In her junior year on Marian University’s softball team, Seymour’s Logan Personett dominated on the diamond.

The third baseman helped the Knights make their first-ever NAIA World Series appearance en route to a 48-12 record in 2016.

Marian earned the No. 8 seed in the World Series and defeated Williams Baptist 2-0 before falling to eventual champions Oklahoma City University 3-2 and Saint Gregory 4-0.

Personett picked up a handful of postseason accolades on top of breaking numerous school records.

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Q: What is it like to be on Marian’s first team to compete in the NAIA series?

A: “It was very exciting to be a part of the first team at Marian to be able to compete in the NAIA World Series. It is definitely an experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. It is a very unique opportunity because there are only 10 teams left out of 191 total NAIA teams.

Going into it we knew all the teams that we were going to face were going to give us their best shot. Being in that atmosphere with your teammates make you realize how hard you have worked and how that work has paid off, but yet you have so much left to accomplish.

There are so many other athletes, coaches, umpires and family members there who love and appreciate the game just as much as we do on the field. It was a very fun place to be and an even more fun atmosphere to play in.”

Q: Did you think this team would accomplish so much? What made this season so special?

A: “From the very beginning of the season I knew that this one would be unlike any of the other I had been a part of at Marian. I knew that we could go far and be very successful if we just put our minds to it. There was much more chemistry on this team than on any team I have ever played with. We set specific team goals at the beginning of the season and we would not stop until we achieved them.”

Q: Does Marian face a tough schedule in the Crossroads League? What did the regular season look like?

A: “We are definitely one of the more difficult conferences to come out on top of. Two teams make it to the opening round of nationals; the winner of the regular-season conference and the winner of the conference tournament. If that happens to be the same team then the runner-up of the conference tournament gets the bid to nationals.

We actually had three teams make it to the opening round because they received an at large bid because we were all three ranked in the nation. We were the regular-season champions and conference tournament champions.

Huntington University came in second place and Indiana Wesleyan University was right behind them, and they later received the at-large bid to go on to the first round of nationals.”

Q: How did it feel to be named to the NAIA Second Team All-American as well as First Team At-Large by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and Crossroads League Co-Player of the year?

A: “I was very honored to receive all of these awards. It is extremely rewarding to know that all of my hard work is finally paying off. It is unbelievable to get acknowledged nationally with all of the other outstanding athletes that there are in this division.

It is also an honor being rewarded with Crossroads League Co-Player of the Year because of the challenging conference that we are in. There were multiple players that could have gotten this award and I am very proud that I was one of them.”

Q: Most memorable game this season? Why?

A: “The most memorable game that we played in this season I would say would have to be the second game that we played at the World Series against the No. 1 seed and later the 2016 NAIA National Champions, Oklahoma City University.

This was the best competition that we had faced all year, and although we lost I felt that we learned more that game than we had in any other game. We played along with them the whole game and did not give up. It was the best environment I have ever played in, and it was just fun.

Because it was neck to neck the whole game it made us realize we could compete with anyone.”

Q: You broke a number of records at the plate for Marian. How did you have such a successful season hitting?

A: “It’s all about the mindset you have when you go up to the plate. You have to realize you are not going to get a hit every at-bat and be OK with that. Even when you are in a slump you have to have confidence when you go up to bat and say you are going to get a hit. I just take a deep breath and visualize getting a hit.”

Q: Where do you go from here? What does next season look like? Expectations?

A: “I am very excited for next season because we did not have any seniors this year so we will only gain new players next year. I think we will be even better than we were this year, and I have high expectations for us.”

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Logan Personett had a season to remember for the Marian University softball team.

School records

Hits in a season: 105

Career hits: 262

Season at-bats: 225

Batting average: .467

Accolades

All-Crossroads League (third time)

Crossroads League Gold Glove for third base (third time)

Crossroads League Co-Player of the year

Crossroads League All-Tournament Team

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