University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
C/UT
/ Softball
C/UT
/ Softball
First Pitch: Emma Burns
1/16/2019 10:31:00 AM | Softball
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Our final freshman to be featured on "First Pitch" is Rapid City, S.D. native Emma Burns. The five-time letterwinner in softball is a three-time All-State honoree and also competed in basketball and track and field in high school. Get to know her more below.
Gopher Sports: How did you decide on Minnesota?
Emma Burns: I was completely unsure what I was getting into when I first visited Minnesota but everything felt right as soon as I stepped on campus. The team was so encouraging and inviting and I was so ecstatic that I could have the opportunity to be a part of a growing Big Ten program. It was one of the easiest decisions I've been faced with.
GS: How was your fall ball experience?
EB: My fall ball experience was absolutely amazing! It was a huge sigh of relief to finally be in position with all the incredible players I watched from the stands the last two years. It was also a great learning experience because I got a good understanding of where I'm at and the improvements I'm able to focus on making moving forward into season.
GS: How have the interactions with your teammates been going?
EB: The team is awesome, we all got along great but after having the chance to play on the field together I feel so much closer to everyone. It gave me the feeling that since we've worked together to compete to win games we all have a stronger bond off the field too.
GS: Is there anything the coaches are having you personally work on or the team as a whole?
EB: Personally, after getting a feel for all the bigger movements and drills, I've been working on my throwing mechanics which is incredibly eye opening because it's exposing me to a new world of improvement and body intelligence. As a team we now focus on not only the mechanical side of things but the competitive side. We've begun to put everything into pressure situations where it's us vs. the task at hand and we can see the payoff of the work without having to think about it anymore.
GS: What is it about the game of softball that you love?
EB: It's one of the most team fought games out there. Everyone has something unique that they bring to the table and it's your job to perform your task, whatever that may be, to the best of your ability and you know that all 19 of your teammates are doing the same for you. No two players have the same role at the same time so it's that extra pressure that I love so much that drives me to have my teammates backs.
GS: What activities do you enjoy outside of softball?
EB: I love playing guitar! I've always had a passion for music and I believe having the ability to make your own is so calming. Playing guitar is my main stress reliever because it frees my mind of all other distractions and you can play it almost anywhere.
GS: If you could hit a home run off any celebrity who would you choose and why?
EB: Definitely Jackie Traina because I grew up watching her and she stood out to me as such a great player and person. Her presence in the circle is always so calm and collected and to even get the chance to step in the box with her in the circle would be incredible.
GS: Have you thought about what your walkup song will be this year?
EB: I've been thinking of my walk-up song for the last three years so you'd think I'd know it for sure by now. "Pretty Young Thing" by Michael Jackson is one of my top choices because it's such a feel good song but I may have trouble not dancing to it every time it comes on.
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?
EB: Definitely Anne Miller because I know she would be calm and collected and we could probably crack jokes and talk about life while we waited for help. She's someone I can always get along with and she has such an open mind so she doesn't care that I'm so weird. Anne also has a pet bird so if we could have him there too we'd be set.
Our final freshman to be featured on "First Pitch" is Rapid City, S.D. native Emma Burns. The five-time letterwinner in softball is a three-time All-State honoree and also competed in basketball and track and field in high school. Get to know her more below.
Gopher Sports: How did you decide on Minnesota?
Emma Burns: I was completely unsure what I was getting into when I first visited Minnesota but everything felt right as soon as I stepped on campus. The team was so encouraging and inviting and I was so ecstatic that I could have the opportunity to be a part of a growing Big Ten program. It was one of the easiest decisions I've been faced with.
GS: How was your fall ball experience?
EB: My fall ball experience was absolutely amazing! It was a huge sigh of relief to finally be in position with all the incredible players I watched from the stands the last two years. It was also a great learning experience because I got a good understanding of where I'm at and the improvements I'm able to focus on making moving forward into season.
GS: How have the interactions with your teammates been going?
EB: The team is awesome, we all got along great but after having the chance to play on the field together I feel so much closer to everyone. It gave me the feeling that since we've worked together to compete to win games we all have a stronger bond off the field too.
GS: Is there anything the coaches are having you personally work on or the team as a whole?
EB: Personally, after getting a feel for all the bigger movements and drills, I've been working on my throwing mechanics which is incredibly eye opening because it's exposing me to a new world of improvement and body intelligence. As a team we now focus on not only the mechanical side of things but the competitive side. We've begun to put everything into pressure situations where it's us vs. the task at hand and we can see the payoff of the work without having to think about it anymore.
GS: What is it about the game of softball that you love?
EB: It's one of the most team fought games out there. Everyone has something unique that they bring to the table and it's your job to perform your task, whatever that may be, to the best of your ability and you know that all 19 of your teammates are doing the same for you. No two players have the same role at the same time so it's that extra pressure that I love so much that drives me to have my teammates backs.
GS: What activities do you enjoy outside of softball?
EB: I love playing guitar! I've always had a passion for music and I believe having the ability to make your own is so calming. Playing guitar is my main stress reliever because it frees my mind of all other distractions and you can play it almost anywhere.
GS: If you could hit a home run off any celebrity who would you choose and why?
EB: Definitely Jackie Traina because I grew up watching her and she stood out to me as such a great player and person. Her presence in the circle is always so calm and collected and to even get the chance to step in the box with her in the circle would be incredible.
GS: Have you thought about what your walkup song will be this year?
EB: I've been thinking of my walk-up song for the last three years so you'd think I'd know it for sure by now. "Pretty Young Thing" by Michael Jackson is one of my top choices because it's such a feel good song but I may have trouble not dancing to it every time it comes on.
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?
EB: Definitely Anne Miller because I know she would be calm and collected and we could probably crack jokes and talk about life while we waited for help. She's someone I can always get along with and she has such an open mind so she doesn't care that I'm so weird. Anne also has a pet bird so if we could have him there too we'd be set.
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