Posted 3/2/06
UW-Platteville's Maggie Digman is a junior softball player from Dickeyville and an ornamental horticulture major. The Pioneers begin their season March 13 in Florida.
You have a new coach this year in Heather Townsend. How different is it from the previous years and what kind of adjustments did you have to make?
"It's a lot different. She makes everything really fun. I enjoy coming to practice every day. It's a good opportunity to come in and have fun with all the girls."
You seem to play a lot of positions in practice after playing outfield this year. Are you moving to the infield?
"I really don't have a position right now because she wants to play everybody at every position. Everybody has to know all the positions. Every time we go on the field, she has us go to a different position. Everybody needs to know where everyone else is going every time a ball is hit...I really liked playing second base in the fall, but there are so many positions open that it is really hard to say where everybody is going to play."
Let's go back to your high school days. You were quite successful at Cuba City. Did you ever advance to state?
"We were pretty good, and I enjoyed playing there. We never got to state. We ended up losing in the regional final to Iowa Grant, and I remember the exact moment it ended. I was the last batter up, there were two outs with the bases loaded, and they were up by one. I hit a fly ball all the way to the left-fielder. She hadn't caught one all day but happened to catch that. I don't forget it. Every time I tell a story from high school, that's the one I tell. It was sad. I wish we could have gone further."
At least you were able to continue your career here. What brought you to UW-Platteville?
"The closeness to home was one reason. I didn't really know what I wanted to do, and I didn't anticipate playing softball. It was just one of those things that I was like, 'I miss it already, and I want to try it and see.' I tried it, and I'm still with it."
Now you're in your junior year. Do you feel different as an upperclassman?
"Yes, because there are not that many upperclassmen, and there are only two juniors. Being an upperclassmen and seeing the freshmen and sophomores, you know they look up to you. I try and be a good role model for them."
Your major is horticulture, and you worked all around campus this summer. What kinds of things did you do, and what would you like to do after graduation?
"I worked for (the UWP) grounds, the last two summers actually. I had a lot of fun doing that. I was in the sun, and I worked with really fun people in a great atmosphere. I enjoy working with landscaping, like at the football field. This summer, I plan on doing internships in landscape designs. I don't know quite where yet. I have interviews set up. I'd really like to do landscape design after I graduate, which will be next May (2007)."
Interview by SID Paul Erickson