Q&A: Dover's Alyssa Lawton commits to George Mason softball program

Dover softball is starting to turn out Division I college athletes. Months after Natalie Cutright committed to James Madison University, Alyssa Lawton announced this week that she gave a verbal commitment to George Mason University for the 2016 season.

Lawton, who was a GameTimePA.com honorable mention all-star as an outfielder last season, recently spoke about her decision to attend GMU and what it means entering her senior season at Dover.

Q You officially committed the first week of June, so why wait until now to announce it?

A Just because I figured everyone would find out eventually. I didn't want to make a big deal about it, but then I went to the open house and posted a photo, and it went from there. I had told a few people and word got around in June, but I got a lot of people congratulating me now that I posted a photo.

Q Why George Mason?

A I want to major in forensic chemistry through their honors college and it's still close enough to home so I can see my younger siblings grow up. It's absolutely gorgeous there, too. I went there for the first time in the fall and the whole back of the softball field was lit up in orange and yellow from the trees.

Q Did you consider any other schools?

A I had been talking with a few other schools and made some visits, but I just didn't get that same feeling from them. It didn't feel right.

Q When did GMU first start recruiting you?

A Before I committed, it was maybe nine months.

Q How did the big moment happen when you made it official?

A When I called and verballed, I was getting rushed in between coming home from school and going to softball practice. I called the coach and asked a few questions, then talked to him about verballing. It was a rush. My parents and friends and family were all very excited. It was cool also knowing that Natalie Cutright had committed to James Madison, so we'd have two Division I recruits on the team.

Q How much more relaxed will you be on the field this year after committing?

A It's going to be so much nicer knowing that I have a school and not having to worry about going to this camp and that clinic. And I know what I want to do when I get there which helps too.

Q You mentioned forensic chemistry, what made you choose that for a major?

A Growing up I was always interested in how the mind works and interested in mysteries and stuff like that. I took a chemistry class and loved it, and I had hated all science classes before that.

Q OK, time for some quick-fire questions. Favorite softball field in the league to play at other than your own?

A West York's is a lot of fun to play on because there aren't any dugouts, so you have to dodge foul balls.

Q Who is the toughest pitcher in the league to hit against?

A The pitcher from Central (Kayla Resh). She did have a good spin on the ball. It's more about the spin and placement rather than speed.

Q What's your favorite pitch to see when you're standing at the plate?

A As a (slap-hitter), pitchers tend to throw me more changeups to get me out of the box. But that's my favorite pitch. I'm pretty good at timing it up now. Hopefully this doesn't make them stop throwing them to me (laughs).

Q You're known for your hitting, but how do you think it would go if they let you pitch in a game?

A I would get them all out with my nasty changeup and drop ball. It'd be coming in so slow they wouldn't know what to do.