Arkansas’ Hannah Gammill renewed and ready for her senior season
FAYETTEVILLE, Ar. (KNWA/KFTA) – It feels like just yesterday that Arkansas third baseman Hannah Gammill was putting on her Razorback uniform for the first time and this season it will be her last.
“I think freshman Hannah was really scared. I think she was really just, should I be here? Should I be playing at Arkansas?” Gammill said.
The Beebe, Arkansas native has been through highs and some lows over the past three seasons with the Hogs, but she feels renewed heading into her senior season and that’s partially because she had the opportunity to play the game at the highest level with Team USA in Japan this past summer.
“Going to put USA across my chest was like breathtaking just thinking about that experience and also I got to play with some of the best players in the world that are still in college and being able to play against the best people in the world, like Japan’s national team is literally legit, they know how to play some softball,” Gammill said.
Going up against No. 2 ranked Japan definitely challenged Gammill and those challenges helped grow the infielder’s game.
Arkansas senior Gammill looks for return to All-American softball form
“The softball part was it’s a lot quicker over there, you’re in and you’re out, you’re ready to go. One of the pitchers that I faced, her name is Goto I think, and she’s literally the best pitcher in the world like she’s very good. Facing her was really fun, being able to say if I can hit against her I can hit against anyone,” Gammill said.
The biggest thing Gammill took away from playing with Team USA, getting her confidence back.
It was no secret she struggled last season, going from a sophomore year where she batted .374, had 18 home runs and 51 RBI to hitting just .236 with 6 home runs and 26 RBI in her junior season.
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“I think I lost a lot of love for the game last year, I think I had had trouble getting in the box, saying, just don’t strike out, just don’t strike out,” Gammill said while thinking back to her struggles last season.
Last season was tough on the Hog, even off the field, as she was juggling working with a domestic violence shelter called Peace at Home and dealing with those preseason expectations put on her.
However, this season it’s a different story. She’s not named a preseason All-American, but hopes to show the country she is one.
“I have Coach Gasso here, I have Gibby, my swing feels better than it did sophomore year and sophomore year was the best year I had. Feeling like I am gonna be the best player not only for me, but also the people around me, that I can be the best player I can be because I have that confidence,” Gammill said.
She’s heading into her senior season with some big goals, the biggest being making it to the Women’s College World Serie, her dreams in the sport go beyond that as well.
“I have fallen back in love with the game I first started playing but also I do wanna play pro, I wanna play in the Olympics, that’s something I desire to do whatever the year looks like this year,” Gammill said.
Gammill and the rest of the team kick off the season in Boca Raton, Florida, playing in the Paradise Classic. The Hogs first game is against Marshall on Thursday.
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