Today’s player spotlight takes us to the Midwest where we learn more about a middle infield prospect committed to her favorite Big Ten school, although she had an offer from a prominent Pac-12 school as well…

Name: JORDAN LITTLE
Grad Year: 2016
Pos: infielder/pitcher
High School: Hudson (Wisc.)
Club: Lady Lightning Gold Midwest                                      
Stats: hitting .530 her first two years in high school (approx.. 40 games) with 11 home runs and a .864 slugging percentage; defensively has only committed one error in two years
Honors: two-time All-Big Rivers Conference       
College: Wisconsin

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FullCountSoftball.com: Being from Wisconsin, was hockey something you grew up playing?
Jordan Little: Not really, I did everything else though—I started playing softball at age eight and also did basketball—I’ve played varsity basketball—as well as soccer and volleyball. It’s tough here, though, because most do play indoor hockey and softball doesn’t get the respect it should.

FCS.com: What was it about softball that attracted you to it?
JL: I think a main thing was I was good at it, softball seemed to come easy for me. I have an older sister who played and I actually started off being a pitcher at first.

FCS.com: Interesting that you pitch in high school, although it looks like you’ll be an infielder in college… talk about the differences in positions.
JL: I met Michelle Harrison, who pitched at Minnesota and now runs Strike Zone Sports and the team I’m on, Lady Lightning Gold Midwest, several years ago taking pitching lessons with her although now I also work on defense with her. She told me I had a lot of potential and that I could be a great pitcher, but an unbelievable middle infielder in college. Plus, I didn’t want to be a pitcher past high school.

FCS.com: Why is that?
JL: I don’t like the pressure you have as a pitcher, having to hit your spot and everything that adds extra pressure. I don’t know if I’m a good pitcher—even though I do pitch for my high school team and am still taking pitching lessons—but I do know I’m a good infielder!

FCS.com: Any concern that spending time and energy on pitching might detract from your being able to focus and improve as a hitter and infielder?
JL: No, I don’t spend that much time on it, our conference in Wisconsin doesn’t take it too seriously so I do it to help my team. I have a curve and change-up which I don’t work on as much as I do my fielding and hitting at Strike Zone Sports.

FCS.com: Tell us how you were first seen by the Wisconsin coaches, then how long until they offered?
JL: I was going into my freshman year and went to the Wisconsin summer camp. I went up to them after the camp and introduced myself and ended up going to three camps total and they asked for my schedule for my club team, Minnesota Sting. I was with the 14U team then and they watched some games and then offered me about two weeks later.

FCS.com: What was it about you they said they liked enough to offer and at what position?
JL: The Wisconsin coaches had a list of girls that came to their camp and my name kept coming up as one they liked. They said they liked my game—my fielding and hitting—and my personality and also the fact that I’m from Wisconsin. One of the things they said is I’ll be a rock star because I’m from there! They said they see me fitting in as a shortshop in their program.

FCS.com: When did you decide to commit and what led into the decision?
JL: When I went on campus two weekends ago they had me going to a volleyball game, a football game and a softball game on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I just fell in love with the school, it was a blast and I had so much fun. I love the coaches and the campus and everything about the university.

FCS.com: You grew up a Wisconsin fan being from there, right?
JL: My dad and mom both grew up in Wisconsin and we grew up watching Badger football games and all the other sports. I grew up to love Wisconsin.

FCS.com: How did you tell the coaches: in person, on the phone, on an unofficial visit?
JL: It was on the phone a week later. I texted the head coach (Yvette Healy) and asked if I could call her the next day. I got ahold of Coach Healy and told her, “I want to be a Badger and play for you.”

FCS.com: Did you consider other schools besides Wisconsin?
JL: I went to an Elite Camp at Oregon after one of the coaches saw me at a Next Level Fastpitch Camp in Minnesota. They invited me to camp and it was so pretty there. After the camp they offered me. I felt so honored to even be asked to come to camp at the school that was No. 1 much of last year. I also considered Minnesota and Dayton and had preliminary interest from Alabama.

FCS.com: Describe your emotions around telling Wisconsin you were going to commit, were you more nervous or more excited?
JL: I was excited and actually more nervous to tell the other schools no.

FCS.com: Was staying close to home a big factor in your decision at all?
JL: Wisconsin is three and a half hours and the distance is no problem, but it’s also far enough so I feel like I’m too far away from home.

FCS.com: What do you think (or have others said) are your strengths as a softball player?
JL: In the infield I have quick hands and a quick ball transfer as well as a strong arm and good range. At the plate I’ve been told I have quick hands. I can hit line drives and hit for power, which is why they put me in the 3-hole.

FCS.com: What’s been a top memory or two for you in your athletic career?
JL: I think going to PGF Nationals with the Minnesota Sting last summer. We didn’t do that well but it was my first time in California, the fields were amazing and we got to go to the beach on our day off!

 

Quick Hitters

 

What do you want to major in?
I’m thinking veterinary sciences or something math-related like accounting.

Fill in the blank… I’m happiest when:_________________
… I’m playing softball.

Favorite food:
Noodles.

Favorite color:
Red, because that’s the Badgers’ color!

Least favorite school subject:
English.

What’s your dream vacation?
I want to go somewhere outside the United States, somewhere like the Caribbean.

What type of bat do you use ?
I use Xeno and have used it pretty much my whole life. It has a lot of pop and when the ball hits the bat it flies.

How would your family and friends describe you in one word?
Humble.

Do you have any softball superstitions or rituals?
When I get in the box, I do the same thing every time: I look for the signs, then look for the spot on the bat where it says “Louisville.” I then swing in front of myself and then put the bat on my shoulder.

What’s playing in your earphones/buds right now?
If it’s pregame, I’m playing something to pump me up like rap, such as Eminem. Any other time it’s country, like Sam Hunt.

Hot weather or cold weather?
Hot weather… that means you can play outside all year round.

Best thing about being from Wisconsin:
I feel like we’re real and humble where I’m from. I think that California and some other states are showoff states sometimes.

Best advice you’ve ever been given:
“You’re going to go pro in something other than your sport.” It might seem like right now your life revolves around softball, but you’re going to need to develop skills to have a career after softball ends.