Dominique Proctor didn’t just answer when opportunity knocked.
Rather, the University of Indianapolis sophomore did so with a level of enthusiasm that virtually detached the door from its hinges.
Proctor, a sophomore second baseman for the Greyhounds, made it her mission in the offseason to improve to the point where keeping her out of the lineup wasn’t an option.
She and fellow Greenwood graduate Lexy Rees, UIndy’s junior catcher, are among the reasons the team takes a 41-5 record into today’s home doubleheader against Ohio Dominican.
Proctor stepped to the plate only 10 times while competing in nine games last season.
Jump ahead to this season, where she’s leading the Greyhounds in on-base plus slugging (1.172) and second on the team in batting average (.429), having found her niche as the leadoff hitter in coach Melissa Frost’s lineup.
“Dominique is doing so amazing this season, and it’s so much fun to see,” Rees said. “It shows how much she’s worked, and she had her moments to perform, she didn’t hesitate and has not looked back.”
Rees is also excelling with a .366 average and team highs of 10 home runs and 52 runs batted in. She has started in every one of the team’s games this season.
Proctor’s sizable leap in productivity is largely due to her taking it upon herself to put in the time required to improve her hitting. Over the past winter break, she went through drills for 30-60 minutes a day, four to five times a week.
There were times Proctor was with teammates; more often than not, she was alone.
“I talked to my coach beforehand, so I mainly just worked on my hitting,” said Proctor, a nursing major who was a Great Lakes Valley Conference all-academic choice following the 2021 season. “I knew I could play anywhere in the field. This season, I’m doing what I thought I could do.”
Proctor has already collected two or more hits in 15 of UIndy’s games this season. She’s been particularly effective at the plate of late, going 29 for 58 (.500) in the Greyhounds’ last 17 outings.
“Dominique came back from winter break, and you could tell she was ready to go,” Frost said. “I think she’s always been a great player, but she’s a little more settled in this year.”
Meanwhile, Rees has been as dependable as the sun coming up in the east each morning. She has already made 98 starts in her UIndy career and played in total of 104 games. She’s twice made GLVC all-academic, and last season she was second team all-conference.
Being an upperclassman means showcasing one’s leadership abilities. It’s there that Rees feels she’s grown the most from last season to now.
“I love being in charge of the field, and that I get to build amazing relationships with the coaches and the girls,” said Rees, who usually hits third or cleanup. “Hopefully, they see me as a leader. I do try to be very loud, pick up the girls if they need it, and sometimes give them a reality check if they need it.”
Frost, who owns a career record of 700-265-1 and has been named GLVC Coach of the Year on six occasions since taking over the UIndy job in 2004, values the command her catcher brings to the diamond each time, whether in a practice or game.
“Lexy does a great job with our pitching staff, and really tries to be a student of the game,” Frost said. “She’s always been a leader, but has upped her game and just does a tremendous job of working with each player on the team.”
