My guest today is Kurtis Cooper. Kurtis is a senior at McMinnville High School in McMinnville, Oregon.
Kurtis, thanks for taking the time to chat with us at 9 Inning Know it All. Please tell us more about yourself.
I’m a serious sports fanatic, I enjoy hanging out with friends and family and having a good time.
How’s your senior season going so far?
Right now we are doing pretty good, we are 8-6 and in a pretty good place to make a run in our league. I think our team is a pretty talented group with a lot more experience then last year. As for my season, it’s been going okay. I was struggling at the plate but I’m starting to come out of it. I did have a scary moment about four or five games into the season when I sprained my ankle sliding into second base. It really wasn’t that bad though and it only took my out of one game.
Who has been your influences growing up?
Without a doubt my biggest influence in my life growing up were my parents. They have always been there for me and help guide the way. They taught me good values and to be a good person. I wouldn’t the person I am today without them.
What are your plans after high school? Any baseball at the college level?
Well I plan to go to either the University of Oregon or Pacific University next fall. Thus far I have not been talked to by any baseball coaches to play on at the next level, I wish to continue my baseball career so I guess I will try to walk on or play some form of baseball and just keep the dream alive.
Who has been the toughest pitcher you’ve faced?
You know I’d have to say the toughest guy I’ve ever faced in Christian Martinek at Jesuit. He throws at least a 90 mph fastball and has about an 80 mph slider.
What has your experience been like playing at McMinnville High School?
You know playing at MHS has been a great experience for me but a crazy one as well. Started out by playing freshman ball and only won two games that whole season. Then that summer/spring I was brought up and was a swing player and was apart if a Conference Championship team and a quarter finalist in the state playoffs.
I learned a lot from them in many ways like work ethic and a positive attitude on the diamond from guys like Chris Haddeland and Zev Egli. Then last year we had some struggles only having two seniors on the team, and a really inexperienced team, we only won seven games. But from there we all came together and figured it out and finished 3rd in the OIBA State tournament as a one seed. And I think we have a pretty dang good club this year. The coaching along the way I couldn’t have asked for anything better, they set our team up to win ball games and commit to the team 100%
Is there a team that you like to follow? How about a player or players?
People think I’m crazy for it but I am a die hard Chicago Cubs fan and will be until the day I die. It’s only been 105 years since we last won a World Series, I figure it can’t be much longer until we do.
What number do you wear and why?
I wear the number 15, at first it was just was just because it was the jersey thrown at me when I made my first varsity game roster. But from then I looked at it a little closer and it actually makes a lot of sense. My birthday is January 5th so 1/5. I play the 3 and at the time I was a five hitter so 3×5. And most importantly jersey sizes now a days are correlated with number so if I want a jersey that fits I have to be a number over 10.
Do you have any pregame rituals?
I’m a very superstitious when it comes to game day. I can’t touch the lines coming in or off the field so I jump over them, I have to touch 1st before I can do anything while taking infield. I have to play catch with the same person every day. And I have to put on my stuff the same way every game.
What other sports do you play? And what positions?
I also play football, my primary position is linebacker and I also played offensive line. I might be playing football at Pacific if I decide to go there.
I’m going to name a few players, tell us what you think of them.
1. Bryce Harper- Great baseball player definitely on his way to be one of baseballs greats.
2. Ryan Braun- RBI magnet, wish I had him on my fantasy team.
3. Mike Trout- Web-Jam poster child, future hall of fame’r and is an absolute stud that can rake.
4. Joe Paterson- Is a guy that I really respect and hope that someday I can be at the same level he is. Going from McMinnville to the Big Leagues is huge and I look up to him for it.
5. Josh Reddick- Might have the most interesting physical appearance in all of baseball and need to get endorsed by Gillette.
Give us your top five songs of all time.
Cha cha slide
Levels Skrillex remix
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
Sweet Caroline
Love on Top
What advice would you give to younger players?
Never give up in the game that you love, always try your best and play as much as you can while making friends along the way because you never know when you will have to put those cleats on the shelf for the last time.
Kurtis, thanks for taking the time to chat with us. Is there anything you would like to add?
Follow me on twitter @KurtzBlurtz Enjoy life to the fullest. If you think can you can, if you think you can’t you right. And just do your best.