University of Minnesota Athletics
First Pitch With Kendyl Lindaman
10/31/2016 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. Kendyl Lindaman takes her turn this week.
Lindaman, Ankeny, Iowa native, holds the all-time Iowa home run record with 66 home runs. The power hitter finished her career with a.516 batting average, 1.041 slugging percentage, .676 on base percentage, 66 home runs, 220 walks, 194 RBI and only had 23 strikeouts in 695 plate appearances. She was named All-State four times.
On top of her softball dominance Lindaman was also a three-time All-Conference and state championship winning basketball player and holds her high school track shot put record.
Gopher Sports: How did you decide on Minnesota?
Kendyl Lindaman: First of all I am actually from here originally. Looking at all the schools I knew this was the right fit for me with the coaches and academically. It was kind of like coming back home for me.
GS: You hit a silly amount of home runs in high school. When did you first realize you had that ability and that it was something special?
KL: I think at a young age I was one of the first ones to hit a home run and that is how it kind of started. As I got older I never had a hitting coach but I always worked on my skills. Hitting was always my thing so I put in extra time at that and it developed.
GS: Whenever you are tweeted about there is loads of support from your hometown. What does it mean to have that kind of support back home?
KL: It is amazing. Honestly I don't know how I would have even came here without all the support I have back home. They have been there for me through my entire life and I know they will continue to be there for me while I am here.
GS: How was your fall ball experience?
KL: It was great. It is great to get out there and actually play. We practice a lot but it is just fun to play as a team and see what we can all do. College softball is different so just having those games showed me what it is all about.
GS: How have the interactions with your teammates been going?
KL: Great. The whole team is amazing. They were very welcoming to all of us freshmen and we can't thank them enough for that. They have been great so far.
GS: Is there anything the coaches are having you personally work on or the team as a whole?
KL: The team as a whole is just working on connecting because we have nine newcomers and nine returners. Just being able to work together as a team because a lot of us don't exactly know what we are doing the entire time. For me just my hitting and staying back because I like to jump forward a lot. Catching I am just working on a lot of blocking drills.
GS: What is it about the game of softball that you love?
KL: I love it because it has given me so many opportunities in my life that I would not have had if I didn't play softball. I owe that to the sport because it has done so much for me in my life.
GS: What activities do you enjoy outside of softball?
KL: I love playing basketball. In the summer I do a lot of water sports like water skiing, wakeboarding and tubing. That is a big thing for my family and I.
GS: If you could hit a home run off any celebrity who would you choose and why?
KL: I know everybody says Jennie Finch but I think honestly Monica Abbott. She can consistently throw around 70 and I think that is amazing. That would be a huge accomplishment.
GS: Have you thought about what your walkup song will be this year?
KL: I have thought about it but I do not know what it will be.
GS: What is your spirit animal?
KL: Probably a jaguar. My high school is the Jaguars so I am going to stick with that.
GS: If we took your playlist from whatever form you listen to music on is there a song you would be most embarrassed by?
KL: I don't think so. I listen to Pandora and a lot of girls listen to the same station-summer hits of the 2000s. It is just a lot of oldies. We love that station so I don't think I would be embarrassed by anything on there.
GS: You are stuck on an elevator for an entire day but could have any one teammate with you. Who are you choosing and why?
KL: Sydney Dwyer. She would just make me laugh the whole time and I think it would go by fast so I wouldn't care.
