Softball: Jay infielder Caitlyn Gavin verbally commits to the University of South Alabama
Caitlyn Gavin was a key contributor in Jay's quest to its first-ever softball state title this past spring.
The shortstop will again be in uniform for the Royals in 2023. Following a trip to Mobile, she now knows what uniform she'll be wearing long after that.
Gavin announced her commitment to play softball at the University of South Alabama. The rising senior visited the campus on Monday, and before leaving, she made her commitment to the Jaguars known by announcing it on her personal Twitter account.
"I always wanted to go there," she said. "Obviously, I'm thankful for all the other offers and coaches that gave me interest, but I feel like God has put me where I'm supposed to be."
PNJ Notebook: Heavener, Scapin are softball All-Americans, Hamilton named to 2024 ESPN 300
More Softball: Tate's annual Strike Out Cancer game versus West Florida collected a giant donation
Girls Basketball: Navarre's Rachel Leggett commits to the University of South Alabama
This past season, South Alabama enjoyed its second-straight winning campaign after finishing with a 25-21 record, which includes a 16-6 mark against Sun Belt Conference opponents.
Gavin received offers from Division I Kennesaw State and Division II Montevallo as well as Northwest Florida State and Pensacola State. She also garnered interest from a pair of Division I programs in Troy and Colgate along with West Florida.
Ultimately, the rising senior selected a school she's developed a long relationship with, having attended camps at USA since she was nine years ago. That is coupled with the impression the team itself made on Gavin. She was greatly influenced by the confidence the players exuded when she was in their presence, and most importantly, how fond they are of head coach Becky Clark.
"All the girls I've talked to, they love Coach Clark and how she coaches," Gavin said. "She's not a yeller or a screamer, but she's intense and wants to compete and win. That's what I'm all about, I love to win.
"(Clark) was very excited (about my commitment). They wanted me there as much as I wanted to be there, which is always good. She congratulated me and was excited that I was coming to play for them."
Gavin says her recruitment experienced an uptick thanks to her squad's run to a state championship. Batting in the heart of the Royals order this past season, she hit for a .372 average with two home runs and 17 RBIs in 27 games played. She also scored 23 runs and stole seven bases.
The shortstop's performance earned her a spot on the PNJ All-Area First Team for the second consecutive season. As a sophomore, Gavin set a single-season school record by mashing 12 home runs. That mark was broken by Alayna Lowery, a West Florida commit who clubbed 14 home runs in 2022.
She'll be back in blue and white next year as the Royals aim to go back-to-back. Before now and her time at Jay is over, Gavin says improving her strength is her biggest personal target.
"I feel like I need to get in the weight room. My main thing is to get stronger and get faster and try to become a college-level abefore I get there."
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached at (850) 503-3828, on Twitter @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Jay softball star Caitlyn Gavin commits to South Alabama
