This week I sat down with emerging softball star Morgan McCalmon '16 to talk about her season, her career and turning her underwear inside out.
First of all, were you surprised to earn Rookie of the Week?
MM: Actually, I was. Katie McEachern '16 had an incredible series she hit the crap out of the ball and had the game-winning home run. So I was kind of surprised, but ultimately, you have to give it up to the team since they're a huge part of the success. Just how we continued to fight even when we were down just really gave me the momentum to do the same.
What really made the difference for you guys and allowed you to clinch the division title?
MM: It's the second time in Dartmouth softball history that we've won the division. Going up against Harvard, this was the first time we've ever beaten them in three games. I think just going into it with the perspective that we know how to play really made a difference. We know that Harvard is a really good team and they beat us in the first game. Honestly, I think that loss was pretty good for us since it brought us down after an eight-game winning streak. After [the win in] that third game we were able to just relax and have fun in the last game.
Throughout the season, what has really stood out for you guys as a team?
MM: All season we've been really focusing on the little things. That's really been our common focus. Just focus on the little things and the big things will come. A lot of teams will do little things wrong, just routine errors, and our coach has done a really good job of making that a part of every practice.
What's been your favorite moment of the season?
MM: After the last pitch of the third Harvard game, which clinched the North Division. After the strike out, just running to my catcher and jumping up and down, screaming as loud as we could was honestly probably the best moment ever.
Have you always been a pitcher?
MM: I started pitching when I was 6 years old, if you count tee-ball, since you're not actually pitching the ball, but I played the "pitcher position."
When you first started to learn the windup for softball, was that really difficult? MM: Actually, my first pitching coach taught pitching in a really weird way. Once I turned 11 or 12 I got a new pitching coach so I had to completely change my mechanics. I think that was the hardest aspect for me, especially since that's a crucial time. But I changed to the new style of pitching, which is the style I still use.
What would you say your favorite thing about softball is?
MM: That's a tough one. I think just going out on the field and playing with your best friends and competing. I'm a very competitive person especially on the softball field I become very intense. I don't think I could ever play a single-person sport.
Do you have any superstitions you have to do before every game?
MM: I guess I'm not too superstitious. There is a pretty funny one though whenever you're in a hitting slump, turn your underwear inside out. It actually worked this year. I was probably 0-20 then against the University of Pennsylvania, turned my underwear inside out and got a hit. Other than that, I'm not really superstitious, but our coach definitely is.
Are there team rituals you do before each game?
MM:Yeah. We have our warmup and then we all get in a circle and listen to the lineup from our coach. Then she leaves us, and we all say one word, focus, for the game in number order, then we all break out after that.
Are you playing in a summer league?
MM: Growing up there's high school and competitive ball, but once you get to college they don't really have that. I've been playing competitive softball since I was 8 years old and you go all the way up to last year, which was the highest level, or Gold Ball. After college, though, there's really nothing out there, so it's going to be different for me having a summer where I'm not playing softball the whole time.
With softball being a spring sport, what was the most difficult part of having such a long off-season?
MM: In the fall, the most difficult part wasn't so much the practices, runs or the lifts. I think it was more of creating the team unity almost, just really bonding and getting used to each other and our personalities. I think the most difficult part of season would be that you start straight practicing every single day on Feb 1. Just staying focused the whole month of February is really tough since you're just constantly practicing with no games.
