Dec. 7, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Each week heading into the 2007 Samford softball season, a different player will be highlighted in an edition of "Bulldog Talk", a question-and-answer session with one of this year's players. This week's featured player is junior outfielder Jeslyn Metcalf.

The Samford softball team will begin play in its 2007 season Feb. 9-11 at the prestigious Florida State Tournament. The opening date is roughly 10 weeks away and each of Samford's 15 softball players will have their turn to be featured in the inaugural edition of "Bulldog Talk".

Metcalf, a native of Dothan, Ala., is the sixth Samford softball player to be featured this season. She heads into the 2007 campaign as one of the fastest players on the team and finished the year with the Bulldogs' third-highest batting average. Metcalf also ended the season with 10 stolen bases and 17 hits.

The following is a transcript from Metcalf's edition of "Bulldog Talk".

How did the fall season go in your eyes?
"With the exception of a few losses, I saw great potential in our team this fall. From a slapper's point of view, I felt that the three of us (Rachael, Jessica and I) were able to prove on numerous occasions the reason for the short game. If one of us was able to reach first base, I knew without a doubt that the next few people up to bat would get us in to score, which usually happened. I felt overall that we played as a huge, indestructible unit in which every person on the team contributed at one point or another."

Describe your excitement about this year's team.
"I am so excited about this year's team. This is probably my favorite group of girls that I have played with since my freshman year. As a whole, the team has meshed so well together. I feel that everyone has learned to take corrective criticism and advice from each other better than I have seen in the past. I am also very excited to see how our hard work is going to pay off. Throughout the fall, we have been practicing, working out and conditioning non-stop, being behind each other the entire way, so I am extremely curious to see our team in full force this spring."

Describe the adjustment mentally/physically from being an underclassman to an upperclassman?
"Being a junior, this is my first year as a true upperclassman. I have two years of hard work, fighting for a position (literally and figuratively) with blood, sweat and tears under my belt. So, mentally I knew that I had to step it up a huge notch if I wanted to be a good example for the incoming freshmen . . . and if I wanted to be in the running for the position that I had at the end of last year. In order to step it up a notch, I told myself that I had to be the best and when I wasn't, I would take advice from my coaches and my fellow teammates."

"Of course, there are many times that I am not the best, so I have to stay mentally on top of my game, shaking off my errors and strikeouts, etc., as I go. I can't let things like that get to me anymore, which is the main difference in my mindset from the past couple of years. Physically, I have to push myself as far as I can go in order to get better. I now know from my past experiences that if you want to improve you have to give it all you have . . . literally. I would wrestle Crystl Bustos for a ball to determine my starting position and she may be bigger and stonger than I am, but I would not give up without a fight"

What does it mean for you to wear a Samford softball jersey?
"Ever since I picked up a glove when I was five or six, I have wanted to play college ball. I didn't start fastpitch until I was in the seventh grade and I didn't come from an area that really promoted fastpitch softball. I didn't even play in high school until my junior year, so I had to go to numerous camps and get on good travel teams if I wanted to improve and get seen. I finally met (head coach) Beanie (Ketcham) at a Samford softball camp and that obviously turned into a pretty good thing for me!"

"It actually turned out to be a dream come true because everything worked out perfectly. I was able to come to a great school and play softball on top of that, so when I put that jersey on for the first time I couldn't describe to anyone what I felt . . . but it was really good, I promise. I was so nervous but so excited and thrilled to be able to call myself a Division I college athlete. In a nutshell, being able to wear a Samford softball jersey is probably one of the greatest privileges ever bestowed upon me and I'm so proud every time I wear it."

What would you rather do and why: steal a base or make a diving catch?
"That is a tough question. I love to steal bases, but it does feel good to make a diving catch. I am going to go with stealing a base because it is a really hard thing to do. When I steal a base, I feel like I was in a duel with the catcher and I was just way too fast for her. My favorite is doing a hook slide around the second baseman and being safe by a mile. It truly is invigorating and can seriously make my day especially because it is the only way that I can get dirty since I play in the outfield."

Why should people come out and watch Samford softball?
"I think people should come watch our team because they will definitely get their money's worth. It is always a good feeling when your friends and family are there to cheer you on. Experiencing the game firsthand is much better than someone telling you about how we won. Seriously, when coming to a Samford softball game one would see a very hardworking team fighting for a win . . . every time! We take pride in our hard work and dedication to our sport that we love and we would love for our fans to notice it as well."

Check out next week's edition of "Bulldog Talk", as Samford softball's featured player will be senior first baseman Jenna Dempski.

Dempski is one of the Bulldogs' four seniors this season and will enter the 2007 campaign as one of the team's top power hitters. Last year, she scored nine runs, tallied seven RBI and finished with a perfect 6-of-6 performance in stolen bases.