Finding time for her life

Robert Henry Becker Arizona Daily Wildcat Leah Braatz-Cochrane reacts to a foul tip at practice yesterday. Braatz-Cochrane was re-inserted into the Arizona lineup after the birth of her baby son last year. Braatz-Cochrane hit .371 with two doubles and a home run in her first outings this season in Hillenbrand Stadium.

To the chagrin of opposing pitchers the 1994-95 first-team All-American Braatz, now Braatz-Cochrane, has returned to the Arizona lineup in better shape physically and mentally than when she left. She is arguably the only player in the country that could come from a year off to take away fellow UA All-American catcher Lety Pineda's starting spot.

"I'm in the best shape that I've been in since I've been here," Braatz said. "I knew it wouldn't be easy coming back, especially with Lety playing so well. She came in and did awesome and I was happy for her. I knew I would really have to work to get everything back."

In her first outings back in Hillenbrand Stadium, Braatz-Cochrane hit .371 with two doubles and a home run. After last weekend's performance at the ASU Coke Classic in Phoenix, Braatz received Pacific 10 Conference player of the week honors. In the five games she hit .571 with four home runs and two doubles.

"I think she's a lot more focused," UA head coach Mike Candrea said. "I was pleased with the way she was making adjustments at the plate. She wasn't trying to lift the ball out every time and I think that shows maturity on her part."

While hitting is an induvidual aspect. Braatz-Cochrane said that getting used to calling games again was the challenging part.

"At first, of course it was difficult, but now I feel comfortable," she said. "Now I feel like I'm in control."

Candrea said he never had a doubt as to whether Braatz-Cochrane would be able to return in the same capacity.

"Leah brings us some different things behind the plate," Candrea said. "The more she plays, the more she gets it back. She still has a way to go as far as calling a great game."

The responsibility of being a student, a mother and a softball player in not easy for Braatz-Cochrane, but it hurts more missing the game she loves.

"It was tough just because it's been my life for I don't know how many years. And all of a sudden it was taken away from me," Braatz-Cochrane said.

She is on track to break the NCAA records of former Arizona players Jenny Dalton and Laura Espinoza for home runs and RBI. She is currently No. 3 on the NCAA career home run list.

"Watching the team play was hard. I missed it. So coming back was a relief," she said.

Since returning, Braatz-Cochrane said the team has become closer.

"I think this team has a lot more communication, and it is a lot closer than the team that I left," she said. "We do more things together as a team and we're better friends, I think. This team is better, much better."

But being a mother has drawbacks.

"I've had to grow up a lot," Braatz-Cochrane said. "I've had to give up things that everyone else on the team still has. They can socialize and go out and party or what ever they do. I'm married now and I have a son, so that takes up pretty much all of my time."