Pitchers have a tendency to love playing with Edina catcher Shannon Petersen, largely because she loves catching. And most pitchers understand how vital a good catcher can be to her success.
Take, for example, Petersen's ability to coax strikes. The senior, who has committed to play at Augustana (S.D.) next year, has worked hard to master the technique of framing pitches, making each pitch look like a strike.
"The secret is something one of my catching coaches taught me: sway and stick," she said. "When you're in the crouch, you sway back and forth on your ankles and when the ball hits your glove, you stick. It makes it look like the pitcher hit the exact spot she was aiming for."
Staff writer Jim Paulsen talked with Petersen about Edina's chances this spring, the end to her hockey career and her secret love.
Q: All that swaying and sticking must be rough on the legs.
A: When I first started, my legs used to hurt so much afterward. Now it's become habit and I'm used to it.
Q: What do you like about being a catcher?
A: It gives me the chance to be a leader. You can see every position and every runner. You can plan out the pitches based on what the strengths and weaknesses of the hitters are. You're kind of the captain of the field.
