The Observer, March 31, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 22
Spartan Spotlight: Kristen Courtney
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Name, major, sport, etc.: Kristen Courtney is a senior psychology major who plays second base for the softball team.
High school/hometown: Fort Loramie High School, Dayton, Oh.
Years participating in softball: 16.
Who/what inspired you to play softball: My dad and Barry Larkin.
Hobbies/extracurricular activities: Psych Club, CASA, watching Cincinnati Reds baseball and Kansas Jayhawks basketball, attending Broadway musicals.
Favorite athlete: Barry Larkin.
Athletic honors: Softball Co-captain.
Academic honors: Dean's High Honors last semester.
Best softball memory: Hitting three home runs in one game when I was 10 years old. I thought I was Ken Griffey Jr.
Worst softball memory: Every game we've ever lost. I hate losing.
Favorite quote: "Love is doing all the little things that don't show up in the box score."
Where do you see yourself in 10 years: Married with adorable kids and working as the team psychologist for a professional sports organization.
Something most people don't know about you: I was born on the fourth of July.
Joel Sanderson: What makes softball stand out from other sports?
Kristin Courtney: Softball is an extremely mental game that requires several varied and distinct skills. It's also obviously the best sport!
JS: You know what else is a mental game? Curling. If you could invite any three people to dinner, living or dead, who would they be and why?
KC: My sister, Lauren, my best friend, Missy, and Barry Larkin since they're my three favorite people ever.
JS: What about Pete Rose? Isn't he the greatest Reds player ever? Ha, sucks to be a Reds fan. Would you rather have the strength of 1000 (wo)men, be able to hover, or breathe fire?
KC: I would rather breathe fire so I could intimidate opposing pitchers (oddly enough, my 5'0" frame doesn't seem to scare anyone).
JS: Yeah, but it's against the spirit of the game, you know, like steroids and sniper rifles. What's your least favorite thing about softball?
KC: Waking up at 4:30 a.m. on Fridays for those always-interesting 6 a.m. pre-season practices.
JS: I'd be waking up at 5:55 if I were you. If you could participate in any other sport, which would you pick and why?
KC: Basketball, so I can be the next Muggsy Bogues.
JS: Just so long as you don't compete in the dunk contest. What's the one thing that most people don't know about softball?
KC: We sometimes play in the snow!
JS: They should have built a dome. What sort of off-season training do you do?
KC: I lift and do a lot of running, while occasionally throwing and getting as many swings in as possible.
JS: It would have been better if you said you were a knee-capper for the mob. What sort of animals should be considered "people too?"
KC: Cats! Especially my cat, Larkin.
JS: You seem obsessed with Barry Larkin. I'm going to have to recommend counseling so you can accept how much better Ozzie Smith was. What are your feelings on the World Baseball Classic?
KC: I thought it was really fun to watch and great for many countries, but I'm still bitter about the U.S. team losing to Mexico.
JS: At least Griffey played well (and didn't break). When will Cleveland win the World Series?
KC: The year after the Cincinnati Reds do. You take a guess when that will be.
JS: Riiiight. I guess Ohioans will have to root for the Cavs. Why don't you hit more home runs?
KC: Scrappy second basemen aren't supposed to hit home runs!
JS: Everyone is supposed to hit home runs! Because you know who else they called scrappy? Pete Rose. What is the best part about the team's few out of town trips?
KC: University of Rochester baseball players, obviously.
JS: Why go to Rochester? Even Case baseball took them down. Could the softball team beat the baseball team?
KC: No offense to the baseball guys, but we would definitely rule the baseball team.
JS: I'd like to see if someone could arrange that. That game would get some fans out. Do you hate the Red Sox or the Yankees?
KC: Both, but I especially hate the Cubs.
JS: Go Cardinals!
