May 22, 2011
Brandon Shelton Q&A
by Donnell Coley, ODU Sports Information Intern.
Q. What are your thoughts on this season?A: I think the whole season we have been on a steady climb and we are just trying to keep it going now.
Q. How has your team role changed this season?A. When I started out this year in the line up I was hitting second and now I'm in the lead off spot. Before, my job was to get the person who is already on base over to the next base and do other little things. Now my job is still the same but I have to get on base and get into scoring position for my other teammates.
Q. What has been the hardest part of this season for the team?A. Overcoming adversity. Nobody thought we were going to be this good. We were picked to finish seventh or eighth in the conference and we took that going in to games against teams picked to finish in the top four.
Q. How did you prepare for this season?A. Just taking a lot of swings. The more swings you take during the off-season the more comfortable your swing is going to feel.
Q. Who has been the most influential on your game?A. My high school coach Wiley Lee. He played second base here at ODU just like I am now. Without him, there is no Brandon Shelton. He is what I attribute my baseball success to.
Q. What connection is there between Wiley Lee and those of you on the team who come from Great Bridge High School?A. I think there is a a big connection with a lot of the local guys around here. When Coach Lee won State Championships while I was playing here I congratulated them and now they congratulate us when we win. So it brings everything back to full circle.
Q. The team is ranked second in the CAA, to what/who do you attribute this success?A. The fact that our team is really close. A bunch of us have been here for a while so we know each other, and the crop of freshman just joined in like they had known us for two to three years.
Q. What are the goals for the rest of the season?A. We would like to come in first place in the CAA rolling in to the tournament. Then once you get to the tournament all bets are off. Anybody can beat anybody.
Q. What do you like most about playing for ODU?A. It's a growing program and the people on the team now are apart of building that growing tradition. The fact that your laying the foundation for future players is a really cool thing.
Q. What are your superstitions?A. I'm a big pine tar guy. I put it all over my bat and helmet. I have been wearing the same socks all season too.
Q. Favorite MLB team?A. New York Yankees.
Q. Favorite player?A. Brandon Phillips.
Q. Hobbies?A. Downloading music. I listen to almost everything now.