Faces off the Field: Vanessa Tamayo, senior first baseman, Stony Point

Tell me something about the first time you played organized softball.

I was 4 years old when I started T-ball. I was always coached by my dad and that meant a lot to us and our relationship. We played a three-game series with a doubleheader. We lost the first game, won the second and lost the third in a nail-biting game, I went 3 for 4 with multiple RBIs that was critical for us staying in the game. A heartbreaking call changed the outcome of the game and we lost by one.

What has been your favorite softball memory in high school?

When my team and I went to the second round of payoffs last year to play Klein Oak. It was a great experience.

Has sports taught you any lessons you apply to daily life?

Sports have definitely taught me the importance of hard work and dedication. If you want something you have to work for it — no one will do it for you.

What are your plans after you graduate?

I will be attending East Central University in Oklahoma to continue playing softball. I will be majoring in psychology.

Why psychology?

I'm interested in psychology because I think it is fascinating how people’s minds work. There is a reason behind everything we do, how we act, how we talk and how we socialize.

If you could have dinner with four people in the history of the world, who would they be?

Robin Williams, Tupac, Michael Jordan and Selena.

Why Tupac?

It would be such a cool experience to interact with him and get to know him outside of his music.

If you had a choice of being valedictorian of your school or All-State in softball, what would you choose?

Valedictorian. Softball is just a partial time in my life. I think to be extremely smart will get one further in life. Knowledge is power.

Tell me something about you most people don't know.

I love to dance. I have always danced for fun and to be goofy. No matter where I was, at home, on the softball field, in school, it’s just something that I have always done and it makes me happy. I just hear music and start going.

What do you see yourself doing for a living?

I’ve been looking at a career in criminology, I think the way people think and why they do the things they do is so interesting.

Outside of sports, what will you remember most about high school?

I’ll remember the people I met and the people I grew up with. I watched everyone and myself grow into adults.

What is your favorite movie?

"Love and Basketball." It’s my favorite because I love older movies from the 80s, 90s, 2000s. Plus, I’m a sucker for romance.