For junior outfielder Kayla Braud, softball isn’t just a sport; it’s a way of life. Growing up in a family filled with softball and baseball players, it didn’t take long for Braud to become involved in the sport. “My mom went to Louisiana-Monroe, pitched there and met my dad who played baseball there,” Braud said. “Growing up, they were really big into softball. My cousin was my biggest role model ever. She’s seven years older than me, and I started being her bat girl for her team when I was four.” Braud grew up in Oregon and said leaving her tight-knit family to play at Alabama wasn’t easy. “The biggest thing about coming to Alabama was the family aspect,” Braud said. “I was used to family being around all the time, and now, I have a whole new family.” Braud impacted the team upon arrival. She became the leadoff hitter, hitting .500 as a freshman. After an entire career in the infield, Braud joined the outfield her sophomore year. “When you go in the outfield, it’s like a little unit,” Braud said. “Our outfield coach [Alyson Habetz] does a really great job of making you feel like you’re part of something really special, and I think that’s really cool. We‘re like a little family out there. A little family that’s part of a bigger family.” As a natural competitor and player, the switch was seamless for Braud. She had only one error the entire season. Assistant coach Alyson Habetz said she was excited to have Braud in the outfield. “I think Braud was born to play in the grass,” Habetz said. “She didn’t need a whole lot of practice to get good at it, but she works real hard though. She’s a competitor. She’s going to go for the ball. She’s not afraid to dive, and she has great game sense.” Habetz wasn’t the only one to rave about Braud’s position switch. Head coach Patrick Murphy also said Braud is a special player. “She’s a great athlete,” Murphy said. “Anywhere you put her she’s probably going to be good, but I think left field fits her very well. She’s got good range. She’s got the arm of a left fielder, but she does great for us out there. She’s just one of those kids that she’s fine wherever you put her.” Braud works hard off the field to better herself. Not only does that motivation come from within, but also from her teammates’ efforts. “I’m really driven by being there and playing my best for my teammates,” Braud said. “I’m motivated every day. I see people on my team every single day pushing themselves and getting better, and I’m inspired to do better. People say all the time ‘I want to win for my team,’ but with this team, there’s nobody else I’d rather play for and work my butt off for and push myself for because when we collectively win and do things together, it’s the greatest feeling in the world.”