Nine Questions with Whitney Larsen
3/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 30, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Rolltide.com and the Alabama softball team present its seventh athlete for nine questions. Select players and coaches will check in weekly on Rolltide.com and answer questions pertaining to things on and off the field. The seventh edition features sophomore Whitney Larsen.
Rolltide.com: You are leading the team in home runs … what have you been able to do in your first full year as a regular in the lineup?
Larsen: I have really been able to become more comfortable mentally. The game of softball is 80% mental and 20% physical, and when I truly bought into that my game completely changed. Last year when I struck out I thought about it the whole game and would then take myself out of more at bats, and in reality pouting about my strike out wasn't going to do anything for me. So this year I am really focusing on letting the little things go and staying positive.
Rolltide.com: You are one of the most versatile players on the team being able to play multiple positions … how do you prepare for all the spots you play in?
Larsen: The coaches do a very good job of preparing me. During every practice I am constantly switching positions, because the more repetitions you get in different places the more comfortable you feel.
Rolltide.com: Toward the end of last season you got a lot of playing time and came through in some big situations … what was it like to help your teammates out as a freshman?
Larsen: It was very rewarding, because as a freshman you want your teammates to see what you are capable of accomplishing, especially in pressure situations. But the best part about those types of situations is that they really don't bring that much pressure because you have upperclassmen who set plenty of examples on how to succeed, and the coaches put you in those situations everyday at practice to make it feel normal.
Rolltide.com: The word is that you used to be an avid dancer … if so do you feel this has helped you at all and what did you take?
Larsen: I think that dance has done for me is provided coordination. I'm not sure how being able to point your toe has any correlation with swinging but my mom swears that because she made me take dance is the reason for me being able to play softball.
Rolltide.com: Do you have a favorite professional baseball team and why?
Larsen: For sure the Boston Red Sox! They have the coolest stadium in the entire league, some of the greatest players in baseball have been a part of their program, they are good, and they have Big Papi!
Rolltide.com: If you could play another sport in college what would it be?
Larsen: If I was a boy it would definitely be football, but I'm not so I would choose basketball! I played basketball for about as long as I played softball and loved it just as much.
Rolltide.com: What is your favorite pregame meal?
Larsen: Well since we usually have to be at the field pretty early for our doubleheaders it would have to be a cinnamon crunch bagel from Panera Bread with (and this is the key ingredient for a breakfast of champions) a chocolate chip muffie, and not to be confused with a muffin.
Rolltide.com: When did you start playing softball?
Larsen: When I was five years old for the Vestavia Hills Cubs! I got tired of the leotards and tights, so I traded them in for a glove.
Rolltide.com: Why did you choose to go to the University of Alabama?
Larsen: Since my first Patrick Murphy Softball Camp I've never wanted anything more than to play for this softball team. Growing up, Alabama was such a dominant softball program that every kid wanted to play college ball here. But other than being obsessive as a child, there is just a rich family environment that you feel when you visit, and once it draws you in there is no looking back.
