Allison Blum (second from left in back row) with her future UK softball teammates. (UK Athletics Photo)
She had been verbally committed to Kentucky for more than a year but Allison Blum of New Palestine, Ind., said it was “still a pretty big deal” when she got to sign her scholarship with UK earlier this month during a signing ceremony with two teammates also headed to play Division I softball.
“It was kind of a surreal feeling and was finally official,” Blum said.
Coach Rachel Lawson describes her as a “versatile” infielder/utility player who hit .447 with nine home runs and 40 RBI as a junior.
That versatility also shows because she plays both soccer and basketball. Her soccer team won its conference championship — she was team captain — and she earned all-conference honors.
She describes herself as “feisty but not good” in basketball but also started the season with two 23-point games while having to play inside against bigger opponents. However, she then tied the school record with 36 points when she hit four 3-pointers and went 10-for-21 from the field. She also had four rebounds, two assists, and three steals in the game.
“I love that coach Lawson and her staff encourage me to play other sports knowing my focus will always be softball. I like to always be doing something,” Blum said. “I had a rough summer. I did not hit as well as I wanted and just was in a bit of a slump.”
She normally spends more time working on her hitting than fielding because fielding comes naturally to her. She hopes to hit “for a good average with a decent amount of home runs” in her senior season.
“Sometimes I go through a slump where I feel like I can’t field anything but it’s always felt natural to me. I am almost always super relaxed and smooth in the field but it’s not always that way when I am at bat,” she said. “But when I am not fielding well, it takes a bigger mental toll on me because I am supposed to be a good fielder and it messes with my head. I did overthink that a lot for a long time but I think I have gotten better the last two years.”
Blum talks with Lawson almost every day either through a phone call or text.
“She is really good at keeping in touch,” the Indiana senior said. “She would congratulate me on what I do in my other sports. She keeps up with that.”
Blum doesn’t have a lot of free time and thinks her busy schedule will help with time management at Kentucky.
“I don’t have any crazy activities like horseback riding or something like that. I spend free time with friends and family,” she said. “I love napping. There’s really nothing else hobby-wise. Sports are my hobby.”
