In sports there are always players who are considered the stars, and they get all the trust from their coach and teammates. There are also the players who like to know their skills, but not for praise, and serve as a silent leader for their team. Kentucky State's Lorena Villamar is a prime example of a student-athlete who lets her skill speak for her.

Villamar, a sophomore from Las Vegas, Nev. currently plays softball for KSU. Known as “Vegas” to her teammates and even across campus, the lefty pitcher and first baseman no longer strives to prove her worthiness as an athlete; her talents are well spoken for. Named All-Conference Second Team her freshman year, All-Conference First Team preseason this year her future with the Thorobrettes is extremely promising.

“My most memorable moment as a softball player is when my travel team was playing in the state championship tournament and we faced elimination against a team that beat us by about 17 runs earlier that week,” said Lorena Villamar, “my coach told me that I was going to pitch the elimination game because he knew we were already going to get beat badly so he wanted to save our other pitcher the embarrassment. That game I went out there to prove a point to my coach that I wasn't some pretend pitcher.”

At eight years old Villamar was introduced to softball, but she did not fall in love with the sport immediately. She was caught up in an affair with soccer. Somehow she found her way back to softball, and stuck with the sport after that.

“I go out there every day playing as if it were my last game, and I give it my all. I have respect for the game,” said Villamar. “I don't do anything that would jeopardize my playing time because I value that time. It's the only time my head is fully clear and I'm having fun.”

The 5'10” lefty possesses a very timid demeanor, but on the field she has learned to guide people beyond what she leaves unsaid off the field.

“Most people don't know that I have a big heart,” said Villamar. “I am very caring.”

Although softball is her passion she plans on parting with it to pursue a different career. As a Criminal Justice Major, Villamar plans on receiving her bachelor's degree, and pursuing a master's degree. After finishing college she will join the Police Academy, and eventually move on to being a Special Agent for the FBI.

In her time left with the Thorobrettes Villamar hopes to help this team bring home a ring.

“Our team is a strong,” affirmed Villamar. “I believe once we come together as one instead of playing individually, not let other people take us out of our own game, and show leadership and heart every game we will be unstoppable.”

As Villamar remembers the moment where she set out to prove to her travel team coach she could get the job done, she rejoices in her efforts, “I pitched the best game of my life that day, and we lost by one run. I was proud of myself because I proved a point and had faith in myself.”

For Villamar, this was more than just a game; it was a golden nugget for her to cash in as she continues on her journey as a student-athlete. “There are some games I don't believe in myself, and I always look back to this memory and remind myself I can do anything I put my mind to.