Senior right fielder/first baseman Nick Vaage has provided power to the middle of the batting order of the Prior Lake baseball team.

Vaage signed a letter of intent to play baseball with the University of Memphis in the American Athletic Conference next year.

The Lakers finished sixth in the 10-team South Suburban Conference. They concluded the regular season with an overall record of 9-11.

Here is a closer look at Vaage:

 

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

A “Fury.” Very realistic and great battle scenes.

 

Q Three songs you never skip on your iPod are ...

A... “Work Out” by J. Cole; “My Life be Like” by Gritz, and “Harder Than You Think” by Public Enemy.

 

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

A … funny, quiet and easygoing.

 

Q What are your three favorite apps?

A Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.

 

Q Who do you like to follow on Twitter, and why?

A I really like following the Memphis baseball account. It keeps me updated on the team and scores of all the games.

 

Q When and how did you get started playing baseball?

A My parents signed me up for tee-ball when I was 6. I fell in love with the game, and it hasn’t changed.

 

Q At your first varsity practice, you felt …

A ... nervous. I remember being a freshman and seeing the seniors and thinking to myself, “How can these guys be high schoolers? They are twice my size.”

 

Q What did you work on most in the offseason?

A I’m always working on getting physically stronger along with my hitting and fielding work.

 

Q What were your goals at the start of the season?

A To be a very competitive player, who is known as not only a great player but also being a leader of his team.

 

Q What is your favorite meal before a game?

A Peanut butter and jelly sandwich with water. I don’t eat much before games, and absolutely no dairy, like milk. Very superstitious about that.

 

Q You know you have an edge on an opponent when ...

A ... their body language starts to turn negative. Baseball is a very mental game and if you can beat the other person mentally, you have a great advantage over them.

 

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

A Being able to play with some of my best friends. They make the game so much more fun to play!

 

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

A The length of the baseball season. I wish the season could be longer.

 

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

A Homework and school comes first. Whatever time I have left over is committed to baseball.

 

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

A Football. I love watching the game but never choose to play the sport. I wish I would have at least given it a try.

 

Q In 10 years, you hope you are …

A ... a major league baseball player.

 

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

A“You never know who is watching.” That is something I never forget in practice or games.

RON HAGGSTROM