(TUSCALOOSA, AL)-- The Alabama Softball coaching staff now has two members that are enshrined into the West Alabama Softball Hall of Fame.
Assistant head coach Alyson Habetz was inducted into the Hall Sunday evening during a ceremony at Robertson’s Barn in Ralph. Habetz joins head coach Patrick Murphy in the Hall, who was enshrined two years ago.
The West Alabama Softball Hall of Fame is meant to honor the men and women who have played a major part in the growth of the game in this region. Habetz has helped Alabama claim numerous SEC regular season and tournament titles, including 11 Women’s College World Series appearances and a national championship win in 2012.
“It’s a nice honor and it’s nice to be around people with the passion for softball was evident in all of the inductees and that was just inspiring. It’s a genuine passion too and I love that.”
Habetz is, of course, no stranger to the game. The Crowley, Louisiana native became the first woman baseball player in the state when she was in high school. An alumna of Notre Dame High School, she went on to receive all-district honors for her time as a first baseperson and pitcher. Graduating salutatorian in 1990, Habetz entered school at University of Louisiana at Lafayette (formerly Southwestern Louisiana University) on a basketball scholarship, but her family’s deep roots in baseball were something of a sign for her future.
Through her own persistence and a little help from then-ULF assistant coach Murphy, Habetz grew with the game. She went on to help lead the Ragin’ Cajuns to the Women’s College World Series in 1993, where they made it to the second round before losing 2-1 to the eventual champion, Arizona. She earned third team All-America, All-South Region, All-Louisiana and Academic All-America honors during her collegiate career, and afterward, held a spot on the Colorado Silver Bullets women’s professional baseball team for four years after college.
As far as her basketball skills go, Habetz is the current No. 7 all-time scorer and a member of the 1,000-point club for University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She finished her collegiate career with a bachelor’s degree in communications in 1995.
The word “honor” was a recurring character in Habetz’s words of appreciation. However, once the time to celebrate was over, she was all business.
“I mean, it kind of rejuvenates you in the sense of now we’re on the recruiting trail, so now I get to go watch a lot of softball,” Habetz said. “So we’re just trying to get some more kids in that are going to help Alabama Softball be great.”
Habetz has held a role on Murphy’s staff for over 20 seasons but assumed her role as assistant head coach in 2007.
