Bishop Noll junior Jalyssia Crawford couldn’t recall the specific day it happened.

She said the thought just came to her one morning when she was in middle school.

“I used to dream about playing college ball,” she said. “It was just something I woke up feeling one day, that I wanted to do this.”

Crawford has been devoted to that pursuit ever since and has turned into a player with next-level potential.

A fixture at first base for the Warriors (5-5), Crawford leads the team with a .600 average, 15 hits and three triples, is second with four doubles and is tied for second with 12 RBIs.

When asked whether she was aware of her batting average, Crawford smiled and then laughed, an acknowledgment that she knew the answer — although she was adamant that it’s not at the front of her mind.

“I’m happy about it,” she said. “But I don’t want to let it go to my head because I want to keep it up. I’m always thinking about my next at-bat or who I’m going to be facing.”

That forward thinking is indicative of the more mature approach Crawford brings to every aspect of the sport. Bishop Noll senior outfielder Lauren Drexler said she believes it can provide a spark when it’s difficult to find one.

“She just brings that energy when we need it,” Drexler said. “It’s like, ‘Hey, let’s get this done.’ And she may not say it how everyone wants to hear it, but it’s what needs to be said to get everyone going.”

Drexler raved about Crawford’s maturation over the past few seasons. But Bishop Noll coach Elena Sobilo said Crawford wasn’t the typical player from the moment she arrived.

“Coming in as a freshman, you could tell from the beginning that there was something special there,” Sobilo said. “She had a real game sense and made smart choices. The fundamentals were all there through her early softball playing.”

Unlike this season, with Drexler and Crawford the only upperclassmen among the Warriors’ top nine in plate appearances, the 2021 lineup was stocked with seniors. But Sobilo said Crawford was unfazed.

“She has a confidence that a lot of other athletes would hope for,” Sobilo said. “What really stood out was not only her defense but her bat. You can’t beat her bat.”

As a freshman, Crawford led the Warriors in batting average (.485), hits (33), doubles (13), triples (2) and RBIs (37). She was the leader in most of the same categories last season too: batting average (.508), hits (30), doubles (10) and RBIs (22).

Crawford credited one philosophy for her success at the plate and the confidence Sobilo mentioned. She tries to quickly identify any miscues without dwelling on them for too long so she’s ready for the next pitch.

“I do make mistakes,” Crawford said. “But I just feel like I get past it and think about what I did wrong so that I can get better. Then I’ll feel more confident when I play.”

Sobilo said that confidence is most obvious when Crawford steps to the plate in key moments.

“She’s not one to fold under the pressure,” Sobilo said. “She sees it as a fun opportunity to be a playmaker. That just comes from her experience. The more you’re in those situations, the less stressful they become, just through repetition.”

Crawford said she wants to continue hitting in the clutch to help the Warriors win and get the attention of college programs.

“I just want to keep my batting average up so that I’m more noticeable,” she said.

Dave Melton is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.