Star Tribune reporter Jim Paulsen talked to East Ridge catcher Taylor LeMay.

• Most memorable moment as a high school athlete? Hitting a walk-off home run against Roseville at our inaugural home game to get the first win ever for East Ridge.

• First softball memory: Fall ball when I was 11 years old, playing ball with 14- year-olds. They all seemed so big and old compared to me, and then a lot of them became my teammates and friends in the years to come.

•  How important is softball to you? It’s a huge part of my life, and I can’t imagine my life without it.

• Three things you couldn’t play without: My visor, my sunglasses and Pixy Stix. 

• Softball is... Competitive, fast-paced and a game of strategy and skill. My coaches call it a “game of inches.” It’s awesome.

• Strangest thing experienced during a game? In a tournament in Blaine … the skies got dark.  It got windy, and the tornado sirens went off while we were on the field. There was actually a tornado spotted in the area. We all basically forgot about the game and left for shelter as fast as we could!

• Favorite part of a game: I love getting up to bat and getting a key hit in a clutch situation.

• What team really motivates you? Our rivals [are] Park and Woodbury. It makes for a really intense game.

• A food you cannot resist: French fries. They are so bad for you, but I love them.