Q&A with Alison Pittman

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Senior Alison Pittman is one of three fourth year members of the Virginia softball team who will be honored this weekend as the Cavaliers play for the final time at home this season. UVa welcomes No. 22 Georgia Tech for a doubleheader at 5 p.m. Friday and will conclude the series at 12 p.m. Saturday. Pittman, a native of Newburg, Pa., recently caught up with VirginiaSports.com to talk about the season, playing in her final home game, and her future career aspirations.

Question: What is your role on the team this season?
Pittman: My role this year has been a little different. I’ve had to attempt to change my leadership style and be more vocal and really just verbalizing the game to the younger players. I’ve shifted to more time in right field as opposed to last year when I had a lot of control as a catcher in the infield; I just try to encourage the team to keep working hard.

Question: How would you describe this season?
Pittman: It’s been a learning experience for everyone but I think it’s a good experience, especially for the younger players and the future of this program. It’s been a little challenging at times, but I think that starting from the past few games we’ve seen a progress and consistency that hopefully can carry us through the last few weeks.

Question: You play conference-leader Georgia Tech in your last home series.
Pittman: It will be a huge confidence boost for our team going into the end of the season if we can find a way to knock off Georgia Tech. I know we haven’t won a series against Georgia Tech since my first year, the very first ACC series, so they’ve kind of been a road block. It would be awesome to go out with a series win against them.

Question: How do you feel about playing your final home game on Saturday?
Pittman: I don’t like to talk about it. It’s really sad. I think it’s like wrapping up a whole lifetime in one day.

Question: What have the last four years meant to you?
Pittman: It’s been a blast. I don’t want it to end. I’m going to miss everyone and it’s definitely going to be a huge transition. Over the last four years there have been just a whole bunch of ups and downs, our first season we were 15-39, and then last year we made our first NCAA appearance ever. We made history; we’ve been through it all.

Question: What are your plans for next year?
Pittman: I will student teach for half of the fall semester and then I will be doing early intervention through Albemarle County the other half of the semester. I finish my master’s degree spring of next year. I will graduate with my bachelor’s degree in psychology and my master’s degree in early childhood special education.

Question: What are your career aspirations?
Pittman: My future plans are to get an early interventions job where I will be able to travel around and help kids with disabilities who are age 3 and under. Eventually, though, I want to become a college professor and coach at a small school.

Question: What has been your favorite class at UVa?
Pittman: Child Development. I took it my second year. It makes you understand how everyday is a learning experience for kids, which is the best thing. It sort of propelled me into the field.

Question: What do you like to do for fun?
Pittman: We campfire in the back of our house, we play a lot of cards, we play Wii and watch documentaries on Netflix. I also like cooking a lot. My specialty is baked ziti and three cheese lasagna and meatballs.

Question: What advice would you give to future members of the UVa softball team?
Pittman: I would say to make the most of every practice and every game. Even though it feels some days like you might dread going to practice, go in, do your extra work, because it will pay off in the end. You only have four years until you can’t play the sport that you love anymore.

Pittman’s Favorites
Place on Grounds: The Amphitheatre
Food: Spaghetti
Movie: The Green Mile
Book: The Pact by Jodi Picoult
Color: Purple
Subject to Study: Psychology
Place to Travel: Colorado
Music Artists: Jason Aldean and Brad Paisley
Song: “My Best Friend” by Keith Urban
TV Show: ESPN and Pawn Stars
Candy: Snickers and Twix