April 27
April 23, 2007April 25
April 25, 2007
The Sports Net recently talked to Vandebilt Catholic leadoff hitter Lauren Martinez before a Lady Terriers’ practice. Martinez, a junior, played a key role in last year’s State Championship team, as well as leading this year’s team in hopes of repeating that accomplishment.
SN: How long have you been playing softball, and what got you into the sport?
LM: I started playing travel ball when I was 11, so I kind of started late. And my dad and my oldest sister were real big into it. My dad was really good at baseball, so I guess it just runs in the family.
SN: What is your favorite thing about playing softball? What stands out as the most exciting aspect of the game?
LM: The team. I like meeting new people, and getting to know all of them. And then having that ability to play with them on the field, it’s awesome.
SN: What’s your favorite thing about playing softball at Vandebilt?
LM: I’d have to say the tradition. Everything is as it was, and we’re just carrying it on over and over. We do develop new things, but mostly it stays the same. The tradition is great here.
SN: How does it feel trying to live up to that tradition?
LM: It’s awesome. When I came here, it’s like we were state-bound from the start. It was my freshman year that we went (to Sulphur), so it was a great experience. And every year after that we’ve gone. It’s awesome, and I love it.
SN: After a few years of finishing as State Runner-Up, y’all finally won the title last season. How’d that feel?
LM: It felt good because we worked really hard. And it makes you want to work harder and harder to get there again, because it’s so awesome.
SN: This year, some people may have said it would be a rebuilding year for Vandebilt softball. What was y’all attitude about this throughout the season?
LM: We said that we weren’t going to think about last year. We went for a new, fresh start. That’s what we did, and I think that we’re well on our way and it worked out good.
SN: So far, what’s your favorite single memory of playing softball?
LM: The Belle Chase district game last year. It was Senior Day, and we all wanted it for the seniors. I ended up hitting a homerun, and we won 3-2. That was awesome.
SN: Who is your favorite opponent to play?
LM: It was awesome when we would play John Curtis. Because we were so up when we played them, because we knew it was on. It was fun playing them.
SN: Tell me something about coach Margaret Johnson that only the team knows, and nobody else does …
LM: Ummm … her first name’s Alice. A lot of people don’t know that.
