Name: Abey Bass
Hometown: Shelbyville, IN
Sport: Softball
Position: Utility infielder
Major: Cellular and Molecular Biology
Grade: Sophomore
This past weekend, the softball team defeated John Carroll University and Maryville College. Abey Bass had two hits in her four at bats, and also scored two runs and recorded two runs batted in.
The DePauw: What interested you about playing softball?
Abey Bass: I played a lot of sports when I was younger, but softball was the only one I actually was good at and enjoyed, so I stuck with it. Coming to DePauw, I loved the campus and I loved the coach so it made it really easy to stick with softball.
TDP: What is your motivation to keep playing?
AB: When I was in high school, my dad was involved with Make-A-Wish Foundation so we did a fundraiser for a girl that we know. She plays softball, but she has a lot of problems with her medical condition, so I guess playing for the kids that can’t play is what I think about when I play softball.
TDP: How do you prepare for competition?
AB: I normally just listen to music on my own, but it depends on my mood and the day what kind of music it is.
TDP: What is the biggest difference about playing in college as opposed to high school?
AB: Playing in college is much more of a team effort. In high school, you’re really focused on yourself and no one really understands the team aspect of it, especially coming from a small town where there’s not a lot of great talent, but there’s enough talent to where you can be good as a program. Coming to a college where people are recruited to play the sport is really nice because everyone is just as dedicated as you are in wanting to reach the goals we set for ourselves at the beginning of the season.
TDP: What are your goals as a player this season?
AB: I’m recently coming off of surgery, so I guess my goal is being comfortable back on the field. One of our goals as a team is to go to Oklahoma City where our nationals are. It’s been a goal last year and this year, so it’s the same goal that still applies but working towards it everyday, individually and a team as well.
TDP: What do you want to accomplish this season with the team?
AB: We’ve won conference the last five years, so we want to win conference, and getting everyone comfortable in any position because we have a lot of versatility on the team.
TDP: What is your favorite part about playing softball at DePauw?
AB: I love traveling, and I love traveling with my team. We just recently went to Australia which was a lot of fun. The bus rides and the plane rides, running through airports and broken down busses makes it a lot more fun and more lively and humourous rather than just the seriousness of playing and trying to win. It’s really fun and I enjoy it.
Bass and the rest of the softball team will compete next on Mar. 2 in Tuscon, AZ.