MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama softball freshman infielder Katelyn Gruich recently sat down with USAJaguars.com to discuss why she chose to come to South Alabama, what she likes to do away from the game and who the most influential person in her life is, among other topics.

Gruich comes to South Alabama after lettering five years at St. Martin High School where she was an all-district selection each season and selected as The Sun Herald Player of the Year as a senior.  While with the Yellow Jackets, Gruich also helped the team reach the playoffs five times and win five district championships.  She ended her career as the program's career leader in home runs (21), on-base percentage (.708) and slugging percentage (1.113).

What kind of an impact do you hope to make on the team this season as a freshman?
"I hope I have a big impact on the team.  I want to do something that stands out to Jag Nation and shows them that I'm a great student-athlete and I'm all about the business."

What do you feel is a strength that you bring to the team and why?
"I think I bring a good bat to the team.  I'm pretty solid in the field too.  I think I can help the team in all parts of hitting and fielding."

What is one area of your game that you are looking at improving in this season and why?
"I'm looking to improve my consistency in my hitting.  I want to not only have a great day on the first day of a series, but through the whole series."

Is there a teammate of yours who you look up to?   
"One of my teammates that I look up to is Kaliegh Todd.  She's someone that is really known in our program and I feel like I can go to her with anything that I needed to and she would help me."

Why did you choose to come to South Alabama?
"One reason I chose to come to South Alabama was because of the family atmosphere.  Everyone makes you feel at home; it's a great home away from home.  Coach [Becky] Clark definitely runs a program that is all about the business and that's something I truly value."

What type of player can fans expect to see out on the field when they watch you play?
"Fans will just see an athlete who's going to give 110 percent every pitch, every out and every inning of every game."

What do you feel will be the biggest adjustment for you here at South Alabama as you transition to the new level of competition?
"I think it's going to be more the mental side of the game, rather than the physical.  It's going to be the locking into the small details of fielding, hitting and base running.  It's all broken down into the small details and the mental side of the game."

What are you majoring in at South Alabama and what do you plan to do after graduation?
"I'm majoring in elementary education and I hope to go back home and teach middle school students and coach softball."

Do you have any pregame superstitions?
"I don't really have any pregame superstitions.  I pretty much just have a routine and stick to that routine.  Once I find that routine, I try to stick to it."

What is your favorite type of music to listen to?
"I like to listen to today's hits and today's country."

What is one thing that you will take away from you from your time playing softball?
"I would say that out of all the years of playing softball, it would be meeting all of the great people that I can call friends.  Years from now when we put up our cleats, I'll just value that I'm still able to call all of those people family,"

What's your favorite form of social media?
"I would say Instagram and Twitter."

What do you like to do in your spare time?
"I just really enjoy being outdoors and being around family.  One of my hobbies is that I like to go fishing.  I like to do both saltwater and freshwater fishing."

Who has been the most influential person in your life?
"I would say my mom.   She's really helped me become the person that I am today.  She's also taught me a lot about the game of softball.  If I ever have an issue with my hitting, she's able to talk to me about it in terms that I can understand it.  She's always been there to support me.  If I ever need something, I know I can always rely on her."

What does it mean to you to be able to play close to home?
"I'm probably going to enjoy playing close to home because it's just a hop, skip and a jump from home.  A lot of my hometown friends and family can come see me.  I'm really big on family and they can all come support us."

How do you hope to help build upon the tradition already established with the program?
"I hope that I as a player can help everyone grow and improve in the game of softball, as well as keeping the tradition going.  Our goal every season is to make it to a NCAA Regional, because no one likes watching from home when you can be in it."  

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