University of Minnesota Athletics
First Pitch With Carlie Brandt
9/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Gophers have a mix of returners and newcomers this season. You know the returners but we will be spending the next nine weeks introducing you to our seven freshmen and two transfers. In this week's First Pitch Carlie Brandt steps up and answers all the tough questions.
Brandt was a three-sport athlete at Le Sueur-Henderson High School. She was five-time All-Conference member in softball with three conference MVP awards. She earned All-State honors three times and was named the 2016 Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year. She holds school hitting records for career hits, doubles, triples and RBI along with pitching records for career strikeouts, strikeouts in a season, career shutouts, no-hitters, perfect games and career wins.
Gopher Sports: What first caught your eye about the U of M?
Carlie Brandt: When I first visited campus I really got the sense of home. The coaches and the teammates were very welcoming. I think they are the best coaching staff in the nation. They are amazing and caring and it was just the perfect fit.
GS: What does it mean for you to be playing in your home state?
CB: It means so much. Wearing the jersey of my home state is something I take a lot of pride in.
GS: What is your best softball accomplishment so far?
CB: In high school we made it to state three times in a row. That is a really big deal for our town with how small it is. Making it to the state tournament and finishing in the top five was awesome.
GS: Just getting started but how is your experience so far? How have workouts and practice been?
CB: Everything is going really well. The energy at lifts and at practices is super fun and all of the girls are so motivating to each other. There is just a lot of caring towards everybody and we all want each other to get better so that atmosphere is fun to be around.
GS: How have the interactions with your teammates been so far?
CB: It is basically half and half this year with returners and newcomers so those returners are really taking us under their wing and showing us the ropes on everything. They are doing a really great job because we all feel very at home and it has been real welcoming.
GS: Is there anything the coaching staff is having you focus or work on in these first couple weeks?
CB: The first week they did a good job of just letting us feel comfortable and getting our feet under ourselves. Now that we are through that first week we are really taking their guidance and the information that they are giving us and putting that to practice.
GS: What would you say it is that you love about the game of softball so much?
CB: I love the team aspect of it and how it brings you together as more than just teammates. I look at all of these players as one of my sisters. I know Coach Allister always says it a lot but putting on the same jersey and being with 17 of your best friends and competing towards one goal is something that is very rare and does not happen a lot. I love that she says and enforces that.
GS: Any other activities outside of softball that you enjoy?
CB: I love playing tennis. I played it throughout high school and it is a lifelong sport. It has helped me develop a lot of footwork and basic mental game knowledge that also helped me grow as a softball player. It is something I will take with me the rest of my life and be a hobby that I really enjoy.
GS: Have you thought about what your walkup song will be this year?
CB: (Laughing) I have not thought about that. I am going to have to take some advice from some upperclassmen. I love Sara Groenewegen's "Magic Stick." That gets me every time.
GS: If you could hit a home run off any celebrity who would you pick and why?
CB: Probably Monica Abbott. That would be cool considering she is the best player of all-time and has a million dollar contract.
GS: If you could choose any actor/actress to portray you in a movie who would you choose and why?
CB: Blake Lively. She is a great actress and I really liked her last movie "The Shallows."
GS: What would you do if you won the lottery?
CB: A lot of people say they would spend it on one big thing but I would just save it up and live life. I don't think I would waste it on one big dream. I would save it up and accomplish a bunch of little dreams throughout time.
GS: If you were stuck on an island for the rest of your life and could only choose one movie to watch, what would you pick and why?
CB: The Hunger Games. Hopefully I would get a lot of helpful tips from it because I don't think I would have much of a chance otherwise.
