Feb. 14, 2009

Maryland Media Relations is proud to present the first in a series of Q&As throughout the 2009 season highlighting the Terps' senior softball players. The first installment of `Senior Spotlight' delves into the life of infielder Devon Williams. The fourth-year Terrapin from Cleveland, N.C., represents the team's most tenured player, having played in 149 career games following her participation in the season-opening Florida Atlantic Kick-Off Classic last weekend. Williams established career highs last season in virtually every offensive category, including batting average (.260), hits (32), runs (16) and on-base percentage (.372). She recently sat down with Maryland Media Relations to discuss her development as a hitter, her future plans and her desire to backpack across Europe.

Media Relations: What has it been like for you to progress as a hitter throughout your Maryland career?
Devon Williams: "From freshman year to now, you gain a lot of experience. You get more at-bats and you get more confidence as you grow older. You start to think that you've been doing this longer than some of the pitchers you face, and you're able to step in the box without being frightened or nervous. I feel much more relaxed in the box. I don't necessarily press as much. I go in there and try to have fun and stay relaxed and make solid contact with the ball."

MR: Now that you serve as a senior leader, how has your role on the team changed?
DW: "It hasn't really changed how I play or how I go into a game. I've always been someone who speaks up and tries to keep everyone positive and enthusiastic. As far as that goes, that's the type of leader that I am. Being a senior, people look up to you naturally, but it hasn't really changed my outlook because I've always approached the game that way."

MR: What do you consider the most important factor for a team to experience success?
DW: "Team unity. You can have the best players in the nation, but your team won't meet its expectations unless the players work together all going after the same goals. You can have great pitching and you can have great hitting and an awesome shortstop and some home run hitters. But unless everyone works together as a unit, you still won't win as many games. To me, having a really close, tight-knit team is very important."

MR: Which of your teammates has impressed you the most so far this season?
DW: "We have a lot of talented players on our team. If I had to choose one I'd say I've been really impressed by Kerry Hickey. She's an amazing hitter. I'm excited to see some of the balls she's going to hit this season, and we have some other great hitters who can really rip the ball as well."

MR: Last season you played primarily third base but you have started this season out at first base. Do you feel comfortable with either position?
DW: "I do. I've been a corner (infielder) for a while now, and Breanna Shaw is also very good at third, so I think it was easy for us to move another corner over to first. In the fall Nadine Blackie had been practicing there, but she's really great in the outfield, so we've had her out there. I'm not really sure where I'll play, but I'm fine with any position - I just really want to be out on the field and try my best to help the team."

MR: You have been active in the community during your Terrapin career. What has been your most rewarding community service experience?
DW: "It's just a lot of fun to work with kids, whether it's Special Olympics or a softball camp or whatever. I don't understand why we're so big in their eyes, but we are and they just love you to death. It's just a really cool feeling to work with kids who look up to you."

MR: What do you plan to do once your softball career is over?
DW: "I want to go to law school starting in August. My education is really important to me, so I'm hopefully getting a law degree and possibly even an MBA. After softball is over, I'm really going to continue to focus on my academics."

MR: You only have a few months of collegiate softball remaining. Is that a strange feeling for you?
DW: "It's definitely hard to believe my softball career is almost over. I've been playing since I was five so for 17 years this is what I've known. It's been a big part of my life. To know this is my last year and trying to think of life after softball is kind of a weird feeling. It's a bittersweet feeling because I'm excited to say I accomplished something like play collegiate softball, but at the same time I'm not sure I'll be ready to let it go."

MR: You have mentioned before that one of your non-softball goals involves backpacking across Europe? Are you still considering taking that trip?
DW: "I would absolutely love to do that. I actually wanted to go this summer. I was saving up money, but it fell through because it's not really a good time as far as the economy goes. I'm sure I'll go eventually. My dream would be not just to do a three-week trip, but to actually take the time to backpack across Europe. It's one of those things in life that I want to be able to say I did. People climb Mount Everest for the same reason - and I want to climb Mount Everest, too. But I really want to walk across Europe with a backpack. People who know me know I can't pack lightly, so that would be a big accomplishment for me to travel with just a backpack."

MR: Speaking of trips, you have taken quite a few as a collegiate softball player. Which destination have you enjoyed the most?
DW: "We've definitely had the opportunity to experience a lot of places. We've gone to Texas and California and Florida. Last year in Florida we had the opportunity to play the U.S. Olympic team. That was unreal. But I'd say I enjoy most when we go places and my family can come, even if it's not Maryland, but other places where my family lives near. I think having them there is more important than the place itself."