March 29, 2003
| Senior shortstop Crystal Martin sat down with AggieAthletics.com recently and talked about playing the position, her recent power streak at the plate, and some of the interesting things she did while growing up.
Do you think this team is ready to get into the thick of Big 12 play? "Yeah. We started off kind of slow against Texas Tech, but the second game really showed we're ready to play this year in the Big 12 and ready to compete." How much mental preparedness does it take to play the shortstop position? "In some parts it's more instinctual. Now it is (for me), because I've played it for so long it just comes naturally. But still you have to be on your toes, especially with teams like Nebraska (who will) take a lot of extra bases on you if you're not paying attention." Is it hard to keep track of where you have to be on cutoffs, backups, and things like that? "It's really just following the ball and it's just instinctual. Purely instinctual. (You're) reacting to the play and thinking one play ahead." This year you've hit quite a few more home runs than usual (6 entering the Missouri series). Any particular reason for that? "I think the weight room has helped a lot. I've recently just got, like in the past year, (more) muscular, a lot stronger. And I think that's helped a lot. Breaking down my swing too (has helped)." Would you rather hit a big home run or turn a crucial double play that gets your team out of a jam? "I really don't care, but I think a double play in softball is really exciting because it's quick. Home runs seem to come a lot more nowadays. They're not just here and there, everybody's hitting them, not just one person. But I think a double play shows teamwork." You've started over 100 games in a row at shortstop for the Aggies. Do you remember your first start at A&M? "Yes, I remember my first start. It was against Mississippi State in the Arizona tournament my freshman year." Did you do well in that game? "Yes. I went 3-for-3 with an RBI." Would you describe yourself as kind of a daredevil growing up? "Definitely. Definitely a daredevil. I wouldn't think twice about jumping off stuff just to see if I could do it. It didn't matter. Kicking out slats in the apartment, jumping off the balcony...it didn't matter (laughs). Climbing up trees and then jumping out, you know, that sort of thing." Did it help develop a no-fear attitude? "I guess! I don't know (laughs)." You had a rather unorthodox way of learning some of the basics growing up, like riding a bike and learning to swim. Care to share that? "I just got pretty much thrown in the deep end (of the pool). Sorry dad (laughs)! That's how I learned. And it worked! Then I kept coming back more and more, 'Throw me in dad, throw me in!' He was right there, he would never have put me in harm's way. (With) Riding a bike, I just took the initiative of taking my training wheels off and started riding. And I would just shove myself off (laughs)! If I crashed, I crashed. "(laughing) I guess it just goes to show you that I'm not scared of a lot of things. I usually just attack things head on. I don't really think about it, I just do it (laughs)." |
