Oct. 12, 2011
Samfordsports.com will be posting "Getting to Know..." articles about all eight newcomers to the 2011-12 Samford softball squad once a week beginning on Sept. 21.
This week, we're talking to pitcher Shelby Scott from Powder Springs, Ga.
Past Stories:
September 21 - Madison Dickey
September 28 - Abby Adams
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Shelby Scott, a native of Powder Springs, Ga., brings a wealth of pitching talent to this year's freshman class. She is recovering from an ACL injury, but is projected to start pitching again just in time for the start of the 2012 season.
What got you into softball as a kid?
"I started playing sports when I was about four-years-old and then tried softball when I was about seven. I started with slow-pitch and then moved onto fast-pitch and when I became a pitcher, that's when I really fell in love with the game and wanted to keep going to the next level. There was a park really close to my house so I just kind of found softball."
Did you play any other sports?
"I played everything like soccer, gymnastics, swimming, basketball, cheerleading and softball obviously. I was better at softball than all the others. I had to choose in middle school between softball and cheerleading and I was better at softball so I stayed with that. If I wanted to excel at one all the way I had to pick one to focus on."
When did you decide that playing softball in college was a possibility?
"I've wanted to since the sixth grade. I was always a hard worker and I know I wanted to play a sport in college so I just worked really hard."
It was really a chance encounter that led you to choose Samford, right?
"I started the whole process my freshman year emailing schools. Some emailed me back so I kept interest in some of those. I didn't find Samford though, they found me. I was in Colorado the summer before my senior year pitching for my team, the Georgia Fire. I had no idea who Samford was or where they were, but Coach Mandy [Burford] had a day of recruiting there and was tired and about to leave. Her car was parked by where we were playing and she just started watching from behind the fence. I was doing alright, striking people out and she decided to stay and get a closer look. She stayed until the end, saw me hit and we talked after that game. I went on my first unofficial visit the Monday after I got back and thought it was perfect, so then I came for an official visit. I committed soon after she saw me at another game and made an offer. The environment, the coaches the players and everything were perfect"
How has the transition to college life been for you so far?
"I'm very independent naturally so I love it. It's so busy though, I'm doing things nonstop until 7 p.m. it seems like until it all eases out. It's all about time management."
What are your goals for the fall?
"I won't be able to play because of my knee, but I'm looking forward to seeing how the team pulls together and if we play together well. I tore my ACL twice in the past year. The second time it happened was the first game back from the first tear, in the last pitch of the inning. It's my drag leg and both times I tore it on my screwball so I just tore it the wrong way."
Is it hard to not be able to play with the team?
"I get very antsy watching them play because I want to be out there so bad. My time will come I guess. It's usually about six or seven months of recovery before they release me, so hopefully I can start pitching in January or February. I'll be ready for the SoCon Tournament."
What are your goals for the spring?
"I really want to win conference...bad. We have a good chance. My main goal is to just be healthy and go out there and pitch like I used to."
