With a powerful left-handed swing and deceptive quickness, Natalie DeMatteis is making a name for herself on the softball diamond.

And it seems she is always on the softball diamond.

For three years, the Moniteau High School senior has played in the summer for the Pittsburgh Spirit 18-and-under fast-pitch team.

Recently, she hit .375 in the leadoff spot for the team at a national tournament, where the Spirit placed fifth out of 108 teams.

"It was pretty exciting," DeMatteis said. "Our main goal was to get to the sweet 16, but we got further than that. It was quite an accomplishment."

DeMatteis has been one of the most consistent performers for the Spirit the last three years, as well as for the Warriors in the spring during the high school softball season.

Her strength lies in her quick, left-handed swing that can produce both singles and extra base hits.

It's a talent that hasn't gone unnoticed.

"She been working on her slapping skills," said Pittsburgh Spirit coach Joe Mley. "People think she was converted to a left-handed hitter to slap the ball, but she can rip it. You don't see that very often."

Slap hitting is very popular in softball, as was evident during the Olympic softball tournament in Athens.

What has drawn attention to DeMatteis is her pop from the left side.

"Division I schools are salivating to get that," Mley said.

For now, though, DeMatteis is concentrating on improving her game.

Already a solid fielder as a second baseman, she showed off her glove and range at nationals for the Spirit.

"She has bag-to-bag range at second," Mley said. "There's not many people who can do that. There's not many people who give up their body diving to make plays like she does. She's a softball player."

Every year, she has to adjust to playing for the Spirit after playing in high school.

"There were more balls hit to me than during the high school season," she said. "I have to be quicker with the bat. The pace of the game is quicker. It's an adjustment."

But it's one she is happy to make.

She got involved with the Pittsburgh Spirit after a spot opened up on the team three years ago. Mley heard about DeMatteis through the grapevine and got in contact with her.

"I've improved all around," DeMatteis said. "Playing all the time has helped me a lot, particularly with my hitting. I probably hit with more power now."

She's always had good speed - a quality that put her at the top of the Spirit batting order.

"Every aspect of her game has improved," Mley said. "The biggest thing with her is her speed. To look at Natalie, she's a little deceptive with her build, but we know when she gets on base, she can use her speed."