Olathe South grad Alex Hugo hopes to take out ‘frustration’ on Mizzou

Georgia senior second baseman Alex Hugo is finding out that with great power comes great … frustration.

She established herself as one of the most prolific sluggers in NCAA Division I softball during the 2014 and 2015 seasons — mashing 47 home runs, which is second only to the 56 by Louisiana-Lafayette’s Lexie Elkins.

Now nobody dares challenge Hugo, a 2012 Olathe South graduate and Kansas transfer, with a meaty pitch.

“If there’s a kid in our dugout that the other coach doesn’t want to beat their team, it’s Alex,” Bulldogs coach Lu Harris-Champer said. “She is not getting very many good pitches to hit, and it’s even more pronounced this year, especially in conference.”

Hugo’s personal version of the Barry Bonds treatment, which sometimes prompts opposing teams to walk her in close games with no runners on base rather than risk a solo home run, started last season.

Opposing pitchers often prefer to load the bases with an intentional walk to Hugo rather than risk a mistake that results in a crooked number on the scoreboard.

“Forty-seven home runs in two years will do that,” Harris-Champer said. “The girl can just flat-out hit.”

This season, though, Hugo has struggled to adjust to opponents’ overly cautious approach. Her average has dipped nearly 100 points to .291, and her slugging percentage has plummeted more than 300 points to .573.

Despite only having five home runs this year, Hugo shouldn’t expect a respite from her frustration this weekend at University Field.

“She’s like that dog that was once killing people and all the sudden somebody took its teeth out, and you’re expected to just be able to walk up to it now,” Tigers coach Ehren Earleywine said. “It’s like, ‘No, I remember that bite.’ I’m not believing the stats yet until I see it.”

With good reason: Hugo has homered in five of six career games against Mizzou.

“Last year, she was the best hitter that we faced,” Earleywine said. “I don’t know how many home runs she’s hit off of us, but it’s been ridiculous. We have tremendous respect, and she’ll be lucky if she gets something to hit off of us.”

Hugo socked 15 home runs as a freshman at Kansas in 2013, but she said she didn’t mesh well with the coaching staff and wasn’t pleased with her role predominantly as a designated hitter.

After transferring to Georgia, she led the nation with 25 home runs as a sophomore.

“I think it was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life thus far,” said Hugo, a three-time All-Metro softball selection in high school. “The program here is so supportive of everybody, and they build a culture of trust. We’ve built a family on and off the field.”

Hugo raked again last season, posting a .389 average with an .898 slugging percentage and 22 home runs, which was tied for 12th in the nation.

While she’s not producing other-worldly numbers at the plate this season, Hugo is finding other ways to contribute.

“It’s been frustrating, yes, but the outlook I have on it is that it’s a growing experience,” Hugo said. “It’s a chance to work on my mental approach and practice mental toughness.”

She’s also settled in defensively at second base and orchestrates the Bulldogs’ defense with her prepitch communication.

Hugo, a communications studies major who plans to become a firefighter and perhaps a college coach after — she hopes — a career in the National Pro Fastpitch league, also remains a rallying force in Georgia’s dugout.

“The biggest thing that she’s meant to the program is passion and energy and drive and love of the game,” Harris-Champer said. “She has such tenacity and is such a fierce competitor. It’s one reason she’s a fan favorite. Hundreds and hundreds of kids after the game want her autograph, because she puts her heart out there. She plays hard for her team and leaves it all on the field.”

Missouri is host to Georgia for a pivotal three-game series — 6:30 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday. Both teams are 5-4 and tied for fifth with Texas A&M and Alabama in the Southeastern Conference standings.

This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 6:30 PM with the headline "Olathe South grad Alex Hugo hopes to take out ‘frustration’ on Mizzou."