In the Dugout with Kellie Eubanks
2/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 13, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Once a freshman that was introduced to Alabama's winning ways by a solid group of senior leaders, Kellie Eubanks now finds herself as part of a senior class that takes on a similar role and looks to guide the Crimson Tide to another successful season in 2009.
As a starter in 65 of Alabama's 66 games in 2008, Eubanks helped anchor the left side of the infield from her post at shortstop, while hitting her way to career highs in batting average (.269), home runs (8) and RBI (42). This year, she hopes to build on the progress she made in her junior campaign at the plate, and further solidify her stronghold on the left side.
"My height and range help out a lot because I can dive and catch the ball," Eubanks said, who stands six feet tall. "I think the coaches have really prepared me in practice to get the ball and make the routine plays, and have also helped me be a leader and not let any balls through the left side. That's what Kelley Montalvo and I talk about all the time, not letting a ball through the left side. I think having that mentality has helped a lot with my game."
Also helping Eubanks develop her game was the shortstop she would eventually replace, Dominique Accetturo, who was a senior during Eubanks' freshman year. Ever since the days spent playing backup to Accetturo, Eubanks credits her with helping cultivate the desire to never allow a ball to pass through the infield.
"I think I really learned a lot from her by trying to get to every ball," Eubanks said.
Not only did Accetturo help show Eubanks the ropes on the field, but her and the other two seniors of the 2005 class played a large role, as well, in developing Eubanks and her freshmen teammates.
"My freshman year we had three seniors, Stephanie VanBrakle, Staci Ramsey and Accetturo," Eubanks said. "I think when we all came in as freshmen we realized that this was a great program, everybody was on the right track and the coaches knew exactly where they wanted to be in the end, which was in the World Series. We wanted to make sure that when we got to be seniors we kept the legacy going."
Now as a senior leader herself, Eubanks and the other veterans of the squad can set the underclassmen on the same track she was shown four years ago. Having been told of their potential as freshmen by UA's coaches, Eubanks and this group of seniors want to finish out strong, and become a model for future Alabama teams.
"The coaches told us at the beginning of our freshmen year that we had a special group, and if we all stuck together then good things would happen," Eubanks recalls. "We've stuck together all these years, worked hard and put in the time, and that's why we are at where we are today. It's not just the seniors, because everyone has worked hard, coaches included and the whole staff."
With much of the work seemingly coming to fruition, Eubanks and her senior teammates want to go out on top, and play at the highest level that they can, day in and day out. If they do that, Eubanks knows the rest will take care of itself.
"I think if we go out everyday and play like we know how to, then we are going to win," Eubanks said. "I think the seniors have really made an effort to make everyone understand that if we play as a team then good things will happen. As seniors, we want to be able to say that we won the last game we played."
