April 10, 2018
By Grant Keith, Auburn Athletics Media Relations
Freshman Chardonnay Harris has made quite the impact in her first season on the Plains, holding hitters to a .154 batting average over 33.1 innings. The Oak Park, Ill. product is part of an Auburn staff that is allowing just 0.94 runs per game through the first 41 games of the season. Needless to say, Harris has been a quality addition to an already deep Auburn pitching staff.
Prior to Auburn, Harris had tremendous success on the high school diamond, winning back-to-back state championships at Oak Park and River Forest high school. In the latter of the two championship games, Harris broke the state record for strikeouts in a game with 16 in a one-hit performance. She led the Huskies to 64 wins over her final two seasons and was a First Team All-State selection both years. She was also named the 2016 Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Illinois.
Q: Being from Chicago, why Auburn?
A: "When I came to Auburn, I just liked the sense of community and family that they represented here."
Q: What do you miss most about home?
A: "I think being down here, what I miss most is probably the food from back home - the deep-dish pizza."
Q: Why did you choose to major in psychology?
A: "I think it gives me the best platform to help others and that's what I'm really into."
Q: What's going through your mind when you step into the circle?
A: "When I'm pitching, I just focus on each pitch and take it batter by batter."
Q: What's your favorite vacation spot?
A: "I like going to my grandma's house in Fort Myers just because it's relaxing and we just hang out as a family."
Q: What's your favorite memory on the softball field?
A: "Winning state for the first time was really fun because all odds were against us. We ended up winning 4-2, and then in the second game I think I pitched pretty much lights out. I had 16 strikeouts and broke the state record."
Q: Who's the funniest person on the team?
A: "It's a tie between the two funniest people on the team, Makenna Dowell or Brittany Maresette, but honestly the three of us together. We're the Three Stooges."
Q: Who is your biggest role model and why?
A: "I think my biggest role model is probably my uncle. Growing up we would just toss each other stuff, so it made the sport come real easy and he made it fun."
Q: What are some pregame superstitions you have?
A: "As a pitching staff, we play hacky after warm-ups, but before long toss just to get our hips lose."
Q: What's your favorite Auburn tradition?
A: "After someone hits a homerun we run to home plate, and as they step on the plate we yell "War Eagle Hey!"
Q: What do you enjoy doing most when away from the softball field?
A: "Just hang out, listen to music or watch Netflix. I'm currently watching Gossip Girl."