University of Minnesota Athletics
Q & A With Senior 3B/SS Colleen Conway
5/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Senior Colleen Conway has been a leader for the Gopher softball program since the day she stepped foot on campus. She has started all 194 games of her career at Minnesota, and has been a tough batter at the top of the order for the Gophers. Heading into her final weekend at Minnesota, Conway is second on the team with a .284 batting average and 52 hits, while leading the Gophers in runs scored (25), triples (2), and stolen bases (8). Get to know the native of Woodbury, Minn., and a graduate of Hill-Murray High School, who recently answered our questions for a player feature in the softball game program.
GopherSports.com: How is it playing both shortstop and third base this season?
Colleen Conway: Third base is more of a reactive position. You have to worry about the short game, and balls will be hit really hard at you. Shortstop is more of a leadership position. You have to cover more range, you have to cover steals, and take relay throws. Obviously, with more range, you get to make more fun plays, which I like about the position. I don’t like one position more than the other. I think they’re both fun to play.
GopherSports.com: What is it like being a leadoff hitter?
Colleen Conway: There’s a lot that goes into being a leadoff hitter. First, you set the tone for the game, and second, you try to get as much information about the pitcher so you can let your teammates know about the pitcher. Obviously, if you go up there and you strike out on three straight pitches, your team knows it’s going to be a hard day. If you go up there and battle and have a long at bat, then your teammates know they can get a hit. It’s a little bit of a pressure situation, but I try not to think of it, and I just go out there and have fun.
GopherSports.com: How does it feel to have started every game of your Golden Gopher career?
Colleen Conway: It’s nice having so many games under my belt that I’m very confident in what I’m doing. I don’t think too much. A lot of girls, when they come in for the first time, will overthink too much or get scared and tense up. I’ve played softball for four years, so it’s part of my nature. It’s a lot easier now that I’m older and I don’t have to think as much. I know what’s going to happen and it’s been great playing every single game all four years.
GopherSports.com: Do you have a leadership role on the team?
Colleen Conway: Each senior has a different kind of approach to the game, a different attitude, and a different way of looking at things. I would say I am more of a consistent leader, where I don’t get too high or too low. My teammates can expect the same thing from me every game.
GopherSports.com: You’re going to play softball in Switzerland this summer, talk about that.
Colleen Conway: Shannon (Stemper) and Briana (Hassett) are going to the Netherlands, and I’m going to play in Switzerland. We will all play for a professional team in the country. I don’t know about their teams, but I know I’ll go to Switzerland and coach and play for my team. They bring players over there because they want Americans to expand their softball programs and to improve their skills. It’s a really cool experience to go there from whenever the season starts to the last week of September. I’ll go and play in European Cups, and I’ll get to go to Bulgaria for a week. It’s going to be really exciting.
