Jessica Dobson (DeMotte, Ind.), a junior pitcher on the University of South Alabama softball team, recently sat down with USA Athletic Media Relations to discuss her expectations for the season as well as life off the field.

Dobson transferred to USA in 2011 after lettering two seasons at Indiana University. While at IU, Dobson made 35 appearances in the circle and pitched a total of 75 innings for the Hoosiers. In the 2011 season, Dobson recorded and ERA of 3.00.

When and why did you start playing softball?
“I started when I was about 11 years old. My sister and I both pitched and that was something we started doing together. We had a lot of fun with it because we went to all of our pitching lessons together. I just started playing recreational ball, did that for a couple of years and then I found out about travel ball from some of the older girls that played. I started playing travel ball, fell in love with it and just kept playing.”

Why did you choose to transfer to South Alabama?
“The biggest reason I transferred was for playing time. I wanted to play my last two years here at South Alabama. The girls here accepted me with no problems. The first night I was here they invited me to go out to dinner and a movie. It was really nice that they accepted me and wanted to bring me out with them. I was a little bit nervous at first, but the girls on the team are so great.”

How is your experience here different from Indiana?
“It was a lot bigger school, but I love the change. I don’t regret it at all. The distance is the biggest change for me. I was about two and a half hours away and now I’m 15 hours away. The weather is also a big thing. When we started at home in Indiana it was 65 degrees, and when I got gown here it was 97 degrees. It’s so nice that I don’t have to practice inside anymore. All winter we’re going to be outside so I’m really excited about that.”

How do you deal with being so far away from home?
“I Skype a lot. My family is really supportive so they’re going to come out here to watch my games. I also have grandparents that live in Florida and they’re going to drive up to see my games. It definitely helps having that family support.”

What will you bring to this year’s team?
“I’m hoping for wins and a conference championship. We have a great pitching staff. I’ve had a chance to watch all the girls and I think we all have something different to add to the team. We’re all going to bring something different to the table. I want mine to be my rise ball, but right now it’s probably my curve and drop ball. I want to get that rise ball down though.”  

What are your expectations for yourself this season?
“I’d like to be able to make a difference on the team. I want to be an impact player. I want to have the confidence of the team. When I go in, I want them to feel good about our chance of winning. Other than that, I want to win conference, along with everybody else on the team.”

What are your goals for the team?
“Our number one goal is to work hard, do our best every day and leave it all out on the field. We sat down in the locker room and wrote out all of our goals, and the one that we all had in common was to win conference. When we win conference that leads to bigger and better things.”

What do you do to get pumped for a game?
“The number one thing is that I pray. I say a prayer before every game and it gets me in the right mental state. Also, the whole team does that. We all get in a huddle and pray before the game. Other than that, I have to have my nails painted. I don’t know why. Maybe the sparkles will distract a batter or something. Music is also a big motivator.”

What have you tried to accomplish in the offseason?
“I’ve been working on spins. That’s the biggest thing right now. Instead of just trying to muscle it up there I’m really working on getting the ball to go where I want it to go. I hate it now, but I know I’m going to love it when spring comes and I’m able to place the ball. I want to get that third strike. I can get strike two, but my main goal this year is finishing it and getting that third strike.”

What do you enjoy most about playing softball?
“I enjoy the team and the experiences you have with the team. I like having the opportunity to be a part of something that’s bigger than myself. The team becomes your family. That’s what I’m really excited for. At IU, I had that family and I was sad to leave them, but I know that I’m going to get the same thing here.”

If you weren’t playing softball, what is your next favorite activity?
“I love going to Colorado and the outdoors. I like hiking, white water rafting and rock climbing. I also like doing the girly stuff. I like shopping and hanging out with friends, the typical stuff.”

What career path are you thinking about going into after graduation?
“I want to go into speech and hearing science. I want to work with special needs kids. I started out wanting to be a special education teacher. After high school I volunteered with a special education program working with down syndrome and autistic kids and I fell in love with it. There was a speech pathologist that came in one day and I watched her and thought it was pretty cool. I decided that when I went to college that’s what I wanted to do.”

Who would you say has had the biggest impact on your life, either as a person or as a player and why?
“I would say my parents and, mostly, my sister Ashley. She’s been there with me though every pitching lesson, through every long car ride, through getting yelled at, and through getting told we did a good job. We would always pick each other up. If she had a good lesson and I didn’t she would pick me up. She was my support system, and that’s something that I miss being so far away.”  

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).