Today we spotlight a top junior Midwest pitcher who takes lessons with one of the best ever in college and fell in love with one particular program even though she had interest from many other schools…

 

Name: KENDAL JUDGE
Grad Year: 2016
Pos: P/IF
High School: Providence Catholic (New Lenox, Ill.)
GPA: 3.4
Club: Mizuno Hawks-Judge                                                   
Honors: Illinois Class 4A All-State, two-time OnDeck National Elite Future Camp invitee (2013, ’12)    
College: Minnesota
 

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FullCountSoftball.com: You’re known as a hard-working, fiercely competitive player… sound like an accurate scouting report on yourself? How would you evaluate yourself if you were a coach?
Kendal Judge: I think the above evaluation is pretty much who I am. My father instilled my work ethic in me from when I was 8 years old and I think Nancy Evans has refined it even more for me now. I will tell you that I absolutely hate to lose!

 
FCS: You’ve taken pitching lessons from Nancy Evans, the former great at Arizona… are you still taking from her? What is a key thing or top you’ve learned from her?
KJ: Yes, I am still taking lessons from Nancy and she is an assistant coach of my travel team. I have learned countless things from Nancy, including the mental and physical aspects of my game, but I would have to say the most valuable lesson she has taught me is to go the extra mile to make yourself that much better to set yourself apart from everyone else.
 

FCS: Let’s get technical—what pitches are in your repertoire and what is your go-to pitch when it’s a FULL COUNT (see what I did there?) and you need an out?
KJ: The pitches I throw are drop, change, rise, curve, and screw. The pitch I am most comfortable with whenever I need to get a strike is my rise ball.

FCS.com: You were recruited from programs all over the nation… did you consider leaving the Midwest, perhaps going to the coasts or warm weather?
KJ: I have considered leaving the Midwest ever since I have been little, and, yes, I guess the thought had crossed my mind about leaving for warmer climates, but in the end Minnesota and its coaching staff was a perfect fit for me. The Minnesota staff is doing special things up there. My parents took me to the Big 10 Championship to watch them last year and when they beat Michigan for the title it felt “electric” in the stadium!

FCS: You went to some of the OnDeck camps and launched yourself there… what sticks out in your mind most about those events?
KJ: What sticks out most to me from being a part of these camps is just the amazing experiences I got to be a part of: visiting California for the first time, working out with athletes from all over the country and getting to meet Mr. and Mrs. (Derek and Joann) Allister. For me just being able to carry those memories of the camp will last for a lifetime. I also really enjoyed pitching for Mike Smith’s SoCal Athletics 16U team after the camp and meeting all of those players!

FCS: You are headed to the Big Ten and will still be fairly close to home… what was your recruiting process like? What schools did you visit and what did you like about each of your finalists?
KJ: I enjoyed my recruiting process very much because being recognized by so many colleges made me that much more determined to make them love me and potentially play for their school. I visited Florida, Alabama, Cal Berkeley and Minnesota. I also was getting ready to go and visit Auburn, Wisconsin, and Tennessee, but I fell in love with Minnesota and never looked back. Visiting the schools I did, allowed me to experience many different atmospheres, coaches, and campuses but nothing compares to the University of Minnesota.
 

FCS.com: What do you remember about your committing to the Gopher coaches?
KJ: I vividly remember Coach (Jessica) Allister being completely ecstatic and immediately telling the rest of the coaching staff. It made me feel so good knowing that I was going somewhere where I loved, and was loved at the same time. Minnesota feels like home, and I cannot wait for it to be my home.
 
FCS.com: How far away from home will be? Was distance a factor in your decision at all? What other factors were key in your mind?
KJ: I will be about seven hours by car and about an hour plane ride away. Yes, distance was a factor in my decision because I have always wanted to get out of Illinois and be fairly far from home. Some other key factors in my decision were that I wanted to go somewhere where they had a big campus, a football team, and I had to like all of the whole coaching staff.

FCS.com: What’s been a top memory or two for you in your softball career?
KJ: A few of my favorite memories during my softball career are:

• Being the only pitcher from Illinois invited to the OnDeck National elite camp
• Pitching a no-hitter my first game on varsity as a freshman
• Winning The Chicago Metro State Championship for ASA two years in a row

 
Quick Hitters (short answers)

 
Where do you see yourself after your playing days end?
I see myself staying around the softball world, hopefully as a coach, but also having a family and a job.

What’s the best thing about having your dad as a coach?
The best thing about having my dad as a coach is probably having my dad constantly being on me, pushing me to be the best I can be, and never letting me off easy all while being my biggest supporter.

The worst?
The ride home from games when I did not do my best!

Fill in the blank… I’m happiest when:
… I am doing a few things: playing softball, spending time with friends and family, playing with my dog, eating, and sleeping.

What do you think is the No. 1 issue in the world today?
The economy.

Favorite color:
Blue.

Thing you wouldn’t be caught dead wearing:
Overalls and a one-piece bathing suit.

Favorite place in the world:
Somewhere on a beach.

Best vacation ever was to…
Mexico.

Describe yourself in one word?
Aggressive.

What was the last movie you saw and how would you rate it?
Heaven is for Real and I thought it was a great movie.

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?
I’m double jointed.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take one thing with you, what would it be?
My dog Metro.

Do you have any softball superstitions or rituals?
I avoid the chalk lines, put a bow in my hair and a headband, and listen to music to get me pumped up.

What’s the one song you would use to be your anthem when you play?
Timber by Kesha.