Athletically Speaking With Alexis Silkwood
June 04, 2014 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – With the summer travel softball season in full swing, Mississippi State's student-athletes spent some time with HailState.com to discuss their starts in softball.
Alexis Silkwood was named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team in 2014 and set the Mississippi State record for the most strikeouts in a year by a freshman with 167. The total is also good for the fifth most in a year by any MSU hurler. She was named the April 21 Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week. It was her third league award of the season as she was selected as the SEC Freshman of the Week on Feb. 17 and March 3.
Q: How did you get started in softball?
A: My mom was able to go to college on a softball scholarship. Since I was in T-ball, I started working hard so one day I could get my own education paid for. My sister and I both have had many great opportunities due to scholarships from softball.
Q: What was your first team's name?
A: My first travel team name was the Sluggers.
Q: What are some of your routines/superstitions on game day or during games?
A: I always have my hair done with some kind of braid and ALWAYS wear a bow. I feel really off without it.
Q: What is your favorite softball memory?
A: My freshman year of high school, we went into extra innings. It was the bottom of the ninth and we were down a run. I came up and hit a walk-off two-run home run to advance to the state tournament final round for the first time in program history.
Q: If you could change one thing about softball, what would it be and why?
A: I wish there was a more popular professional league to play in like baseball has for those who are out of college so they can still play the sport they love.
Q: I wear my uniform number because:
A: Ever since my first uniform back when I was in T-ball (about age 3) I have always been No. 8. I'm pretty sure I picked it because it looked pretty with the circles at that age. It has stuck ever since.
