Allison Sparkman announced her transfer to play softball for the University of Florida, departing from Florida Gulf Coast University. The rising junior retains two years of eligibility upon entrance into the SEC.
“In college softball, the most competitive environment you can play in is the SEC,” Sparkman said about the choice of her new program. “So that’s just what I crave.”
Sparkman, a right-handed pitcher, joins the Gators following two seasons as FGCU’s ERA leader with a career ERA of 2.09 in 274 innings pitched. Prior to her sophomore season, Sparkman secured the No. 91 spot in D1Softball’s preseason top-100 player rankings and was named the No. 26 pitcher in D1Softball’s preseason position rankings
“Allison brings in a lot of experience in the circle,” Florida head coach Tim Walton said when announcing Sparkman’s addition, via the Florida athletics website. “We believe she will be a great complement to our pitching staff."
Prior to Sparkman joining the pitching staff at Florida or Florida Gulf Coast, she was the first female athlete to train at Velocity Athlete Development. Velocity is known for their football training, but branched into the baseball/softball development space through sport-specific strength and conditioning training as well as the availability of batting cages.
Sparkman’s commitment to offseason training with Velocity furthered her progress, allowing her to throw at top speeds in the upper 60s despite a smaller frame.
Sparkman’s on-field numbers speak for themselves, but the other standout figure is her height. At only 5 '4”, Sparkman will be among the shortest of those in the pitching circle for SEC programs. While some may have initially overlooked Sparkman out of high school due to her stature, many began to take notice after her impressive debut season in Fort Myers.
As a freshman, Sparkman was unanimously named to the All-Atlantic Sun Freshman Team in addition to the All-ASUN Third Team and All-ASUN Tournament Team when she led the Eagles to a conference title. The conference championship clinched FGCU’s NCAA tournament berth where they would play in the Gainesville Regional with UF as host.
“Going to the Gainesville Regional my freshman year and going to FSU this past year… I knew I wanted to go big, but once I played them and once I was in their environment, it felt exactly where I needed to be,” Sparkman reflected.
Her sophomore season culminated in an All-ASUN second-team selection and Sparkman’s decision to enter the transfer portal.
“I knew it was the best decision to grow as a softball player and as a woman,” Sparkman said about her decision to enter the portal. “I need to be challenged, especially for my last two years.”
Sparkman is no stranger to challenges and having to prove herself every step of the way.
At only nine years old, Sparkman told her dad (a former college baseball player himself) she wanted to learn to pitch. Sparkman recalled how the pair worked in secret on her pitching motion while she continued to play shortstop for her team.
“After two months, there was a naked hole of grass in my yard from me just going over and over,” Sparkman said.
After two months of working, Sparkman asked her coach to let her pitch. With her in the circle, no one got on base. She never went back to shortstop.
Sparkman recently went to speak to a group of young softball players at a camp led by her former pitching coach from when she lived in Tennessee and one girl stood out to her.
“She was so cute and she looked exactly like me,” Sparkman said. “She has the same number as me and she’s teensy weensy.”
The girl was afraid she wouldn’t be big or strong enough to be a good pitcher but saw Sparkman, now a seasoned pitcher heading to the SEC, who assured her that the strength and speed will come if not the size.
Sparkman appreciated the opportunity to potentially inspire the next generation of players just how Amanda Scarborough – former star pitcher at Texas A&M – inspired her.
Scarborough’s smaller frame yet immense skill, prompted young Sparkman to ask her dad to help her learn to pitch all those years ago.