Very quietly and with a determined will, Sydney Rader has positioned herself among Missouri Western State University's softball pitching all-time best.
 
A mere mention of that to the unassuming senior from Norfolk, Neb., won't merit much of a response.
 
"She's just the kind of person who comes to practice every day and works hard," head coach Joe Yegge said. "Every chance she gets, she's trying to fine tune and craft her skills to be better and better."
 
Maybe a quick fist-pump or a short "yeah" under her breath after a strike, strikeout or out is recorded but nothing else, according to Yegge and assistant coach Lexi Kinnaird.
 
"Sydney isn't one to say too much," Kinnaird, the Griffons pitching coach, noted. "She leads by example with her work ethic. She is very quiet and reserved."
 
That steady and steely resolve have developed amazing results in less than three full seasons. Her 43 wins, 14 shutouts, and 406 strikeouts are among their top 10 of MWSU's tradition-laden program.
 
A look at her diamond career and one might discern that it comes naturally.
 
"I've been pitching since I was seven," she admitted. "My mom, Anne, has really important for me in getting into the sport, as she played at Wayne State. She has always been there by my side."
 
"You know I did try other sports," she added. "However, softball just seemed like the best fit, as I had so much passion for it."
 
Her passion shows in developing not only new pitches, like a knee-bending screwball that can make opposing hitters slightly squeamish, but also in the way she takes her mental approach to the circle.
 
"I think her biggest progression has been mentally," Kinnaird said. "When she got here, there were some growing pains as there are with first-year pitchers. There can be a need to deflect when things go wrong. However, I've seen that change drastically to where she might be performing at her best but comes right back and works even harder to make it better the next time out. With that kind of mindset, there is such a higher probability of success."
 
That tenacity has led the Griffons staff to look at her in other defensive possibilities.
 
"She is just very talented," Yegge said. "You want that kind of person on the field for during big situations as a leader. We've used her in others, as Sydney can run well, make strong fielding plays and even hit."
 
While she still has a year-plus in St. Joseph to craft her skills on and off the field, Rader has a definite post-graduate plan.
 
"I'd like to be a special education teacher," she pointed out. "Who knows, maybe even a coach. We'll have to see when it gets to that time."
 
Teaching and leading through continued examples of hard work and a steady resolve – leading Rader to success in college and into the future.