The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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20 ■ THE WOLFPACKER TRACKING THE PACK NC State junior softball pitcher Harli Hubbard became the first Wolfpack athlete to be picked to have voting power on the ACC Autonomy Committee. Hubbard will be invited to ACC governance meetings and partici- pate as a member of the voting delegation at the 2018 NCAA Convention. She joins Duke dis- tance runner Madison Granger and Miami football player Deme- trius Jackson. The Wolfpack had a 2-7 mark through Feb. 22, with Hubbard suffering one loss but also getting one save in four appearances. She went 5-7 with four saves and a 5.42 earned-run average last year. She started five out of 36 appear- ances and struck out 45 in 90 1 ⁄3 in- nings. The saves set a new single- season school record. The Camas, Wash., product is majoring in sports management at NC State. She recently took time to share her thoughts with The Wolfpacker on the autonomy committee and being a pitcher in softball: What was it like to be picked for the autonomy committee? "I was very surprised in the beginning. I was shocked at first, but very thankful. I have been to many meetings before so I understand the legislation, at least the basics of it. "I kind of fell into it. My sophomore year, I volunteered to be on SAAC, which is the Student Athlete Advisory Commit- tee [at NC State]. I worked my way on to the board and have been going to the ACC meetings, which helped lead me to this position." Do your teammates ever chip in ad- vice or input? "I do a little bit of going up to them and asking them specifics. I let them know if they ever need anything to let me know, es- pecially before I go to the meetings. I make sure to get their point of view. It's not my vote, but it is for everybody else. I'm rep- resenting not just NC State, but the ACC. "We are all athletes, but it's all different [among the college sports]. I think coach- ing is a big one and how things are orga- nized. The discipline side of it is different, which goes back to the coaches. "Football will spend more time with media. We all have the same hours, but their side of it is football all the time. The non-profit sports, we spend our time on the softball field and also academics." Did you know much about NC State when they started recruiting you? "I had no idea. I didn't know about UNC or Duke. It was a foreign concept. My first response was 'Oh, I don't know if I can go that far.' "I looked up the school, came out here and absolutely loved it. I'm so happy I came out here." What was it about pitching that got you hooked? "I don't want to say it is the most im- portant position, but it is. When I was younger, I wanted to do it because I didn't want to stand in the outfield doing nothing. "I had to have the ball every play and loved being involved." Are you always motivated to start a game even though you've been used as a reliever the majority of the time at NC State? "Yes, but it hasn't been weird for my pitching style to come in relief. I throw hard so I generally am called the closer. "It's the role I play on this team, so the saves aren't weird to me. In club [softball], I finished [as a reliever]." Are your friends somewhat surprised that pitchers can pitch both games of a doubleheader? "We get tired and sore, but we don't get hurt, unless we're doing it incorrectly. It blows their minds when they see you throw so much." What is your pitching style? "My best pitch is the curveball. My asset to the team is throwing hard. I have thrown 71-72 [miles per hour] as my hard- est and am consistently around 68-69." What is your favorite game in a Wolf- pack uniform? "It would be after we beat Notre Dame in our last game last year. I know we had a rough season, but to end the season on a win was a cool thing." Who inspires you? "Both my parents. I would not be who I am if both of them weren't there. My dad is a businessman and a lot of my positive attributes I think are from my dad. "My mom was the one who raised me and the reason I strived to be a good per- son. She was there every step of the way [at softball games]." Getting To Know: Softball Junior Pitcher Harli Hubbard Quick Questions What is the go-to place for you to eat in Camas, Wash.? Leonardo's Pizzeria. Who would you like to see in concert? Dierks Bentley, a country singer. What is a stereotype of Washington that isn't true? It rains a lot. It does not, but it does rain in the winter, though it rains everywhere in the winter. If you could play another sport in college, what would it be? Volleyball, I wish I could do it right now. What athlete at NC State do you enjoy watching play? Derya Pekari in rifle. Favorite place to play on the road? At Virginia because the drive is really pretty. What school finished second for you? San Diego. Best recent movie you watched? "Deadpool." Favorite class at NC State? I'm pretty jazzed about this water aerobics class. Anything special about wearing No. 13? Yes, it's a family member. My uncle was No. 13, and then my parents wore it, and now my brother and I. Hubbard set the single-season NC State record for saves with four last year. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP