August 25, 2025 • 30 mins
This week, AJ sits down with Blaze Baddie, Baylee Klingler, for an inspiring conversation. They dive into her groundbreaking achievements, the mental strategies behind her game, the support system that’s fueled her journey, and the unstoppable drive that keeps her pushing boundaries.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Dropping Diamonds with AJ Andrews is an iHeart women's sports
production in partnership with Athletes, Elimited Softball League and Deep
Blue Sports and Entertainment. Welcome to Dropping Diamonds with Me,
aj Andrews, where we dive headfirst into the world of softball.
(00:23):
Joining me today is someone who's ultra fabulous, ultra amazing.
She is on the AUSL Blaze. She is an All
American out of Washington. She you can see her wearing
USA across her chest representing the United States. But she
was also top three finalists for Player of the Year.
(00:44):
She became the fourth player impacted twelve history to lead
the league in batting average. And I want you guys
to know that that has not stopped because in Pro
Ball she is also leading the league in batting average
with a five hundred batting appage. Yes five hundred mean
she gets on have time that she is up to
the blate. Welcome the one, the only Bailey Clinger. Eh,
(01:10):
thank you for joining me. Thanks for having me. Okay, Well,
when I start everything off, I like to start off
with an affirmation to keep things off, get us good,
get us flowing in a vibe. So the quote that
I like to jump off with is success isn't owned,
it's least and rent is due every day. And so
an affirmation that I pull from that is that if
(01:33):
I look at the mirror and say, today I'm gonna
pay off my rent of this multimillion dollar mansion, exactly
mean I gotta go hard today. Yeah, exactly. It's a
lot of rent I gotta pay today, a lot of rent.
That's a big rent I got. It's a big rent.
So I'm going in for the multimillion dollar mansion. Is
there a quote that you like to live by?
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Oh my gosh, that's such a good question. I think
it just depends on the vibe and the energy of
the day. Like if I'm feeling a little blah, I'm like,
I have great vibes today the energy is up and like, yeah,
I don't know, it depends on the day.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
But I am a big affirmation girly. So I love
that I write my little journal in all the team. Okay,
So what's like an affirmation we can okay? Okay? Yeah, sorry, together,
don't be sorry? Yeah yeah sorry. Let me think.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Hmmm, I think I'm gonna go simple. I'm living my
best life. I'm exuding positive energy, Yes, and I'm encouraging
those around.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Me living her best life exuding positive energy and encouraging
those around Yes. That sounds like that's a multi million
dollar rent right there. It is, and I rent doing
the Lord's work. I love that. Bailey. Well, really you
are not only a phenomenal softball player, but you do
(02:56):
encourage and you motivate so many people that you get
to be around and just spend the time with. When
you think about that being something that's important to you,
because you wouldn't have said that if it wasn't something
that's truly within why does that mean so much? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (03:11):
I just think about little b Kay, who is like
ultra competitive in her head, and like it always felt
like it was me against the world, and now I'm like,
you really never know what someone's going through, So like
if I can be a little light in their day,
like I want to do that. And at the end
of the day, like, of course we're going to think
about softball in like what we do and how we're performing.
(03:32):
But like looking back, even I feel like I learned
this after college, Like what really sticks with you is
like your connections that you make and how you make
others feel, And I think that sticks with me more
than like any accolade in a lot of ways, because
that's what's important. And like whenever you get done with
the day and you can reflect back on the friends
(03:53):
that you have and like the connections that you built,
it's like more rewarding than just like maybe being by
yourself and having a tunnel vision for things.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
That they matter, but they don't really matter in the
grand scheme of things. One of my favorite quotes and
things to live by, it's along the lines of that
of you don't always remember what people say, but you
always remember how they made you feel. Is there one
moment or maybe a person that you just you always
remembered their energy or the way they feel, whether it
(04:21):
be a coach, a player, or just someone you came
across one day.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Yeah, I think honestly, all of the women in this
league are like, it's so cool to see because everyone's
like the best of the game, but like everyone wants
to see each other win, which is so cool because
like I'm sure you know, like it's not always like that.
In an environment where it's filled with like powerful women,
it can be like sometimes ultra competitive and it still is,
(04:48):
but it's not in a way that's like Caddie or
maybe how you like everyone wants to encourage each other
and see each other do good. And also coach Charrette Washington,
she was just like micro like she knew exactly what
I needed, even when I didn't want to hear it.
She always kept it real with me, and I think
I really cherish her. Especially coming out of college, you
(05:09):
get a different perspective and just how much she wanted
to see me win and see us win as a team,
so her as well.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
What is something that one of the players here at
AUSL or Coach Tar have said that kind of shifted
your perspective or made you look at something in a
different way. I don't know if it was just one thing.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
It's just like the belief that they have in me.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
It's so cool.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Just to like have someone in your corner who's like
Tinto's down for you is just such an awesome feeling,
and it frees you up in a lot of ways.
So I'm really thankful to like have experienced stuff feeling.
I guess, so, yeah, that feeling. Did you have it,
I hope or I imagine you had it.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
With your family because you come from, of course, a
long line of athleticism within your family, whether it's your sister,
your dad, your uncles. How much did your family influence
the person a player you are today? Oh my gosh,
so much.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
I like owe everything to them because growing up, I mean,
I'm the youngest sibling, and like you said, everyone of
my family's competitive, so like I was always a little
one that was like my brother is huge, she's like
six whatever, and he's like a big guy, and I'm
like playing football against him, like I can tackle you,
no problem, Like just super competitive. But I think something
(06:24):
that they instilled in me was like no one's gonna
do it for you. Like I'm thankful to have parents
who never really forced me to like go practice or
go do whatever. They're just like, if you want it,
you're gonna go get it, and you know what it takes,
and we're not gonna push you.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Like instill that in yourself.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
And I feel like, of course they like motivated me
and whatever, but it was never like forced upon me,
so that like fire and drive kind of came authentically.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
And I am a big.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Believer in like preparation builds confidence, so like having that
preparation by myself. I was able to be confident in
my work and like myself in my own way, not
like in any like depending on external things, if that
makes sense.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Yeah, yeah, But he's like instilling that confidence and insplaining
that drive. Did that come from the hard work? Absolutely?
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Yeah, because it's so like you know, it's so rewarding
to like work for something and you see that growth
and then just keep going.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
And it's like addicting in a way to like in
the grind and like pay your rent every day. I
love that pay that rent. I mean, I hate to
do in real life, but I'd like to pay rents. Yeah, figuratively,
thank you. I love to figuratively pay rent. I put
a lot of hard work in it. But when we
(07:39):
talk about your family and your sister also playing softball,
you know, me and a Leah playing softball and we
have a younger sister, Athena. The being able to watch
her grow in the game and being able to compete
and seeing how we can get each other better. How
is that relationship with your sister or even your dad
who's and your uncle's played football. We how have they
(08:01):
really been able to help you develop as a player. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
I mean, I think the biggest thing that they understand
from an athlete's standpoint is like, whatever you need, we're
here for you. If you need a vent, that's awesome.
If you need to cry, do it. Like if you
need to kick in the butt, we also got you
in that. So I think that's cool because they really
understand what it's like to be an athlete and a
professional athlete at that. But yeah, my sister's like my
(08:26):
number one fan and she has two kids and they
always watch our games and cheer us on.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
So it's really cool to see those. They never like
there's no trash talking. I always just encouragement.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Well maybe growing up, like family game night for sure
got heated and like what the crazy part is my
mom's the most competitive out of all of us. Like
she danced in the NFL, so she's an athlete as well,
but it's like a different kind of athlete. And she's like, no,
I'm winning, Like any card game, I'm winning. If she
doesn't win, it's like we're playing another round. It's one am,
and we're like, okay, let's wrap it up. Yeah, it
(09:01):
doesn't matter if she's winning. Yeah, and it's like no,
matter what you guys do, uh huh and love her
playing checkers and it's absolutely are you like that too?
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Absolutely? Yeah. Me and my mom are like, we're like twins. Oh,
what's like the one thing that you refuse to lose
at of ensetball? Mm hmm, like what hit people want
to beat you in? Like you are confident you will
not beat me.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
In this literally anything period, Bailey thing like I hate losing,
like I refuse to lose. And it's like one of
those things where it's like if I try something new
and I'm not immediately good at it, I'm like, Okay,
well now I need to do like pickleball lessons to
get better, like you know what I mean, whatever.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
It is, but that's how I am at. I tried
and I tried golf for the first time, and I
wasn't immediately good. I was like I was actually visibly upset. No,
we were right, They're like, aj, I'm like, yeah, I
know you don't understand.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Like I'm like I'm in my cute outfit going yeah,
what that's not.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Even real life. Let's take a quick break to hear
word from our sponsor. Well, one thing that you are
I mean you're hit everything, obviously, but softball batting five hundred,
(10:19):
you hit the first Grand Slam in AUSL history has
to feel to be history maker. Oh my gosh, it
feels so cool. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
It just feels like I don't know what a cool
moment for softball, not even just for me, but just
for our league to have first and like we're really
making history right now, y'all.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
It's crazy. What is your approach at the plate to
be able to go in so confidently? And to me,
it seems like I'm just watching you watching you hit.
It looks like you just know you're gonna get hit
every time you go up. That's the vibe I want
to have. There is like no plan.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
I mean people ask me all the time, like where
are you sitting on a certain pitch or in like
dancers know, I'm just like baby to the picture, Like
if you throw me a strike, I'm gonna have to
hit it, like you know.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
And just like that confidence.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
I mean, it didn't happen overnight, Just like we were
talking about with preparation, like with how much I've put
into like my craft, there's no reason why I shouldn't
be confident. Stepping up to the play. And I think
sometimes softball is a humbling game and you want to
feel like not confident. But I mean, at the end
of the day, you can fake it till you make
it too. And like the way you talk to yourself
(11:27):
affirmations like it really matters. And I think in those moments,
even whenever like you're not feeling your bad. My favorite
quote ever is like, you're not that bad of a
softball player that you have to feel good to play good.
So yeah, on days where I don't necessarily feel good,
I'm like, well, I've put in the work to feel confident.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
You're not that bad of a softball player to have
to feel good to play good. Yeah, meaning you can
you can.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Show you don't have to feel good to play good.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
You can play good.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
Under any sarch cumstance in any situation.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
How did how long did it take you to learn that?
And to embrace that, because it's one thing to say it,
but then it's another thing to go through the day
and be like, oh man, I am not seeing the ball.
I don't feel good at all today. Yeah, and then
to embrace it and say, okay, but this next ab
will be different from the last.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Honestly, my junior year of college, I really got into
like the mental side of the game. And I heard
that from Ken Ravesa. He's like a mental coach. He
has a lot of stuff on YouTube and everything. But yeah,
I kind of had the mindset of a growth mindset
and like if I got out, it didn't matter because
I'm gonna make the adjustment and I will be successful
(12:40):
my next at and kind of having that, like just
exuding confidence. It's like the momentum changes the way that
you think, you know what I mean, Like, once you
get rolling in that direction, it's easy to keep that
momentum up and remain positive and like weird situations and
things like that.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
I like that, like build momentum towards poseivity so that
it stays rolling that way. Whenever it tilts towards negativity,
how do you tilt it back on on its axis. Yeah,
I think the biggest thing is just awareness.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
I Mean, nobody is going to wake up every day
their best self, but you kind of know what it means.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
To show up as your best self, if that makes sense.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
So if I know, like I'm having negative thoughts or
like saying something negative or even thinking it like I
can redirect that with a positive thought. So like in
relation to softwall, if I'm like, dang, I really got
fooled that at about that was awful, I'm like, oh,
I recognize that thought, and like, what adjustment can I
make going into this next one? Like I got this,
(13:40):
and kind of affirming myself in that way, because in
the same way you can build momentum going positive, Like
once you have one negative thought and you keep building
on that, you can spiral real quick. So I think
the first thing is recognizing that thought and redirecting it.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
Duty immediately, Like as soon as you the negative thought
comes in, what do you do? You say? Oh, hold on, yeah,
pause is like like a movie script and everything stop.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Actually change it truly, And then if I like feel
them coming back out, like overdo it and keep talking
to myself like like a crazy person in my head,
I'm like, you got this, you got this.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
I can do this. I'm built for this.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Like the more that I'm in my head with positive thoughts,
like no negative thoughts can creep in world you love
is good.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Stay de Lulu till it comes true true exactly how
I live it earlier Vida Lulu tell it's true true
mm hm. When you here with the plate the blaze.
It's the first season, inaugural season. How is the team?
How are you guys moving forward? What are you looking at?
What are the things you love the most?
Speaker 2 (14:44):
I love the most that our team truly gets along,
like we're one big group of individuals who like all
have each other's backs.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
And I think.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
The first part of the season was a little bit
rough in terms of like outcomes, but our process has
always been good, and we have a good energy on
the team and everyone gets along, we have each other's backs,
and I think that that's some good core values to
go into the second half of season. So I'm excited
to see what the season brings. The rest of the season.
(15:16):
I have high hopes for us, So I'm excited.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
What do you what are you looking forward to the
second half? Just like getting on a roll.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
I feel like we were kind of getting hot towards
the end, and we ended on a good note with
a win and now just keeping that energy rolling like
we've worked out the kinks. I think to move forward
confidently and knowing that we got this and yeah, period,
knowing that.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
You got this, do you guys have a mono. You
say anything you have somebody stay in a huddle or
the musius forward.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
It's something different every time we say that. To blaze
it up, like torch it. We call our batties.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Okay, blazed batties. You guys are fortune fire. Yeah we do.
That's our single celebration. Mm hmm that m m h
When you were finding your swing, what went into that
process of developing this is a bksewing. This is what's
(16:13):
going to make me feel successible and make me feel
good because you know, over time, our swing's changed over
and over and over again. Whend you really feel like
you settled on what you have?
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Yeah, I think in college I really just went into
it like almost by myself. Of course we had like
the resources to like help me in my swing, but
I really wanted to feel confident and know what I
needed to do without someone telling me. So I would
literally after practice, like stay in the batting cage after
hours to like ten pm, just like hitting balls, hitting
(16:44):
balls in every spot like of the zone, and just
knowing my timing, like feel like I can feel if
my swings off mid pitch, you know, like during the swing,
if I followed off, I'm like, oh, here's what I
did whatever make the adjustment. And I think it was
just really in college, like doing that, having that time
by myself to understand like where I need to be
at mentally and physically to be successful. And I just
(17:08):
really know my swing now and I'm confident in it.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
And yeah, what's your favorite thing to do to trade?
Is it the tea? Is it from toss? How do
you like know when you feel something's good or something's bad.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Yeah, I honestly would set up the machine on like
the same exact pitch like some people like programming it
to like carve you up a little bit. No, I
don't like that because I need to feel like, Okay,
I'll set it up on like a seventy mile an
hour curveball and like hit that, hit that until I
can't miss it and like I feel confident in it.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
And then I move like to a rise while up.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
And end and go, go, go until I feel confident
like I'm not missing this pitch and like just go
around the.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
Zone, okay. And so you'll do that the for like
the whole hitting session. Yeah, maybe like day by day
with the pitch. I'll start one bit. Yeah, I'm not
that crazy. Yeah, crew rise, curve rise, No, surely not
that crazy. But day by day, a different pitch, different zone,
and so I can't get it wrong. What was like
the for me? I feel like it's was the inside
(18:11):
curveball but like low, like the drop ball that doesn't drop. Yeah,
the hangar, Yes, yeah that was your pitch. No, that
was the one. I was like, oh, okay, what we
have to master this. And then but I did, and
then I don't know if I mastered it, but I
got decent at it to wear. Anytime I did make
(18:32):
contact with that pitch, it went a long way. Is
there one pitch that maybe really frustrated you but you
got through it? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (18:41):
I think my junior of college, I was like, dude,
anything up in the zone, I'm getting jammed on. So
like I would literally crank the machine like seventy at
my chest. I'm like, I'm not missing this pitch because
if you can hit this, you can hit the one
in the zone, you know.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
What I mean.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
So I would set it on that and just like
humble myself and then again I get around with and
so then once we played a picture that threw up
in the zone, Like my weakness kind of turned into
my strength. So I was like, yes, excited to hit
a ride fall finally, you know, so I think that
that's also cool though in sulfall that you can do
that and then feel good in it.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
And every day is like something new to get better at. Exactly,
there's never going to be a moment when you're gonna
feel one hundred person surely not. And then you go
back to BKA's affirmation of you don't. You're never that
bad to have to feel good to do good. Exactly.
There's more to cover, but first let's take a quick break. Really,
(19:43):
who fish some of your inspirations? Oh my gosh, my mom.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
And dad of course, just because they're amazing humans and
they've motivated me to be where I'm at today. My
sister and honestly, like my younger self, like she was,
it's just a dog and like I'm of course you're
still your younger self, but like when you start playing softball,
you know how it is, that's like your truest form
(20:07):
almost and like I was just the ultra competitive little
girl who always wanted to play, like I remember going on,
you know how wild it was growing up playing summer ball.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
You play like.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Five games and like market yeah right, I'm like I
would literally play like five games, come home and be
like dad, can we go hit in the front like
a crazy person and like just ultra competitive, borderline perfectionists,
and like wasn't afraid of anything.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
Little BK Like, that's who I look up to.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Literally, because you grow up and you, like so many
things happen, you sometimes get away from that. So yeah,
I think about her all the time and how I
can show up as her because she is just my idol.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Honestly, what would you what would you say to your
younger self?
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Oh my gosh, she didna make me cry. Honestly, just
to relax, enjoy the moment, hug your family till tell
your parents thank you more often, because you know, being
a softball parent's not easy. You're driving your kids around everywhere,
and just enjoy the moment, take it easy, don't press
(21:15):
too hard.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
What would you say if you were talking to young BK?
What would she say? She's most proud of older BK.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
For Oh my gosh, just how I've grown as a person,
not even a softball player.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Oh my gosh, I wont you cry?
Speaker 2 (21:35):
You know how it is. Softball is really humbling and
it can bring you to some like crazy places mentally,
but I don't know. I think I've always evolved from it.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
So yeah, she would belye together. Okay, I'm ready.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
She would be the most proud of that, not any
not of any accolade.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
Just like how I'm blossomed as a person. Well, you
are truly you're you exude positivity. I don't know if
you realize that, but like you walk into a space
and like you can feel your amazing energy. And so
I don't didn't know, young BK, but I promised that
(22:18):
I believe that that's what she for sure would be
proud of. You're doing it. It's you. You have the
best energy. I could just talk to you forever, love you,
and you know, I think it's also so amazing when
you talk about your mom being inspiration, because I know
your mom had breast cancer. My mom also had breast cancer,
(22:39):
and like being the oldest, and they told me and
they didn't tell my younger sisters yet and it was
such a life changing mom. I was in the seventh grade,
the eighth grade, and so like it just changed my
perspective on everything. I don't think I've whatever my perspective
(23:00):
was prior to that, it never reverted back. And I
just know that anytime I stepped out onto a field
and like I saw my mom and was able to
play for her, she was able to still be there.
It was a moment of Oh wow, I not only
am I so blessed, but I have an opportunity to
be the best because this woman is giving me the best.
(23:23):
How did your mom impact you? And you being able
to see her fight and go through cancer and come
out and win for you to now go out and
have these wins, not just on the field, but.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
Ye, I think she's just such a dog, Like she's
such a badass, and like she did it and fought
with so much grace, and like she had every right
to just break down and not show up for us,
but like she did, and like she made it to
all my I was in high school at the time,
(23:54):
she made it to all my games, Like no matter
whether she had like a chemo appointment, like she was there.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
And I don't know, she's just.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Like the strongest person I know, So like her fighting
cancer and just being a bad as. It's like, surely
I can show up on my toughest days because she
did for me and for our family. So yeah, I
just owe everything to her because she's just such a
strong woman.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
She's living through you. I think she's like the proof
you are, the proof of how strong and how amazing
of a woman she is. And so whether it's on
the field or just in life, I think that who
you are and what you've been able to do it
really just showcases. And so remember we're talked about earlier.
People don't always know what you say. You remember, you
(24:43):
make me feel. Keep going on and make inspiring everybody. Bailey,
you are. You're doing it girl, you really are. When
I'm going to go into the no flies out on
segment because you are inspiring people, but you're also disappointing
people that can't get the hit so they want to
get because you turn the field into a no fly zone.
(25:07):
What's your favorite play you've ever made?
Speaker 2 (25:09):
Oh my gosh, Okay, So last season during All Star Cup,
there was like, I think it was the top of
the seventh, bottom of the seven something like that.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Zerk was up.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
She hit like the hardest line drive I've ever seen
off the bat, and I was just like, Okay, I
didn't even see the ball.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
I just jumped up and I caught it, and I
was like, what the it was like it was a
crazy videos and video. Yeah, and it.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Was just so crazy because like the exit vela was
insane and I truly didn't think I would catch it.
I just jumped up and hoped for the best. It
was in my little glove. I said, hey, guys.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
Check, Oh oh my gosh, play in the one position.
I feel like I would be pissing my pants to
play third. How do you do it with? Like I
have the mentality to step out and play third against
these women that are hitting the exit. You that they're
hitting the ball's coming so hard off the bat and
you're just steal.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
I don't Yeah, I truly don't know. I mean, it's
just like sometimes your body just reacts and does crazy things.
But I will say thank goodness like Aubrey Leach and
Aliyah are on our team, because I'd I'd face the
biggest hitter in the world over them two back to back.
They're just so crafty and like they can both hit
(26:26):
the ball a million miles an hour and then like
drop one in front of you, Like it's nothing like okay, girl, right,
I'm yeah. I used to say that too all the
time whenever like an outfield.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
It's different obviously in the infield, but in the outfield
anytime there's someone that you know hit a bunch of
home runs, Whereas I was like, look, she's gonna hit
it over my head or somewhere where I can try
to catch it. Like you, I can catch it. I
just can't, right, there's just two options. But a sober
like she could pop it right in front of me.
She get a hold of one, hit over my head exactly,
you just have a really nice hot There's just so
(26:58):
many different ways. I used topeak nervous, but I used
to be like, how I'm going to get this person exactly?
Speaker 3 (27:03):
Play?
Speaker 1 (27:04):
What are you doing?
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Do?
Speaker 1 (27:05):
I do more of a guessing game exactly, So keep
keep doing a triple threats. That's what I say to that,
and I will say too.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Another reason why I'm so happy I Liah is on
our team, other than the fact that she's like my bestie,
is like girl, any ball that I hit it was
always her, Always her and Ciner.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
We were like never on the same team, Like Eliah,
stop doing that. I know she was over the best part.
I was like, I don't want to get this ball
just to give.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Me I love you, don't love you a girl, right,
I'm gonna have to get you out though.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
What would you say, is it your favorite failure because
we know it was a game of failure that has
ultimately led to your biggest successes. Mm hmm.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
I think my favorite failures are just the moments where
I kind of get down in the dumb mentally because
it's I don't think it's a failure, but I think
sometimes that's like the biggest catapult and to like, like
you don't exude positivety or you're not the most positive
person or like whatever unless you go through something, you
know what I mean. So I think I love it
(28:08):
in those moments where I have struggled mentally and I'm
able to come out the other end of it and
have like so much perspective.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
So I would say that what did you do to
come out on the other end? Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Just pouring to other people of course, poor into yourself too,
but like always lending a helping hand and like encouraging
others is also really encouraging to do for yourself.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
So the better.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
Yeah, the better you show up for others, like, the
more better you feel. Whenever you're feeling down, try to
hype up the next person absolutely next to you in
order to elevate raise your vibration. Absolutely feeling better.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
My good, So, Bailey, we talked about our affirmations. What
was the one we settled on?
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Oh my gosh, it was like exuding positive energy.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
Energy motivating those around us. I forget the first one
and just being amazing. Yes, out and being amazing, but
most morally, pay that rent right, Go out and pay
that rent. Know that you are putting in the hard
work that you want in order to reach your goals
and make your younger self proud. Oh, Bailey, thank you
(29:19):
so much for joining you. Dropping your diamonds. This was
so fun. I love dropping my diamonds. Let's do it again. Soon,
do it again. Seriously, We'll catch you guys next time,
because we will do it again soon on dropping diamonds.
Catch you next week on the diamond. Dropping Diamonds with
(29:42):
AJ Andrews is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership
with Athletes Unlimited Softball League and Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.
I'm your host, AJ Andrews. Our executive producer is Jesse Katz.
Tari Harrison is our supervising producer, and this episode was
mixed and mastered by Marry Do. Listen to Dropping Diamonds
with Aja Andrews on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or
(30:06):
wherever you get your podcasts.
Dropping Diamonds with AJ Andrews is an iHeart women's sports
production in partnership with Athletes, Elimited Softball League and Deep
Blue Sports and Entertainment. Welcome to Dropping Diamonds with Me,
aj Andrews, where we dive headfirst into the world of softball.
(00:23):
Joining me today is someone who's ultra fabulous, ultra amazing.
She is on the AUSL Blaze. She is an All
American out of Washington. She you can see her wearing
USA across her chest representing the United States. But she
was also top three finalists for Player of the Year.
(00:44):
She became the fourth player impacted twelve history to lead
the league in batting average. And I want you guys
to know that that has not stopped because in Pro
Ball she is also leading the league in batting average
with a five hundred batting appage. Yes five hundred mean
she gets on have time that she is up to
the blate. Welcome the one, the only Bailey Clinger. Eh,
(01:10):
thank you for joining me. Thanks for having me. Okay, Well,
when I start everything off, I like to start off
with an affirmation to keep things off, get us good,
get us flowing in a vibe. So the quote that
I like to jump off with is success isn't owned,
it's least and rent is due every day. And so
an affirmation that I pull from that is that if
(01:33):
I look at the mirror and say, today I'm gonna
pay off my rent of this multimillion dollar mansion, exactly
mean I gotta go hard today. Yeah, exactly. It's a
lot of rent I gotta pay today, a lot of rent.
That's a big rent I got. It's a big rent.
So I'm going in for the multimillion dollar mansion. Is
there a quote that you like to live by?
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Oh my gosh, that's such a good question. I think
it just depends on the vibe and the energy of
the day. Like if I'm feeling a little blah, I'm like,
I have great vibes today the energy is up and like, yeah,
I don't know, it depends on the day.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
But I am a big affirmation girly. So I love
that I write my little journal in all the team. Okay,
So what's like an affirmation we can okay? Okay? Yeah, sorry, together,
don't be sorry? Yeah yeah sorry. Let me think.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Hmmm, I think I'm gonna go simple. I'm living my
best life. I'm exuding positive energy, Yes, and I'm encouraging
those around.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Me living her best life exuding positive energy and encouraging
those around Yes. That sounds like that's a multi million
dollar rent right there. It is, and I rent doing
the Lord's work. I love that. Bailey. Well, really you
are not only a phenomenal softball player, but you do
(02:56):
encourage and you motivate so many people that you get
to be around and just spend the time with. When
you think about that being something that's important to you,
because you wouldn't have said that if it wasn't something
that's truly within why does that mean so much? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (03:11):
I just think about little b Kay, who is like
ultra competitive in her head, and like it always felt
like it was me against the world, and now I'm like,
you really never know what someone's going through, So like
if I can be a little light in their day,
like I want to do that. And at the end
of the day, like, of course we're going to think
about softball in like what we do and how we're performing.
(03:32):
But like looking back, even I feel like I learned
this after college, Like what really sticks with you is
like your connections that you make and how you make
others feel, And I think that sticks with me more
than like any accolade in a lot of ways, because
that's what's important. And like whenever you get done with
the day and you can reflect back on the friends
(03:53):
that you have and like the connections that you built,
it's like more rewarding than just like maybe being by
yourself and having a tunnel vision for things.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
That they matter, but they don't really matter in the
grand scheme of things. One of my favorite quotes and
things to live by, it's along the lines of that
of you don't always remember what people say, but you
always remember how they made you feel. Is there one
moment or maybe a person that you just you always
remembered their energy or the way they feel, whether it
(04:21):
be a coach, a player, or just someone you came
across one day.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Yeah, I think honestly, all of the women in this
league are like, it's so cool to see because everyone's
like the best of the game, but like everyone wants
to see each other win, which is so cool because
like I'm sure you know, like it's not always like that.
In an environment where it's filled with like powerful women,
it can be like sometimes ultra competitive and it still is,
(04:48):
but it's not in a way that's like Caddie or
maybe how you like everyone wants to encourage each other
and see each other do good. And also coach Charrette Washington,
she was just like micro like she knew exactly what
I needed, even when I didn't want to hear it.
She always kept it real with me, and I think
I really cherish her. Especially coming out of college, you
(05:09):
get a different perspective and just how much she wanted
to see me win and see us win as a team,
so her as well.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
What is something that one of the players here at
AUSL or Coach Tar have said that kind of shifted
your perspective or made you look at something in a
different way. I don't know if it was just one thing.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
It's just like the belief that they have in me.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
It's so cool.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Just to like have someone in your corner who's like
Tinto's down for you is just such an awesome feeling,
and it frees you up in a lot of ways.
So I'm really thankful to like have experienced stuff feeling.
I guess, so, yeah, that feeling. Did you have it,
I hope or I imagine you had it.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
With your family because you come from, of course, a
long line of athleticism within your family, whether it's your sister,
your dad, your uncles. How much did your family influence
the person a player you are today? Oh my gosh,
so much.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
I like owe everything to them because growing up, I mean,
I'm the youngest sibling, and like you said, everyone of
my family's competitive, so like I was always a little
one that was like my brother is huge, she's like
six whatever, and he's like a big guy, and I'm
like playing football against him, like I can tackle you,
no problem, Like just super competitive. But I think something
(06:24):
that they instilled in me was like no one's gonna
do it for you. Like I'm thankful to have parents
who never really forced me to like go practice or
go do whatever. They're just like, if you want it,
you're gonna go get it, and you know what it takes,
and we're not gonna push you.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Like instill that in yourself.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
And I feel like, of course they like motivated me
and whatever, but it was never like forced upon me,
so that like fire and drive kind of came authentically.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
And I am a big.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Believer in like preparation builds confidence, so like having that
preparation by myself. I was able to be confident in
my work and like myself in my own way, not
like in any like depending on external things, if that
makes sense.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Yeah, yeah, But he's like instilling that confidence and insplaining
that drive. Did that come from the hard work? Absolutely?
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Yeah, because it's so like you know, it's so rewarding
to like work for something and you see that growth
and then just keep going.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
And it's like addicting in a way to like in
the grind and like pay your rent every day. I
love that pay that rent. I mean, I hate to
do in real life, but I'd like to pay rents. Yeah, figuratively,
thank you. I love to figuratively pay rent. I put
a lot of hard work in it. But when we
(07:39):
talk about your family and your sister also playing softball,
you know, me and a Leah playing softball and we
have a younger sister, Athena. The being able to watch
her grow in the game and being able to compete
and seeing how we can get each other better. How
is that relationship with your sister or even your dad
who's and your uncle's played football. We how have they
(08:01):
really been able to help you develop as a player. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
I mean, I think the biggest thing that they understand
from an athlete's standpoint is like, whatever you need, we're
here for you. If you need a vent, that's awesome.
If you need to cry, do it. Like if you
need to kick in the butt, we also got you
in that. So I think that's cool because they really
understand what it's like to be an athlete and a
professional athlete at that. But yeah, my sister's like my
(08:26):
number one fan and she has two kids and they
always watch our games and cheer us on.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
So it's really cool to see those. They never like
there's no trash talking. I always just encouragement.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Well maybe growing up, like family game night for sure
got heated and like what the crazy part is my
mom's the most competitive out of all of us. Like
she danced in the NFL, so she's an athlete as well,
but it's like a different kind of athlete. And she's like, no,
I'm winning, Like any card game, I'm winning. If she
doesn't win, it's like we're playing another round. It's one am,
and we're like, okay, let's wrap it up. Yeah, it
(09:01):
doesn't matter if she's winning. Yeah, and it's like no,
matter what you guys do, uh huh and love her
playing checkers and it's absolutely are you like that too?
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Absolutely? Yeah. Me and my mom are like, we're like twins. Oh,
what's like the one thing that you refuse to lose
at of ensetball? Mm hmm, like what hit people want
to beat you in? Like you are confident you will
not beat me.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
In this literally anything period, Bailey thing like I hate losing,
like I refuse to lose. And it's like one of
those things where it's like if I try something new
and I'm not immediately good at it, I'm like, Okay,
well now I need to do like pickleball lessons to
get better, like you know what I mean, whatever.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
It is, but that's how I am at. I tried
and I tried golf for the first time, and I
wasn't immediately good. I was like I was actually visibly upset. No,
we were right, They're like, aj, I'm like, yeah, I
know you don't understand.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Like I'm like I'm in my cute outfit going yeah,
what that's not.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Even real life. Let's take a quick break to hear
word from our sponsor. Well, one thing that you are
I mean you're hit everything, obviously, but softball batting five hundred,
(10:19):
you hit the first Grand Slam in AUSL history has
to feel to be history maker. Oh my gosh, it
feels so cool. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
It just feels like I don't know what a cool
moment for softball, not even just for me, but just
for our league to have first and like we're really
making history right now, y'all.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
It's crazy. What is your approach at the plate to
be able to go in so confidently? And to me,
it seems like I'm just watching you watching you hit.
It looks like you just know you're gonna get hit
every time you go up. That's the vibe I want
to have. There is like no plan.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
I mean people ask me all the time, like where
are you sitting on a certain pitch or in like
dancers know, I'm just like baby to the picture, Like
if you throw me a strike, I'm gonna have to
hit it, like you know.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
And just like that confidence.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
I mean, it didn't happen overnight, Just like we were
talking about with preparation, like with how much I've put
into like my craft, there's no reason why I shouldn't
be confident. Stepping up to the play. And I think
sometimes softball is a humbling game and you want to
feel like not confident. But I mean, at the end
of the day, you can fake it till you make
it too. And like the way you talk to yourself
(11:27):
affirmations like it really matters. And I think in those moments,
even whenever like you're not feeling your bad. My favorite
quote ever is like, you're not that bad of a
softball player that you have to feel good to play good.
So yeah, on days where I don't necessarily feel good,
I'm like, well, I've put in the work to feel confident.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
You're not that bad of a softball player to have
to feel good to play good. Yeah, meaning you can
you can.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Show you don't have to feel good to play good.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
You can play good.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
Under any sarch cumstance in any situation.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
How did how long did it take you to learn that?
And to embrace that, because it's one thing to say it,
but then it's another thing to go through the day
and be like, oh man, I am not seeing the ball.
I don't feel good at all today. Yeah, and then
to embrace it and say, okay, but this next ab
will be different from the last.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Honestly, my junior year of college, I really got into
like the mental side of the game. And I heard
that from Ken Ravesa. He's like a mental coach. He
has a lot of stuff on YouTube and everything. But yeah,
I kind of had the mindset of a growth mindset
and like if I got out, it didn't matter because
I'm gonna make the adjustment and I will be successful
(12:40):
my next at and kind of having that, like just
exuding confidence. It's like the momentum changes the way that
you think, you know what I mean, Like, once you
get rolling in that direction, it's easy to keep that
momentum up and remain positive and like weird situations and
things like that.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
I like that, like build momentum towards poseivity so that
it stays rolling that way. Whenever it tilts towards negativity,
how do you tilt it back on on its axis. Yeah,
I think the biggest thing is just awareness.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
I Mean, nobody is going to wake up every day
their best self, but you kind of know what it means.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
To show up as your best self, if that makes sense.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
So if I know, like I'm having negative thoughts or
like saying something negative or even thinking it like I
can redirect that with a positive thought. So like in
relation to softwall, if I'm like, dang, I really got
fooled that at about that was awful, I'm like, oh,
I recognize that thought, and like, what adjustment can I
make going into this next one? Like I got this,
(13:40):
and kind of affirming myself in that way, because in
the same way you can build momentum going positive, Like
once you have one negative thought and you keep building
on that, you can spiral real quick. So I think
the first thing is recognizing that thought and redirecting it.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
Duty immediately, Like as soon as you the negative thought
comes in, what do you do? You say? Oh, hold on, yeah,
pause is like like a movie script and everything stop.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Actually change it truly, And then if I like feel
them coming back out, like overdo it and keep talking
to myself like like a crazy person in my head,
I'm like, you got this, you got this.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
I can do this. I'm built for this.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Like the more that I'm in my head with positive thoughts,
like no negative thoughts can creep in world you love
is good.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Stay de Lulu till it comes true true exactly how
I live it earlier Vida Lulu tell it's true true
mm hm. When you here with the plate the blaze.
It's the first season, inaugural season. How is the team?
How are you guys moving forward? What are you looking at?
What are the things you love the most?
Speaker 2 (14:44):
I love the most that our team truly gets along,
like we're one big group of individuals who like all
have each other's backs.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
And I think.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
The first part of the season was a little bit
rough in terms of like outcomes, but our process has
always been good, and we have a good energy on
the team and everyone gets along, we have each other's backs,
and I think that that's some good core values to
go into the second half of season. So I'm excited
to see what the season brings. The rest of the season.
(15:16):
I have high hopes for us, So I'm excited.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
What do you what are you looking forward to the
second half? Just like getting on a roll.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
I feel like we were kind of getting hot towards
the end, and we ended on a good note with
a win and now just keeping that energy rolling like
we've worked out the kinks. I think to move forward
confidently and knowing that we got this and yeah, period,
knowing that.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
You got this, do you guys have a mono. You
say anything you have somebody stay in a huddle or
the musius forward.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
It's something different every time we say that. To blaze
it up, like torch it. We call our batties.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Okay, blazed batties. You guys are fortune fire. Yeah we do.
That's our single celebration. Mm hmm that m m h
When you were finding your swing, what went into that
process of developing this is a bksewing. This is what's
(16:13):
going to make me feel successible and make me feel
good because you know, over time, our swing's changed over
and over and over again. Whend you really feel like
you settled on what you have?
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Yeah, I think in college I really just went into
it like almost by myself. Of course we had like
the resources to like help me in my swing, but
I really wanted to feel confident and know what I
needed to do without someone telling me. So I would
literally after practice, like stay in the batting cage after
hours to like ten pm, just like hitting balls, hitting
(16:44):
balls in every spot like of the zone, and just
knowing my timing, like feel like I can feel if
my swings off mid pitch, you know, like during the swing,
if I followed off, I'm like, oh, here's what I
did whatever make the adjustment. And I think it was
just really in college, like doing that, having that time
by myself to understand like where I need to be
at mentally and physically to be successful. And I just
(17:08):
really know my swing now and I'm confident in it.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
And yeah, what's your favorite thing to do to trade?
Is it the tea? Is it from toss? How do
you like know when you feel something's good or something's bad.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Yeah, I honestly would set up the machine on like
the same exact pitch like some people like programming it
to like carve you up a little bit. No, I
don't like that because I need to feel like, Okay,
I'll set it up on like a seventy mile an
hour curveball and like hit that, hit that until I
can't miss it and like I feel confident in it.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
And then I move like to a rise while up.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
And end and go, go, go until I feel confident
like I'm not missing this pitch and like just go
around the.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
Zone, okay. And so you'll do that the for like
the whole hitting session. Yeah, maybe like day by day
with the pitch. I'll start one bit. Yeah, I'm not
that crazy. Yeah, crew rise, curve rise, No, surely not
that crazy. But day by day, a different pitch, different zone,
and so I can't get it wrong. What was like
the for me? I feel like it's was the inside
(18:11):
curveball but like low, like the drop ball that doesn't drop. Yeah,
the hangar, Yes, yeah that was your pitch. No, that
was the one. I was like, oh, okay, what we
have to master this. And then but I did, and
then I don't know if I mastered it, but I
got decent at it to wear. Anytime I did make
(18:32):
contact with that pitch, it went a long way. Is
there one pitch that maybe really frustrated you but you
got through it? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (18:41):
I think my junior of college, I was like, dude,
anything up in the zone, I'm getting jammed on. So
like I would literally crank the machine like seventy at
my chest. I'm like, I'm not missing this pitch because
if you can hit this, you can hit the one
in the zone, you know.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
What I mean.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
So I would set it on that and just like
humble myself and then again I get around with and
so then once we played a picture that threw up
in the zone, Like my weakness kind of turned into
my strength. So I was like, yes, excited to hit
a ride fall finally, you know, so I think that
that's also cool though in sulfall that you can do
that and then feel good in it.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
And every day is like something new to get better at. Exactly,
there's never going to be a moment when you're gonna
feel one hundred person surely not. And then you go
back to BKA's affirmation of you don't. You're never that
bad to have to feel good to do good. Exactly.
There's more to cover, but first let's take a quick break. Really,
(19:43):
who fish some of your inspirations? Oh my gosh, my mom.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
And dad of course, just because they're amazing humans and
they've motivated me to be where I'm at today. My
sister and honestly, like my younger self, like she was,
it's just a dog and like I'm of course you're
still your younger self, but like when you start playing softball,
you know how it is, that's like your truest form
(20:07):
almost and like I was just the ultra competitive little
girl who always wanted to play, like I remember going on,
you know how wild it was growing up playing summer ball.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
You play like.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Five games and like market yeah right, I'm like I
would literally play like five games, come home and be
like dad, can we go hit in the front like
a crazy person and like just ultra competitive, borderline perfectionists,
and like wasn't afraid of anything.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
Little BK Like, that's who I look up to.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Literally, because you grow up and you, like so many
things happen, you sometimes get away from that. So yeah,
I think about her all the time and how I
can show up as her because she is just my idol.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Honestly, what would you what would you say to your
younger self?
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Oh my gosh, she didna make me cry. Honestly, just
to relax, enjoy the moment, hug your family till tell
your parents thank you more often, because you know, being
a softball parent's not easy. You're driving your kids around everywhere,
and just enjoy the moment, take it easy, don't press
(21:15):
too hard.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
What would you say if you were talking to young BK?
What would she say? She's most proud of older BK.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
For Oh my gosh, just how I've grown as a person,
not even a softball player.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Oh my gosh, I wont you cry?
Speaker 2 (21:35):
You know how it is. Softball is really humbling and
it can bring you to some like crazy places mentally,
but I don't know. I think I've always evolved from it.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
So yeah, she would belye together. Okay, I'm ready.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
She would be the most proud of that, not any
not of any accolade.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
Just like how I'm blossomed as a person. Well, you
are truly you're you exude positivity. I don't know if
you realize that, but like you walk into a space
and like you can feel your amazing energy. And so
I don't didn't know, young BK, but I promised that
(22:18):
I believe that that's what she for sure would be
proud of. You're doing it. It's you. You have the
best energy. I could just talk to you forever, love you,
and you know, I think it's also so amazing when
you talk about your mom being inspiration, because I know
your mom had breast cancer. My mom also had breast cancer,
(22:39):
and like being the oldest, and they told me and
they didn't tell my younger sisters yet and it was
such a life changing mom. I was in the seventh grade,
the eighth grade, and so like it just changed my
perspective on everything. I don't think I've whatever my perspective
(23:00):
was prior to that, it never reverted back. And I
just know that anytime I stepped out onto a field
and like I saw my mom and was able to
play for her, she was able to still be there.
It was a moment of Oh wow, I not only
am I so blessed, but I have an opportunity to
be the best because this woman is giving me the best.
(23:23):
How did your mom impact you? And you being able
to see her fight and go through cancer and come
out and win for you to now go out and
have these wins, not just on the field, but.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
Ye, I think she's just such a dog, Like she's
such a badass, and like she did it and fought
with so much grace, and like she had every right
to just break down and not show up for us,
but like she did, and like she made it to
all my I was in high school at the time,
(23:54):
she made it to all my games, Like no matter
whether she had like a chemo appointment, like she was there.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
And I don't know, she's just.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Like the strongest person I know, So like her fighting
cancer and just being a bad as. It's like, surely
I can show up on my toughest days because she
did for me and for our family. So yeah, I
just owe everything to her because she's just such a
strong woman.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
She's living through you. I think she's like the proof
you are, the proof of how strong and how amazing
of a woman she is. And so whether it's on
the field or just in life, I think that who
you are and what you've been able to do it
really just showcases. And so remember we're talked about earlier.
People don't always know what you say. You remember, you
(24:43):
make me feel. Keep going on and make inspiring everybody. Bailey,
you are. You're doing it girl, you really are. When
I'm going to go into the no flies out on
segment because you are inspiring people, but you're also disappointing
people that can't get the hit so they want to
get because you turn the field into a no fly zone.
(25:07):
What's your favorite play you've ever made?
Speaker 2 (25:09):
Oh my gosh, Okay, So last season during All Star Cup,
there was like, I think it was the top of
the seventh, bottom of the seven something like that.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Zerk was up.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
She hit like the hardest line drive I've ever seen
off the bat, and I was just like, Okay, I
didn't even see the ball.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
I just jumped up and I caught it, and I
was like, what the it was like it was a
crazy videos and video. Yeah, and it.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Was just so crazy because like the exit vela was
insane and I truly didn't think I would catch it.
I just jumped up and hoped for the best. It
was in my little glove. I said, hey, guys.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
Check, Oh oh my gosh, play in the one position.
I feel like I would be pissing my pants to
play third. How do you do it with? Like I
have the mentality to step out and play third against
these women that are hitting the exit. You that they're
hitting the ball's coming so hard off the bat and
you're just steal.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
I don't Yeah, I truly don't know. I mean, it's
just like sometimes your body just reacts and does crazy things.
But I will say thank goodness like Aubrey Leach and
Aliyah are on our team, because I'd I'd face the
biggest hitter in the world over them two back to back.
They're just so crafty and like they can both hit
(26:26):
the ball a million miles an hour and then like
drop one in front of you, Like it's nothing like okay, girl, right,
I'm yeah. I used to say that too all the
time whenever like an outfield.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
It's different obviously in the infield, but in the outfield
anytime there's someone that you know hit a bunch of
home runs, Whereas I was like, look, she's gonna hit
it over my head or somewhere where I can try
to catch it. Like you, I can catch it. I
just can't, right, there's just two options. But a sober
like she could pop it right in front of me.
She get a hold of one, hit over my head exactly,
you just have a really nice hot There's just so
(26:58):
many different ways. I used topeak nervous, but I used
to be like, how I'm going to get this person exactly?
Speaker 3 (27:03):
Play?
Speaker 1 (27:04):
What are you doing?
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Do?
Speaker 1 (27:05):
I do more of a guessing game exactly, So keep
keep doing a triple threats. That's what I say to that,
and I will say too.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Another reason why I'm so happy I Liah is on
our team, other than the fact that she's like my bestie,
is like girl, any ball that I hit it was
always her, Always her and Ciner.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
We were like never on the same team, Like Eliah,
stop doing that. I know she was over the best part.
I was like, I don't want to get this ball
just to give.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Me I love you, don't love you a girl, right,
I'm gonna have to get you out though.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
What would you say, is it your favorite failure because
we know it was a game of failure that has
ultimately led to your biggest successes. Mm hmm.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
I think my favorite failures are just the moments where
I kind of get down in the dumb mentally because
it's I don't think it's a failure, but I think
sometimes that's like the biggest catapult and to like, like
you don't exude positivety or you're not the most positive
person or like whatever unless you go through something, you
know what I mean. So I think I love it
(28:08):
in those moments where I have struggled mentally and I'm
able to come out the other end of it and
have like so much perspective.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
So I would say that what did you do to
come out on the other end? Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Just pouring to other people of course, poor into yourself too,
but like always lending a helping hand and like encouraging
others is also really encouraging to do for yourself.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
So the better.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
Yeah, the better you show up for others, like, the
more better you feel. Whenever you're feeling down, try to
hype up the next person absolutely next to you in
order to elevate raise your vibration. Absolutely feeling better.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
My good, So, Bailey, we talked about our affirmations. What
was the one we settled on?
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Oh my gosh, it was like exuding positive energy.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
Energy motivating those around us. I forget the first one
and just being amazing. Yes, out and being amazing, but
most morally, pay that rent right, Go out and pay
that rent. Know that you are putting in the hard
work that you want in order to reach your goals
and make your younger self proud. Oh, Bailey, thank you
(29:19):
so much for joining you. Dropping your diamonds. This was
so fun. I love dropping my diamonds. Let's do it again. Soon,
do it again. Seriously, We'll catch you guys next time,
because we will do it again soon on dropping diamonds.
Catch you next week on the diamond. Dropping Diamonds with
(29:42):
AJ Andrews is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership
with Athletes Unlimited Softball League and Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.
I'm your host, AJ Andrews. Our executive producer is Jesse Katz.
Tari Harrison is our supervising producer, and this episode was
mixed and mastered by Marry Do. Listen to Dropping Diamonds
with Aja Andrews on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or
(30:06):
wherever you get your podcasts.
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