NATCHEZ — Kaitlan Melton’s speed is her biggest weapon on the softball diamond, and that attribute found her a niche this season on the Copiah-Lincoln Community College softball team.

Melton spent some time as a third baseman in her freshman season this year, but her biggest role for the Lady Wolves was as a base runner.

“My speed is what makes me good at (base running),” Melton said. “I am able to steal bases and see more opportunities than other people.”

The former Adams County Christian School standout said she enjoyed her role on the team this season.

“I was glad to do that for the team and do whatever I can to help us win,” she said.

Melton said adjusting to college softball was tough for her at first.

“It was a lot different than I imagined it would be,” she said. “It was a whole lot different from private-school ball. The competition is so much better. The pitching was so much more than I had seen around here.”

Melton said the combination of tough pitching and trying to switch to becoming a left-handed, slap hitter caused her to struggle at the plate at times this season.

“I was trying slap hitting, because it focuses more on speed,” Melton said. “I was trying that out and trying to get the ball down in the infield. It was my first year to ever try it, and I struggled.”

Melton said this summer she wants to get in the batting cage and work on getting back to her regular, right-handed swing.

“I just feel more comfortable and confident on the right side,” she said.

Although Melton had a big transition on the diamond, she said Co-Lin provided a great educational experience to help her transition in the classroom.

“Co-Lin made it a really easy transition,” she said. “I know I made the right choice to go there. The academics are great there and all the teachers are helpful.”

Melton said she is doing general studies right now, but she thinks she wants to go into physical therapy.

Melton said her focus this offseason is to continue to improve and earn a bigger role on the team next season.

“It just depends on how I perform in the fall,” Melton said about earning more playing time. “We all have to work for our positions.”

Melton said she is willing to play outfield or infield for the Lady Wolves.

Co-Lin did not have the season it wanted this year, and Melton said a lot of close games went the other way for the Lady Wolves.

“We lost a lot more than we wanted to,” she said. “We had so much talent this year and most of the games we lost came down to one run, and that was usually unearned. The little things here and there cost us, and hopefully within the next year we’ll have that together.”

After her time at Co-Lin is up, Melton hopes to become a member of the University of Southern Mississippi softball team.

“We’re going to send base-running times to the coach at Southern Miss and see if they’d be interested in having me as a pinch runner.”

If she can’t make the team, Melton still wants to attend Southern Miss.

“I’ve always liked Southern Miss. The campus is great, and it’s closer to home than Oxford.”

Melton said she got the opportunity to watch ACCS play in a tournament at Co-Lin last fall, and she helped out with the Lady Rebels’ tryouts earlier this month.