TUSCALOOSA, Ala., - While Alabama softball senior pitcher Courtney Gettins, a New Zealand native, has lived in Tuscaloosa for just over a year she did not know quite what to expect when senior catcher Reagan Dykes invited her to her home in Collins, Mississippi, for Thanksgiving.
Gettins went in to the situation with an open mind.
“One thing you have to do is go hunting,” Dykes said.
“Look Reagan, I am not an outdoors person,” Gettins said. “I am the least outdoorsy person you could ever meet.”
Still, Gettins stepped up to the situation and handled it. Having taken the mound at the national level, not much can rattle her.
Dykes’ father set up the unloaded scoped rifle in the house and showed Gettins how to view through the scope, focus and to take aim at the deer’s shoulder. As crucial as those components are to hunting,
Gettins never practiced pulling the trigger.
As the sun began to fall just above the trees at the Dykes’ property, Courtney and Reagan parked the truck by the road near a pipeline clearing. They’d have to stealthy make their way to the hunting stand that overlooked the clearing.
“Courtney, follow every move I make,” Dykes instructed.
“Okay.”
As Dykes crouched and moved with careful dexterity, she turned back to check on Gettins, who was
happily Snapchatting her experience.
“What are you doing!?”
“What?”
“Get low, we’re in camouflage!”
“Oh…”
“Shut up!”
When they finally reached the stand, they set the plan to tackle their next obstacle. Easy enough for a pitcher-catcher combination with the camaraderie and trust needed to be successful on the diamond in the spring. Gettins would hold the gun while Dykes climbed first. Gettins would then pass the gun to Dykes and climb up herself.
Dykes, having made the trip countless times, climbed her father’s structure with ease.
Gettins took three steps up the rickety construction’s stairs and began to feel it shake.
“What have I gotten myself into,” Gettins thought to herself.
“Oh no, this is going to be a disaster,” Dykes replied in thought.
As the minutes passed, they felt like hours to Gettins. Though Dykes kept a keen eye for the slightest hint of beige against the greenery, Gettins focused on her social media followers. As the 45-minute mark hit, Dykes knew her friend was beginning to get restless.
“It’s getting dark, I’m ready to go,” Gettins confessed.
“Okay, like five more minutes and we’ll leave,” Dykes said.
Naturally just a short time later, a doe krept into view, just 30 yards away.
Dykes excitedly looked over and said “Courtney, do you want to shoot it? You have to shoot it.”
Gettins, with a hesitant sigh, said “Yeah, I’ll shoot it.”
“Okay Courtney, look through the scope and get on the deer, once you do let me know and I’ll cock the gun for you and you can shoot it,” Dykes said.
Dykes plugged her ears to avoid the powerful bang of the rifle and turned her attention to the deer.
Meanwhile, Gettins rattled off a quick series of questions that fell on deaf ears. After the deer kept her position for a few seconds, Dykes turned to see what the hold up was.
Gettins had been repeatedly urging quietly to her friend, “Is it going to kick back? Is it going to hurt me?”
Dykes quickly assured her, “No Courtney, just shoot it. Just shoot it.”
Gettins pulled the trigger for the first time in her life. The deer dropped.
The two cheered aloud, carefully though as to not disturb the rigged hunting stand they shared. Gettins paused and reached for her forehead and let out a long “Ow!”
“Rookie mistake,” Dykes chuckled, noticing the scope recoiled into Gettins face.
They climbed down to go check on the deer and make sure it was in fact dead. Gettins kept her distance though, noticing the deer was still moving from nerve twitches, weary it may get up and charge them in a final act of revenge. She kept her distance for the duration of the process, refusing to touch the deer for pictures.
When asked if she would partake in the ritual of smearing the blood of her first deer on her face, Gettins quickly declined, “I’m not touching the deer, let alone putting it’s blood on my face. No way!”
The duo had added to their victory total, which is nothing new. The two became a formidable pairing after coming together for 14 of the Crimson Tide’s victories a year ago. Those victories coupled with endless hours in the bullpen together quickly blossomed into a longstanding friendship.
Their success on the field and attitude off lead to them being named captains for the 2019 season, a title head coach Patrick Murphy had not given before in his 20 years at Alabama.
“They’re an unlikely pair of really good friends that make a great pair of leaders,” Murphy said.
Both Gettins and Dykes said it is a great honor to be named captains and are proud to share the accolade together.
“It’s special because I’ve only been here one year and the girls and the coaches saw the qualities in me and Reagan and how we work together,” Gettins said.
Their friendship and leadership is greatly appreciated by the entire team.
Sophomore outfielder Kaylee Tow said, “They’re really positive leaders and role models for everybody on the team.” She said their relationship is crucial as the pitcher and catcher duo. “It’s really nice for us, you know, the captains are our battery.”
Gettins and Dykes share a special bond they say will extend far after their senior season ends. But first, they have one more holiday trip together.
Gettins will be bringing Dykes to New Zealand for Christmas this year and has a few secrets up her sleeve. New Zealand is in the summer during Christmas time and has many festivals, wineries, concerts and other outdoor activities that would pique Reagan's interest. Gettins was willing to say, “There’s a lot of adrenaline activities.”
This Christmas trip has quite the tale to live up to as the Thanksgiving hunting trip will stay close to them both. Reagan said Thanksgiving “added another memory to our friendship we’ll never forget. We still laugh about it and joke around. She’ll walk by me and say ‘Yee-Haw.’”