Haylie McCleney Continues Family Legacy On and Off the Field
3/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Ever since her first Christmas at six months old, Haylie McCleney has always had her eye on the ball.
"I couldn't stand or crawl, but I would sit up and roll the ball back and forth with my dad." McCleney said. "I could track the ball with my eyes."
From an early age, McCleney's parents could tell that she was athletic. As a three time All-American at Alabama and starting center fielder for Team USA, McCleney has certainly proved them right. She says that would not have been possible without her family by her side.
"My dad gets it," McCleney said. "The fact that he played baseball, he understands the similar demands that are placed on us. He's always there to give the best advice. After games if we lose a tough one, he knows the perfect thing to say. He knows how long of a season it is and all about the grind. It's nice to be able to go to him for any advice that we need."
McCleney's father John played collegiate baseball at Samford University in Birmingham, a center fielder just like his daughter. She credits her athletic instincts to her father, but as a two-time Academic All-American, McCleney credits her off-the-field success to her mother, Cindy.
"My mom helps by keeping things in perspective," McCleney said. "She knows a lot about life. She knows that sports aren't the end all be all type of thing.
"My dad is all about 'love what you do and give it all you got.' My mom keeps it all in perspective. When I talk with them after games, it's always great because my dad gets it and my mom reminds me that it's not the end of the world. It's a nice balance. I love them to death."
The center field legacy doesn't end with the eldest of the three McCleney siblings, as her two younger brothers Walker and Garrison also play center field. McCleney could not be any happier that her brother Walker, a senior at Mortimer Jordan High School, is going to be wearing Crimson and White next year as a member of the Alabama baseball team.
"To share that experience with a sibling is incredible," McCleney said. "To have my brother play at the same place, experience the same networking opportunities and resources we have here is amazing. I'm so happy for him."
McCleney has already given Walker advice about being a student-athlete at Alabama, the biggest of which is to create his own path to greatness.
"Being an Alabama commit as a senior in high school is a big label to have on you," McCleney said. "One of the things that I tell him is to be himself. I don't want people to remember our last name just because of me. I want them to remember that because of him. He's embraced that and he's doing great."
For all of the success that McCleney has experienced on the softball field, the biggest lessons have come in the moments of failure.
"I love how it's a game of failure," McCleney said. "I love how you have to be resilient and have grit. It prepares you in ways that I don't think any other sport can because you deal with failure so often in every single game. That will take me farther than anything else in college. I learned how to fail, I learned how to be resilient and how to use my determination to get through anything."
Reflecting back on her time in a Crimson Tide uniform, McCleney cites a genuine family atmosphere as what initially drew her to Alabama and what will ultimately be the lasting impression.
"The girls hug you when you walk into the door," McCleney said. "They don't just shake your hand. They genuinely care about you from the moment you walk into the door and from the moment you step on campus. I wanted to be cared about as a person first and not just as a player. Coach [Patrick] Murphy wants you to be better as an athlete and as a person. I know in the three and a half years that I've been here, I've grown way more as a person than I ever thought I would. I've learned so many life lessons that I'll take with me. I've learned to be selfless, how to be a good teammate, how to carry those things over to the workplace.
"Those are things that a lot of people tend to overlook, but it's the cornerstone and foundation of our program. I experienced that right away and it's been the best experience of my life."
Haylie McCleney will celebrate her senior day on Saturday, March 26 at Rhoads Stadium
