LONGVIEW, Texas — If this was football, we'd be call Aniya Wilder performance on Tuesday, a "Heisman moment". However, it's softball season, so we'll settle with the Adolis Garcia moment because she was the MVP.
Wilder hit four home runs, including 2 grand slams and finished with 14 RBIs to help Longview secure a 20-10 win over Marshall. Wilder is only 15-years old but she plays like a professional. She's been playing softball since four years old, so she relies on her experience to give her confidence.
"I have a lot of confidence, and I was really good at a young age," Wilder said. "So when I got up here {high school}, I told myself not to be intimidated by anybody and just go up there and hit the ball."
She hit the two grand slams in the 2nd inning, and the third home run in the 4th leaving Longview Head Softball Coach, Trevor Murphy in disbelief.
"I just told her to go up there with a base hit mentality, because after you get that first home run it feels really good, usually try for a second one and it normally doesn't happen," Coach Murphy said. "Then I didn't really say anything to her before the third one and it happened again, then I said 'good lord that's impressive'"
Aniya's dad has been coaching her since she was little, and during Tuesday's gave he felt overcome with emotions.
"Well, I was speechless, I couldn't really say anything, I shed a tear a little bit," Earl Wilder said. "I am one of the proudest dads that's ever been around."
On top of her coach and dad being speechless, Aniya was also surprised with how well she was performing.
"I was actually shocked because they had bases loaded and I've never hit a home run with bases loaded before, " Wilder said. "So, then I thought 'dang' let's just get another one, then I did, so I just rolled with it."
The Longview Lobos will be back in action Friday for a district game against Pine Tree.