She has speed. She has range. And she hasn’t muffed a catch yet this season.

Providence junior Angelina Cole plays like a natural in center field. And she looks like she’s having the time of her life doing it.

The Western Michigan recruit is happy to tell you why.

“I can put all my effort out in the outfield,” Cole said. “You have so much space to run, to drive, to rob a home run. I like laying out for the ball. It’s just so much fun.”

Cole put her bat on display as well Thursday afternoon for the host Celtics in an 8-0 GCAC Red victory over Mother McAuley in New Lenox.

Bella Olszta and Mia Sanfratello each had three hits to lead Providence (6-3, 2-2). Cole added two doubles, while Macie Robbins and Abbey Gaus combined for 10 strikeouts and a two-hit shutout.

Melana Johnson came through with both hits for Mother McAuley (3-7, 0-2).

Cole is having an outstanding offensive season for the Celtics. She’s batting .538 with nine runs, three doubles, two home runs and 12 RBIs. She’s either tied or leading in all of those categories.

“Every time I go up to bat it’s ‘see ball, hit ball,’ but I really go up there thinking extension,” Cole said. “I look for belt high, bottom, and then work the count from there.”

She also extends herself fully on defense. Cole barely missed on a diving attempt Thursday to steal a hit away from Johnson. For the season, she has made six catches with no errors.

On April 3, she had the game-winning hit in a 1-0 victory over Lockport. On April 8, she had another game-winning hit in a 2-1 victory over Loyola.

Providence coach Jim Holba puts her in the third spot of the batting order for the best reason.

“She’s by far our most dependable hitter,” Holba said of Cole. “She has batted over .500 or close to .500 for the past two-and-a-half years. And she’s a leader. She leads by example.”

Becoming an outfielder? That’s a story with a cool twist. As a freshman, Cole had different expectations about where she would be making her varsity debut.

“I had played a little bit of outfield on my travel team,” Cole said. “After a while, though, I ended up feeling like, ‘Oh, I really want to be a second baseman.’”

Holba had quite a surprise for her. It happened during spring break, when the starting left fielder went on vacation. Holba told Cole she would be playing in her place.

“She was like, ‘I’m not a left fielder, I’m a second baseman,’” Holba said. “I told her, ‘Well, you’re going to be in the outfield.’

“It has always been kind of a running joke with us. ‘I’m not an outfielder. But you are an outfielder.’ And that’s what she got recruited for.”

Her first varsity start was a day Cole always remembers … a bit nervously.

“Every time the ball was hit to me I was just like, ‘Catch the ball,’” Cole said, smiling. “Yeah, I was nervous.”

The impression she made, however, cemented her a spot in the starting lineup. After the left fielder returned and served some time on the bench, Cole eventually moved back to second base.

“My freshman year was by far my favorite year,” Cole said. “It was a very big chance to prove to myself and others that I could do it.”

Cole made the permanent switch to center field during her sophomore season. She also established herself as one of the team leaders in enthusiasm.

“Angelina is very supportive,” Olszta said. “She always has your back. If you have a bad at-bat, she’ll be the one who is there to pick you up. On the field, she puts all of her effort into it.

“She does everything at 100%.”

Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.