Softball Newcomer Q&A: Alex Salter
2/9/2021 4:47:00 PM | Softball
Freshman – Pitcher – Fort Myers, Fla. – Estero High School
How did you get your start in softball?
"I got interested in softball when I was around five or six. My older sisters played softball, so I was always at the field with them. One of my sisters pitched, which inspired me to start pitching because I was always at the field watching her. I played other positions, but I really just loved pitching. I fell in love with it. At the time I played soccer. I liked both equally, but around middle school I chose softball over soccer. I was gone every weekend and it became too much at the time. I ended up liking softball more."
Was playing collegiately a goal of yours?
"I started to get a thought about playing in college around seventh grade. It started to become a reality at a tournament in Georgia, the Legacy Showcase, maybe about eighth grade. I saw all these college coaches recruiting and it clicked. When college coaches started to get interested, I was emailing them and my coaches were talking to them at the games."
What schools were you interested in early in the process?
"I was pretty much wide open to anywhere. My goal was to always play in the SEC, but if it didn't work out, I had other schools on my list I was interested in. I wasn't focused on one conference or one school. I was very open. Growing up in Florida I was actually a Florida Gators fan. It was a family thing, more my mom's side. I went to games growing up."
When did Alabama come into the picture?
"Alabama came into the picture the summer going into eighth grade. We were at a showcase, I think Legacy, where they started to come watch my team and they started to show interest. I would email Alabama until I could finally call and text them and get to know them before I was offered. I made the decision to verbally commit to them. I felt so comfortable talking to them. It was a home away from home. I am 10-and-a-half hours away from home, but it feels like family. I have all of my teammates and support systems and coaches here. It's a great system to be a part of."
When did you first visit and what were your first impressions?
"I visited eighth grade summer. I got to meet all of the coaches, but not the players at that time. I got to tour the campus. I remember coming over a hill to see the campus and falling in love. And then talking to the coaches was like family. They were very easy to talk to. I was never afraid to ask questions about campus or the program."
When did you officially commit?
"It clicked a little bit on that visit. I kept my options open because I still had other schools interested in me. I didn't get offered that day. I still took time to think it over. I got offered on Murph's birthday, November 28th, my freshman year in the fall. I didn't take the offer right away. I evaluated the pros and cons between Alabama and all of the other schools, and Alabama had the most pros."
After committing, was it a sense of relief of added pressure?
"It was a relief because now you know you get to play softball after high school. I didn't have to give up the sport that I loved. I didn't feel a lot of pressure. I just did what I always did and played for the love of the game. I didn't have a big picture in my mind. I just did my everyday thing."
How has the transition to college been so far?
"It was a little different. It was a challenge with time management and being on your own away from your parents. Learning how to go to the grocery store and doing little things like that. I always have my teammates and coaches around so I'm never actually alone."
What was it like to put on the uniform for the first time during the fall scrimmages?
"I was starstruck to be honest. It didn't feel real because I had been waiting so long just to put the uniform on. It was a special moment. I teared up a little bit."
What are your team and individual goals for the spring?
"One of our main goals is just being there for each other and holding each other accountable. We don't need to have the coaches keeping us in check because we can do that for each other. We want to give it 110% every day. We only have so many hours in a day to be with each other and practice and get ready for the season."
What advice would you give to young girls who want to play college softball?
"Don't let someone say you're not good enough to do something because you're always good enough to do something if you work hard. I was told I wasn't good enough to play college softball."
