Former Vian Lady Wolverine ready for taste of college softball
After four years of high school softball with the Vian Lady Wolverines, Carl Albert State College freshman Kala Gibbins is ready to see what playing college softball is like with the Lady Vikings.
So far, there have been no surprises for the CASC freshman.
“It has been everything I thought it would be,” Gibbins said. “I’ve enjoyed every moment of it. I enjoy being here (at CASC). It’s a great opportunity for me. I’ve enjoyed it, but it’s definitely been different.”
The biggest thing Gibbins noticed when she played the fall “scrimmage” season with the Lady Vikings was just how high the competitive level was among the players. “The biggest difference has been the competitiveness,” she said. “In the fall, we were playing Division IIs (schools) and other bigger schools. You can definitely see a jump in experience. I was playing girls who were 22 years old. It was just the little bit of difference in experience.”
However, adjusting to the difference between high school and college softball has not been hard for the former Vian Lady Wolverine.
“I played travel ball, so that definitely helped me,” Gibbins said. “It was different in trying to like ‘learn.’ It wasn’t hard, just different.”
CASC Lady Vikings coach Lexi Watson is using Gibbins at two positions, one of which is her favorite.
“I’m being utilized as a shortstop or a pitcher,” she said. “I just switch between those two. I still am doing pitching, and I love it. I love pitching.”
After having the fall semester of being at the CASC-Poteau campus for the complete fall semester, college life has been enjoyable for the Lady Vikings’ freshman.
“It’s been great,” Gibbins said. “It’s been the first time I’ve been away from my parents. I’ve learned that I really love my schedule. My classes here (at CASC) are great. I’ve had some online classes and in-person classes. The biggest thing I’m learning to do is to balance my time, like having a schedule and a planner — just trying to get it all together.”
The Lady Vikings will get a later start to the season than in years past as they won’t begin until their two-day festival Feb. 20-21 with match-ups each day with Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa and Southwest Tennessee Community College. Gibbins can’t wait to officially get her college softball career going.
“I’m very anxious,” she said. “I’m really excited, especially with these group of girls. We have such good chemistry. I’m excited to see how we’ll bring that to the field.”
Gibbins even says she and her teammates have just the connection away from the softball diamond.
“The first week (of school) we were just hanging out,” the former Vian Lady Wolverine said. “We definitely have chemistry outside of softball. I think on the field, it’s going to be an adjustment, trying to learn to play together. I think that’s our biggest competitor right now. Everyone plays so different, so we’re just trying to learn to play as one (team). (The fall scrimmage season) definitely helped with that. We learned personal weaknesses and personal strengths. It definitely did help us to see, but it is different from practice and actual game time. You learn what everyone is like. It is different.”
Gibbins is truly enjoying college softball, and all that comes with it.
“I am really enjoying it,” she said. “I love the coaches and the girls. I just love softball. I just love playing. I am enjoying it.”
