Highland’s Jordan Boyd is enjoying a new level of comfort this season.

The senior shortstop has settled into a newer position and is playing with teammates she has known for years, allowing her to flourish at the plate.

“It’s just the beginning, but I feel like I’ve come out of the gate better, seeing pitching and making adjustments to it better than I have in the past,” Boyd said. “So I’m excited about that. Also just feeling more confident as a player overall, knowing it’s my senior season to just give it all I have. It’s a good feeling.”

Boyd, a Saint Louis recruit, was hitting .588 with a homer, eight RBIs and 11 runs scored through seven games for the Trojans (5-2).

“She’s one of our power hitters, and this year she’s been on fire,” Highland coach Samantha Abrego said. “Her hitting has been great. She’s seeing the ball very well.”

Boyd was a starting corner infielder, primarily at first base, during her freshman and sophomore seasons. Then she shifted to shortstop last year, when she hit .361 with a homer, 11 RBIs and 12 runs scored.

Although Boyd described herself as a “utility” player for her travel team, having spent time in the middle infield, in the outfield and at both corner infield spots, her primary position has been first base. So there was a learning curve for her at shortstop.

“Obviously, it’s a big adjustment going from a corner to a middle, but I feel like I’m filling in the role well,” Boyd said. “It was a little bit more challenging last year, but I have the confidence this year to step into that role.

“It gives you a sense of confidence because it’s my second season playing shortstop now. I switched positions last year, so it’s like nothing this year is new. I’ve been in this position before. Just feeling confident and being with all of these girls before, putting it all together with them. I know they have my back, and I have theirs.”

Senior pitcher Skylar Zoeteman expressed confidence in Boyd.

“She’s an amazing hitter,” Zoeteman said. “She always makes the play. When she’s at shortstop, I know she has my back because she has the range to get to any ball. She’s been working really hard on it.”

Abrego, who is in her first season as Highland’s coach after five as an assistant, has seen Boyd’s development, including as a shortstop.

“She’s been feeling it, doing really good at it,” Abrego said. “She’s just constantly improving every time she plays that position.

“She plays any position. She’s one of those utility players where if I need her somewhere, she questions herself, but she will go to where I need her to be. She would do her best at it.”

Boyd hopes the Trojans can keep doing their best and at least finish with an above-.500 record after going 9-14 overall and 2-10 in the Northwest Crossroads Conference last season. Highland will host a retooled Class 3A sectional and could be the favorite to win its first title since 2018.

“Most of the girls have been together forever,” Boyd said. “The whole entire team’s returning players. We’ve just grown up playing with each other, so we’re excited to go out with a bang and play strong together.

“The team’s excited to show out this season and just put it all together, like we’ve been working on.”

Boyd, who also played volleyball for Highland, plans to enroll in an accelerated physical therapy program at Saint Louis and would be able to earn a doctorate in five or six years instead of seven or eight. She is the president of the National Honor Society at Highland, and her community service projects during this school year include a food drive and making dog toys for the Humane Society.

Abrego praised Boyd’s “incredible work ethic” and called her leadership on and off the field “inspiring.”

“She’s been a big part of our softball team for the last four years,” Abrego said. “She’s been one of our leaders the past three years. A lot of our girls look up to her. She’s a great teammate. She’s there for all of the girls. She’s very humble. She’s just a very valuable asset to our team.”