Freshman utility Abbi Hatton was born into a family of former Division I athletes. Hatton’s mother Amy Walk Hatton played volleyball at Austin Peay State University from 2002-2003, and her father Vern Hatton played baseball at Southeast Missouri State as an outfielder from 2001-2002.  

Abbi Hatton, a Neoga native, played volleyball, basketball and softball at St. Anthony High School is Effingham. Throughout her time playing for the St. Anthony Bulldogs, Hatton set the school record for home runs in a single season with 10 home runs throughout her senior season. 

Throughout her time at Eastern, Hatton has played and started in all 20 games, recording 15 hits, 11 runs batted in and one home run. 

In this Q&A, Hatton discusses her decision to chose to commit to Eastern, her top five Taylor Swift songs and how it felt to be part of a dominant high school softball team. 

Q: When did you first start playing softball? 

A: “I first started playing the second that I could because both of my parents played Division I sports. I started tee ball at around 4-5 years old.” 

Q: Why did you choose to commit to Eastern? 

A: “Obviously, it’s very close to home. It’s not far at all. Honestly, when I came to campus, it just felt super homey and not too big and overwhelming, and I really liked the atmosphere that it is.” 

Q: Who on the team are you giving the aux to? 

A: “Probably Abbey Crain. She has an interesting style of music, and I think it really pumps up the team.” 

Q: What is your major? 

A: “Kinesiology pre-physical therapy.” 

Q: Why did you choose that major? 

A: “Growing up, I always wanted to help people in some sort of way, whether that was teaching them something, helping them get better at something, and I was thinking the nursing route or something in the healthcare field, but you can’t do nursing and softball at the same time. One time, I got injured and went to the physical therapist and was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this job is so cool.’ I actually really enjoy going to my physical therapist and my athletic trainer, so that’s what I want to be.”  

Q: Who’s the funniest person on the team? 

A: “This is an easy one. Kira Manganello by far. That’s the easiest question.” 

Q: If you had the power to bring any celebrity on campus, who would it be? 

A: “I feel like a lot of people wouldn’t think this about me, but I’m a huge Swiftie. I would bring Taylor Swift onto this campus.” 

Q: Give me your top five Taylor Swift songs. 

A: “’I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,’ ‘New Romantics,’ ‘Style,’ ‘Our Song’ and ‘Invisible String.’” 

Q: Pancakes or waffles? 

A: “I’d have to say waffles. I love Belgian waffles with strawberries and whipped cream, specifically.” 

Q: Did you play any other sports other than softball? 

A: “I played volleyball and basketball in high school. I played basketball for two years of high school and volleyball for all four.”  

Q: Did you like playing volleyball and basketball? 

A: “Yeah. My mom played Division I volleyball, and that’s where I really got the love for it. It was the first sport I played because where I went to junior high, they didn’t have a softball team. I really never played school ball in junior high, so I was only travel ball. My love for sports was really driven through my mom and volleyball, so I really liked it, and it really helped that I was taller too.” 

Q: Do you think the Earth is round or flat? 

A: “This is a tough one, but I think it’s round.” 

Q: How did you feel being part of the St. Anthony’s softball team in high school? 

A: “Being a part of that was genuinely such an amazing part of my life. Every time it rolled around to softball season, everyone worked so hard. That was just the culture we had, and it paid off. We would have little open gyms practices starting in November, and the season didn’t start until mid to late February. It was just the culture that we had to work hard, and it always paid off. We were always the top dawgs, and I loved it.”  

Q: What is your walk out song? 

A: “The intro of ‘‘SOS’ by Rihanna.” 

Q: In a perfect world, what would your postgame meal be? 

A: “I would definitely say Chipotle. I love Chipotle. Or Raising Canes.” 

Q: What do you get from Chipotle? 

A: “I get a bowl with white rice, no beans, chicken, the corn salsa, pico [de gallo], cheese, lettuce and guac[amole].” 

Q: Who would you say are your biggest supporters? 

A: “My biggest supporters are 100% my parents and my family. They always try to make it to every game they can. We’ve been to Alabama and Texas so far, and both my parents have come to them. It’s just really nice seeing how much they care and love and support me.”  

Q: When did COVID-19 hit you? 

A: “I was in eighth grade. I was about to play for the sectional in volleyball my eighth-grade year with my mom as my head coach.” 

Q: How did COVID-19 affect you? 

A: “I did not like the COVID-19 experience for myself. I was really really upset and sad because we had the chance to be the first team from my junior high school to go to state for volleyball, and that ruined our chances. I thought it was the end of the world, but people are getting sick and dying, so it obviously wasn’t the end of the world. It was so sad and boring times. I’m such an extraverted person, and I couldn’t see any of my friends. I was just a sad girl that played Fortnite all day.” 

Q: Knowing everything you know now, what would you tell 10-year-old you? 

A: “I would tell her to never give up on your dreams and just go chase them. Chase them as far as you want and be yourself no matter what.” 

Zaria Flippin can be reached at 581-2812 or at zhflippin@eiu.edu