Podcast journeys into sports columnist Kerry Benefield’s past

Press Democrat Sports Columnist Kerry Benefield interviews athletes for a living, but a recent chat with a Sonoma County sports icon left her starstruck.

With 'Welcome to the Time Machine,' Benefield kicks off Overtime, the first in a new series of Press Democrat podcasts.

Benefield reconnects with Marshall Brant, a prep sports legend of her childhood who played baseball at Rancho Cotate, Santa Rosa Junior College, Sonoma State and, eventually, in the major leagues. He made his debut with the New York Yankees in 1980 before going on to play for the Oakland Athletics and in Japan.

(For a recent Benefield column on Brant's induction into the International League Hall of Fame, click here.)

As Benefield calls Brant to interview him, she's nervous. Her voice shakes. He used to play basketball with her in the driveway, and he went on to be a pro athlete. What would she say?

Over the next month, The Press Democrat will launch more podcasts on Pressdemocrat.com. Topics will range from Benefield's pieces on local sports to subjects including local musicians and the process of journalism. To find this podcast on iTunes, click here.