Cougar One-on-One

Previous One-on-Ones
Stacie Meisner (8/27/2007)

Edwin Enriquez
(10/31/2007)

Bre Perkes
11/12/2007

Jessie McNabb
12/20/2007

With Kelsey Garner, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

WNCC freshman softball player Kelsey Garner is off to a great start during the spring. Garner has a 0.55 ERA (12th) in the NJCAA national statistics. Garner has pitched 38.33 innings with 46 strike outs and just one walk. She is currently 6-1 on the season. Garner helped the Coguars to two shut-out wins in the team’s Region IX openers against Trinidad State last week. The Cougar softball team, who are pre-season ranked 11th in the country, are 8-3 on the season. Here is a little informal chat with the freshman from Regina Saskatchewan, Canada.

Q: You picked up two wins this weekend, what kind of pitching performance did you have?
A:
I don’t think I through my best this weekend. I did what I had to do.

Q: The team also picked up two Region IX wins, so that was really big for you guys?
A:
I think we all came out really excited to play because it was our first Region IX game.

Q: You won 13-0 in the first game and you did it defensively, offensively and everything?
A:
It was an all-around game. Everyone’s bats were on fire from the very beginning. On defense, we didn’t make any errors.

Q: Second game you go four innings and then Natasha comes in and gets the save?
A:
I went through their order so many times and they saw me a lot and had a lot of at bats against me. It was good to mix it up when Nat came in. Our defense did what they had to do.

Q: What pitch worked the best for you this past weekend against Trinidad State?A: That is a good question. All of them I guess. It was one of those games when they all worke4.

Q: What is your best or favorite pitch?
A:
My favorite pitch is a rise ball, but my best pitch is a drop or curve ball.

Q: How is the team playing right know?
A: I think we should be 11-0 because we are playing really, really well. I don’t think we should have any losses but we do. We are playing really good together and have good chemistry.

Q: You have four more Region IX games this weekend, how tough will those be?
A: I think they will be real tough, especially Otero will be really tough. But I am excited for that game because I know there is a rival between the two of us and I just want to go out and beat them. And I don’t really now much about Lamar, but they will be tough.

Q: Are you surprised you are doing this well?
A: Not really. I am surprised we aren’t doing better. Like I said, I thought we would be 11-0. I knew we would be this good, but hopefully we will get better.

Q: Are you happy to be down here pitching?
A:
I wasn’t even going to go to school, so I am glad I came.

Q: You also have a lot of Canadians on the team, what is that like to have five on the team?
A:
It is nice because you can relate to each other. It is nice having other people from where you are from to lean back on. And there are more Canadians coming next year.

Q: Have you played with or against any of the Canadians?
A:
I played with and against all of them except Nat. Nat is the only one I didn’t know before I came. We were on a traveling team that went to Texas and Jessie McNabb was on my summer team and we played against Lo and Mills.

Q: How did you do at that tournament in Texas?
A:
I really don’t remember. I think we did pretty good.

Q: You have more players coming from Canada next year and do you know if they are pretty good?
A:
I played against two of them, I think. I really don’t remember them, but I think they are pretty good.

Q: Have you always been a pitcher?
A:
No. Actually I used to be a catcher and we when we ran out of pitchers when I was young, that is when I started pitching.

Q: How long have you been pitching?
A:
Probably when I was eight or nine. When I first started pitching, I was still catching when I didn’t pitch. Then I just went more into pitching.

Q: It is a long ways from Regina?
A:
It is like a 12 to 14 hours. It is not too bad. It is just a good days drive.

Q: When you first got here, what did you think?
A:
I really didn’t like it that much. It was a small town and I am from a big city. It didn’t feel like home, but now I feel like home and I am pretty comfortable. I like it.

Q: First home game isn’t until March 26, you guys looking forward to that?
A:
I am looking forward to it. I wish we had one earlier because I really want to play at home. But, I have a month to wait.

Q: Do you have hopes of playing at a four-year school after this?
A:
Yes, I want to go to a big school after this. I definitely want to get to a D1 school if I can.

Q: Who is your favorite pitcher or who do you follow?
A:
I don’t pay attention to any of that.

Q: Coach said that you only had 55 pitches in that first game?
A:
Yeah, I didn’t even know that. It was weird because some batters I only had to throw three pitches to, and some batters would hit my first pitch, so it was quick innings. That was nice. I didn’t waste any of my energy.

Q: Did you play any other sports in high school?
A:
I was actually going to go to school for volleyball. I played volleyball, basketball and softball in high school. I was going to play volleyball back home. And, I was also going to go to school for volleyball and softball at Alcorn State. It is a 4-year Division 1 school in Mississippi. It was too far to go down there.