University of Minnesota Athletics
First Pitch With MaKenna Partain
10/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Gophers have a mix of returners and newcomers this season. You know the returners but we are spending nine weeks introducing you to our seven freshmen and two transfers. MaKenna Partain takes her turn this week.
Partain is at Minnesota all the way from Banks, Ore. She finished her career with a .620 batting average, .665 on base percentage, 177 RBI, 24 homeruns and 203 runs. She was named the player of the year in her conference four times, earned all-state honors four times being named OSAA 4A Softball Player of the Year three times and was a Max Preps 2013 Softball Underclass All-American honoree.
Not only did Partain lead Banks to two softball state championships but she was also an all-conference honoree on the school's first ever volleyball state championship team.
Gopher Sports: Can you walk us through coming from Oregon to Minnesota and how that happened?
MaKenna Partain: The coaches came and were watching a teammate that I played with. They saw me and started talking to me. I fell in love with the coaches and that made me want to visit the campus which I also fell in love with. I met the team and from there on I just fell in love with everything. This is the school I one hundred percent wanted to be at.
GS: What was it about the campus that you loved?
MP: I liked that it was bigger because I come from a small town of like 2,500 people. So coming to school with 50,000 some kids is a lot. I liked that aspect and I obviously loved the softball atmosphere that is here.
GS: What is your best softball accomplishment so far?
MP: Winning the Triple Crown Sports National Championship with my summer team.
GS: Just getting started but how is your experience so far? How have the workouts and practice been going?
MP: Tiring. But they are fun. A lot of hard work and high energy which is what I like. You don't sit around at practice. You go-go-go which I like and feel like I accomplish a lot. The first game was awesome. I was telling Coach Merchant that it's weird because you work so hard to get to this place and all of a sudden you are here and it's like 'woah this is what I have been working for and I am finally here. It is fun.'
GS: How have your interactions with your teammates been so far?
MP: Our team is very close and I think it is hard to find a team like that. My roommate Carlie (Brandt) and I are super close which is really nice. All the freshman have clicked together really well and the upperclassmen are accepting and teaching us what we need to know.
GS: Is there anything the coaching staff is having you focus or work on in these first couple weeks?
MP: Just working together and figuring out how we all mesh together is the big thing. For me personally just tuning things up and figuring out where I have to be on the field.
GS: What would you say it is that you love about the game of softball so much?
MP: The game. I love the game so much. I love playing it. I have people tell me I am crazy because of how much I practice but if you love the game and love what you do then you are going to put everything you have into it. It is not even like it is work. Yeah we work hard and everything but it is fun while we are working hard.
GS: Any other activities outside of softball that you enjoy?
MP: I love just being with my family. I like going outdoors. Hiking, camping and all of that stuff is my go to. I also love watching my siblings play their sport.
GS: Have you thought about what your walkup song will be this year?
MP: Maybe "It's Tricky" by Run-DMC. My mom loves that song and has always wanted me to do it so I might just do it this year. I love it too.
GS: If you could hit a homerun off any celebrity who would you pick and why?
MP: Jennie Finch because it's Jennie Finch. She is one of the best and every little girl looks up to her. Just to be able to say I hit a home run off her would be awesome.'
GS: If you could have any super power what would you choose and why?
MP: Probably to be invisible. So I could see how everything is when you are not there. See how everybody really acts.
GS: Who is the funniest/most entertaining person you follow?
MP: Ryan Reynolds. He is hilarious.
GS: Favorite snapchat filter?
MP: I like the one that makes like a big frowny face. That is my favorite.
Previous First Pitch Q and As:
Amber Fiser
Kendal Judge
Carlie Brandt
