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No sleep, no problem for Shakopee softball third baseman

April 1, 2015 at 12:03AM
Hannah Mendez of Shakopee
Q&A Hannah Mendez Shakopee (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Shakopee hasn't been to the Class 3A softball state tournament since 2011. Third baseman Hannah Mendez hopes to help the Sabers end that three-year drought in her senior season.

The past two seasons the Sabers have come up one game short of playing in the Section 2 finals. They were eliminated by Mankato West in 2013 and Prior Lake in 2014.

Shakopee is coming off a 13-9 season. It finished fifth in the now-defunct Missota Conference. The Sabers will be competing in the South Suburban Conference this year.

Here is a closer look at Mendez, who also ran cross-country for the Sabers last fall:

Q What is the best movie you have seen in the last year?

A "Miracle." It's a classic and never gets old.

Q Three songs you never skip on your iPod are …

A … "The Riff Off" from "Pitch Perfect"; "Thinking Out Loud" by Ed Sheeran; and "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift.

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Q Three words or phrases your friends or teammates would use to describe you are …

A … competitive, hardworking and dedicated.

Q How did you get started playing softball?

A I always used to play ball in the back yard with my brother and his friends when I was little.

Q At your first varsity practice, you were …

A … intimidated. I felt so young compared to everyone else, and didn't want to mess up.

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Q What is your favorite meal before a game?

A I usually don't like to eat before games, but I'll occasionally have some almonds.

Q To get focused for a game, you …

A … sing "Travelin' Soldier" by The Dixie Chicks with my teammates while putting our cleats on.

Q What are your goals for the upcoming season?

A I hope to lead our softball team to the conference title and earn a trip to the state tournament.

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Q What is your most memorable moment as a high school athlete?

A Hitting my first varsity home run [a three-run shot] during the first game of the season against Mankato West my sophomore year. We ended up winning the game 9-6 in 11 innings.

Q Who is your school's biggest rival, and why?

A Prior Lake, because our games our always competitive. We are now in the same conference and always end up playing each other in the section tournament, too.

Q If you could change one thing about high school sports, what would it be?

A Make all games free for students, so they can support their school.

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Q How do you balance school and sports during the year?

A I save sleep for the offseason.

Q Name one sport that you wish you could play, and why?

A Tennis, because I play it all the time for fun and it takes a lot of skill.

Q Who is your favorite college or pro sports team, and why?

A The Minnesota Twins because I love baseball and grew up watching them.

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Q In 10 years, you hope you are …

A ... in medical school pursuing a degree in radiology.

Q What is the best sports advice you have ever received?

A "You can strike out twice and still have a good day." — Tom Erickson, a softball coach in the Shakopee program.

RON HAGGSTROM

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