Friendly Encounters: Natalie Hernandez and Kenzie Parker

Friendly Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

Kenzie Parker is a young softball player and a huge fan of the Chicago Bandits. Her family lives in Michigan, but has made a few trips to Chicago for games.

Last season, I asked Kenzie if she wanted to be part of my interviews with the Bandits. Even though she couldn't be here in person, Kenzie gave me questions fo some of the players. It was always fun to get a different perspective on the questions and I know the players liked it, too.

Kenzie's favorite player is Natalie Hernandez. Natalie also happens to be the only remaining Bandit from my first year of covering the team. Kenzie and Nat have a special bond. Natalie always tries to make extra time for Kenzie when she is at a game. It's part of Natalie's nature. She is a great ambassador for the league.

The NPF is full of elite athletes who play for the love of the game, the fans and the growth of the sport. Players like Natalie are the main reason why I love covering the Bandits and the NPF. I see what Natalie means to Kenzie and so many other young fans and it is heartwarming.

You can check out all of my interviews with the Bandits over the last 5 seasons at the Johngy's Beat Chicago Bandits YouTube playlist. Kenzie's contributions can be found in many of the interviews from 2017 and 2018.

Natalie Hernandez and Kenzie Parker in Rosemont, IL-June 2018.

On the Beat With Lacey Waldrop of the Chicago Bandits 2017

We are very happy to be back "On the Beat" with the back-to-back reigning National Pro Fastpitch champion Chicago Bandits.  Today, our coverage brings us to pitcher Lacey Waldrop.

Wearing #13, Lacey proves that she doesn't believe in bad luck and that talent supersedes such thoughts.  In our interview last year, she talked about her attitude towards the game in terms of being serious, but not overly serious.  It again stems from her abilities and her belief system.  Lacey's maturity is evident on and off the field.
She is off to a solid start this season.  As of this writing, Lacey is 3-2 with an ERA of 1.81.  She also has 20 strikeouts in 31 innings.

This season, we talked to Lacey about winning her second title in the NPF.  We also talked about her debut in the NPF, which was a one-hitter.

I got a little help in the interview from Kenzie Parker, young softball player and superfan of the Bandits.  Kenzie submitted three questions for Lacey to answer.

I liked Kenzie's contribution.  It's good to get the perspective of a young fan.  I think other young fans and players will benefit from her questions.

A big thanks to the Chicago Bandits for their continued hospitality.  I also appreciate Lacey's time and consideration this season and in the past.  She's another great role model and elite athlete of the Bandits and we are happy to have her here!  For more info on Lacey and the Bandits, check out ChicagoBandits.com.

On The Beat With Natalie Hernandez of the Chicago Bandits 2017

We are loving being back "On the Beat" with the back-to-back reigning National Pro Fastpitch champion Chicago Bandits.  Today, our coverage brings us to Natalie Hernandez, one of a handful of players we have interviewed in each of our four seasons.
Natalie was a star shortstop at the University of Illinois at Chicago.  She made the Bandits after an open tryout and has been producing ever since.  Sometimes, she is called a "utility" player, because of her versatility, but last season, she was seventh on the team in games started, games played and at bats, which basically means she was a regular starter, just at a few different positions.
Her versatility (and her attitude about it) shows the type of professional that Natalie is.  She is all about the team.  It has been a pleasure watching her develop over the last four seasons and even more of a pleasure to speak to her and know her a bit.  She's an elite athlete, a great role model and a fine young woman.
In our interview below, I asked Natalie about playing so many positions.  As expected, her answer showed her the athlete mindset which makes her special.
Since I have interviewed Natalie a few times before and since there is one very special fan of Natalie, I did something a little different with this interview.  I asked superfan and young softball player MacKenzie Parker (the subject of yesterday's Friendly Encounters piece) to submit a couple questions for Natalie.  Kenzie was more than up for the challenge, giving me two excellent questions.  Natalie was happy to answer the questions and to follow up with a little discussion on what fans like Kenzie mean to her.
I really enjoyed this interview and "working" with Kenzie.  This is a perfect example of the best parts of the NPF and the Bandits.  This is just one reason why I love doing what I do.  I hope one day to be able to interview Kenzie as a Bandit.
Natalie is a great example of the quality of athlete and person playing for the Bandits.  They truly are a great team on and off the field.  Go to ChicagoBandits.com for more info and go to a game for a lot more fun!
As always, I thank the Chicago Bandits for their hospitality and allowing me access.  I also thank Natalie for her time and consideration over the last four seasons!
Finally, thank you to Kenzie and her family for helping me with this!  Keep up the great work, Kenzie.  You're going to do fantastic things in life.

Friendly Encounters: Natalie Hernandez and Kenzie Parker

This is a weekly series about friends who have met celebrities.

Today is a very special edition of Friendly Encounters.  It warms my heart and is one of many examples of why I love covering the Chicago Bandits.
Natalie Hernandez is one of a handful of Bandits who have been with the team the four years I have covered them.  A star shortstop at UIC, she earned her spot on the team via an open tryout.  Over her four seasons, Natalie has shown her versatility and team attitude by playing several positions.  She is also one of the most popular players.
One young fan who agrees with me is MacKenzie Parker.  Kenzie is a 12 year old softball player from Michigan who just might be Natalie's biggest fan.  Her goal is to become a professional softball player (and my goal is to someday interview her as a pro).
Kenzie and her family are big supporters of the Bandits.  They have made the trek to see the Bandits play in Rosemont and Kenzie has enjoyed the "Bandit for a Day" experience and I know the Bandits enjoyed having her there.
Obviously, this is about the special relationship between Kenzie and Natalie and there is nobody better to discuss that than Kenzie herself.  I'll let Kenzie take it from here.

I started playing softball for the YMCA when I was 4, until I was old enough to play T-ball, I love playing softball my favorite positions are pitcher and 1st baseman, though I do play other positions if my team needs me. It is a lot of fun, but a lot of hard work. I practice with my team and on my own. I have played on my travel team now for 3 years. I was 11 when I hit my first home run out of the ballpark, which was really cool.
I think one if the things I am most proud of is working hard through the fall and winter to be asked to play on the team, When I tried out I did not make the team, but the hard work I put in got me a place in this travel team. One day I hope to play in college and eventually play in the NPF. I also would like to coach someday. I often help out when my younger sister's team practices, when I can.
My favorite player is Natalie Hernandez. I really look up to her. She worked out to be part of the Bandits as I did to make my team, always giving her best in the field, hitting and helping her teammates. You can really tell she loves the game and I admire that. She also takes time for girls like me. My parents drove me from Michigan to watch a game. I was Bandit for a day. Natalie made sure to say "hi" and that meant a lot. One day I hope to be like her, and maybe inspire someone like she inspires me to always work hard and love the game. Thank you Natalie for encouraging me to do my best in softball and in school.

I can add nothing more to this.  Kenzie stated it all very well.  Thank you to Kenzie and her family for contributing here.
I encourage everyone to check back tomorrow for my interview with Natalie, featuring some questions submitted by Kenzie. It was a lot of fun!

MacKenzie Parker and Natalie Hernandez in Rosemont, IL-Summer 2016.