Groton — Aaron Hill isn't feeling the pressure.

At least not anymore.

Hill, a product of Fitch High School and a member of the Mystic Schooners of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, had his fair share of ups and downs during his sophomore season at UConn.

"It was a mental year for me," Hill said. "Physically, I was fine, but mentally I wasn't there all the way 100 percent ... Getting nervous when I normally don't get nervous, getting anxiety — I don't really get that."

Being uptight was new to the normally laid back shortstop. He was tense and struggling to make plays in the field (he made a team-high 11 errors), causing him to also struggle at the plate, where he hit only .229 in 38 games (24-for-125).

But after conquering his nerves late in the season by establishing a pre-game routine to take the pressure off himself, Hill is feeling comfortable again.

"I think it was just a rough start, trying to do too much," Hill said, "... but I've been feeling pretty well the past couple months. Just playing ball again, just doing me."

This summer, that mindset revolves around being loose and having fun. Now in his second summer with the Schooners, Hill has teammates looking to him as the experienced player that has already been through the grind of summer ball.

After taking a step back, Hill is ready.

"I think he was really trying to do too much to the point where he was really maybe rushing," Mystic pitching coach Dennis Long said. "The game was getting a little too quick for him. He was making it quick."

Hill said his fielding was one area he struggled with transitioning into college. This summer, those woes have all but disappeared, thanks in large part to the extra time he puts in before each game.

Unlike before, Hill now has a routine. He gets to practice about 20 minutes early, fields ground balls and squeezes in time for some extra swings. He's on a schedule, and he sticks to it every day — for the most part.

"When I can. When I don't get pulled over," he said smiling.

Hill's easygoing attitude and willingness to poke fun at himself is one of the driving influences for his impressive play with the Schooners, whose hot start included a nine-game winning streak.

"It's hard to play this game when you're tense," Long said. "And I think that when you are loose, it seems like your bat gets quicker ... a lot of that just comes from the routine, knowing that you go back to what you always do in training."

As Hill put it, he's just 'doing him,' whatever that may be.

"I don't know what I am," he said. "I'm just more relaxed I guess ... I see guys a lot of times just always serious and I'm like, 'I don't want to be serious. This is a game, man.'"

After a rough season at UConn, Hill has gone back to the basics. He's hitting the ball more efficiently and seeing it better on defense.

He's also experienced a growth in maturity, becoming more accustomed to the game, getting better at thinking on the fly and making quick adjustments on the field.

Now, Hill said he knows what to expect. He's realized that by slowing the game down and removing the pressure he was placing on himself, he is able to be more effective.

"Sometimes less is more," Long said. "I think he learned that more than anything over the past year."

Through 13 games, Hill is batting .370 with 9 RBI, prompting Long to call him the best shortstop in the league.

But most importantly, Hill is having fun. Regardless of how well he's playing, the shortstop is doing all he can to lighten the mood — except for one thing.

"Pranks? No, not pranks," Hill said thoughtfully before cracking grin. "I should, that's a good idea. I should start doing that."