When junior Jadyn Spencer is in the lineup, the only question is where she’s playing.
She’s started at right field, first base and designated player. In high school, she pitched.
“I don’t know if I’d really call myself any like a pitcher or an infielder or an outfielder,” Spencer said. “I guess just growing up I played every single position other than catcher, and that continues on into college, and I think it’s awesome. It’s really fun, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Her high school years were spent on the basketball, track and field and softball teams. She set the record for career home runs in Iowa with 54. She was a state champion in the shot put.
Alabama coach Patrick Murphy said the coaching staff thought Spencer would get stronger and improve once she started to only focus on softball.
(See “Crimson Tide softball team wins in less than 5 innings“)
“I think she’s really coming into her own,” Murphy said. “We told her at the beginning of this year we needed that physical presence in the middle of the lineup, kind of like an Amanda Locke, Jackie Traina, where the pitcher has to take a deep breath and say, ‘OK, how am I going to get this kid out?’ And she’s been doing great.”
This season, she’s hitting .305 with 59 at-bats, 18 hits and two home runs. It’s not just on the field that she’s made an impact.
When she came to Alabama as a freshman, she roomed with fellow teammates Chaunsey Bell, Leslie Jury and Danielle Richard. Since then, the four, along with fellow junior Danae Hays, have formed one of the closest classes, Jury said.
“I would describe Jadyn as the most caring, loyal, loving person that anybody could be friends with,” Jury said. “She’s always there for you. She’s the most consistent person on or off the field, and she really is one of the most joyful people to be around. I’m so glad she’s one of my best friends.”
(See also “Alabama softball prepares for away weekend“)
Despite being from Waterloo, Iowa, Spencer said she’s felt at home in Alabama because of the people. It’s still hard work to be on the softball team, but Spencer said it’s the people on the team she’s around every day and the experiences she has that make it worth it.
“Not everyone gets to wear Alabama on their chest, and it truly is something special,” Spencer said. “I know I’m not from here, but I feel like the people that I’m around have truly given me what it means to wear that jersey and represent this school the way that we get to.”
No. 7/9 Alabama hosts Georgia State. The last time the Panthers came to Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide handed them a 9-1 loss in five innings. In 2012, the Panthers were one of eight teams to beat Alabama. In April of 2012, Georgia State beat the eventual national champions 5-1.
“Georgia State’s a good team,” Jury said. “We always take them seriously. They beat us two years ago at home so we’re going to prepare for them just as much as we would anyone else, and we’re just going to take it one game at a time.”
(See also “Softball team sweeps Gamecocks“)
