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This season has been a memorable one for the University of Maine softball team. It has already set a school record for wins in a season. Currently, the team sits in first place in America East. Senior pitcher Sarah Bennis, who leads the team in wins, has been one of the main reasons.
Bennis, a native of Pownal, will graduate this semester with a degree in secondary education. She stopped by for the final 13 Questions installment of the spring semester.
WC: Which of your teammates has the nicest hairstyle and what makes it so nice?
SB: I would go with Kristie Hawkins, because she’s very particular about her hair. She loves the ribbons. If it is raining, she will have braids. If it’s not raining, she will straighten her hair. I think since she puts so much effort into it, it is funny. You have to compliment her because she puts so much time into it.
WC: There is nothing wrong with wanting to look your best. You guys are having a real good season. This is more of a traditional sports question. What has been the key to your success as a team this year?
SB: Definitely scoring runs. We’ve always been pretty good at defense, kept ourselves in games, but the difference is definitely scoring runs.
WC: What has been the key to your own individual success?
SB: I think the key is definitely scoring runs. I’ve had great run support, good defense behind me, and my catchers have always been really awesome.
WC: What would you be doing right now if you weren’t playing softball?
SB: I would probably be working with children in some way. I would probably be at a different university, doing something completely different. My mom runs a daycare, so I have always enjoyed kids. I would probably be doing something with that.
WC: Let’s do a quick rundown of your favorites. What’s your favorite book or the last one you read?
SB: I like John Grisham. I like a lot of his books, the whole Law and Order-type thing. I like the mystery and the success.
WC: What’s your favorite CD or band?
SB: I’ve been listening to a lot of Jack Johnson lately on my iPod, really low-key music.
WC: Favorite movie?
SB: I would have to say “Rudy,” because it’s a classic and it always pumps me up.
WC: Favorite TV show?
SB: “Lost.” I love “Lost,” because of the same reasons. It has suspense and is exciting.
WC: Who is the toughest girl on the softball team and what makes her so strong?
SB: Toughest? I have a lot of teammates. I would go with Brittany [Cheney], our shortstop. She’s the feistiest, the most aggressive, most intense. I would definitely want her on my side.
WC: What’s the most embarrassing CD you own?
SB: Can I go with a song, maybe?
WC: Yeah, you can do that. I would go with the Hilary Duff song on my iPod. It’s a good song, that one that’s the theme song from Laguna Beach.
SB: I have some Jessica Simpson stuff.
WC: Why’s that so embarrassing? What’s wrong with Jessica Simpson?
SB: She’s a little poppy. I usually don’t like a lot of pop music.
WC: Yeah, but it serves a purpose. Do you have any superstitions or pre-game rituals?
SB: I have many. I am very superstitious. I always eat two packets of oatmeal before a game. I always have to have a cup of coffee before a game. I warm up the same way. I stretch the same way.
WC: Do you ever put one sock on before the other?
SB: Sometimes. If it gets to be late in the season, I try to do whatever I can to help the team. I always have a half-full glass of water. It’s kind of weird, I know. In between innings, I always have my coat on and then I take it off before I go out.
WC: Is there an origin or a purpose to the oatmeal or the water or something like that?
SB: With the oatmeal, I just feel like it stays with me the longest because it’s oatmeal. It’s one of the most nutritious breakfast foods. With the water, I just found that it was like a habit almost. I would come in from an inning, grab some water, fill it back up, and put it on the cooler. It’s just been habitual since then.
WC: Nick Lachey is supposedly dating that girl, Kristin, from “Laguna Beach.” Is that an upgrade or a downgrade over Jessica Simpson? Sorry, that’s a really stupid question.
SB: I would have to say downgrade, because of the wealth that Jessica Simpson has and also because of her popularity. I know that age doesn’t necessarily go with maturity, but she is older. They had a good thing going.
WC: I agree. I really miss “Newlyweds.” That was a good show. I am going to admit it, but I don’t know much about softball. Who is the best player in the world right now and what makes her so good?
SB: Kat Osterman [a left-handed pitcher from the University of Texas,]. Two of my assistant coaches play professional [softball] and they said that she is by far the best pitcher in the world right now. I would have to say her by what they said. We saw the Olympic team play a couple of years ago and she was awesome.
WC: Yeah, she’s very intimidating.
SB: She’s very tall and her ball moves a lot too. She’s got everything going for her.
WC: I wouldn’t be able to hit her pitches. What is your best pitch?
SB: My dropball.
WC: Can you throw a screwball?
SB: I do throw a screwball. It’s not my go-to pitch.
WC: What is your out-pitch?
SB: Curve.
WC: Let’s end up with the random literature question. Is it better to be part of Oprah’s Book Club or does it ruin artistic integrity?
SB: I personally like Oprah’s Book Club. I have even read some of them. So I would have to say that it is better to be part of Oprah’s Book Club. I think it brings fame. Anything Oprah says, people do. It can’t hurt.
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