Quick Adjustment: Whiteford's VanBrandt a starter as a freshman
So much for a transition period.
Last year’s Miss Softball for the state of Michigan has found a new home in Bloomington, Ind.
Whiteford graduate Aly VanBrandt is playing every game, leading Indiana University in hitting and making a splash in Big 10 softball.
“I actually felt pretty uncertain and nervous about whether or not I would be successful at the college level at first,” VanBrandt said. “But now that I’ve gotten past that I use a lot of my past experiences to help me play my best.”
VanBrandt came into the weekend leading the Hoosiers in hitting at .363, with 33 hits in 91 at-bats. She had two doubles, two triples and has reached base eight more times on either a walk or by being hit by a pitch. She’s started 33 of the 37 games she’s played in.
Indiana came into this weekend 26-12 overall and 3-6 in the Big Ten.
The season began back on Feb. 8 in Florida. The Hoosiers have played across the country already, making appearances in Alabama, Arizona, Pennsylvania and, of course, back in the Midwest. Indiana beat Michigan State three times last weekend. The Hoosiers remain in Big Ten play this weekend, facing Minnesota.
VanBrandt said there was an adjustment to college softball.
“I would say the pace that we practice and workout at was a big difference,” she said. “Everything is definitely a lot more intense which took some adjusting to, but I love it.”
VanBrandt was a three-year starter at Whiteford, leading the Bobcats to 32, 40 and 37 victories. The only reason she wasn’t a four-year starter was because the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19.
Once she made it onto the field she virtually impossible to keep off the basepaths. As a senior she hit .602 with 65 hits. She broke five school records, including career batting average (.641). She was the Monroe County Region Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023 and Miss Softball for position players last year. The Bobcats fell in the Division 3 state finals.
She made an early commitment to Indiana and stuck with it. She also played for a high-level travel program that took her across the country to play.
All of those experiences helped when she got to Indiana.
“I can think back to our state championship games and clearly remember what thoughts and feelings helped me play my best or what thoughts and feelings made me slip up,” she said. “I’m very grateful for my high school and travel ball experiences because they definitely have helped me be successful at this level.”
VanBrandt is the daughter of Matt and Audra VanBrandt. Matt is the head coach at Whiteford and Audra is one of the assistants.
The Bobcats are at the start of a new season right now, but several of the current players went to East Lansing last weekend to watch Aly play as a Hoosier.
“It felt like the kind of thing I would dream about as a kid, to have lots of people cheering when the announcer says your name,” VanBrandt said. “It was so special to see so many people I knew in the stands.
“It meant a lot to me that so many of them were wearing Indiana gear and to see girls in the stands wearing my number. I have to say that was definitely one of the coolest experiences of my life.”
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Quick Adjustment: Whiteford's VanBrandt a starter as a freshman
