The Red and Black

Issue date: 3/25/09 Section: Sports

AREVALO [Click to enlarge]

There's a first time for everything.

That's a sentiment freshman pitcher Erin Arevalo won't have to worry about anymore.

Arevalo won her first game as a Bulldog this past Saturday against South Carolina, and in doing so, emerged as a viable option as a key player for head coach Lu Harris-Champer.

After winning 85 games in her high school career - which ranks 11th all-time in California softball history - Arevalo had to wait until nearly halfway through her freshman season before obtaining that elusive first career win.

Arevalo sat down with The Red & Black to discuss what winning her first game as a Bulldog meant and what she expects to accomplish during the remainder of the 2009 season.

The Red & Black: Coming from Lathrop, Calif., what made you want to come to the University of Georgia?

Erin Arevalo: I always knew that I wanted to go out-of-state and Georgia was always in the back of my mind. Coach [Harris-Champer] recruited me for awhile and when I finally made my visit, I just loved the atmosphere and knew this was where I wanted to be.

R&B: What's been the biggest difference between high school and college that you've noticed so far?

EA: Everyone hits. The one through nine hitters [in college] can all hit and in high school, usually it was just the one through four hitters.

R&B: Do you have any superstitions that people may not know about?

EA: Yeah. I always knock my cleats three times before I pitch and I give the catcher a high five - right hand only though.

R&B: You rank fifth on the all-time strikeout list in California for high school softball (1,528). What does that mean to you?

EA: It was a great accomplishment, but I worked hard and it wasn't easy.

R&B: Being more than 3,000 miles away, it must be difficult for your parents to make it out to games here in Athens, is that true? And if so, does that make it harder to feel comfortable?

EA: My dad has made it to three games and my mom has come to two, but it's not that different from when I played travel ball growing up. They weren't able to watch me then, so I guess I'm used to it.

R&B: Was getting your first win more of a relief or just more encouragement for the rest of this season?

EA: I'd say it was more encouraging. We've put in a lot of time and effort in practice, [and] I have to keep working hard and prove myself every day.

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