Shortstop Mary Seid '06 is off to a fast start this season. In the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Spring Classic over spring break, the softball team's leadoff hitter went 11-for-17 (.647) in leading Brown to the tournament title. In the semifinal, she hit her first collegiate home run. The senior, who is concentrating in geology and physics, was named to the all-tournament team and earned tournament co-MVP and Ivy League Player of the Week for her performance. Entering Thursday's double-header, Seid was on a 15-game hitting streak.
Herald: How do you keep yourself focused, especially when going on a spring break trip with the team?Seid: To stay focused, we stay relaxed. And, number one, it's all about visualization. After the game we do what we call game reports, where we have to evaluate the other team and ourselves. We identify the strengths and weaknesses of both.
Is it hard to rate yourself?I find I put myself in the seven to 10 range a lot. I know that I work hard not to fall below that, so I usually don't find that it's hard to be objective with my own play. The questions that are hard for me actually are about the whole game and the entire other team. Sometimes I just get in a zone where I'm so focused on what (my team) is doing that it's hard to take in everything else.
Is there anything specific you do before games to get in that zone?Rituals help some people through, and they helped me up to this point. But, right now, I am at the point where I can just get out there and play. It's good because then I can adapt to other peoples' needs and rituals. Like this last road trip ... once, when we got on the bus, Natalie (Hewitt '08) sat down in a seat across from me and she asked if she could sit in the seat I was in because she'd been sitting there the whole road trip.
What was the hardest thing for you to adapt to at Brown?I had to learn how to balance my academics, my personal life and my sport. There have been times where each have been the top priority. Last spring, it was my goal to get top grades because I felt I hadn't really been performing to my potential since freshman year. It almost killed me, but I did it. But then, because I was more intense about school, it carried over into sports and I became more intense about softball.
How do you guys match up in the Ivy League this season?I don't look online; I don't follow the Ivy League sports Web sites. I don't want to know other teams' reputations coming into the game. ... I don't know if it helps me, but it definitely keeps it simpler.
Do you keep it simple on the field or do you like to try other positions?I haven't tried many other positions. I'll tell you my biggest secret: I love catching. We have more pitchers than catchers, and when we have to volunteer or get chosen to play catcher for a day, I love it. But I like shortstop. I like being on the infield and dictating the game. Unless it's a strikeout, you're involved in the play. Can't complain either way.
Do you live with the team?Actually I live in a co-op, which has been a big growing experience. Learning how to work with other people that have just as a demanding schedule as you do is tough. Getting on the same page can be nearly impossible. You have responsibilities in the house and cooking duties every week.
What's your favorite thing to cook?Potato latkes! I'll make double and invite the team over. The house is a great place to have my teammates over and socialize with them.
What's your favorite thing to eat?My boyfriend asked me that today! I wrote a whole list down. I started with breakfast foods because we were eating Bagel Gourmet. Bagels and lox are a great treat.
What's one store you would add to Thayer?I want to keep the bookstore, of course. I read an inspirational piece on keeping it independent, and I think it's really important. I'd like to see a new smoothie joint open up. As an athlete, I really miss them.
What's your favorite piece of clothing from the equipment room?Definitely the black sweatpants. There's a story behind that. Once, my sophomore year, when we had a team meeting ... we had to do self-evaluations and go through a checklist of anything wrong we had done when it came to the team or recruiting. At the bottom was a box called "Other" and I checked it and wrote that I had kept the pants over the summer, because I loved them so much instead of turning them in at the end of the season. The coach looked at me and shaking her head was like, "Mary? Are you serious? Take your paper and just go." It wasn't the type of confession they were looking for, but I was just trying to be honest.
How has the recent attention felt?I've really been enjoying the honors I've received in the past couple of weeks. It's nice to know that people pay attention, and sometimes people will stop and congratulate me. I've been injured for two seasons, so it's been fun. I'm being recognized for what I'm doing to help the team, and so I think it makes me want to push myself that much harder. It's hard to play a sport, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
