Nestled into Huntington, West Virginia, the Marshall softball team has been a team in the “never count ’em out” category for many years. In that same time frame, though, only a handful of Thundering Herd players have boasted the trophy case and made the impact of Aly Harrell.
A two-time All-Conference USA and all-region performer – who likely would have made it 3/3 had the awards been handed out in 2020 – Harrell owns thirty career home runs heading into the 2021 season, but perhaps more impressive are her 114 career walks. One of the most patient power hitters in the nation, Harrell led the nation in walks as a sophomore in 2019, and drew at least one walk in FORTY games that same year.
Following a program pause across their regularly-scheduled season opener, Harrell and her squad will now open their season at home this coming week. She recently sat down with JWOS to talk about some general aspects of her career, as well as her expectations for herself and her team in 2021.
Justin’s World of Softball: Tell me what the last year has looked like for you. How did you spend the “quarantine” time?
Aly Harrell: This past year has been difficult to grasp the uncertainty that it held. I spent the beginning of quarantine in Huntington with my dog and some of my teammates were here too. I went on a lot of walks with my dog and he became my “shagger” for when I got some swings in or got some throws in. The second half of my quarantine was spent at home in Columbus, Ohio with my parents and we played board games some nights and I continued to go on hikes and work on my swing.
JWOS: Coming back in the fall… how different did that feel from when you’ve come back after a summer in years past?
Harrell: The only difference was having to learn and accept the new protocols for the off season. As a team we are excited to get to step back onto the field together and look forward to the few fall games we get to play. Fall games give us a snippet into the spring season and just let us play for the first time as a new team. I look forward to the memories of the fall and learning more about my new teammates on and off the field with our team bonding activities and trips we take with our team counselor, Rob Ely. This year, we didn’t get those things that make the fall memorable. Of course we got creative to keep some of those things the same and be able to make those bonds as a team while still following protocol. Even though this past fall felt different, it still was memorable and as a team we made the most of it with the circumstances we were given.
JWOS: You have such a terrific eye at the plate; is that a quality that you’ve always possessed? How have you embraced and improved that eye through your career?
Harrell: Throughout travel ball I was lucky enough to have my dad as my coach and he has always taught me to make the most of my at bats. We’d work in the backyard hitting front toss and learning the plate and the strike zone by being able to recognize balls and strikes but also trying to put the best swing on the worst balls. Learning from new coaches, they preached making the pitcher work and being able to go deep into counts. The more pitches you can make a pitcher throw, the better pitches my teammates and myself will see throughout the game as the pitcher gets fatigued. Throughout my career, I have embraced my eye and discipline up at the plate because it not only improves my success as a hitter but also my teammates batting success with the pitches they’ll get and the possibility of scoring a run with me on base.
JWOS: Possessing such a powerful bat, does it ever bother you when pitchers don’t give you a chance to actually hit and just put you on base?
Harrell: Surprisingly no, because I’m now on base and with a lethal lineup like ours, more likely than not, they just gave us a run. I’m all about helping my team in any way I can, whether that is by getting a hit or taking a free base! There are many roles in the game of softball and I am more than happy to play whatever role that is needed of me for my team to be successful!
JWOS: Tell me about your game day prep. Any specific routine or superstitions?
Harrell: I only became superstitious when I got to college and our team just had game day traditions that I was more than happy to participate in. For a home game, I like to arrive to the field about an hour to an hour and a half before warm-up begins to relax and enjoy my time getting ready. For away games, I haven’t noticed a certain routine that I have other than I like to go down for breakfast and then go get dressed if I have the time. When getting dressed I always start with my socks, left one first then right, then left stirrup then right! Same goes with my cleats, left cleat goes on first! I like to normally put my armband on before warmups start and I start sweating. When I get ready to bat I always put right batting glove on, then my evo shield, then the left batting glove. Before I put my helmet on, I fasten my right batting glove. I don’t fasten the left batting glove until my helmet is on and I am on deck! I also like to stick to what is working, and I may slightly tweak my routine for that day but I always keep the routine the same at the beginning of each day or game. Mya Stevenson and I have a little thing we do with each other before we go up to bat that we use as a connector between another to know we have each other’s back.
JWOS: What has it been like to be back with your team and preparing for softball season once again?
Harrell: It has been great to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel after a year of uncertainty whether or not we’d get a season and chance to show the softball world that we are a force to be reckoned with. My teammates and I are excited to get this season rolling and just be able to play with each other again, having fun doing what we love. This past year has taught me to live in the moment because we never know when it could end and I am more than blessed for each day I get to continue to play the game I love and play with my best friends.
JWOS: What are your goals for yourself and your team this season?
Harrell: My goal each year is to become a better player than the year before. I want to beat myself and my own accomplishments because that is the only way I can improve as a player. I also want to help my team in any way I can to achieve our team goal of winning both regular season and post-season conference. Not only does our team want to win the conference outright, we also want to achieve our own core values and make our program better.
JWOS: Walk me through how you balance your academics and a tough major – biology – with preparation and practice as a high-level athlete?
Harrell: It hasn’t been easy but I have found that having a support system has been the best and easiest way to succeed in all aspects of my career. I’ve learned asking questions and seeking out help doesn’t show weakness but shows your strength and want to succeed. I have also sought out new ways to learn, and take notes that can help with memory and retaining information. Off days especially are the days I use to focus solely on school and go through notes, read chapters and get ahead on any homework and studying. At Marshall, we have great tutors that have not only helped me with studying but have been through the same major as me and given me tips on time management and note taking.
JWOS: Do your goals or expectations change this year, as crazy as the last year has been on so many levels?
Harrell: For myself and our team, our goals stay the same but this time we are more mission focused on achieving that goal. This year has taught us that you don’t know what the next day will bring and that you have to make the most of each day you are given and that is exactly what we are going to do. This past year has made us hungrier, that’s for sure!
JWOS: When your career at Marshall ultimately ends, how do you hope Aly Harrell will be remembered?
Harrell: I want to be remembered as a hard worker and a role model. I want to leave this program better than when I came in as a freshman. I want to leave a legacy that all things are capable if you set your mind to something, and to find joy and laughter in the things you love. This sport means the world to me because it brought me my closest friends and my best and worst memories. I want it to be known that adversity is a gift not a hardship that has the potential to bring out the best in you. I want to be known as someone that would attack adversity head on rather than run from it.
JWOS: Are you one who pays much attention to awards and recognitions? You’ve been named a Preseason All-American and the Conference USA preseason Player of the Year already; does that feel like added pressure for you this season?
Harrell: I never really paid too much attention to awards and recognitions but I am very grateful for the each one I get and I am grateful for the respect of others for thinking I am capable of those awards. I wouldn’t say these preseason awards are negative pressure but they give me all the more drive and fire to continue to be that player others see me as. These awards make me want to work harder because it is only preseason, and they aren’t handed to me. I come into practice day in and day out to get 1% better and I work to beat my performance of the previous day each day. Bringing my best everyday not only improves my personal performance but it also improves the overall performance of the team, and at the end of the day our goal is a conference championship. This preseason poll might reflect on my personal achievements but these achievements were accomplished with the help of my teammates, three of which were also named to the preseason all-conference team.
