7 Innings With Navia Penrod
Who has the most base hits in College Softball since the start of the 2017 season? The answer to the question may surprise some of you, the answer is North Florida’s, Navia Penrod.
Penrod, currently in her junior season, ranks third in NCAA in base hits with 41 at the start of the week of March 12th. This is following her 2017 season where she exploded onto the national scene leading the NCAA in base hits for most of the season before ending up finishing sixth nationally with 87 hits. That total set the UNF school record. Penrod came into the week ranked 26th in the nation in batting average (.477) after finishing 30th in 2017 with .a 422 average. Penrod led the A-SUN in hitting last season and earned A-Sun All-First Team honors as well as third Team All-Region.
“Nav is a kid who doesn’t just love softball, she has a passion for it,” said UNF’s assistant coach Jeff Conrad. “Typically when you look at the National hit leaders, it’s kids from the left side who put it down and run. Nav is a big, powerful kid, who is deceptively fast from the right side. Her ability to utilize her speed from the right side with the short game and the sheer power as the ball jumps off the bat, makes her a rare triple threat and extremely difficult to defend.”
Penrod is approaching 200 career hits, and at the pace, she is going could end up as the greatest hitter in Osprey program history. Recently we spoke with Penrod for our latest edition of “7 Innings.”
Eric Lopez (ELO): How did you Get involved in Softball?
Navia Penrod: “My grandpa is the one who got me involved in softball. My grandparents raised me and always had me involved in sports and athletics. I have been a part of just about everything from soccer to ballet. My grandpa, with a baseball background, bought my first glove and we started playing catch together in the yard every day. My grandfather signed me up for Little League at 9 years old and it was a wrap from there. Softball represents our greatest bond. My grandfather still hits me ground-balls and front tosses to me when I am home from school. He is totally dedicated. The games he cannot come to, he follows online play-by-play. My grandparents are my greatest supporters. I owe it all to them.”
ELO: Did you have a favorite softball player or an athlete that inspired you growing up?
Penrod: “I grew up watching all sports, but mostly got into Football growing up. I grew up watching Football games on TV with my grandfather. I grew up loving athletes like Jason Taylor and Ray Lewis because of the intensity and emotion they brought. Serena Williams is another athlete that truly inspired me growing up. She was, and is, a role model on and off the court. She depicts, in my eyes, what a strong woman looks like, not only physically, but mentally. She is one of the most dominant women in her sport and is a true inspiration.”
ELO: What was it about North Florida that drew you to go there?
Penrod: “I fell in love with the campus as soon as I stepped foot on it. UNF is beautiful, the campus is a perfect size, not too big nor too small, and is full of welcoming faces. I am a Florida girl, so staying in Florida was a priority for me. I am not a fan of the cold. I also wanted to stay close enough to home so that I could visit my grandparents and so that they could see me play frequently. UNF drew me in when I discovered they had an amazing Special Education program. I felt their program would truly prepare me and give me the opportunity to be successful in my future career. The culture of the softball program at UNF, that Coach Marcie created, is also something I could not wait to be a part of.”
ELO: How much of an influence has Assistant Coach Jeff Conrad had on your success at the plate and your approach to hitting?
Penrod: “Coach Jeff has had a tremendous influence on my success. His approach to hitting is something I completely bought into when I first came to UNF and have had great success with. Coach Jeff is always bringing innovative, new drills that help me improve my offensive game. I think one of the greatest assets he brings is his inspiring, high expectations for our offense. He makes it known what we are capable of and takes pride in doing whatever it takes to get us there. Coach Jeff has had a great influence on my hitting, from the physical aspects to the mental.”
ELO: What is it like playing for Head Coach Marcie Higgs?
Penrod: “Playing for Coach Marcie has been a great experience. She always makes sure we are in the best position possible to excel on and off the field. Coach Marcie has done a great job of pushing every player and helping them become the best they can be. She has created a culture at UNF that prepares all of us for success on and off the field. Being a part of her program instills qualities in us such as accountability, integrity, responsibility, and discipline. Coach Marcie’s passion is something that is truly inspiring. She believes in all of us, and she lets us know that every day.”
ELO: How would you describe the type of player that you are to people who may not have seen you play?
Penrod: “For someone that has not seen me play, I would describe myself as a competitor. I would describe myself as powerful and aggressive. Everything I do on the field is at 110%. I am passionate and do whatever it takes for my team to be successful. I am commonly told that I have a fierce demeanor and stoic facial expression, which accompanies my intense personality on the field. My drive and passion is something that cannot be stopped and is what I take pride in.”
ELO: What is your goal for your remaining time at UNF and after UNF?
Penrod: “My goal for the remaining time at UNF is to have a positive impact on my team’s success and the people around me. I would love to leave a legacy at UNF that characterizes hard work and passion. I would love to leave behind inspiration and positive influence. The goal, of course, is to earn my degree in Special Education. I am looking to continue my education after UNF to earn a Master’s Degree, as well as to start my career. ”
UNF Assistant Coach Jeff Conrad gave us a coaching perspective on Navia Penrod and her success.
“She is a sponge when it comes to hitting, always asking questions, wanting to know how she can get better” said Coach Conrad. “She is always in my office asking for drills or ways to work on certain aspects of her swing. It’s pretty rare to see college kids up at 4am in the cages, but Nav is the epitome of physical and mental preparation and knows what it takes to be successful and rewarded.”
Penrod is approaching 200 hits in her career. The record at UNF is 246. If Penrod continues at the pace she is currently on, not only could she shatter the school record, but she will challenge and possibly break the A-SUN record for most hits in a career. Penrod will be chasing UCF’s Stephanie Best (2002-2005) who has 285 career hits. While it remains to be seen if Penrod will break the record, or how her career will play out when it comes to individual and team accomplishments, one thing we know for sure is that nobody will out work or have more passion than Navia Penrod.
