Softball star emotionally explains why ‘Alabama is literally the best place in the world’

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June 6, 2016

Haylie McCleney gives an emotional answer when asked to reflect on her time with Alabama. #WCWS https://t.co/eBsaRJdqvX

— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) June 5, 2016

Alabama’s Women’s College World Series run was halted over the weekend after a 6-4 loss to in-conference rival LSU, but it’s what happened after the game that still has the internet buzzing.

Outgoing senior Haylie McCleney is perhaps the greatest Crimson Tide softball player in the program’s illustrious history. She concluded her career Saturday with a school-record .447 batting average and a .569 on-base percentage.

After the game she was asked to reflect on her time in Tuscaloosa. Here’s what she had to say:

I can’t say enough about this program. There is no other place in the world like Alabama. I’ve played in Japan, I’ve played in Europe — Alabama is special. And it’s a special program because we leave better people, and not just better players. That’s easy when you go into college; of course you’re going to leave a better player. Not everyone leaves a better person. But everyone who graduates out of our program leaves a better person. And we go out into the world and we impact others and we lead and we learn how to put others before ourselves. And that’s what I’m most proud of. Cause everybody on this team is a great person, and you can say that every single year.

We never have a bad egg. And that’s because of Coach Murphy. All you recruits out there, you need to come to Alabama. I’m telling you, man, it’s literally the best place in the world.

Coach Patrick Murphy has taken UA to eleven Women’s College World Series appearances, including a National Championship in 2012. But he’s made it clear all along that building champions off the field is what he’s really all about.

.@UACoachMurphy dropping knowledge. #RollTide #BuiltByBama pic.twitter.com/T7jiLad7d9

— Cliff Sims (@Cliff_Sims) May 30, 2016

McCleney took to Twitter Saturday night to continue her praise of Murphy’s program and the entire Crimson Tide family.

Thank you, Alabama. You will forever have my heart & my soul. I gave you everything I had. pic.twitter.com/W1OUVtIwkO

— Haylie McCleney (@hayliemac8) June 5, 2016