Georgia Gwinnett College junior left fielder Logan Oller keeps the mood on the softball team light with her positive attitude and sense of humor. The Macon native spoke recently about her role on the team and the advantages of playing at home.

(This interview has been edited for clarity.)

Q: What advantages do you feel the team has with postseason games being on your home field?
 
A: I think that it's really nice that we do get to host every year and I think it's partly because our facilities are so amazing here at GGC. We are also really, really blessed to get to play on all of these fields every day and to be a part of these facilities. I think the advantage that we have is the fact that we know our field inside and out and our coaches do a good job of making sure we study our field. I play left field and Coach Kat has told me countless times that I have to count my footsteps from third base out to where I stand. So, when we have our home field advantage, I know exactly where to stand. We know exactly how the wind is moving because we've played in every situation and we know exactly how well the ball is bouncing on the dirt or rolling in the grass.

Q: What do you consider to be your strongest asset on the field?
 
A: I like to think that my attitude is my strongest asset. I wouldn't consider myself a standout player by any means, but I take pride in being a good teammate above anything else. I like to rally behind my team and whenever we can get the innings going because of our energy and our attitude. So I like to say that my attitude is probably my biggest asset.
 
Q: How are you able to maintain mental focus while playing a game, especially under pressure? Are there any specific things you tell yourself? Or things you do?
 
A: This year I have actually started to shift my mindset a little bit. Earlier in the year we had a team bonding activity where we all sat in a circle and we wrote down affirmations for each other. One of the affirmations that I held onto was, one of our pitchers said that they feel most confident when I'm out in the field behind them. I've kind of been holding on to that instead of getting so self-conscious and thinking my teammates don't have confidence in me. I hold on to the fact that they do have confidence in me. I try to embody the confidence that they have in me and use it for myself, because I struggle with my confidence on the field a lot. I also try to remember that there's a reason why I am on the field and that I have teammates and sisters who really do have confidence in me no matter the situation. Their confidence in me makes me even more confident in myself.
 
Q: How would your teammates and coaches describe you?
 
A: They would probably describe me as being pretty goofy and being the team jokester. I think I'm kind of like the class clown on our team. I'm always trying to make people laugh and put a smile on their face. It brings me joy when I've got people laughing at me or with me. I hope they would say that I'm supportive and loving because I try to show that every day. The entire team has really become my family now.
 
Q: How do you, as a student-athlete, strike a balance between your obligations in both areas?
 
A: It is tough to do at times, but I think that from growing up playing sports all my life I don't really know any difference. I think it's all about time management and understanding that you have to allot time for softball, and get everything done school wise before you get on the field. I think that here our coaches do a good job of keeping us accountable and making sure that we do put the student part first. Usually, if we have something for school, our coaches definitely make sure that we get that done before we go out and focus on softball. I think that's always been a big part for me is just learning how to manage time and learning how to be good in the classroom and be good on the softball field as well.
 
Q: Who has been someone that you have looked up to throughout your athletic career?
 
A: I would say that I have really looked up to my mom, believe it or not. A lot of people don't look up to their moms when it comes to sports, but I definitely looked up to my mom because she was a softball stud in high school. She didn't play in college, because she went to college for nursing, but she definitely could have. However, she's been the person that has always pushed me to be the best that I can be and she never let me give up on anything that I ever did. I have also always looked up to her because she's a really hard worker. Eventually, I took all of her hard working traits and tried to apply them to softball.
 
Q: Now that you can look back, what advice would you give to yourself if you just started playing?
 
A: I would tell myself to keep the joy that you have when you start playing. I think it's easy when we get older to remember that it is just a game because it becomes our life. I mean, the sport of softball is no different than when you are out in the yard with your family playing kickball. It should just be fun. It should be carefree and just a game. I think that a lot of times I've let the pressure aspect of softball change my life and let it get in the way of me having fun. However, in the last couple of years I've really honed in on just trying to be present and enjoying the blessing that softball can be. I think I would definitely tell my younger self just to keep the joy and not make it bigger than it is.