Delaware Sports Blitz Interview: Wilmington’s Annie Davila

Delaware Sports Blitz is about to get wild as in Wildcat Wednesdays, as we feature student-athletes from Wilmington University every Wednesday.

The first interview is from Wildcats senior softball catcher Annie Davila.

Davila helped lead Wilmington to their first CACC Championship since 2016, as the team went 39-15 and 22-4 in the conference, this past season.

The Wilmington catcher had 22 runs,47 hits, six doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 39 RBIs, five walks,15 strikeouts, two stolen bases, and had a batting average of .320 in the 2018-2019 season.

Behind the plate, Davila had 173 putouts, six assists and four errors in 49 games in the 2018-2019 season.

Before coming to Wilmington, Davila helped lead Yorba Linda High School to the Crestview League Championship in 2015.

Davila talks about everything from her greatest strength as a catcher to moving from California to the east coast.

Check out it below!

How did you start playing sports?

“I started playing sports at the age of three. My parents were very supportive and always encouraged me to try new things, and gave me multiple opportunities to find what I love.”

 What adjustments did you have to make from the jump of high school to college, regarding the sport you play?

“I played travel ball my entire teenage years, which helped prepare me. However, in college I had to take academics more seriously, as well as putting extra work in individually to better myself outside of practice.”

 How do you keep yourself in game shape in the offseason for your sport?

“To stay in shape, I go to the gym and the field with a couple of teammates, while having a healthy diet.”

  What has a former or current coach taught you, that you still use today on or off the playing field?

“Jen Schroder, who is my old catching coach, taught me to be confident, respectful, and to own the field. Rich Groff has also taught me, “right side”.”

  What is a typical day for you when the season is in full force?

“At 7 a.m. I have weight lifting, then practice at 2:30, before going to night class, while doing a mixture of homework throughout the day.”

  What do you feel is your greatest strength?

“I feel my greatest strength as a catcher is having a relationship with the pitcher and also blocking.”

  What do you feel you are weakest at and how do you work on to improve it?

“My weakness on the field are pop-flys, but with practice from the machine and the help from my coaches and teammates I can improve on it.”

 Describe some of the highlights of your athletic career.

“Some highlights of my career have been hitting three home runs in one game against Nyack, earning First Team All-Conference my sophomore year, earning All-Tournament team in 2019, and winning the CACC Tournament.”

  What is the best part of playing on a team?

“The best part about playing on a team is the friendships you make and winning.”

  How do you stay motivated during the highs and lows of a season?

“My teammates, family, and my dog Coal help me stay motivated during the highs and lows of the season.”

  What has been the biggest challenge you have faced and how did you overcome it?

“My biggest challenge was from being from California and then having to move across the country without any family to an unfamiliar area and having to adjust to the colder weather.”

  Why did you choose to play at Wilmington University?

“I chose Wilmington because it is a winning program, a small school atmosphere, and great coaches, as well as the SID/Compliance staff. It was also a chance for me to experience the East Coast.”