“Welcome to the Team” is a Q&A series where The Collegian sits down with first-year student-athletes who are entering their first season at Butler University. These articles will address why they chose Butler, what they hope to get out of this season and some personal tidbits that you won’t find anywhere else.
This week, staff reporter Caleb Ball sat down with five first-years on the softball team: Kayla Preiss, Alyx Johnson, Kate Murray, Kendall Graves and Rachel Hunt.
Kayla Preiss is an infielder from Germantown, Wisconsin. Photo by Darcy Leber.
TBC: You batted over .500 in high school, and you have been maintaining over a .300 average so far in your college career. What tools or fundamentals do you use to really maintain that against college pitchers?
KP: Relying on my mechanics and my swing of what I truly know for myself, and then confidence.
TBC: You have a lot of broken records in your high school career. Are you looking to break any records in your time at Butler?
KP: Yes, maybe RBI (Runs Batted In).
TBC: If your style of play were a candy, which candy would it be?
KP: Dum-Dum sucker.
Alyx Johnson is a pitcher/infielder from Watertown, Wisconsin. Photo by Darcy Leber.
TBC: You missed your last year of high school. How did you build that confidence to come back and get back in the circle and really provide to your team in that way?
AJ: I wasn’t cleared to play fall [softball] here, so I just got cleared to start playing after Christmas break. It was a long road back, but I think the encouragement of my teammates and my coaches has let me have the confidence that I do belong here. It was just a setback, but it doesn’t define what the next four years are going to be like.
TBC: You’ve been in the 20 to 50-pitch range in your games. You did have one game where you had 99 pitches. Do you think that is maintainable for you at this moment, coming back from an injury, or do you still think you have work to do?
AJ: I definitely don’t think I’m back at 100%. I think that our coaching staff has done a really good job of letting me slowly ease back into it. I’ve worked so hard to get to where I am now, [so] we don’t want to take big steps back, especially [since] conference [play] just started [March 13].
TBC: If your style of play were a candy, which candy would it be?
AJ: Sour Patch Kids.
Kate Murray is a pitcher from Fishers, Indiana. Photo by Darcy Leber.
TBC: You’re from Fishers. Can you give me a hidden gem that your teammates might not be familiar with?
KM: The Nickel Plate Trail is in Fishers. It’s kind of like the Monon in Carmel, and it’s so fun. It’s a really long trail you could walk, run [or] bike and it’s really pretty, so I’d recommend it.
TBC: If your style of play were a candy, which candy would it be?
KM: I was going to say Sour Patch Kids, but I’ll say Warheads because they’re sour and [make] you smile, and I smile a lot when I play.
Kendall Graves is an infielder from Bedford, Indiana. Photo by Darcy Leber.
TBC: What’s been your college season highlight so far?
KG: Probably my first and second home run[s]. I feel like that gave me confidence, and then I just need to stick with my plan and focus on my swing and my mechanics.
TBC: How has the adjustment from high school to college been academically and athletically?
KG: I would just say things move at a much faster pace. Even in the game, things are [at] a faster pace.
TBC: If your style of play were a candy, which candy would it be?
KG: Skittles. I just like Skittles.
Rachel Hunt is an infielder from South Bend, Indiana. Photo by Darcy Leber.
TBC: You did it all back in the day with 11 varsity letters, and you were also a valedictorian. Have you found it easier, jumping into this atmosphere of balancing less athletics, or is it similar in a way?
RH: It’s kind of similar in a way. I watch other games, and I’ll be like, ‘Man, I remember when I used to do that,’ and I kind of miss it. But it’s been fun getting able to focus on softball and actually getting better here.
TBC: So far, you have been filling in as a utility player. How do you stay ready every game to know that your number may or may not get called? When it does get called, how do you stay ready to fulfill that moment?
RH: I stay ready just knowing that I am on this team for a reason, and I came in knowing I am a freshman, [so] I wasn’t going to be starting all the time. Since I do play so little, whenever I do get the chance, that’s my one chance to give it at all. I have that mindset of whenever I do get to go, I get to give it my all and do my best for the team, because that’s what they need me there for.
TBC: If your style of play were a candy, which candy would it be?
RH: I would say Reese’s cup. I think they’re pretty reliable [and] sturdy. They don’t change very much.