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Extra Inning Softball correspondent Jessi Warren was an All-American third baseman for the National Championship-winning Florida State Seminoles (2018) and a professional player with the USSSA Pride and in Athletes Unlimited, but she’s also been impressed the work of those behind the plate.
Today’s spotlight article from Jessi features her Q&A with the two standout backstops for the top-ranked Oklahoma Sooners:
- Kinzie Hansen—a junior from Norco, California who hit 24 home runs last year with 66 RBIs last year to earn All-American honors and was selected to the 2021 Women’s College World Series All-Tournament Team;
- Lynnsie Elam—the redshirt senior from Chickasha, Oklahoma, who has slugged a home run in each of her last two games and has 57 put-outs this year without an error.
Jessie begins:
“You’ve seen them play, but have you ever gotten to ask them what they would change about the game, what other positions would they play and if they’ve ever played any other sports?”
“I was itching to know so here are the answers to five similar questions…”
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If you could change one thing in softball, what would it be?
Kinzie: The obstruction rule.
Lynnsie: Not getting to celebrate home runs at home plate and not being able to come out of the dugout to talk to our crowd.
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What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you as a softball player?
Kinzie: Probably not sliding a couple times, I would be safe but I’d be like ‘why did I do that.
Lynnsie: My freshman year, one of my first games in the fall, I took probably the hardest, try-hard swing of my life and let go of the bat!
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If you could play any other position in softball, what position would you play?
Kinzie: Catching is legit, honestly if I could do it all over again I would still catch but third base would be pretty cool. It has the same mentality as catching.
Lynnsie: I wouldn’t pick anywhere else, but probably first base.
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If you could play any other sport, what sport would you play?
Kinzie: Volleyball.
Lynnsie: Basketball.
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Did you play multiple sports in high school? What sports?
Kinzie: I didn’t play any other sports just to concentrate on softball and travel ball.
Lynnsie: Yes, I played basketball.
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… and here are my thoughts and answers to the same questions….
Jessi… on making a change in softball: If I could change anything in the game of softball, I would change the access that people/fans have. The game is growing and the game has changed tremendously and it’s so easy for people to get access to us. We don’t have personal bodyguards to protect us, so just with the amount the game is growing, the popularity athletes are gaining, I think just extra security for us female athletes.
Jessi… on an embarrassing moment: The most embarrassing thing that has happened to me as a softball player would have to be the first time I ever met my future teammate Korina Rosario (pictured) at a travel ball tournament when I was 14 or 15. She was the best pitcher in Pensacola (she struck me out), and we were playing her team and her Mom told her to come say “h”i to me as I was warming up and I had my mouthpiece in and got super awkward to meet her and when I said ‘Hi,’ my mouthpiece fell out of my mouth and I juggled it and it fell into the dirt. We both looked at each other awkwardly and she just waved and left. Most awkward/embarrassing moment!
Jessi… on playing another softball position: If I could play any other position on softball, I would LOVE to be an outfielder. I give props to outfielders! I personally can track a ball down from third to anywhere in the infield, but put me in the outfield and my eyes start bouncing and I all of a sudden can’t play softball. Hat tip to outfielders!
Jessi… on playing another sport: If I could play any other sport, it would probably be basketball or soccer. I played both growing up and loved both very much, but softball had my heart long before either of those.
Jessi… on other sports in high school: I played multiple sports in high school. I played basketball and softball for my high-school team and then soccer as well (not for high-school team) and threw shot put for a little while until the realization hit that track and field / softball were at the same time.