It wasn’t the freshman season that former Newton County standout Cassidy Blount envisioned at Belhaven. But then again, she didn’t have to watch it from the bench either.
Blount recently completed her first year of collegiate softball at Belhaven, helping the Lady Blazers to an 18-20 record as she started 34 games at catcher.
“It wasn’t the season we wanted, but I couldn’t imagine a better freshman year,” Blount said. “We didn’t go out and win every game, but being able to play as a freshman was great. I didn’t know how much I was going to be able to play as a freshman so being able to start was a big deal. I thought having to compete for a starting position made me a better player because I felt like I had a lot to prove and show my team that I was capable of starting.”
Blount finished the season with a .287 batting average, which was third best on the team. She led the team with 16 walks and seven doubles and was second on the team with 16 RBIs.
“It was just a different level,” Blount said “Everybody knows how to play the game and everybody is out to win. It was just such a higher level than what I had been playing.”
Blount said her season was not without its fair share of struggles. But she finished with a bang, going 3-for-4 in her final game of the season, hitting her first collegiate home run and had three RBIs in a 7-5 win over Mary Hardin-Baylor.
“My batting average wasn’t as high as I wanted it to be,” Blount said. “I struggled at times but I thought I finished on a high note. I hit a home run in my final game and that showed me that I could really play at that level. That was a really big deal and a great way to end the season.”
While Blount was struggling at the plate to start the season, she had to swallow her pride a little bit.
“You have to put in the extra work, you have to better yourself to help your team out,” Blount said. “And you have to communicate with the coaches. They aren’t going to make you put in extra work. You have to go to them if you are struggling with something. They aren’t going to baby you. You just have to woman up and do it. You have to put your pride aside and put in the extra work.”
Blount said she could also see how the coaches are helping prepare her for the real world as well.
“At some point in any season, you are going to struggle,” Blount said. “That’s just part of it. And it’s like the coaches pointed out to us, you are going to struggle with something in life. They are trying to teach us those life lessons. Things are going to happen to you in life but you have to push through it and be tough.”
Besides softball, Blount had her plate full in the classroom, majoring in sports medicine. She finished her freshman year with a 3.5 GPA.
“I think the biggest adjustment was learning how to handle the routine of your classes,” Blount said. “I know that first road trip, we played in Tyler, Texas and I had a big test on Monday. You want to sleep on the bus but you know you need to study. You have to take care of your school and make sure you are getting everything done and keeping your priorities straight.”
Blount said she is spending the summer splitting schoolwork and softball.
“I’m taking some online classes and working on that,” Blount said. “And I’m playing some softball with my tournament team and making sure I’m ready for the season next year. So I’m staying pretty busy.” that I could really play at that level. That was a really big deal and a great way to end the season.”
While Blount was struggling at the plate to start the season, she had to swallow her pride a little bit.
“You have to put in the extra work, you have to better yourself to help your team out,” Blount said. “And you have to communicate with the coaches. They aren’t going to make you put in extra work. You have to go to them if you are struggling with something. They aren’t going to baby you. You just have to woman up and do it. You have to put your pride aside and put in the extra work.”
Blount said she could also see how the coaches are helping prepare her for the real world as well.
“At some point in any season, you are going to struggle,” Blount said. “That’s just part of it. And it’s like the coaches pointed out to us, you are going to struggle with something in life. They are trying to teach us those life lessons. Things are going to happen to you in life but you have to push through it and be tough.”
Besides softball, Blount had her plate full in the classroom, majoring in sports medicine. She finished her freshman year with a 3.5 GPA.
“I think the biggest adjustment was learning how to handle the routine of your classes,” Blount said. “I know that first road trip, we played in Tyler, Texas and I had a big test on Monday. You want to sleep on the bus, but you know you need to study. You have to take care of your school and make sure you are getting everything done and keeping your priorities straight.”
Blount said she is spending the summer splitting schoolwork and softball.
“I’m taking some online classes and working on that,” Blount said. “And I’m playing some softball with my tournament team and making sure I’m ready for the season next year. So I’m staying pretty busy.”
