5-foot-1 Kajitani is measuring up as hitter in softball

Tennessee softball player Nicole "Peanut'' Kajitani is coming out of her shell.

Kajitani, the SEC player of the week and the hottest hitter on the team, made a few confessions as No. 12 UT (34-9-1, 10-6-1 SEC) traveled Friday to Ole Miss (18-24, 5-17) for a three-game series starting with a doubleheader today.

"I'm really 5-foot-1; I just asked them to list me at 5-3,'' said Kajitani, who wears it well at 125 pounds. "As for my hitting struggles, I'd lacked confidence.''

While Kajitani's height admission was not surprising, the confidence issue was; she was the California High School player of the year when UT recruited her and had her choice of colleges to attend.

"I'm naturally an outspoken, confident person, but when it came to stepping in the box, it wasn't there,'' said Kajitani, who has raised her average from .284 last season to .329.

"It came down to what I was thinking in the box ... I wasn't thinking about competing against the pitcher, I was competing against myself.''

Kajitani came to the key realizations after meeting with UT director of mental training, Dr. Joe Whitney.

Whitney has gotten Kajitani focused, and with a little extra hitting work with Lady Vols co-head coach Karen Weekly, Kajitani has become the player UT expected when they recruited her out of San Bernardino, Calif.

The confidence has carried on to the field as well; Kajitani played flawlessly at third base against East Tennessee State University on Tuesday despite not playing the position since 12-and-under travel ball.

"She can play anywhere but pitcher,'' UT co-head coach Ralph Weekly said. "Right now, she's playing a cut above everyone else.''