Gilbert’s statistics for the Akron Racers so far:
Games: 16
Average: .200
On-base percentage: .304
Slugging percentage: .350
RBIs: 4
Runs: 5
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| Jennifer Gilbert |
In the middle of her transition from college to professional athletics, Jennifer Gilbert has help on her side.
Gilbert was drafted this spring by the Akron Racers of the National Pro Fastpitch softball league, and she said one of the biggest differences is the talent on the field.
“It’s been quite a journey, certainly, first going from college to professional,” Gilbert said. “Now, you’re playing against the best in the game.”
While Ball State in many ways helped prepare Gilbert for professional softball, she said as if it was her opponents who readied her the most.
“My senior year, we played a lot of great competition,” she said. “We played Pac-12 competition, SEC schools. Actually, some of the pitchers we faced are now pitchers in the league.”
Gilbert has played in 16 games for the Racers and is learning to adjust her game to the professional level. She was a consensus All-American at Ball State and set numerous school records.
She said she realizes, however, that the pro game is played at a whole different level.
“As a hitter, I’m facing a lot better pitching,” Gilbert said. “It moves a lot more and they throw a lot harder in the 70s, which is equivalent to 100 mph in baseball.”
One thing that Gilbert said has helped ease the transition for her is familiarity. With Akron being just a short distance away from Muncie, the community isn’t much different.
The Racers’ home field, Firestone Stadium, is where Gilbert played in the Mid-American Conference Tournament for all four of her college seasons.
“I absolutely love it,” Gilbert said. “Just like Muncie, it’s a very family oriented type of city and you see familiar faces all the time.”
Gilbert said her teammates have also helped her transition. Being one of 14 or 15 new faces, she noted the veterans’ welcoming attitude.
It also doesn’t hurt having her best friend by her side, second baseman Ashley Thomas, someone she’s known since she was 13 or 14.
“We played travel ball together, we graduated high school together and played for our high school team together, so I didn’t have to get to know her too much,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert will look to find further success in her career at Akron and make the kind that she had at Ball State.
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