One-on-one with Shannon Linerud

Finding time in between classes, practice and homework, sophomore shortstop Shannon Linerud of the women's softball team sat down with Sports Editor Brian Betz.

BB: Almost three weeks off between games. Have you had a lot of free time?

SL: Yeah, I guess so. Well practice, ha, ha, pretty much everyday. Working on things.

BB: Anything specific?

SL: We've been doing a lot of hitting to try and improve that part of the game.

BB: Have runs been a problem?

SL: A little bit, but it's also been that we've played some really tough competition.

BB: Yeah, well obviously 4-11 isn't a flattering record. Do you think a lot of that is because you booked such a tough preseason schedule?

SL: Yeah. Our coach definitely booked a tough preseason schedule on purpose, which is good. It'll make us better and get us ready for league. But it has been tough to have all those losses.

BB: Now is it normal for a lot of teams in the PCSC to schedule such a tough preseason?

SL: I don't know who the other teams play. We've played UCLA, Stanford and Washington.

BB: Yeah, cause you've scheduled Stanford five times for this year. Is there a rivalry going?

SL: Yeah, it's fun to play them. Just cause they're Stanford and because they're close to us, we get to play them more often.

BB: Being a former player, does Coach Crouch ever mix it up on the diamond with the team?

SL: She's really competitive even though she's not playing.

BB: Give me an example.

SL: The other day she was hitting us wiffle balls as hard as she could from a short range and if they got by she got a point and if we stopped it we got a point. She was totally into it. If she missed a point, she got mad.

BB: Could she start for the team?

SL: Oh yeah.

BB: What position?

SL: Well, she used to pitch.

BB: Would she be the ace?

SL: Ha, ha, I don't know, I don't know. No comment.

BB: So what was going through your head before the game-winning hit against Missouri?

SL: I think there were two outs, so I just wanted to hit something up the middle. We had a runner on third, so anything out of the infield. She threw me a changeup and I pretty much knew it was coming based on what she had thrown me before. And there were two strikes, so it just would've made sense.

BB: Now, how can a softball pitcher like Jaime Forman-Lau throw three complete games in a row and her arm's just fine?

SL: The only answer I can give you is that they're amazing. And they work really hard.

BB: You've got to give me more than that because baseball players work hard and they can't throw back-to-back-to-back complete games.

SL: I don't know why it is!

BB: Is it the underhand motion? Fewer innings?

SL: Yeah, the underhand motion is better for your arm than overhand. I don't know if it makes that much of a difference, but...

BB: You've got this rule where you start a runner on second once you hit extra innings. Why?!

SL: Ha, ha, I don't know, speed things along I guess.

BB: Do you like it?

SL: Um, it makes it more exciting, I think, because there's already someone on second, there's no outs. There's a lot of pressure when you're hitting to get the runner over and on defense you have to stop the ball.

BB: So do you watch a lot of pro baseball?

SL: I love pro baseball. I love the Giants.

BB: I heard you're a big J.T. Snow fan?

SL: Yeah, I'm a huge J.T. Snow fan. He's a great first baseman.

BB: ...

SL: And he happens to be good looking.

BB: I wouldn't say "great," I'd say average.

SL: He's a great first baseman. A heck of a defensive player.

BB: Any shortstop that you look up to?

SL: Um, well I really like A-Rod. Even though he's a third baseman now I guess.

BB: Ah, yeah, I hate A-Rod.

SL: Ha, ha, ha. I really liked Rich Aurilia when he was on the Giants.

BB: Yeah, he's with the Mariners now. I didn't like him before. Now I just have to bite my lip. Lastly, what's this about your obsession with bananas?

SL: Oh, I love bananas. I love the actual banana and anything banana-flavored.