Special Report from App State Sports. BOONE, N.C. – App State pitcher Alannah Hopkins recently completed her first season for the Mountaineers. She loves softball and will play whenever she can.
When an opportunity to play in the Florida Gulf Coast League came around, Hopkins knew that she couldn’t pass up a chance to play more softball.
“My time at the FGCL was an amazing experience,” Hopkins said. “I was able to compete with and against phenomenal athletes who were all there with a purpose.”
The Florida Gulf Coast League, a premier collegiate softball league that is composed of athletes from all divisions and conferences in the United States, gives players a chance to play competitive softball in the summer.
The competitive environment is what drew Hopkins to play in the league. She saw it as a challenge and an opportunity for her to prove her skills against elite competition.
“My favorite part about the league was the opportunity to compete against great teams multiple times,” she said. “It was an exciting challenge each time.”
Hopkins was a member of the Manatee Skeeters. The team played 23 games, and she helped lead them to their best finish in team history.
“I am so proud of our team for finishing in the top six in the regular season and fourth in the postseason tournament,” Hopkins said. “This was the best the team has done since the league started.”
Something More
The Sylva, N.C., native didn’t play in the Florida Gulf Coast League just to play more softball. She used the league as a chance to work on her craft and to come back to App State better prepared for the upcoming season.
“This opportunity will help me come back to school prepared for what the next year will bring,” she said. “Getting better and competing against great players will allow me to bring competitiveness, craft, mentality, and a renewed and amplified love of the game back to App State.”
One thing Hopkins especially relished from her time in the FGCL was a renewed love of softball.
“I realized that I loved the game even more because of the environment I was in,” Hopkins said. “We were all there for a reason, trying to get better, and playing hard. Nobody was afraid of failure; we were having a fun time playing the game.”
Hopkins was very pleased with the way she played and competed over the summer. She knows that her time in the FGCL will be a valuable experience for her as she prepares for the upcoming season. She continuea to work this offseason to grow her skills and prepare for what the next year will bring.
RELATED LINKS
RELATED STORIES
