Local Athlete Spotlight: Q&A With Brenden Rempert

FRANKFORT, IL — Brenden Rempert, 13, was part of the National Championship Northeast team with boys from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and New York that played against other all-American from the Southwest, South Central, Southeast, Northeast and Midwest regions July 19-24 at USSSA Space Coast Complex in Melbourne, FL.

The Frankfort resident is entering eighth grade at Hickory Creek Middle School. He sat down with Patch to answer some questions about baseball and life.

Patch: When did you start playing baseball, and how did you become interested in the sport?

Rempert: I started baseball when I was 8 years old. One of my best friends' dad was a coach, and I started playing on his team.

Whom do you look up to and why?

My mom and dad because they always encourage me to do new things, and they work hard to do things for me and let me play the sports I want to play.

What's been your favorite memory of baseball so far?

We were in a tournament and it was the second-to-last game. The other team were being bad sports. They were being really obnoxious. We just kept playing hard, and we beat them 7-6.

What's something most people don't know about the sport?

How to throw different pitches and throw them well. [The secret is] how you hold the ball differently for each pitch.

You recently were part of a team that won a national tournament in Florida. What were you feeling when you won?

We were excited. We had amazing pitchers the whole game. In the seventh inning, there was a runner on second and our team hit a home run to get us going. After that, we just kept getting contact and getting on base and scoring.

What has been the biggest challenge for you in baseball so far?

Finding time to practice because I also play volleyball and football.

Who is your favorite baseball player?

Javier Baez (of the Chicago Cubs) because he's a good fielder, and he's good at running the bases.

Do you have any pregame rituals?

My mom always talks to me and gives me a pep talk before each game.

If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?

I would like to have dinner with the University of Miami (Florida) baseball coach because I want to go there, and I hope to play baseball in college.

What's next for you?

Right now I'm playing for The Dingers 14U team. And then I'm going to play for Hickory Creek Middle School. In high school I want to play for Lincoln-Way East. I'm also going to try out for Chicago Elite 15U.