By Scott Elpers

 Christian Hardy stuck around the Derby Twins’ dugout after a game waiting for his chance to speak with players and coaches. He was not looking for an autograph, he was there to work.

Hardy knew he wanted a career in sports journalism, and as a young Derby High School student he was going to make the early stages of his future profession happen on his own. 

Hardy, a 15-year-old upcoming junior at DHS, started writing articles for the Derby Twins’ website at the end of the 2011 season. As the Twins started up again this season, Hardy upped his work load to keeping statistics, running a podcast and even plans to do some web announcing of the games in the future.

“I knew I wanted to write, so I just approached Jeff (Wells, Twins’ general manager) and asked him if he’d let me do it,” Hardy said. “It just built up from there.”

Although Hardy is only 15, he’s been around sports for nearly a decade. He started running a fantasy football team with his dad, John Hardy, when he was 5 years old. Before long, he began writing fantasy football articles for websites.  

His family also hosted Twins players when he was growing up and John managed the team’s website, giving Christian access to the team’s coaches and players.

Hardy now spends about 15 hours a week writing stories, interviewing players and coaches and keeping stats. He doesn’t get paid, but he said it has given him valuable work experience early on.

“I wanted to do something sports-related, and this opportunity was available,” Hardy said. “It’s worked out great. I talk to these guys frequently. I don’t get too nervous. I try to remember they are people just like us.”

Hardy wants to continue his trek through sports journalism. He continues to write more and more for the Twins, and he’s never stopped writing fantasy football articles.

“It’s easy when you like to do it,” he said.