For the first time in her life, BYU softball third baseman Caitlyn Alldredge played a role in a significant victory. Her game-winning double in the bottom of the seventh inning brought in two runs as the Cougars upset then-ranked No. 13 Washington, 4-2.
“I never won state, nationals or anything like that,” Alldredge said. “I never had that extreme ‘Yes!’ moment in sports, and it was the first time I’d ever felt that.”
Years of patience paid off, and Alldredge’s breakout junior campaign had begun.
A NFCA All-Pacific Region First Team selection, Alldredge was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year and earned All-WCC First Team honors. She started every game in 2017 and improved her batting average from .250 in 2016 to .344 this past season.
The Bountiful, Utah, native grew up hanging around her older brother, who went on to play baseball at the University of Utah. Alldredge began playing T-ball before switching to softball around age 5. From there, she played in recreational leagues until she was 9 or 10 and then on competitive teams. At 12, Alldredge even played with older girls on a 16-&-under team.
BYU wasn’t on Alldredge’s radar until high school when two of her travel ball teammates and former Cougars — McKenna Bull and Lauren Bell — chose to play in Provo. Impressed with the school’s facilities and program’s postseason tournament tradition, Alldredge came to BYU.
Mental Toughness
You may not have noticed Alldredge at the beginning of last season. She was a self-described average player and brought valuable qualities to the field.
BYU softball head coach Gordon Eakin notes Alldredge’s leadership, athleticism and high-level knowledge of the game. As a third baseman, she is quick and has great hands. She works hard.
“If she doesn’t perform at the level she wants, she is determined to fix any weaknesses because she likes to win,” Eakin said. “She will work and work and work until she’s a winner.”
Teammate and fellow infielder Alexa Strid said the biggest thing Alldredge provides is great defense at third. Strid plays shortstop next to her and said it simply: “She knows her job and does it well.”
“She’s a very passionate person and plays the game with emotion,” Strid said. “You can always tell that she cares a lot about the game.”
During a preseason tournament last year, Alldredge struggled on the road and found herself in a slump. In a moment of frustration and anger, she took off her helmet, threw it in the trashcan and said, “I’m playing like trash!”
Alldredge didn’t play any better that weekend. But the following week, she bounced back to earn four hits and score five runs in the next four games.
“I finally realized the only person who can change it is me and I have to get over it,” Alldredge said.
She is the first to admit patience takes time, especially in such a mentally-taxing sport.
“I have to calm down and tell myself that I’m going to come out of it, I know what kind of player I am and it just takes time. I have to repeat that in my head all the time.”
She compared basketball to softball and pointed out that 10 shots can be taken in one basketball game. However, 10 at-bats take four softball games.
“You have to be patient and capitalize on your chances when they come,” Alldredge said. “You have to realize it can take a while to get a full stat sheet of 10 at-bats. It’s a very mentally tough sport.”
Alldredge believes her drive to succeed comes from moments of failure — the times you fail are the times that make you realize you can’t quit.
“Individually, if a pitcher has gotten me out two or three times, I use that as fire to not let them do it again,” Alldredge said. “Take your failures and use them in a positive way, or else you’ll kill yourself mentally.”
Gradual Development
Alldredge has learned to wait for her moment throughout her life and be patient with her own development.
In 6th grade, she moved from Bountiful, Utah, to the nearby town of Centerville. Alldredge tried hard to make friends, but it was hard to start over and took time.
She began playing third base at a young age but later moved to second base while playing up with the older girls. Alldredge wasn’t strong enough to make the throw from third to first. With time, she became stronger and went back to third base.
Growing up, she observed how her brother, other players and older teammates played ball. Alldredge took bits and pieces of what she saw and put them into her own game the best she could.
“I didn’t get frustrated that I wasn’t the one hitting the home runs and couldn’t play first base yet. I ran with what I had.”
Time passed and as she became more confident in her skills, Alldredge excelled.
“I’m patient and I like to choose my moments wisely, but I’m also not content with a bad week,” Alldredge said. “I’m going to get angry and I’m going to tell myself that I need to be better, but I’m going to be patiently aggressive.”
Looking Forward
Despite her impressive softball accomplishments, Alldredge maintains a humble attitude.
“I’m focusing on doing better and not worrying about winning awards,” Alldredge said.
Eakin described Alldredge as a team player.
“She wants to succeed at a high level herself, but not for her own personal accolades; it’s for the benefit of the team,” Eakin said.
Looking to the 2018 season, Alldredge plans to play with no regrets — this is it.
“As a senior, I want to put my whole heart and soul into it, leave nothing out. I don’t want to take playing softball for granted anymore.”
Eakin noted Alldredge’s consistent improvement the past three years of her college career and expects great things during her final season as a Cougar.
“She is going to have a breakout senior season,” Eakin said. “Even though she was conference player of the year, there’s more there and she is capable of being a game-changer.”
The patiently aggressive third baseman has waited and is ready.