By Laura Clark

Published: April 16, 2008

Senior Arielle “P-nut” Giles is the starting catcher for the Gov softball team. She also competes in discus and shot put for the track team. Last softball season Giles was named to the first team All-District and All-Region for catching. She is the Govs’ top shot putter, and was third in the indoor Group A state invitational this winter.

On her nickname:
It was just an old family thing. It basically came from my brother way before I was born. He always called me P-nut, and it just stuck.

On playing catcher:
I used to pitch when I was younger. Then I was asked to catch and I loved it. I really love to catch, the whole picking people off, throwing down, being in control. On the softball field it’s kind of like you’re the quarterback because you see everything, and let everybody else be aware of what’s going on.

On hitting:
I guess I’d be a power hitter. I absolutely hate inside rise balls, well, rise balls in general. I like high pitches and I tend to almost go for ‘em but not really. It gets right to the plate and then it breaks. Eww, I hate ‘em.

On catching making her a better hitter:
Kind of, because I look at pitchers and where they stand. Sometimes if pitchers pitch inside or outside, they’ll stand on either side of the mound. The only reason I know that is from catching for so many pitchers.

On calling the pitches:
I’ll see where a batter is standing, and if they’re close to the plate it will just be an inside pitch. If they’re a really good batter, you want to keep the ball low so they can’t pick it up easy. If they catch it, it’s gone. Or outside, where they can’t reach it if they’re standing away from the plate. So it’s based upon where they stand in the box.
Changeup is if they’ve been there for a while or if you know they’re off. You throw a changeup to mess up their timing.

On balancing two sports:
I like it because I really like to throw shot put. I’m picking up on discus. That’s the only thing about it, is that I don’t have much time for discus. Fourth block (weightlifting class) I get to practice shot put and discus. Then after school come down here (to softball).

On her advice for younger players:
Some advice for them is to don’t get discouraged and don’t get intimidated easily by others. I think they seem to do that some. Intimidation, in general, because you can’t give up before you start because somebody looks good.
It’s going to come sooner or later, us being together. Most of them, this is their first time even being on a field. It’s an experience. You’ve just got to breathe. I understand that they’re learning. Helping them out makes me better too, because I’m looking at stuff that I do more. As in, I understand that some of them look up to me because they say I’m good, but yeah, I just watch what I do more.
I want our team to come together and learn the game. And just win.

On leading the cheers:
Most of the time a couple people make up cheers, and we sometimes forget about them. We make them up on the spot and the team falls in. (There’s) the Yoho cheer. It’s like Yoho! Yoho! And then you spell out her name (teammate Melanie Yoho). It’s kind of like an in-the-moment type of thing.
I think it kinds of unifies us. It pumps you up when you go out to bat and when you’re on the field.

On her plans after graduation:
I plan to attend Hampton or Christopher Newport. I haven’t decided between the two, but more than likely I think I really want to go to Hampton. I want to play sports, but it’s not that big of a deal right now. I think the first year is the hardest year because of the transition. I might like to play intramural sports. Maybe latter on try to pick up on sports, tryout or something.

On a softball superstition:
No crossed bats. Ever.