Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Support Staff Profile: Manager Val

It's finally the Master Blogger's turn!  Slim pickin's on the pics though...too much time behind the camera photographing photobombers.


Who is your #1 favorite coach (present or past) and what do you love about them?
So many coaches to choose from...some from way back in the day come to mind (Eph Bergman with Rebels!)...but I'd have to say Tracy Turner and her dad, Bob.  They showed me the Lightning way of playing ball and I learned so much playing for both of them.  It was great to have a former catcher as a coach, too, I got a lot of specific help with my position.  And so many interesting phrases, too...let's get the road on the show! 

Who is your favorite athlete (past or present)?  
For sure, it was the Team USA players from back in the late 90's whose names were on all of our bats- Lisa Fernandez, Sheila Cornell, Crystl Bustos and Dot Richardson.  Dot Richardson was probably my favorite, she is an orthopedic surgeon and was an amazing shortstop for many years with Team USA.  Coach Haylee and I worked at Pan Am games hosting the softball teams and we unfortunately didn't get a picture with her...but we got one with her parents!  And they gave us a lifetime supply of autographed posters!  I framed one and it's in my office :)

What position did you play as a player?
I caught most of the time, dabbled in some more catching, and caught some more.  It was great, catcher is the best position on the field for an only child- you get the ball every single time!  I do strongly believe that pitching was my true calling...

As a player, what was one of the best highlights of your career?  
This is totally geeky, and really, playing in the Canada Games should be #1, so should coming in 2nd place at Senior Women's Nationals in 2003...but in 1998 I played for the Southwind Rebels with Coach Haylee and Coach Niki and we won the Provincial Bantam Championships.  It was amazing, because we had finished 2nd place way too often before that.  At the Western Canadian Championships that year we didn't do all that well, but I fulfilled a personal goal of mine- striking out a poor soul on 3 consecutive legitimate change-ups.

I would also have to add that at Canada Games I was involved in a triple play against Team PEI...and I ended up at second base when it was all said and done lying on top of their runner with the ball.

Besides watching Team Toba destroy the competition at the Canada Games, what are you most excited for while in Sherbrooke this summer?  
PIN TRADING!  I hope it's still alive and well.

Where did you attend college or university?  What did you study?
University of Winnipeg- Kinesiology & Athletic Therapy

What do you do for a living?
Instructor- University of Winnipeg in the Faculty of Kinesiology
Umpire
Athletic Therapy-related odd jobs
Student- University of Manitoba, I'm completing my Master's of Science in Medical Rehabilitation

What is your favorite food? 
Sigh, so many...Coach Haylee's mom's cookies, perogies and lime-flavored tortilla chips

What is your favorite tv show?
Anything on Food Network and the Amazing Race

What has been one of the highlights of your life so far? 
Living and working in Australia for 4 years...however that dive in the outfield this year comes in at a close second...and of course winning The Hat fair and square!


What's the most amazing place that you've traveled to?  
Probably New Zealand...so much to see and do.  Same thing with Australia- Great Barrier Reef, Snowy Mountains, Rainforest, Desert...it really goes on and on.

Have you been to any other Canada Games and in what capacity?  
Yes!  2001 Canada Games in London, ON with Coach Haylee and Coach Niki.

What do you like to do in your spare time? 
What is spare time?  I've heard some people enjoy it...

No comments:

Post a Comment