Morgan Bell holds the program record for career grand slams, but her biggest accomplishments have come off the field.
Senior Spotlight: Morgan Bell
March 19, 2018 | Softball
By: Shelbie Runions, MSU Athletic Communications
After four seasons on the Bulldog softball squad, senior Morgan Bell hopes to leave a mark unlike anyone else. This season alone, Bell has hit two grand slams, with a career total of three to tie the program record, but after it is all said and done, Bell's biggest accomplishments are not even tied to softball.
"Confidence growth and the ability to be sure in myself are my biggest accomplishments," Bell said. "Looking back to when it all began as a freshman here at State compared to how it is now, the change in myself is apparent."
Her personal growth would not have come without the support from the softball staff, which Bell credits for everything she has learned and accomplished these last four seasons. She has nothing but love and admiration for her coaches.
"Being able to play for these coaches for all four years has been such a blessing for me," Bell said. "They have taught me so many great things about softball and, of course, about life. All of the life lessons that the coaches have taught me is definitely a takeaway," Bell said.
It is head coach Vann Stuedeman that has helped prepare Bell for the next steps in life by developing a confidence and motivation that the Braselton, Ga., native never expected to have.
"Vann has taught me how to be confident and expect more of myself," Bell said. "She has taught me that you can always push yourself to more than you think. She has taught me how to pay attention to detail," Bell said. "Vann and the other coaches have given me so much confidence and encouragement along the way, and that has definitely helped me feel fully prepared for the next step."
Though softball will be missed, Bell is already prepared for her next steps, securing an internship with Marathon Petroleum's marketing department next fall. Bell credits everything that Stuedeman has taught her through softball because it has helped prepare her for life outside of Starkville.
A big goal that Bell has is for everyone to remember her for who she was as a teammate. She wants her former teammates to think back about how they loved playing ball with her because of the person she was and the energy that she brought.
Part of that energy is tied to her makeup routine, which has become Bell's source of luck this season and one her passions outside of softball, along with her Aussie-doodle, Paisley.
"Makeup is my lucky charm," Bell said. "Until it stops working, there are definitely intentions of me wearing it."
When thinking back on the things she'll miss most, it's one of her gameday traditions that strikes the biggest chord. Bell enjoys nothing more than getting to Nusz Park early and heading straight to batting practice with assistant coach Samantha Ricketts.
"It's fun," Bell said. "We are listening to music, taking some cuts and getting loose. It also helps us start to check in, but also have a little fun before the game."
It's little things like early batting practice that has made Starkville home for the Georgia native, who claims that Starkville has her entire heart.
"Starkville is great," Bell remembers. " The small town with a family atmosphere is something that will always have a hold in my heart."
There isn't anywhere else that Bell would have rather played collegiate softball. At the end of the day, she owes everything to her parents. Her parents gave her every opportunity to be exposed during the recruiting process, making sure she played on the best club teams and through hitting lessons, because they wanted to do what was best for Bell. Her parents have never missed a thing, which Bell has no idea how they've done it all, especially with two younger sisters, Emma and Lauren, who are also athletes in their own right.
"My dad has always pushed me to be the best, and he is my number one fan," Bell said. "He's been hard on me and coached me hard, but definitely couldn't have done any of this without him or my mom."
Moving away from home and joining the automatic support group that has been her senior class, Bell has made so many memories from moving into the dorm as a nervous and scared freshman to becoming a confident and successful woman both on and off the field. Bell credits everyone that has played before her and after her for making an everlasting impact on her life.
"Everyone needs to know just how much this means to me," Bell said. "From what all the coaches have done for me and taught me over the years, it was a blessing for me to have an opportunity to come here and learn from this coaching staff and the older girls that played with me like Caroline (Seitz), Olivia (Golden) and Katie Anne (Bailey). It was a blessing to play with them and all of the girls before."
Morgan Bell and the 2018 senior class will celebrate Senior Day on Sunday, May 6 versus Tennessee at 2 p.m. CT.
After four seasons on the Bulldog softball squad, senior Morgan Bell hopes to leave a mark unlike anyone else. This season alone, Bell has hit two grand slams, with a career total of three to tie the program record, but after it is all said and done, Bell's biggest accomplishments are not even tied to softball.
"Confidence growth and the ability to be sure in myself are my biggest accomplishments," Bell said. "Looking back to when it all began as a freshman here at State compared to how it is now, the change in myself is apparent."
Her personal growth would not have come without the support from the softball staff, which Bell credits for everything she has learned and accomplished these last four seasons. She has nothing but love and admiration for her coaches.
"Being able to play for these coaches for all four years has been such a blessing for me," Bell said. "They have taught me so many great things about softball and, of course, about life. All of the life lessons that the coaches have taught me is definitely a takeaway," Bell said.
It is head coach Vann Stuedeman that has helped prepare Bell for the next steps in life by developing a confidence and motivation that the Braselton, Ga., native never expected to have.
"Vann has taught me how to be confident and expect more of myself," Bell said. "She has taught me that you can always push yourself to more than you think. She has taught me how to pay attention to detail," Bell said. "Vann and the other coaches have given me so much confidence and encouragement along the way, and that has definitely helped me feel fully prepared for the next step."
Though softball will be missed, Bell is already prepared for her next steps, securing an internship with Marathon Petroleum's marketing department next fall. Bell credits everything that Stuedeman has taught her through softball because it has helped prepare her for life outside of Starkville.
A big goal that Bell has is for everyone to remember her for who she was as a teammate. She wants her former teammates to think back about how they loved playing ball with her because of the person she was and the energy that she brought.
Part of that energy is tied to her makeup routine, which has become Bell's source of luck this season and one her passions outside of softball, along with her Aussie-doodle, Paisley.
"Makeup is my lucky charm," Bell said. "Until it stops working, there are definitely intentions of me wearing it."
When thinking back on the things she'll miss most, it's one of her gameday traditions that strikes the biggest chord. Bell enjoys nothing more than getting to Nusz Park early and heading straight to batting practice with assistant coach Samantha Ricketts.
"It's fun," Bell said. "We are listening to music, taking some cuts and getting loose. It also helps us start to check in, but also have a little fun before the game."
It's little things like early batting practice that has made Starkville home for the Georgia native, who claims that Starkville has her entire heart.
"Starkville is great," Bell remembers. " The small town with a family atmosphere is something that will always have a hold in my heart."
There isn't anywhere else that Bell would have rather played collegiate softball. At the end of the day, she owes everything to her parents. Her parents gave her every opportunity to be exposed during the recruiting process, making sure she played on the best club teams and through hitting lessons, because they wanted to do what was best for Bell. Her parents have never missed a thing, which Bell has no idea how they've done it all, especially with two younger sisters, Emma and Lauren, who are also athletes in their own right.
"My dad has always pushed me to be the best, and he is my number one fan," Bell said. "He's been hard on me and coached me hard, but definitely couldn't have done any of this without him or my mom."
Moving away from home and joining the automatic support group that has been her senior class, Bell has made so many memories from moving into the dorm as a nervous and scared freshman to becoming a confident and successful woman both on and off the field. Bell credits everyone that has played before her and after her for making an everlasting impact on her life.
"Everyone needs to know just how much this means to me," Bell said. "From what all the coaches have done for me and taught me over the years, it was a blessing for me to have an opportunity to come here and learn from this coaching staff and the older girls that played with me like Caroline (Seitz), Olivia (Golden) and Katie Anne (Bailey). It was a blessing to play with them and all of the girls before."
Morgan Bell and the 2018 senior class will celebrate Senior Day on Sunday, May 6 versus Tennessee at 2 p.m. CT.
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