Nov. 9, 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 infielder Rachel Bickert from Mobile, Ala.
Past Stories:
September 21 - Madison Dickey
September 28 - Abby Adams
October 12 - Shelby Scott
October 19 - Caroline Seay
October 26 - Casey Clark
November 2 - Misha Aldridge
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Rachel Bickert, an in-state product out of Mobile, Ala., joins the Samford squad this season looking to earn a spot on the infield rotation. Playing high school tournaments in Birmingham gave her a chance to visit Samford, and she instantly fell in love with the campus.
How did you get your start playing softball?
"I started playing tee ball when I was four-years-old and then I moved on to coach-pitch. I didn't really want to play softball. They had a late tryout and I didn't want to go so I sat on the couch and cried and cried and cried. My dad made me go and I've played summer ball ever since I was eight and I really grew to enjoy it. After a while, I eventually figured out I wanted to play college ball."
Did you play any other sports when you were younger?
"I played volleyball and soccer. My freshman year I tore all the ligaments in my thumb playing volleyball. After that, I said it wasn't worth it. That was about the time I started to focus on softball."
When did you realize playing collegiately was a possibility and why did you choose Samford?
"I noticed how much better I was getting and I knew I had what it took to get into college to play. My freshman year, we always played tournaments in Birmingham in the summer. My dad always told me I needed to look at Samford, that it's a smaller college and it's in Birmingham. I didn't think much about it but we decided to drive through and take a look and I really liked the campus. I still wasn't sure though. When coach Mandy [Burford] was at Birmingham Southern, I really liked her as a coach and what she was doing. I was kind of torn, because I really liked her as a coach and I liked Samford as a school. When I found out she got the job last year I was so excited and that was when I made the decision."
What has the transition to college life been like for you so far?
"It's been interesting. It's fun and it's different. It's a lot of work and time management. You can't slack off, you have to work hard all the time. Everyone is watching you and you're an example for the whole school."
How has this team looked so far this fall?
"We've gotten a lot closer and we're working hard together. I think we have what it takes to win the SoCon Championship. We're just really determined to get after it."
What are your goals for the spring?
"Our main team goal is to win the SoCon Championship. My personal goal is to do the best I can and hit as best as I can and not have a lot of errors. Just staying focused throughout the game."
