July 10, 2025 • 41 mins
In this episode, Bandits softball standout Erin Coffel joins the show to discuss the value of trusting the process and staying patient in the intensely competitive world of softball. She and AJ dive into key mental strategies like using affirmations, staying present, and journaling to build discipline and sharpen focus. Erin also shares her favorite on-field moments, how she handles pressure, and the vital role team support plays in achieving success.
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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 Unlimited Softball League and Deep
Blue Sports and Entertainment. Welcome to Dropping Diamonds with Me
aj Andrews, where we dive headfirst into the world of
(00:21):
softball today.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Joining me.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
She is a Gatorade Player of the Year. She is
an All American out of the University of Kentucky. She
wears USA across her chest, and she represents.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
The AUSL bandits Aaron Kopfle. Thanks for joining me, girl. Yeah,
of course, so excited. How are you. I'm good. I'm good.
We got a little refreshing break, two week breaks, so
I'm ready to get after it again.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
For starting the second half of this season. And before
we start getting into your journey and all things softball,
I love to start with affirmations because you know, when softball,
it's important for us to start things off absolutely right.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
I gotta lead things off, and so I'm gonna start
with our affirmation.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
So a quote that I wanted to start with today
is results happen over time, not overnight. You must first
have patience. In order to have patience. I love it
and I feel like an affirmation I can bring from
that is today I will have both urgency and patience
to reach success.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I'll be urgent about my effort, but patient with seeing
the results. How do you like it? I love that,
But I was, Yeah, I do affirmations that almost every morning.
So yeah, So what.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Is a quote that you absolutely live by or an
affirmation that gets you through every day?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
For me, my dad has always told me to just
trust the process. It's so simple, But I just think,
you know, softball can be so easy to get caught
up in the results of things, and I think the
process is so special, and you know, if you really
just dive into each and every moment and just the
process of being great. I just that that's that's what
means the world to me, and that I feel like
(01:56):
that's what has gotten me here today. So when we
they trust the process, how do you stay trusting the
process when the process gets hard? Because if you know,
a soft ball oh yeah, are often and it can
sometimes be hard to trust it. Yeah, how do you
maintain that? I just like, this whole past year, I
had to trust the process. I'm like, this is not
(02:17):
who I am as a softball player, But I'm just
going to continue to work as hard as I can
because I know there's an end to this. And I think,
you know, coming off my senior season and going into
my rookie season, I was just burnt out a little bit,
and I had to just trust the process. I had
to trust even some days where I didn't want to
and I didn't believe in that. I had to convince
(02:37):
myself you know, the end is near, like you know,
positive results are coming, and I just think this offseason
I truly worked on that and truly just dove into
myself and how I was going to be a better
softball player but also a better human and not get
so caught up in the results of the game.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
I love that, Yeah, getting caught up in the results
of the game. Be patient with the results when they come.
One thing I feel like that I've kind of developed
through college was is it a thing like trust the process?
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Trust your process?
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Age, Yes, your process, because my process is a little
different than your, a little different from every other person
and haul in the field. When you think about your process,
how would you describe it?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
My process, I feel like comes in waves. You know.
It's like when I strike out or I get out
in an at bat, or I have a bad at
that I think I need time to like dwell in
it for like a minute or two. Like, give me
like a half inning, and I've gotten a lot better
at it, But give me a half inning to like truly,
you know, get over it and see what I did wrong.
(03:39):
But as soon as I step into the field and
play defense, like I'm over it, like it's it's time
to move on. But also in that in that moment,
I have to be a really good teammate, especially now
that we're in this team format, I have to you know,
be a good teammate and dive into my teammates because
I want them to do the same to me. So
I just think it comes back to, like, you know,
bless you in a way, but to just trust you
(04:00):
know that your team mates have your back, you know,
And that's what softball is all about. And that's again
what I love about this team format that we're getting
back into. To say, what is your favorite part about
the new AUSL format Being on the team with the Bandits.
You guys are leading all four teams nine to three record.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Yeah, I'm already get into what you're leading because you're
also leading a lot in the stats.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
But what do you love most so right now about
as how? I just I love that they're bringing back
like the original softball format. I feel like that's why
people play the game, is to you know, create relationships
that are going to last a lifetime, because that's what
softball does for you. You know, softball is an individual sport,
but if you're playing it individually, you can get caught
(04:41):
up in that really quick. And I think kind of
that's what the old format of AU that's what makes
it so tough, because you're playing, you know, for points
and you're playing for money and technically, but I just
think the team format brings it back to like the
old days, you know, playing in high school playing and
travel ball, playing in college again. So I think that's
what makes it all worth it. Again, Well, we just
dropped our I feel like you just dropped your first
(05:03):
diamond just now, because you said softball is not an
individual sport and if you play individually, that is when
it gets hard.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
I think that is our first diamond that got dropped
on this podcast.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
When you think about.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Moments in which maybe you have played the game individually
or you've got caught up in your own performance. Yea,
how do you feel like you were able to switch
that mindset back to I'm going to go out and
if I'm not doing money to do today, I'm going
to support the next person until I'm able to get there.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Yeah. I think for me, it's like in like catching
that moment as soon as it comes into my mind
that I'm playing individually, I'm like, no, that's not happening,
Like turn it around, like you're not going to have
this mindset today, like you're you're going to be great today,
but you're also going to be a great teammate today.
And I think, you know, telling myself that I'm going
to be great this outwardly brings out the best in
myself and the best in others. So if I think
(06:00):
one minded, I just I try to instantly catch that
and be like, no, that's not happening today, Like you're
not doing that, You're not going back to your old ways,
you know.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
So is that affirmation you say? You say it like
you say affirmation. See do you tell yourself that I'm
gonna be great today?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Oh yeah, I'm oh yeah, alder time thing I'm hit,
I'm gonna hit the ball hard. Today, I'm gonna I'm
seeing the ball really well today. I'm gonna be a
great teammate. I feel good, my body feels good, you know,
all the all that kind of stuff. So I love that. Yeah,
be the Lulu if if you don't feel be the
lulujo is true true? Yeah, I believe in that. Yeah,
you believe a manifestation? Yeah, what is something that you
(06:35):
feel like you've really been able to manifest I just
the whole mindset piece for me has been huge in
that and just kind of using the affirmations and you know,
constantly feeding that to me even if I don't feel it,
like just constantly like talking to myself in that way
and not talking negatively to myself. I try to do
it before like every single game or every single practice,
(06:58):
but I just try to constantly feed myself the Louhu
thoughts and even if they're not you sometimes I'm like, okay,
I'm believing in that. Like, let's go de Lulu till
it's true. True. What's like the most delusional thought that
came into your mind that you're right, I'm gonna make
this true run make happen. Yeah, I mean probably like
I don't know if it's the lou to you all,
(07:18):
but like winning you know, the All Star Cup or
something like that, and you know, or I guess that's
the most illusional thought, but like going four for four
or something like that. So yeah, nothing out of this world.
But I mean and for you it's it's pretty yeah, normal. Yeah,
you make the deluze all of us. It's so it's
now part of the muscle you fly. It's now something
(07:39):
you get to work all the time. Because the reason
why I really wanted to make sure that we start
our informations talking about patience is because I don't know
if there's anyone that is more patient at the plate
than you Erin I Kentucky, you were all time leader
and yes home runs with sixty eight friends, batted in
town twelve, but also walks with one hundred and fifty
(08:04):
five and you led in cuaa d one in walks.
What goes into that disc the plate? Yeah, at the plate,
obviously I try to see a ball the middle of
the plate, But sometimes I get into this process of
like I gotta wait for that one pitch because in
college I did get walked a lot, So I think
it kind of put me into like a bad habit
(08:25):
of a pitch had to be perfect for me to
swing at it. So I think, you know, it was
kind of like a I had to balance it out
a little bit. I some days I have to go
in like you got to be aggressive today, like we're
going after it today, and some days I'm like, chill out,
you know, chill out a little bit, you know. So
I think it's just trying to find a happy medium
with it all because, like I said, in college, I
got walked a lot. So just trying to be aggressive
(08:49):
because I know I can hit a lot of pitches,
not just a pitch down the middle of the plate.
So just trying to find that happy medium of you know,
being aggressive and being you know patient.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
So my favorite thing about you amazing power hitters. And
you're like, yeah, you know, I got walked a lot
as a speed player. I'm like, yeah, yeah, me too.
That walked so much.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
If we were terrified of me when I came to
the plate, what did that feel like when you get
intentionally walked? I think I digitally walked one time. I
was on a tear that day. I say, I think
we're playing Kentucky, huh.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Anyway, So I was on a taer that day I
got digitally walked, and I was like, oh, I.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Am big mom, big mom, Like I felt like my
instant stick for someone who which that happens all the
time too. How does that feel? I mean it was
it was cool at first, like doing it like my
junior and senior year, like I got intentionally walked a lot.
But then I was like, oh my gosh, like come on,
(09:48):
like itch, yeah, yeah, like let's compete, come on, let's go,
you try to beat me. So I think it's you know,
it was fun at first, but now it's kind of
obviously in pro bawl, I don't really get intentionally walked,
maybe like unintentionally intentionally. But but I think most of
my at bats and pro ball are like pretty competitive
and the pictures want to beat me and I want
to beat them. So I think I love getting I
(10:09):
like I love drawing a walk. It's quality at bat.
I'm big. I'm big on quality at bats. I make
sure like after each of my at bats, I go
in and write in my little journal if it was
a quality a B or not have some win, you know,
so if it's not one, what I need to do
better to get a quality at that next time. Swy.
More about the journal, Yeah, I just I like to
like write in little notes about the pictures, the starting
(10:31):
picture and my approach to them. But I just like
to track my pitches, like at night or something like that.
I go back and I track, you know, just sometimes
being in person and facing a live picture and then
going back and looking at the pitch. It's like, whoa,
that was a lot closer to my thought was you know,
dang I was. I was mad for no reason after
I got struck out. So but I just think going
back and like looking at my at bats is big
(10:53):
for me just to understand of like, you know, what
can I do better next time? How? How did she
try to beat me? How did I get myself out?
Or something like that.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
So when you go and write in your journal and
you write your abs, do you write down like, piece
by piece, this is what happened first pitch, This was
my approach at the plate.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
What does the breakdown look like? I just write each
So what they threw me? What you know synergy has
in there is what they threw me, Like a screwballer
a ball if it's a striker a ball if I
filed it off so and then I put it in
the in the box chart, so just to see where
you know their tendencies and what they tried to do
to me. And then I write down if I, you know,
on a certain pitch, if I thought it was too
(11:32):
close to take, or if it was a good take
or something like that. So try to keep a nact
and simple. I don't like to overthink it. Would you say?
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Then when you say you don't much to overthink it'?
Is that how you approach the game in general? You know,
some people like to have a long rundown of the picture. Me,
I always like it was her best pace. Yeah, I know,
I'm probably gonna see that at one point.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Yep. I just think that that's exactly how I am.
If I start to watch too much film or you know,
talk too much about my approach, I start to overthinking.
It just becomes too serious for me. I like to
play the game of Stelf because I like having fun,
you know, So I just what are they going to
try to throw? What do they throw early in the count?
I want to attack early in the count, things like that,
(12:13):
just you know, keeping it simple. How do you feel
like writing that journal has helped you become a better player. Yeah,
I mean it's been big for me. I Before each
series and stuff, I go back and I watch all
the pictures and stuff like that, just to see, you know,
all the pitches they throw, how they get batters out.
But I think it's helped me in a way just
to keep it simple, you know, keep it as simple
(12:34):
as possible. What do I need to do? Where am
I standing in the box. What's my little mechanical cue
for myself? If she's a rise ball picture, it's like
stay above it or something like that. So it just
helped me keep it simple. What are your mechanical cues?
Do you have one for different pitches or does it
break down kind of just more for like a rise
(12:55):
ball picture, it's more, yeah, higher than you think. So
for me, it's like slotting high than you think, getting
connected higher than you think. Just making sure my barrel
sit is like above my hands. It's obviously not going
to look like that, but you know in my head,
if I barrel sits above my hands, it'll help me
for a rise ball picture. But you know, moving up
in the box with like a dropball picture or a
heavy a heavy ball picture will help me a lot
(13:16):
with my barrel plane and stuff like that. Okay, yeah,
how long did it take.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
You to figure out what really works for you or
was there a process you went through to figure that out.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
I mean I just started at the beginning of this year,
like journaling and journaling the pictures out and watching them
before each yearies. And I feel like that's helped tremendously,
just to you know, I have it written down, I
can go look at it before every single at that
and what my approach is. And I think it's helped
me tremendously. I wish I would have done this, you know,
two or three years ago, but it's whatever now and
(13:48):
I'm by myself now. You know, I don't really have
like I have. We have coaches, but I don't have
my college coaches, you know, giving me a plan and
an approach, so I had to kind of figure it
out for myself.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
It's like one of those as you get to order,
what do you know now that you wish you knew that?
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Yeah? Do you have? Is that? Would you say that's
the one you wish? Yeah? I think so, because I always,
you know, got caught up and like do I sit
aside of the plate, do I sit a certain pitch?
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Like?
Speaker 2 (14:12):
What do I do? And O two like what if
what do I do? If the pictrick gets ahead really early?
Then what do I do? You know? It's just kind
of like throwing all his lives up in the air.
And I'm like, now I have this, and I wish
I had it, you know, I think it would have
kept it a lot simpler for me. But I mean,
I am who I am. You know, I learned what
I learned in college and I'm taking I take a
lot of that with me through my pro experience, and
(14:34):
that's part of exactly I'm girling girl, am you know
becoming a pro exactly able to get better through time? Yeah?
What would you feel like, is it probably the biggest
lesson you've learned through college, your rookie season in pro ball,
that's continuing to help you develop today? To not take
it too seriously. We do it for I do it
for a job now. But and I think a lot
(14:55):
of pressure can be built from that. But I just
I think I took myself way too here and I
put too much pressure on myself to be this, you know,
amazing softball player. But at the end of the day,
if you're putting way too much pressure on yourself, you're
not even having fun doing it, So what's the point
of doing it. So I think that's the biggest thing
that I've learned is just I played this game for
a reason, right, I'm not playing it because I get paid.
(15:16):
I'm playing it because I love it and I love
the person that I've become from it. Do you remember
your first moment when you fell in love with softball?
Probably back in like wreck Ball, Like I was like,
I think I hit my first inside the park home
run and you just get a rush out of a
general adrenaline from it. I think that's probably the moment.
(15:37):
But yeah, first my first one was I made it.
I'm from Florida, and so I made a diving catch.
It gets really doing it, Like way in the morning,
made a diving catch and just slid really really you know,
it's like a slipping side. And so I was like, oh, yeah,
I could do that. I can keep this up, I
can keep this out.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Let's take a quick break to hear word from our sponsor.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Well, continuing from whether it's the journaling the patients at
the plate, disinclad the plate that is now the first
half of the season had you on the leaderboard put
a different co leadword re swarches out with a us L,
but the leaderboard for leading the league in slugging and
on base percentage. What do you feel like has really
(16:31):
been the difference maker for you this year? I think
for me, like we talked about walks and like being
patient at the plate, but I think it's been on
the flip side, being more aggressive early in the account pictures,
like to get ahead earlier. I think, all if you
ask a picture that I want to get ahead, you know,
just like a hitter wants to, you know, get ahead
in the account. So I just think for me, it's
been attacking early in the account and being aggressive on
(16:54):
pitches that I know I can drive. It's just simple, yeah, yeah,
find the one you like for it. Yeah, because I'm
usually I usually like to take a first pitch. I
don't really swing that much at first pitches, but I'm like,
if it's there, why not you know, that's probably the
best pitch you'll get. Yeah, if it is, so, if
it is, the if you do, decide to swing at it.
(17:14):
So yeah, I loved the first pitch yeah, because to
your point, right, a lot of times it's like the
best one and then you're not going to get that
one again. Exactly.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
When you when those balls go by that are beautiful
and we just let them fly by, what is your
immediate reaction.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
Oh, it's just like a tension in my chest and
I'm like, oh my gosh, it irks me a lot.
But I'm like reset, you know, move on, But it
urks me, Like I just feel this tension in my chest, Like, oh,
it makes me mad. I have like a resex to cough, Yeah,
tongue out for some reason. Like it's like a like
(17:55):
discuss rid of it exactly. What infer reset? Do you
have something physical you do to reset your body and
your mind? Yeah, I mean kind of with like the
manifestation peace. I like to breathe, just really focus on
my breath. I feel like it's a good reset point
for me and just to be in the most present
moment that you know, whether called that, calls called that
(18:15):
I don't like or something to that nature. I swing
at a bad pitch, but just to reset with my
breath and step in the box and go after it again.
Reset ya, step in after and yeah, exactly, just run, reset,
step in, go after it again.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
There you go, period period period. When you think of
because right now you are one of the contenders or.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
MVPE, which I'm sure you're used to, but when you
think about what makes someone MVP, what makes someone the
best not just in sport, What do you think not
only makes someone the best, but keeps them being the best?
I think it goes back to what we talked about
at the beginning of the process of it all, because
as an athlete, you go through you know, highs and
(19:00):
lows of your season and of your career. But who
can stay the most steady through it all? I think
that's a huge piece and kind of what I'm learning
as well through it all. How can how steady can
you be? How consistent can you be even when you
have a bad day or your body doesn't feel good
or or vice versa, or like when you have a
lot of energy one day, like how do you like
(19:20):
bring it back to like a place where you're locked
in and zoned in. I just think that's what makes you, know,
the best athletes the best is how consistent can you
be every single day, every single day at the field,
even even days you don't want to be there. You know,
how do you show up? Did you show up the
days you don't want to be there? It's so funny,
(19:41):
like we go. I think about in college when you
know you just sometimes just didn't want to show up,
Like you know what, I wouldn't mind wissing my incore
right now? So real, so real for those days remaining consistent.
I know you like affirmations. Is there something you specific
they tell yourself? Yeah? I just think it comes back
(20:02):
to like catching it, like catching out in my brain.
I'm like, nope, not happening, Nope, nope, nope, you're not
going right to day. Yeah, I'm not going there today,
Like not everybody gets this opportunity to be where you're at.
So I think catching those moments and like twisting into
something different perspective it is huge for me. Yeah, perspective
was something that was really big. Kach Trin and I
and coach Lindsay and Alice. You always say you don't
(20:24):
have to play soft fault. You get to play something
most today, and that really it really resonates the most
my senior year when like you're on a countdown to
when you're done playing. That is and it's like, oh,
I get it now, right because everybody you're like, Okay,
A have next year, and then your senior comes and
you're like, oh, isn't it Yep, I have two more months.
But at the more months, you know, I gotta keep going.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
Exactly when you think about your career and the success
you've had, the manifestations, affirmations, being able to hit sixty.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Eight home runs, what's when you.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Think of your memory of your first allegiate home run
versus your first pro home run.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
What were the feelings. I feel like my first college
home run was huge for me because I was waiting
for that day, you know, since I committed to Kentucky.
I think that was probably the biggest moment for me,
just feeling the surrealness of it all and like whoa,
you're actually here now. And same thing for my first
pro home run, Like you count down the days until
you get here and you're like, oh my gosh, Like
(21:25):
it just feels so surreal. And to be surrounded, especially
here by the best players in the world, and to
see them at home play as you run the bases,
it's it's the coolest moment in the world.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Yeah, is there any player here that you're like, I'm
gonna hit home run off you.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
Oh, I'm gonna make a play.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Yeah, I know somebody who's just like I'm itching to
win this battle that you actually finally want.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Yeah, I mean Taylor mcfunn. But she's on our team
this year, so yeah. But last year she owned me,
and I can't wait to I can't wait to face
her in all cir Cup because she baller. I love
competing against her just because she's so competitive herself. So
probably her I would say, well, yeah, she owned me.
Yeah she did every single I bet she did.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Think for like college even just some of like those
kinde of stories. What's your favorite memory playing softball, whether
it be collegiately.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Or pro, I would say collegiately so far, just because
we haven't been as sharper season. I would say my
freshman year when we'd beat Alabama at home. I walked
it off or I didn't walk it off, but I
walked off one of the games to send us we
were tied one one into the next day and we won,
So I think that was just really cool for me
(22:40):
because Alabama still had Montana fouts and they were the
big dogs and I think that was to do it
at home was super cool. And that was like one
of my first like big home runs that I hit
in a clutch moment. What did she feel in that moment?
That was crazy? I mean just you know the most
like the feeling that you get when you know, the
ball sounds perfect up your bad it feels perfect off
(23:01):
your bat. So that was that was awesome. You know
what's so interesting.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
One of the biggest it's not even a memory for me,
it is, but coach Trina described it was on my
senior year when we're playing in regionals. You're playing Nebraska,
and I don't remember this day. Yeah, I had all
I remembers. I had a full on panic attack because
we were losing. Oh I bought my seasons and she
had to like walk way through what happened that day
(23:25):
and how I caught I robbed Kiki Stokes of a
home run for us to win. I was like, I
did not remember that at all. Well bleely blanked out
from those moments, just.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
From wanting to you know, win, and when you keep
going when you think about I feel like I learned
so much from that moment and about thing present and
even though I don't can't tell you anything about that day.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Yeah, it taught me about every day when the pro
ball to really stay key in those moments, to feel
excited and not have the panic attack for.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
When it's gonna be over. Yeah. For you, thinking about
different lessons you learned throughout your career in softball, what
is probably the biggest one that sticks with you being
as president as possible in every single moment, every single pitch,
whether you're in the box or on the field. I
think if you think too far in the past and
too far in the future, I mean, you're just not living,
you know. I think if you spend too much time
(24:21):
in your mind and not where you're physically and mentally at,
I just think you waste a little bit of life
in a sense. And I think I've truly learned that
this year. Just to be so present in every single
moment and just you know, cheer on my teammates every
time I can, whether I just got out or just
in a home run. But just stay steady and just
to stay in the moment.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Stay steady, stay in the moment. Yeah, that's very good
advice for anyone that feels like they're getting or feel
like they might have a panic attack like me. Yeah,
just stay steady, stay in the moment so that you
don't forget one of like the biggest pivotal moments in
your career.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Yeah you don't remember.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
Yeah, there's more to cover, but first, let's take a
quick break.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Will you talked about that you give assistant coach Christine Hines.
She's someone that made a significant impact in your life.
How so. I we hit a lot in our free
time or you know, before practice and stuff like that,
and she was just a coach for me who always
showed up no matter what, even if she didn't really
(25:31):
want to, or even if I didn't really want to,
but just to continue to work and work and work
and work. She brought such a different perspective because I
grew up hitting with my dad and he is more
of like a mechanical guy, and you know, Coach Himes
really brought the more mental side of the game and
you know, the approach side of the game. And I
just think I enjoyed every single time we got to
(25:53):
hit together. It was just it wasn't too serious, you know,
it was just we were hitting. We're figuring stuff out,
you know, figuring out how I can be a better
softball player. So she's actually coming to our game on Tuesday,
so yeah, yeah, I get to see her and talk
to her a little bit. But yeah, is there something
maybe a bit of advice or something she's told you
that has really stuck with you? The moments that we
(26:15):
shared together, just every single day, How she showed up
for me and showed up for our team every single day,
no matter you know what she was going through or
anything like that. I just think how she how she
shows up for every single girl on our team or
for me, was taught me something so much that it's
so much bigger than softball, and she showed me that.
(26:36):
I feel like you embody that now from talking. Yeah,
like you're just wanting to have fun. Yeah, stay in
the moment. Yeah, if you can't show up that day,
you're going to show up for your team greats and
be able to lead with that example. Yeah, well, not
only are you a great softball player, but you can juggle.
I can't juggle. We actually had to learn that at Kentucky.
(26:58):
You had to learn it. Yeah. Yeah, So that was
one of our my freshman in sophomore year, that was
one of our tests we had to get to like
get our blue shirt for practice. We practiced with the
gray shirt, and there was a series of like stuff
we had to pass, you know, hitting tests and like
juggling and jump roping and all that. So we had
to learn how to juggle. But I've never lost it,
So once you learn it, you never lose it. So yeah,
(27:19):
so it was like riding a bike. Yeah, yeah, literally,
like riding a bike. Do you juggle just like the
three or you got do moriyy o? But yeah, I
haven't tried the four. Maybe I could, but I kept
to three. I've attempted to juggle. There was a period
of my life where I tried every day, Yeah, for
like a month. I learned during COVID and OK, so
it made it a little bit easier. You know, I
(27:40):
was home all the time, so I just got three
softballs and I would juggle literally all the time. That's so.
So it was a part of the test.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
You guys had a series of different things that you
had to do in order to be able to practice,
and on not to be able to practice, just to
get our blue shirt, our blue Kentucky shirt, you know,
your your.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Blue Yeah, what else did you have to do. We
had to there was we had to hit twenty balls
off the tee, off the back of the net. If
they touched the top or the sides, you had to
start over pretty much. So it had to be twenty
balls in a row to the back of the cage
off the tee. There's a three plate drill, so you
were hitting off the machine and you had to hit
(28:19):
four or six balls really well. So just stuff like
that and then jump roping in our you know, conditioning
tests and all that kind of stuff. Did they ever
tell you what's the point of juggling? Like, yeah, you know,
the coornation and all that kind of stuff. I mean,
I I do appreciate it because now, like if my
eyes feel slow or something like that, I'll just pick
three balls up and start juggling. Sure, I know. Yeah, okay,
(28:44):
So if you feel this is something you kind of
it still helps you today with softball, pick up for
sure the balls and start juggling. Yeah. Okay, So if
I'm starting at the plate seeing the ball, I need
to find three balls and start juggling. I guess if
it works, I mean, if you into it, yeah, but
it's kind of like a party trick. You kind of
can pull it out whenever, you know, start juggling a
(29:05):
little bit. But yeah, honestly, that would be the real
reason why learn exactly guys, I can juggle. Ye, don't
let me learn how to juggle. I obvious on everybody.
I could juggle all the time. Not only juggling, but
you also can cook kind of yeah, yeah, I'm trying
to cook. I like to find new recipes off TikTok. Yeah,
I'm more of like a tryer, you know, I'm not
really like some majestic cook or anything like that, just
(29:27):
like a fat being able to just go in exactly
what I think. Yeah, what's probably the best meal you've made? Like,
I'm gonna give this a shot, and it actually started
out amazing. I make some pretty good soups. I mean
that doesn't really take that much effort. You just kind
of chuck stuff in there. So but I would say
that's probably my best you know, Okay, some chili, some
(29:48):
chicken noodle soup. Chili, yeah, noodle soup, like being chili
all that kind of like.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
Yeah, so on a rainy day or snowy day, exactly,
go there easy, Okay.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
Yeah, you just you should have said that. Yeah, you
should have said you wouldn't know the stove. It's true. Yeah,
I rip it on the stove, but I don't use
a crackpot. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Well, one thing I wanted to dive into because in
softball we all think of we all play travel ball,
and we all had that long ride.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Home at one point. Yeah, what was one of the
long rides home? Maybe conversations out with one of your.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
Parents, or a reflection you've had that you still think
of today.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
Oh that's tough, that's funny, you know. But one of
those ride homes one mind, and I'll never forget is
I took my shoes off and my dad literally pulled
over because my feet junks so bad our planet. I
was to roll all the windows down. Yeah, yeah, I
wasn't try about that. Yeah, I always took my shoes
(30:51):
off all the way home. I had to. And your
travel ball shoes smell awful because you were all summer
and caromel. Yeah, I would say definitely that. I mean
me and my dad, we always like would have like
the silence for a while, and then we would finally
we'd finally break it open and start talking about it
and discussing it and he got a lot better at it,
like throughout my college career. Two Like he was like,
(31:12):
I told him, you can't you know, I'm not the
same girl. I wasn't travelable. You can't just come after
me like that anymore, you know. So he he kind
of understood that. But I just think the the bickering
and you know, going back and forth. Was that a shrig?
Should you have caught that? All that kind of stuff. Yeah?
Did you hate those conversations? Yeah? Yeah I did. I
(31:33):
still kind of do sometimes, but we were more. I'm
more mature now so I can have those conversations. Yeah.
I love how you correct yourself. I'm more mature. So
now I was just like list said, I had a
good game, where it's like I didn't have a good game.
Tomorrow will be about Yeah, but let's just keep moving on. Yeah, exactly,
keep moving forward. Exactly. We're now we're gonna go into
(31:54):
the nope live don't okay, man, you guys, whether.
Speaker 1 (31:57):
You're infielder or not, we would turn the field and
doing no flies on. Yeah, what is your favorite play
you've ever made.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
On the red? I would say off a slapper at
playing shortstop like an on the run play like you
just had a really good bounce, you know, and you're like, oh,
you're like you're thinking you're for sure safe, But like
a throw on the run is like gives me the
most adrenaline. And that's probably the play I practiced for
all the time with my dad when I was younger,
(32:26):
like just trying to perfect it to the best of
my ability. But getting that play and getting a slapper
out is like the best moment as an infielder in
my opinion.
Speaker 3 (32:36):
And on the opposite in yeah, the worst moment exactly. Yeah.
Did you always yell Jeter when you would practice sometimes
sometimes on the backhand plays?
Speaker 2 (32:46):
I would yeah, yeah, Well now you love Freddie Freeman, right,
Or that's your favorite player? Yeah? Why is your favorite?
I just really admire him just how he carries himself.
I feel like we're a lot alike in that aspect.
He's just a very you know, go with the flow,
a humble baseball player. But I just I resonate a
lot with that, and I just respect him a lot.
(33:07):
He had the documentary come out about his wife and
him had infertility reasons going on, and it was just
really eye opening to see someone go through that. But
also so continue playing. So I just I love the
way that he carries himself and it reminds me a
lot of myself in no way. What about the way
he carries himself is he's just super pole, so humble,
you know, just does his business and gets out in
(33:31):
my opinion, I just I love his presence in the box.
It's not too talky, it's not you know, for show
or anything like that. I just he's very he's very steady,
so steady. Yeah. Have you met him? I have not? No. Yeah,
they got to get you out to l A Yeah,
I know, or like whenever they come over to Chicago,
if you can go meet him. He's very nice. Have
(33:52):
you met him? Yeah, Yeah, I've interviewed him. Oh god,
I've always very nice. Always has his son with them
were multiple maybe, but his oldest one. It comes out
on like shags on the field. That's so fun. Yeah,
very nice. Yeah. When what would you say?
Speaker 1 (34:11):
Because in thoughtball, it's a game of failure, right, we
have to experience it. Yeah, what is maybe your favorite
failure that's ultimately led to some of your best successes.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
It always comes back to me my freshman year we
were playing Alice. You actually at home and I made
like two or three airs in the field, and it
was like a day where like you sobbed your parents
in the parking lot after the game, like you're just
so embarrassed and you don't really know why it happened,
or you know how you can fix it or how
you can do better. You're just really caught up in it.
(34:45):
And I think that was the turning point for me
of like how am I going to be a better
I never really focused much on defense growing up. It
was more offensively and I just let my athleticness take
care of it stuff on defense, and then it kind
of caught off with me my freshman year. That was
kind of the moment where I was like, dang, like
I need to get better defensively, and I think that
summer I really got to work on it, and it
(35:06):
kind of flipped my perspective on defense, and I grew
a love for it then. So that game is always
just one game. They haunt you, they haunt you, and
I was so hard on myself afterwards. I would always
call my dad, you have to give me a motivational
speech stick order for me to like stop sobbing.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
Yeah, exactly, in that moment, But now you seem more
even keel deep like whenever, like the errors come now
or do you have a different approach to it?
Speaker 2 (35:34):
Yeah, I mean they still make me mad. I hate
making airs. Everybody hates making airs. But I think it's
more of like, you got to get over rests quick
as you can because the ball is going to find
you somehow. Someway. The ball always finds you, especially if
you're afraid. So I think, you know, trying to get
over as quick as can as you can and just
move on to the next play is simple but easy,
(35:55):
you know, finding a reset point for yourself, finding a
reset point for yourself, and not just on the field,
but also in line kind of. I mean.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
Also, you are a gradual assistant at Florida. I told
you early before we started talking, I hate it playing
at Florida.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
Yeah, but then we start about Also, how like LSU
and Kentucky, you look like a little beef. Now did
you guys have a little rivalry? Was it LSU that
you had a rivalry with? Or is another team We
always played really well against Elis, So I don't know
why we always just show up like every weekend against LSU.
When you played you guys, But yeah, I don't know.
I bet there is a little rivalry from that rain
(36:32):
delay game. But I think we always just look forward
to because it was always a good competition. Yeah, you
never know who was going to come out, but we
always just showed up against LSU and.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
The rain delay because, if I remember correctly, just from
the description of it, kause Srina wanted to stop the
game because it was raining and it was like the
ball was too wet, and then coach Lawson.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
Was like, step up, you guys. Yeah exactly, yeah, exactly,
just making sure I wasn't there. Yeah, eitherwise eyes or
I just watched it on TV and a lot of
stories about it and the rest of his history from
then on. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
Well, Aaron, I feel like when it comes to softball,
it comes to failure or even just comes to life.
You are a reminder of the power of remaining present,
the power of having patience, and the power of going
up and trusting your process and throughout that process, writing down,
(37:26):
drilling what that process looks like, because sometimes it is
important to be able to get these things off, to
maintain and to see how your process is looking at
how you are improving. Yeah, what is the best advice
you would give to anyone, whether it's going to college,
going to play pro, or just starting playing softball, about
trusting their process.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
I just think you know you're not going to be perfect.
Softball is a game of failure, and you really just
have to trust that you are going to like go
through those seasons of like highs and lows. But how
are you going to stay the most study. I think
you can't look at the game of softball as like
you can't just you can't take it so seriously. You
gotta you know why you're playing it. It's because you
(38:06):
love it, And if you don't love it, then you
really have to dig into your purpose and why you're
still playing. And I think I had to do that
after my freshman year. I just really had to figure
out why I still and I just I have this
deep passion for competing into play. I'm going to play
against the best of the best. But you know, going
into college, you you just go into it with an
open mind and go into it with learning and creating
(38:29):
new friendships and trusting yourself at the end of the day,
because if you don't trust yourself, it's gonna be really
really hard to be great, and I think trust all
the work that you put in. Again, if the work
you put in and you don't trust yourself when the
pressure comes to it and the time comes to it,
there's no point for the work. I think trusting your
work and trusting all the all the stuff you put
(38:49):
into yourself and you put into others. Just trust it.
Trust it, ye ban it? Oh yeah, trust it? Yeah.
How do you keep the momentum from the first half
of the season only into the second half of the
season to win the championship? I think, continue to do
doing what we're doing. I's it's a long season. A
lot can happen. If we look way too far ahead,
(39:10):
we're going to get too far ahead of ourselves. So
just saying with one game and doing what we can do.
What we did in the first half, Carr of the momentum,
we had one pitch, one game at a time. We
never give up. We always say that and even if
we're down. So I think, just continue to do what
we do. Will do you guys stay out of one pitch,
one game at a time. Yeah, So something around that,
Yeah we're losing or yeah, what's been your favorite part
(39:35):
about playing with the bandits just creating new friendships. A
lot of these girls that hadn't had the chance to
play with before. So like the Landing Whiz and Bubble Nichols,
like we and Jordan Roberts where we you know, I've
gotten super close with each other and they've really shared
their perspective and wisdom with me, and I really cherish
that and I love getting to learn from them. But
(39:56):
I just think we're all very like minded people. We
all just want to have fun playing the game and
that we grew up playing. So I think that's probably
my favorite piece coow have fun playing the game that
you love to play.
Speaker 1 (40:08):
Remember, results don't happen overnight, they happen over time. And
got to go back to the diamond that Aaron dropped
about softball is a team sport, not an individual sport.
And it's gonna get hard when you start playing individually.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
Yeah, lean into your.
Speaker 1 (40:24):
Teammates, lean into the present moment, and lean into your process.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
Aaron, thank you so much for dropping your damas today.
Thank you so much for having me. Well see you
guys next time next week. Back on the diamond for
dropping diamonds.
Speaker 1 (40:45):
Dropping diamonds with 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 supers
and producer in This episode was mixed and mastered by
Mary Do.
Speaker 2 (41:05):
Listen to Dropping Diamonds with A J.
Speaker 1 (41:06):
Andrews on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you
get your podcasts. H
Dropping Diamonds with aj Andrews is an iHeart women's sports
production in partnership with Athletes Unlimited Softball League and Deep
Blue Sports and Entertainment. Welcome to Dropping Diamonds with Me
aj Andrews, where we dive headfirst into the world of
(00:21):
softball today.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Joining me.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
She is a Gatorade Player of the Year. She is
an All American out of the University of Kentucky. She
wears USA across her chest, and she represents.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
The AUSL bandits Aaron Kopfle. Thanks for joining me, girl. Yeah,
of course, so excited. How are you. I'm good. I'm good.
We got a little refreshing break, two week breaks, so
I'm ready to get after it again.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
For starting the second half of this season. And before
we start getting into your journey and all things softball,
I love to start with affirmations because you know, when softball,
it's important for us to start things off absolutely right.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
I gotta lead things off, and so I'm gonna start
with our affirmation.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
So a quote that I wanted to start with today
is results happen over time, not overnight. You must first
have patience. In order to have patience. I love it
and I feel like an affirmation I can bring from
that is today I will have both urgency and patience
to reach success.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I'll be urgent about my effort, but patient with seeing
the results. How do you like it? I love that,
But I was, Yeah, I do affirmations that almost every morning.
So yeah, So what.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Is a quote that you absolutely live by or an
affirmation that gets you through every day?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
For me, my dad has always told me to just
trust the process. It's so simple, But I just think,
you know, softball can be so easy to get caught
up in the results of things, and I think the
process is so special, and you know, if you really
just dive into each and every moment and just the
process of being great. I just that that's that's what
means the world to me, and that I feel like
(01:56):
that's what has gotten me here today. So when we
they trust the process, how do you stay trusting the
process when the process gets hard? Because if you know,
a soft ball oh yeah, are often and it can
sometimes be hard to trust it. Yeah, how do you
maintain that? I just like, this whole past year, I
had to trust the process. I'm like, this is not
(02:17):
who I am as a softball player, But I'm just
going to continue to work as hard as I can
because I know there's an end to this. And I think,
you know, coming off my senior season and going into
my rookie season, I was just burnt out a little bit,
and I had to just trust the process. I had
to trust even some days where I didn't want to
and I didn't believe in that. I had to convince
(02:37):
myself you know, the end is near, like you know,
positive results are coming, and I just think this offseason
I truly worked on that and truly just dove into
myself and how I was going to be a better
softball player but also a better human and not get
so caught up in the results of the game.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
I love that, Yeah, getting caught up in the results
of the game. Be patient with the results when they come.
One thing I feel like that I've kind of developed
through college was is it a thing like trust the process?
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Trust your process?
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Age, Yes, your process, because my process is a little
different than your, a little different from every other person
and haul in the field. When you think about your process,
how would you describe it?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
My process, I feel like comes in waves. You know.
It's like when I strike out or I get out
in an at bat, or I have a bad at
that I think I need time to like dwell in
it for like a minute or two. Like, give me
like a half inning, and I've gotten a lot better
at it, But give me a half inning to like truly,
you know, get over it and see what I did wrong.
(03:39):
But as soon as I step into the field and
play defense, like I'm over it, like it's it's time
to move on. But also in that in that moment,
I have to be a really good teammate, especially now
that we're in this team format, I have to you know,
be a good teammate and dive into my teammates because
I want them to do the same to me. So
I just think it comes back to, like, you know,
bless you in a way, but to just trust you
(04:00):
know that your team mates have your back, you know,
And that's what softball is all about. And that's again
what I love about this team format that we're getting
back into. To say, what is your favorite part about
the new AUSL format Being on the team with the Bandits.
You guys are leading all four teams nine to three record.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Yeah, I'm already get into what you're leading because you're
also leading a lot in the stats.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
But what do you love most so right now about
as how? I just I love that they're bringing back
like the original softball format. I feel like that's why
people play the game, is to you know, create relationships
that are going to last a lifetime, because that's what
softball does for you. You know, softball is an individual sport,
but if you're playing it individually, you can get caught
(04:41):
up in that really quick. And I think kind of
that's what the old format of AU that's what makes
it so tough, because you're playing, you know, for points
and you're playing for money and technically, but I just
think the team format brings it back to like the
old days, you know, playing in high school playing and
travel ball, playing in college again. So I think that's
what makes it all worth it. Again, Well, we just
dropped our I feel like you just dropped your first
(05:03):
diamond just now, because you said softball is not an
individual sport and if you play individually, that is when
it gets hard.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
I think that is our first diamond that got dropped
on this podcast.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
When you think about.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Moments in which maybe you have played the game individually
or you've got caught up in your own performance. Yea,
how do you feel like you were able to switch
that mindset back to I'm going to go out and
if I'm not doing money to do today, I'm going
to support the next person until I'm able to get there.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Yeah. I think for me, it's like in like catching
that moment as soon as it comes into my mind
that I'm playing individually, I'm like, no, that's not happening,
Like turn it around, like you're not going to have
this mindset today, like you're you're going to be great today,
but you're also going to be a great teammate today.
And I think, you know, telling myself that I'm going
to be great this outwardly brings out the best in
myself and the best in others. So if I think
(06:00):
one minded, I just I try to instantly catch that
and be like, no, that's not happening today, Like you're
not doing that, You're not going back to your old ways,
you know.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
So is that affirmation you say? You say it like
you say affirmation. See do you tell yourself that I'm
gonna be great today?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Oh yeah, I'm oh yeah, alder time thing I'm hit,
I'm gonna hit the ball hard. Today, I'm gonna I'm
seeing the ball really well today. I'm gonna be a
great teammate. I feel good, my body feels good, you know,
all the all that kind of stuff. So I love that. Yeah,
be the Lulu if if you don't feel be the
lulujo is true true? Yeah, I believe in that. Yeah,
you believe a manifestation? Yeah, what is something that you
(06:35):
feel like you've really been able to manifest I just
the whole mindset piece for me has been huge in
that and just kind of using the affirmations and you know,
constantly feeding that to me even if I don't feel it,
like just constantly like talking to myself in that way
and not talking negatively to myself. I try to do
it before like every single game or every single practice,
(06:58):
but I just try to constantly feed myself the Louhu
thoughts and even if they're not you sometimes I'm like, okay,
I'm believing in that. Like, let's go de Lulu till
it's true. True. What's like the most delusional thought that
came into your mind that you're right, I'm gonna make
this true run make happen. Yeah, I mean probably like
I don't know if it's the lou to you all,
(07:18):
but like winning you know, the All Star Cup or
something like that, and you know, or I guess that's
the most illusional thought, but like going four for four
or something like that. So yeah, nothing out of this world.
But I mean and for you it's it's pretty yeah, normal. Yeah,
you make the deluze all of us. It's so it's
now part of the muscle you fly. It's now something
(07:39):
you get to work all the time. Because the reason
why I really wanted to make sure that we start
our informations talking about patience is because I don't know
if there's anyone that is more patient at the plate
than you Erin I Kentucky, you were all time leader
and yes home runs with sixty eight friends, batted in
town twelve, but also walks with one hundred and fifty
(08:04):
five and you led in cuaa d one in walks.
What goes into that disc the plate? Yeah, at the plate,
obviously I try to see a ball the middle of
the plate, But sometimes I get into this process of
like I gotta wait for that one pitch because in
college I did get walked a lot, So I think
it kind of put me into like a bad habit
(08:25):
of a pitch had to be perfect for me to
swing at it. So I think, you know, it was
kind of like a I had to balance it out
a little bit. I some days I have to go
in like you got to be aggressive today, like we're
going after it today, and some days I'm like, chill out,
you know, chill out a little bit, you know. So
I think it's just trying to find a happy medium
with it all because, like I said, in college, I
got walked a lot. So just trying to be aggressive
(08:49):
because I know I can hit a lot of pitches,
not just a pitch down the middle of the plate.
So just trying to find that happy medium of you know,
being aggressive and being you know patient.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
So my favorite thing about you amazing power hitters. And
you're like, yeah, you know, I got walked a lot
as a speed player. I'm like, yeah, yeah, me too.
That walked so much.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
If we were terrified of me when I came to
the plate, what did that feel like when you get
intentionally walked? I think I digitally walked one time. I
was on a tear that day. I say, I think
we're playing Kentucky, huh.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Anyway, So I was on a taer that day I
got digitally walked, and I was like, oh, I.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Am big mom, big mom, Like I felt like my
instant stick for someone who which that happens all the
time too. How does that feel? I mean it was
it was cool at first, like doing it like my
junior and senior year, like I got intentionally walked a lot.
But then I was like, oh my gosh, like come on,
(09:48):
like itch, yeah, yeah, like let's compete, come on, let's go,
you try to beat me. So I think it's you know,
it was fun at first, but now it's kind of
obviously in pro bawl, I don't really get intentionally walked,
maybe like unintentionally intentionally. But but I think most of
my at bats and pro ball are like pretty competitive
and the pictures want to beat me and I want
to beat them. So I think I love getting I
(10:09):
like I love drawing a walk. It's quality at bat.
I'm big. I'm big on quality at bats. I make
sure like after each of my at bats, I go
in and write in my little journal if it was
a quality a B or not have some win, you know,
so if it's not one, what I need to do
better to get a quality at that next time. Swy.
More about the journal, Yeah, I just I like to
like write in little notes about the pictures, the starting
(10:31):
picture and my approach to them. But I just like
to track my pitches, like at night or something like that.
I go back and I track, you know, just sometimes
being in person and facing a live picture and then
going back and looking at the pitch. It's like, whoa,
that was a lot closer to my thought was you know,
dang I was. I was mad for no reason after
I got struck out. So but I just think going
back and like looking at my at bats is big
(10:53):
for me just to understand of like, you know, what
can I do better next time? How? How did she
try to beat me? How did I get myself out?
Or something like that.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
So when you go and write in your journal and
you write your abs, do you write down like, piece
by piece, this is what happened first pitch, This was
my approach at the plate.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
What does the breakdown look like? I just write each
So what they threw me? What you know synergy has
in there is what they threw me, Like a screwballer
a ball if it's a striker a ball if I
filed it off so and then I put it in
the in the box chart, so just to see where
you know their tendencies and what they tried to do
to me. And then I write down if I, you know,
on a certain pitch, if I thought it was too
(11:32):
close to take, or if it was a good take
or something like that. So try to keep a nact
and simple. I don't like to overthink it. Would you say?
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Then when you say you don't much to overthink it'?
Is that how you approach the game in general? You know,
some people like to have a long rundown of the picture. Me,
I always like it was her best pace. Yeah, I know,
I'm probably gonna see that at one point.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Yep. I just think that that's exactly how I am.
If I start to watch too much film or you know,
talk too much about my approach, I start to overthinking.
It just becomes too serious for me. I like to
play the game of Stelf because I like having fun,
you know, So I just what are they going to
try to throw? What do they throw early in the count?
I want to attack early in the count, things like that,
(12:13):
just you know, keeping it simple. How do you feel
like writing that journal has helped you become a better player. Yeah,
I mean it's been big for me. I Before each
series and stuff, I go back and I watch all
the pictures and stuff like that, just to see, you know,
all the pitches they throw, how they get batters out.
But I think it's helped me in a way just
to keep it simple, you know, keep it as simple
(12:34):
as possible. What do I need to do? Where am
I standing in the box. What's my little mechanical cue
for myself? If she's a rise ball picture, it's like
stay above it or something like that. So it just
helped me keep it simple. What are your mechanical cues?
Do you have one for different pitches or does it
break down kind of just more for like a rise
(12:55):
ball picture, it's more, yeah, higher than you think. So
for me, it's like slotting high than you think, getting
connected higher than you think. Just making sure my barrel
sit is like above my hands. It's obviously not going
to look like that, but you know in my head,
if I barrel sits above my hands, it'll help me
for a rise ball picture. But you know, moving up
in the box with like a dropball picture or a
heavy a heavy ball picture will help me a lot
(13:16):
with my barrel plane and stuff like that. Okay, yeah,
how long did it take.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
You to figure out what really works for you or
was there a process you went through to figure that out.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
I mean I just started at the beginning of this year,
like journaling and journaling the pictures out and watching them
before each yearies. And I feel like that's helped tremendously,
just to you know, I have it written down, I
can go look at it before every single at that
and what my approach is. And I think it's helped
me tremendously. I wish I would have done this, you know,
two or three years ago, but it's whatever now and
(13:48):
I'm by myself now. You know, I don't really have
like I have. We have coaches, but I don't have
my college coaches, you know, giving me a plan and
an approach, so I had to kind of figure it
out for myself.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
It's like one of those as you get to order,
what do you know now that you wish you knew that?
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Yeah? Do you have? Is that? Would you say that's
the one you wish? Yeah? I think so, because I always,
you know, got caught up and like do I sit
aside of the plate, do I sit a certain pitch?
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Like?
Speaker 2 (14:12):
What do I do? And O two like what if
what do I do? If the pictrick gets ahead really early?
Then what do I do? You know? It's just kind
of like throwing all his lives up in the air.
And I'm like, now I have this, and I wish
I had it, you know, I think it would have
kept it a lot simpler for me. But I mean,
I am who I am. You know, I learned what
I learned in college and I'm taking I take a
lot of that with me through my pro experience, and
(14:34):
that's part of exactly I'm girling girl, am you know
becoming a pro exactly able to get better through time? Yeah?
What would you feel like, is it probably the biggest
lesson you've learned through college, your rookie season in pro ball,
that's continuing to help you develop today? To not take
it too seriously. We do it for I do it
for a job now. But and I think a lot
(14:55):
of pressure can be built from that. But I just
I think I took myself way too here and I
put too much pressure on myself to be this, you know,
amazing softball player. But at the end of the day,
if you're putting way too much pressure on yourself, you're
not even having fun doing it, So what's the point
of doing it. So I think that's the biggest thing
that I've learned is just I played this game for
a reason, right, I'm not playing it because I get paid.
(15:16):
I'm playing it because I love it and I love
the person that I've become from it. Do you remember
your first moment when you fell in love with softball?
Probably back in like wreck Ball, Like I was like,
I think I hit my first inside the park home
run and you just get a rush out of a
general adrenaline from it. I think that's probably the moment.
(15:37):
But yeah, first my first one was I made it.
I'm from Florida, and so I made a diving catch.
It gets really doing it, Like way in the morning,
made a diving catch and just slid really really you know,
it's like a slipping side. And so I was like, oh, yeah,
I could do that. I can keep this up, I
can keep this out.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Let's take a quick break to hear word from our sponsor.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Well, continuing from whether it's the journaling the patients at
the plate, disinclad the plate that is now the first
half of the season had you on the leaderboard put
a different co leadword re swarches out with a us L,
but the leaderboard for leading the league in slugging and
on base percentage. What do you feel like has really
(16:31):
been the difference maker for you this year? I think
for me, like we talked about walks and like being
patient at the plate, but I think it's been on
the flip side, being more aggressive early in the account pictures,
like to get ahead earlier. I think, all if you
ask a picture that I want to get ahead, you know,
just like a hitter wants to, you know, get ahead
in the account. So I just think for me, it's
been attacking early in the account and being aggressive on
(16:54):
pitches that I know I can drive. It's just simple, yeah, yeah,
find the one you like for it. Yeah, because I'm
usually I usually like to take a first pitch. I
don't really swing that much at first pitches, but I'm like,
if it's there, why not you know, that's probably the
best pitch you'll get. Yeah, if it is, so, if
it is, the if you do, decide to swing at it.
(17:14):
So yeah, I loved the first pitch yeah, because to
your point, right, a lot of times it's like the
best one and then you're not going to get that
one again. Exactly.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
When you when those balls go by that are beautiful
and we just let them fly by, what is your
immediate reaction.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
Oh, it's just like a tension in my chest and
I'm like, oh my gosh, it irks me a lot.
But I'm like reset, you know, move on, But it
urks me, Like I just feel this tension in my chest, Like, oh,
it makes me mad. I have like a resex to cough, Yeah,
tongue out for some reason. Like it's like a like
(17:55):
discuss rid of it exactly. What infer reset? Do you
have something physical you do to reset your body and
your mind? Yeah, I mean kind of with like the
manifestation peace. I like to breathe, just really focus on
my breath. I feel like it's a good reset point
for me and just to be in the most present
moment that you know, whether called that, calls called that
(18:15):
I don't like or something to that nature. I swing
at a bad pitch, but just to reset with my
breath and step in the box and go after it again.
Reset ya, step in after and yeah, exactly, just run, reset,
step in, go after it again.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
There you go, period period period. When you think of
because right now you are one of the contenders or.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
MVPE, which I'm sure you're used to, but when you
think about what makes someone MVP, what makes someone the
best not just in sport, What do you think not
only makes someone the best, but keeps them being the best?
I think it goes back to what we talked about
at the beginning of the process of it all, because
as an athlete, you go through you know, highs and
(19:00):
lows of your season and of your career. But who
can stay the most steady through it all? I think
that's a huge piece and kind of what I'm learning
as well through it all. How can how steady can
you be? How consistent can you be even when you
have a bad day or your body doesn't feel good
or or vice versa, or like when you have a
lot of energy one day, like how do you like
(19:20):
bring it back to like a place where you're locked
in and zoned in. I just think that's what makes you, know,
the best athletes the best is how consistent can you
be every single day, every single day at the field,
even even days you don't want to be there. You know,
how do you show up? Did you show up the
days you don't want to be there? It's so funny,
(19:41):
like we go. I think about in college when you
know you just sometimes just didn't want to show up,
Like you know what, I wouldn't mind wissing my incore
right now? So real, so real for those days remaining consistent.
I know you like affirmations. Is there something you specific
they tell yourself? Yeah? I just think it comes back
(20:02):
to like catching it, like catching out in my brain.
I'm like, nope, not happening, Nope, nope, nope, you're not
going right to day. Yeah, I'm not going there today,
Like not everybody gets this opportunity to be where you're at.
So I think catching those moments and like twisting into
something different perspective it is huge for me. Yeah, perspective
was something that was really big. Kach Trin and I
and coach Lindsay and Alice. You always say you don't
(20:24):
have to play soft fault. You get to play something
most today, and that really it really resonates the most
my senior year when like you're on a countdown to
when you're done playing. That is and it's like, oh,
I get it now, right because everybody you're like, Okay,
A have next year, and then your senior comes and
you're like, oh, isn't it Yep, I have two more months.
But at the more months, you know, I gotta keep going.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
Exactly when you think about your career and the success
you've had, the manifestations, affirmations, being able to hit sixty.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Eight home runs, what's when you.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Think of your memory of your first allegiate home run
versus your first pro home run.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
What were the feelings. I feel like my first college
home run was huge for me because I was waiting
for that day, you know, since I committed to Kentucky.
I think that was probably the biggest moment for me,
just feeling the surrealness of it all and like whoa,
you're actually here now. And same thing for my first
pro home run, Like you count down the days until
you get here and you're like, oh my gosh, Like
(21:25):
it just feels so surreal. And to be surrounded, especially
here by the best players in the world, and to
see them at home play as you run the bases,
it's it's the coolest moment in the world.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Yeah, is there any player here that you're like, I'm
gonna hit home run off you.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
Oh, I'm gonna make a play.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Yeah, I know somebody who's just like I'm itching to
win this battle that you actually finally want.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Yeah, I mean Taylor mcfunn. But she's on our team
this year, so yeah. But last year she owned me,
and I can't wait to I can't wait to face
her in all cir Cup because she baller. I love
competing against her just because she's so competitive herself. So
probably her I would say, well, yeah, she owned me.
Yeah she did every single I bet she did.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Think for like college even just some of like those
kinde of stories. What's your favorite memory playing softball, whether
it be collegiately.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Or pro, I would say collegiately so far, just because
we haven't been as sharper season. I would say my
freshman year when we'd beat Alabama at home. I walked
it off or I didn't walk it off, but I
walked off one of the games to send us we
were tied one one into the next day and we won,
So I think that was just really cool for me
(22:40):
because Alabama still had Montana fouts and they were the
big dogs and I think that was to do it
at home was super cool. And that was like one
of my first like big home runs that I hit
in a clutch moment. What did she feel in that moment?
That was crazy? I mean just you know the most
like the feeling that you get when you know, the
ball sounds perfect up your bad it feels perfect off
(23:01):
your bat. So that was that was awesome. You know
what's so interesting.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
One of the biggest it's not even a memory for me,
it is, but coach Trina described it was on my
senior year when we're playing in regionals. You're playing Nebraska,
and I don't remember this day. Yeah, I had all
I remembers. I had a full on panic attack because
we were losing. Oh I bought my seasons and she
had to like walk way through what happened that day
(23:25):
and how I caught I robbed Kiki Stokes of a
home run for us to win. I was like, I
did not remember that at all. Well bleely blanked out
from those moments, just.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
From wanting to you know, win, and when you keep
going when you think about I feel like I learned
so much from that moment and about thing present and
even though I don't can't tell you anything about that day.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Yeah, it taught me about every day when the pro
ball to really stay key in those moments, to feel
excited and not have the panic attack for.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
When it's gonna be over. Yeah. For you, thinking about
different lessons you learned throughout your career in softball, what
is probably the biggest one that sticks with you being
as president as possible in every single moment, every single pitch,
whether you're in the box or on the field. I
think if you think too far in the past and
too far in the future, I mean, you're just not living,
you know. I think if you spend too much time
(24:21):
in your mind and not where you're physically and mentally at,
I just think you waste a little bit of life
in a sense. And I think I've truly learned that
this year. Just to be so present in every single
moment and just you know, cheer on my teammates every
time I can, whether I just got out or just
in a home run. But just stay steady and just
to stay in the moment.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Stay steady, stay in the moment. Yeah, that's very good
advice for anyone that feels like they're getting or feel
like they might have a panic attack like me. Yeah,
just stay steady, stay in the moment so that you
don't forget one of like the biggest pivotal moments in
your career.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Yeah you don't remember.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
Yeah, there's more to cover, but first, let's take a
quick break.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Will you talked about that you give assistant coach Christine Hines.
She's someone that made a significant impact in your life.
How so. I we hit a lot in our free
time or you know, before practice and stuff like that,
and she was just a coach for me who always
showed up no matter what, even if she didn't really
(25:31):
want to, or even if I didn't really want to,
but just to continue to work and work and work
and work. She brought such a different perspective because I
grew up hitting with my dad and he is more
of like a mechanical guy, and you know, Coach Himes
really brought the more mental side of the game and
you know, the approach side of the game. And I
just think I enjoyed every single time we got to
(25:53):
hit together. It was just it wasn't too serious, you know,
it was just we were hitting. We're figuring stuff out,
you know, figuring out how I can be a better
softball player. So she's actually coming to our game on Tuesday,
so yeah, yeah, I get to see her and talk
to her a little bit. But yeah, is there something
maybe a bit of advice or something she's told you
that has really stuck with you? The moments that we
(26:15):
shared together, just every single day, How she showed up
for me and showed up for our team every single day,
no matter you know what she was going through or
anything like that. I just think how she how she
shows up for every single girl on our team or
for me, was taught me something so much that it's
so much bigger than softball, and she showed me that.
(26:36):
I feel like you embody that now from talking. Yeah,
like you're just wanting to have fun. Yeah, stay in
the moment. Yeah, if you can't show up that day,
you're going to show up for your team greats and
be able to lead with that example. Yeah, well, not
only are you a great softball player, but you can juggle.
I can't juggle. We actually had to learn that at Kentucky.
(26:58):
You had to learn it. Yeah. Yeah, So that was
one of our my freshman in sophomore year, that was
one of our tests we had to get to like
get our blue shirt for practice. We practiced with the
gray shirt, and there was a series of like stuff
we had to pass, you know, hitting tests and like
juggling and jump roping and all that. So we had
to learn how to juggle. But I've never lost it,
So once you learn it, you never lose it. So yeah,
(27:19):
so it was like riding a bike. Yeah, yeah, literally,
like riding a bike. Do you juggle just like the
three or you got do moriyy o? But yeah, I
haven't tried the four. Maybe I could, but I kept
to three. I've attempted to juggle. There was a period
of my life where I tried every day, Yeah, for
like a month. I learned during COVID and OK, so
it made it a little bit easier. You know, I
(27:40):
was home all the time, so I just got three
softballs and I would juggle literally all the time. That's so.
So it was a part of the test.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
You guys had a series of different things that you
had to do in order to be able to practice,
and on not to be able to practice, just to
get our blue shirt, our blue Kentucky shirt, you know,
your your.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Blue Yeah, what else did you have to do. We
had to there was we had to hit twenty balls
off the tee, off the back of the net. If
they touched the top or the sides, you had to
start over pretty much. So it had to be twenty
balls in a row to the back of the cage
off the tee. There's a three plate drill, so you
were hitting off the machine and you had to hit
(28:19):
four or six balls really well. So just stuff like
that and then jump roping in our you know, conditioning
tests and all that kind of stuff. Did they ever
tell you what's the point of juggling? Like, yeah, you know,
the coornation and all that kind of stuff. I mean,
I I do appreciate it because now, like if my
eyes feel slow or something like that, I'll just pick
three balls up and start juggling. Sure, I know. Yeah, okay,
(28:44):
So if you feel this is something you kind of
it still helps you today with softball, pick up for
sure the balls and start juggling. Yeah. Okay, So if
I'm starting at the plate seeing the ball, I need
to find three balls and start juggling. I guess if
it works, I mean, if you into it, yeah, but
it's kind of like a party trick. You kind of
can pull it out whenever, you know, start juggling a
(29:05):
little bit. But yeah, honestly, that would be the real
reason why learn exactly guys, I can juggle. Ye, don't
let me learn how to juggle. I obvious on everybody.
I could juggle all the time. Not only juggling, but
you also can cook kind of yeah, yeah, I'm trying
to cook. I like to find new recipes off TikTok. Yeah,
I'm more of like a tryer, you know, I'm not
really like some majestic cook or anything like that, just
(29:27):
like a fat being able to just go in exactly
what I think. Yeah, what's probably the best meal you've made? Like,
I'm gonna give this a shot, and it actually started
out amazing. I make some pretty good soups. I mean
that doesn't really take that much effort. You just kind
of chuck stuff in there. So but I would say
that's probably my best you know, Okay, some chili, some
(29:48):
chicken noodle soup. Chili, yeah, noodle soup, like being chili
all that kind of like.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
Yeah, so on a rainy day or snowy day, exactly,
go there easy, Okay.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
Yeah, you just you should have said that. Yeah, you
should have said you wouldn't know the stove. It's true. Yeah,
I rip it on the stove, but I don't use
a crackpot. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Well, one thing I wanted to dive into because in
softball we all think of we all play travel ball,
and we all had that long ride.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Home at one point. Yeah, what was one of the
long rides home? Maybe conversations out with one of your.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
Parents, or a reflection you've had that you still think
of today.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
Oh that's tough, that's funny, you know. But one of
those ride homes one mind, and I'll never forget is
I took my shoes off and my dad literally pulled
over because my feet junks so bad our planet. I
was to roll all the windows down. Yeah, yeah, I
wasn't try about that. Yeah, I always took my shoes
(30:51):
off all the way home. I had to. And your
travel ball shoes smell awful because you were all summer
and caromel. Yeah, I would say definitely that. I mean
me and my dad, we always like would have like
the silence for a while, and then we would finally
we'd finally break it open and start talking about it
and discussing it and he got a lot better at it,
like throughout my college career. Two Like he was like,
(31:12):
I told him, you can't you know, I'm not the
same girl. I wasn't travelable. You can't just come after
me like that anymore, you know. So he he kind
of understood that. But I just think the the bickering
and you know, going back and forth. Was that a shrig?
Should you have caught that? All that kind of stuff. Yeah?
Did you hate those conversations? Yeah? Yeah I did. I
(31:33):
still kind of do sometimes, but we were more. I'm
more mature now so I can have those conversations. Yeah.
I love how you correct yourself. I'm more mature. So
now I was just like list said, I had a
good game, where it's like I didn't have a good game.
Tomorrow will be about Yeah, but let's just keep moving on. Yeah, exactly,
keep moving forward. Exactly. We're now we're gonna go into
(31:54):
the nope live don't okay, man, you guys, whether.
Speaker 1 (31:57):
You're infielder or not, we would turn the field and
doing no flies on. Yeah, what is your favorite play
you've ever made.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
On the red? I would say off a slapper at
playing shortstop like an on the run play like you
just had a really good bounce, you know, and you're like, oh,
you're like you're thinking you're for sure safe, But like
a throw on the run is like gives me the
most adrenaline. And that's probably the play I practiced for
all the time with my dad when I was younger,
(32:26):
like just trying to perfect it to the best of
my ability. But getting that play and getting a slapper
out is like the best moment as an infielder in
my opinion.
Speaker 3 (32:36):
And on the opposite in yeah, the worst moment exactly. Yeah.
Did you always yell Jeter when you would practice sometimes
sometimes on the backhand plays?
Speaker 2 (32:46):
I would yeah, yeah, Well now you love Freddie Freeman, right,
Or that's your favorite player? Yeah? Why is your favorite?
I just really admire him just how he carries himself.
I feel like we're a lot alike in that aspect.
He's just a very you know, go with the flow,
a humble baseball player. But I just I resonate a
lot with that, and I just respect him a lot.
(33:07):
He had the documentary come out about his wife and
him had infertility reasons going on, and it was just
really eye opening to see someone go through that. But
also so continue playing. So I just I love the
way that he carries himself and it reminds me a
lot of myself in no way. What about the way
he carries himself is he's just super pole, so humble,
you know, just does his business and gets out in
(33:31):
my opinion, I just I love his presence in the box.
It's not too talky, it's not you know, for show
or anything like that. I just he's very he's very steady,
so steady. Yeah. Have you met him? I have not? No. Yeah,
they got to get you out to l A Yeah,
I know, or like whenever they come over to Chicago,
if you can go meet him. He's very nice. Have
(33:52):
you met him? Yeah, Yeah, I've interviewed him. Oh god,
I've always very nice. Always has his son with them
were multiple maybe, but his oldest one. It comes out
on like shags on the field. That's so fun. Yeah,
very nice. Yeah. When what would you say?
Speaker 1 (34:11):
Because in thoughtball, it's a game of failure, right, we
have to experience it. Yeah, what is maybe your favorite
failure that's ultimately led to some of your best successes.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
It always comes back to me my freshman year we
were playing Alice. You actually at home and I made
like two or three airs in the field, and it
was like a day where like you sobbed your parents
in the parking lot after the game, like you're just
so embarrassed and you don't really know why it happened,
or you know how you can fix it or how
you can do better. You're just really caught up in it.
(34:45):
And I think that was the turning point for me
of like how am I going to be a better
I never really focused much on defense growing up. It
was more offensively and I just let my athleticness take
care of it stuff on defense, and then it kind
of caught off with me my freshman year. That was
kind of the moment where I was like, dang, like
I need to get better defensively, and I think that
summer I really got to work on it, and it
(35:06):
kind of flipped my perspective on defense, and I grew
a love for it then. So that game is always
just one game. They haunt you, they haunt you, and
I was so hard on myself afterwards. I would always
call my dad, you have to give me a motivational
speech stick order for me to like stop sobbing.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
Yeah, exactly, in that moment, But now you seem more
even keel deep like whenever, like the errors come now
or do you have a different approach to it?
Speaker 2 (35:34):
Yeah, I mean they still make me mad. I hate
making airs. Everybody hates making airs. But I think it's
more of like, you got to get over rests quick
as you can because the ball is going to find
you somehow. Someway. The ball always finds you, especially if
you're afraid. So I think, you know, trying to get
over as quick as can as you can and just
move on to the next play is simple but easy,
(35:55):
you know, finding a reset point for yourself, finding a
reset point for yourself, and not just on the field,
but also in line kind of. I mean.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
Also, you are a gradual assistant at Florida. I told
you early before we started talking, I hate it playing
at Florida.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
Yeah, but then we start about Also, how like LSU
and Kentucky, you look like a little beef. Now did
you guys have a little rivalry? Was it LSU that
you had a rivalry with? Or is another team We
always played really well against Elis, So I don't know
why we always just show up like every weekend against LSU.
When you played you guys, But yeah, I don't know.
I bet there is a little rivalry from that rain
(36:32):
delay game. But I think we always just look forward
to because it was always a good competition. Yeah, you
never know who was going to come out, but we
always just showed up against LSU and.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
The rain delay because, if I remember correctly, just from
the description of it, kause Srina wanted to stop the
game because it was raining and it was like the
ball was too wet, and then coach Lawson.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
Was like, step up, you guys. Yeah exactly, yeah, exactly,
just making sure I wasn't there. Yeah, eitherwise eyes or
I just watched it on TV and a lot of
stories about it and the rest of his history from
then on. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
Well, Aaron, I feel like when it comes to softball,
it comes to failure or even just comes to life.
You are a reminder of the power of remaining present,
the power of having patience, and the power of going
up and trusting your process and throughout that process, writing down,
(37:26):
drilling what that process looks like, because sometimes it is
important to be able to get these things off, to
maintain and to see how your process is looking at
how you are improving. Yeah, what is the best advice
you would give to anyone, whether it's going to college,
going to play pro, or just starting playing softball, about
trusting their process.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
I just think you know you're not going to be perfect.
Softball is a game of failure, and you really just
have to trust that you are going to like go
through those seasons of like highs and lows. But how
are you going to stay the most study. I think
you can't look at the game of softball as like
you can't just you can't take it so seriously. You
gotta you know why you're playing it. It's because you
(38:06):
love it, And if you don't love it, then you
really have to dig into your purpose and why you're
still playing. And I think I had to do that
after my freshman year. I just really had to figure
out why I still and I just I have this
deep passion for competing into play. I'm going to play
against the best of the best. But you know, going
into college, you you just go into it with an
open mind and go into it with learning and creating
(38:29):
new friendships and trusting yourself at the end of the day,
because if you don't trust yourself, it's gonna be really
really hard to be great, and I think trust all
the work that you put in. Again, if the work
you put in and you don't trust yourself when the
pressure comes to it and the time comes to it,
there's no point for the work. I think trusting your
work and trusting all the all the stuff you put
(38:49):
into yourself and you put into others. Just trust it.
Trust it, ye ban it? Oh yeah, trust it? Yeah.
How do you keep the momentum from the first half
of the season only into the second half of the
season to win the championship? I think, continue to do
doing what we're doing. I's it's a long season. A
lot can happen. If we look way too far ahead,
(39:10):
we're going to get too far ahead of ourselves. So
just saying with one game and doing what we can do.
What we did in the first half, Carr of the momentum,
we had one pitch, one game at a time. We
never give up. We always say that and even if
we're down. So I think, just continue to do what
we do. Will do you guys stay out of one pitch,
one game at a time. Yeah, So something around that,
Yeah we're losing or yeah, what's been your favorite part
(39:35):
about playing with the bandits just creating new friendships. A
lot of these girls that hadn't had the chance to
play with before. So like the Landing Whiz and Bubble Nichols,
like we and Jordan Roberts where we you know, I've
gotten super close with each other and they've really shared
their perspective and wisdom with me, and I really cherish
that and I love getting to learn from them. But
(39:56):
I just think we're all very like minded people. We
all just want to have fun playing the game and
that we grew up playing. So I think that's probably
my favorite piece coow have fun playing the game that
you love to play.
Speaker 1 (40:08):
Remember, results don't happen overnight, they happen over time. And
got to go back to the diamond that Aaron dropped
about softball is a team sport, not an individual sport.
And it's gonna get hard when you start playing individually.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
Yeah, lean into your.
Speaker 1 (40:24):
Teammates, lean into the present moment, and lean into your process.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
Aaron, thank you so much for dropping your damas today.
Thank you so much for having me. Well see you
guys next time next week. Back on the diamond for
dropping diamonds.
Speaker 1 (40:45):
Dropping diamonds with 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 supers
and producer in This episode was mixed and mastered by
Mary Do.
Speaker 2 (41:05):
Listen to Dropping Diamonds with A J.
Speaker 1 (41:06):
Andrews on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you
get your podcasts. H
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