served as one of the team's two community service coordinators. Katelyn Shifflett, the current director of softball operations, held a similar role as a senior last year and was succeeded by Campbell Hutcherson this year.
In her position, Murray works with Korie Sawyer Rich, UNC's assistant director of student-athlete development, to plan and schedule service events. That included assisting with the Share Your Holiday program in December.
"I truly love giving back to the community," Murray said, "and being able to go to the hospitals, go to the schools, go help wherever they need help and try to get as many teammates to come with me as possible. I love that. It was kind of an easy decision when Coach P asked me."
Papa said Murray's organizational skills influenced her decision to ask Murray to be one of the team's community service coordinators. But her personality also fit the position.
Murray, along with Destiny DeBerry, keeps things light for the Tar Heels, Papa said. The two seniors are often dancing or playing music. When they're not, they're likely searching for another way to scare Papa.
It's not uncommon, Papa said, for either Murray or DeBerry to trick Papa into entering the training room or another room at Anderson Softball Stadium, only for the other to jump out and surprise her. They've also snuck into the back seat of Papa's car twice. The second time, Papa had driven about a mile, just past Tobacco Road Sports Cafe, when they startled her.
Papa often still falls for Murray and DeBerry's pranks. But although she might not always expect those, she knows each day that at least one of them will be coming by her office to say hello or tell a funny story.
"Every day I look forward to when she walks through the door," said Papa of Murray, "because she makes me laugh and makes me smile."
For that reason, Papa knows it'll be tough when Murray, an exercise and sport science major, graduates this spring and begins taking steps toward earning a doctorate in physical therapy. But before then, Papa plans to cherish this final season with her.
"I appreciate what she's done for this program and how invested she's been in every aspect …" Papa said. "I'm excited for her, to see what she can do this year. You hope every year there's going to be something that's just a little bit better. But she's definitely a key to our success."
Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
No matter how many times she reaches base or even how she gets there, Leah Murray's North Carolina softball coaches and teammates react the same way every time.
"When she gets on, we're like, 'Oh, man, here we go,'" head coach Donna J. Papa said. "'She's going to steal a base or we're going to score. She's going to do something.'"
Over the last two seasons, Murray's given them no reason to think otherwise.
As the Tar Heels' leadoff hitter, she's been a tone-setter, posting a .403 on-base percentage and scoring 80 runs. As a basestealer, she's swiped 72 of her 78 career bags, the third most in school history and only 25 shy of breaking Tiffany Tolleson's record.
But as valuable as Murray, now a senior, has been on the field, she's meant just as much, if not more, off it.
"She's just somebody who has a great demeanor and is such a team player," Papa said. "She's very invested, works so hard, both in the classroom and on the field, and tries to be the best teammate she can be. If you had to check off all these categories, she checks off all the boxes."
Growing up in Huntersville, N.C., Murray said she was always a UNC fan. She often visited Chapel Hill for athletic events, along with one of her best friends, whose family owned football and men's basketball season tickets. When she wasn't there, Murray watched softball on TV, even before she started playing the sport at 8 years old.
Eventually, she began aspiring to play in college.
"Back then, it was so different than it is now," said Murray of softball. "Just seeing how it's changed and wanting to be a part of that experience is something that I dreamed about all through middle school and high school."
At some point during the latter, Murray said that dream started becoming a reality. And after setting Hough High School career records for hits (142), batting average (.582) and stolen bases (39), she came to Carolina in the fall of 2015.
Murray appeared in 54 games as a freshman, making 40 starts. She batted .316. But she said her swing was typically longer than it needed to be.
So, in moving to the leadoff spot as a sophomore, Murray embraced a simpler approach at the plate, placing more of an emphasis on making contact. Naturally, she settled into her role as a slapper, using her speed and exceptional bat control to get on base by any means necessary.
"If I look at slappers and what their job is and what they do," Papa said, "she absolutely has the best bat control of I think any slapper I've had come through here and a lot of slappers I've seen around the country. … She does a lot of hard slaps, a lot of stuff up the middle. She can also do a one-handed drag. She can also swing, and she can power slap.
"Her game is very versatile. She's not just one dimensional from an offensive standpoint."
If one aspect of Murray's game has drawn more attention than any, though, it's been her base-stealing prowess.
The first player to lead the ACC in stolen bases in consecutive seasons since Tolleson in 2002 and 2003, Murray said base-stealing has always been a strength of hers. But she's made significant strides in that area during college.
She credited much of her success to Molly Caffelle, the team's strength and conditioning coach for Murray's first three seasons. Murray said she benefited from the plyometric exercises that Caffelle had her and her teammates perform before workouts. She also learned the importance of creating a positive shin angle with her first movement.
"With Molly helping us with all of our starts and Coach Barc (Chelsey Barclay) pushing us to always get better with baserunning, it has really taken off," Murray said. "They taught me how to dive headfirst into a base, and that's honestly made the biggest difference."
Murray's off-the-field impact has been just as extensive.
For the last two years, Murray has served as one of the team's two community service coordinators. Katelyn Shifflett, the current director of softball operations, held a similar role as a senior last year and was succeeded by Campbell Hutcherson this year.
In her position, Murray works with Korie Sawyer Rich, UNC's assistant director of student-athlete development, to plan and schedule service events. That included assisting with the Share Your Holiday program in December.
"I truly love giving back to the community," Murray said, "and being able to go to the hospitals, go to the schools, go help wherever they need help and try to get as many teammates to come with me as possible. I love that. It was kind of an easy decision when Coach P asked me."
Papa said Murray's organizational skills influenced her decision to ask Murray to be one of the team's community service coordinators. But her personality also fit the position.
Murray, along with Destiny DeBerry, keeps things light for the Tar Heels, Papa said. The two seniors are often dancing or playing music. When they're not, they're likely searching for another way to scare Papa.
It's not uncommon, Papa said, for either Murray or DeBerry to trick Papa into entering the training room or another room at Anderson Softball Stadium, only for the other to jump out and surprise her. They've also snuck into the back seat of Papa's car twice. The second time, Papa had driven about a mile, just past Tobacco Road Sports Cafe, when they startled her.
Papa often still falls for Murray and DeBerry's pranks. But although she might not always expect those, she knows each day that at least one of them will be coming by her office to say hello or tell a funny story.
"Every day I look forward to when she walks through the door," said Papa of Murray, "because she makes me laugh and makes me smile."
For that reason, Papa knows it'll be tough when Murray, an exercise and sport science major, graduates this spring and begins taking steps toward earning a doctorate in physical therapy. But before then, Papa plans to cherish this final season with her.
"I appreciate what she's done for this program and how invested she's been in every aspect …" Papa said. "I'm excited for her, to see what she can do this year. You hope every year there's going to be something that's just a little bit better. But she's definitely a key to our success."
Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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