July 14, 2025 • 39 mins
In this episode, AJ speaks with Michaela Edenfield, an all-American catcher from FSU and a rookie on the AUSL Volts. The episode dives into Michaela's journey in softball, her mental health practices, and the importance of authenticity. She shares the significance of responding constructively to events, and her methods for managing pitcher-catcher dynamics. Michaela also discusses the emotional moment of receiving her golden ticket to play pro softball, her struggle with identity and bullying, her love for makeup, and how it has helped her embrace her unique self.
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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. I'm extra glam, extra fab.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
I'm a star. It's a staff star. Sorry, and you're
just listening. It's because I have actual star on my face.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
But I have been blessed by someone who is an
All American out of FSU. She's an AUSL vault catcher.
And also she's about to make this her brand makeup
by Mikayla because I look so fab. Mikayla Edenfield, thank
you for joining me.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yes, thank you so much for having me and the
glam fire right the gold. I love it. She's a
gold goal. I'm a gold goal. I told her.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
I feel like a phoenix, the one from Harry Potter.
I'll have like oranges and you know, reds.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
But gold, except you're not going to burn up. No,
We're not gonna do that.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
No.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
No, well, I mean well, when I was doing it,
it was burning a little bit, but then you came
in and you helped me rise from the ashes. We
love a good metaphor we love it well. It's a
story podcast. I love to start with a quote and
affirmation because you know, as athletes it can get hard
and we have to continue to motivate ourselves. And so
for this one, talking to you and just knowing how
(01:28):
hard you work, I thought a great quote would be
the hardest challenge is to be yourself in a world
where everyone is trying to make you something else. And
so affirmation I came from this. I put a little
bit from Doctor Seuss. But look into the mirror and
we'll say I love myself and all that I am
and can be, for there's no one on earth more
(01:49):
mirror than me.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Yeah that's good.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Nobody is more you than you, and that is our
super bad.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Do you have a quote or affirmation that you really
feel like you live by.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
There's been a couple of things, Like, of course, as
an athlete at Florida State, we took our mental health
like and talks very seriously and we always had like
this cheat sheet of random quotes and whatnot of things
that stuck out to many people that we've worked through
the mental performance area and one that I put on
my glove the past couple of years was E plus
(02:21):
our equals oh and its event plus response equals your
supposed outcome. And the only thing you can control is
the response. And so within like wanting to be myself
and make sure that like I'm giving myself the best
value of life is understanding that, like the event is
what it is, right, and it's on me to control
(02:43):
my response. And I think that's the big thing. As
a catcher, I'm always feeding off of my picture. It's
what can I do for my picture? What can I
do for my defense? What can I do this? Blah
blah blah blah blah. Right, And with that, I'm just
making sure I can kind of do a balancing act.
So I go in if my picture's like a super
like hot head, like I want to be cool and
(03:03):
calm connected, like that's my response to her and her attitude,
but also like bad call, like whatever it is, like
me getting angry, it's not going to do anything about it.
And I think as athletes we can get wound up
on the negatives of the game, and kind of controlling
that response will make it a little bit more of
a positive outcome. Hopefully, and then on top of that,
(03:25):
like you're gonna be a little less angry at the
end of the day. And I think we go through
so many different emotions.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
So knowing that the only control from the event E
plus R equals oh is your response. I think that's
really important because oftentimes we try to control the outcome
to your point, especially as pictures and you're someone for
being a catcher, you have to go and help people
control their responses. How do you do that when you
(03:52):
step onto the mound and you're trying to console the
picture or trying to help them through a situation. Do
you have a method of attack or does it change depending.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
It changes like according to the picture, you know, Like
I think I always joke around and say it's like
speed dating like seven to eight people, especially in college
when you got to like a whole full staff, you
got to get to know them like pretty good, Like
what is their favorite food, what can get them out
of a really weird spot? Are they going through an
emotional time right now personally like outside of softball, and
(04:21):
how is that going to weigh into their performance? And
for me, it's making sure I know all of those
things off the field, so on the field, I can
apply it and make sure i'm you know, directing the
conversation how it needs to be. But at the end
of the day, like you have to have a realness
whenever you talk to a teammate, regardless of picture catcher
(04:43):
and field outfield, you got to be real with the situation,
like did she just throw one right over the middle
of the plate?
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Yeah, and that's going to happen. And I think now
with understanding the personalities of the picture, it's like how
you go about saying that, Like that was a bit
plated there. Next time, Let's work a little bit more
off here. Hey, you were ahead O two in that count, Like,
I'll set up a little bit more outside. Let's just
make sure we start to expand better, you know. So
it's not oh, like you messed up, it's how can
(05:12):
we go on from this? And so that's the big
thing there and having to kind of direct the conversation
and we can laugh. It happens. You know, you got
people that are like big time sluggers and you make
it a little missed up, a little mistake and you
leave one over the middle of the plate and when
they smack it You're like, well, yeah, that's what I get. Yeah,
it humbles you a little bit. But at the same time,
(05:34):
like you can tip your hat off to some people
because I've seen people like hit balls so inside and
so close to their shin and I'm like, I don't
even know that yet. Yeah, I'm my girlfriend like, don't
look at me, but like, hey, I don't even know
how that happened. So it's like, how can we be
about the next pitch?
Speaker 1 (05:50):
What is probably the craziest or funniest time or thing
that you had to say to get a picture out.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Of her mood?
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Like your favorite mound, I'm calling mission, your favorite mound mission?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
What did that look like?
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Oh, oh my gosh. There's a handful. Because I've worked
with a bunch of different personalities and Kat Sander cog I,
me and her had a really special relationship. So there's
that there's times that like things could be really funny
because we had that type of relationship off the field.
But I would say, Daniel Watson, she is like big, fiery.
(06:28):
I am like love her. She would just recently got married.
Congrats to her. I remember specifically I went up to
her and she was like, I'm not doing that again.
I was like, oh, okay, period. Yeah, and that's very
like sentence ender, got it? What can I do? Yeah?
And at times like that, like I felt super intimidated.
(06:48):
So it's for me that's funny. Whenever I feel like
intimidated by the picture, I'm like, okay, cool, like, but
I will say, there's been plenty of times where I've
just look at my picture and be like, dude, you're
overthinking a look at me right now, Like you're a boss,
you know, like you're her, you're her. I don't know
(07:09):
anyone else that looks as good in the uniform like
you do.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
OHI like, you know, like we just like, yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
A little sassy comment here and there, just like to
break the surface and understand the like, at the end
of the day, we're human, we're playing the sport like
it happens, things will happen. But if you're not, if
you're so focused on the negative piece of the pitches
prior to the moment, Like again, just like a little check.
I usually like to make a little joke or too,
depending on the person, of course, But hey, girl, a
(07:36):
hot dog sounds so good right now. Listen, all we
gotta do is get through this inning, score a couple
of runs, and then it's me and you pool side tomorrow,
you know, yeah, and it's done. Get through it, you know,
just get through it. Yeah. So just yeah, just kind
of like having those fun conversations.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
When you are catching. Do you call the pitches.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Here in a USL yes, so, and fsu I did occasionally,
like would call Now Kocha would always lay down first
of all. We would always say we're laying down like
a menu, you know, and it's up to the picture
to decide. And that's a bit of the ownership on
the flip end of the picture and responsibility of knowing
what she would want to throw as well. But I think,
(08:17):
especially a florist, say some one of my favorite pictures
to work with are the more analytical ones, the ones
that definitely know what they want to throw, the ones
that would shake off because they have that feel. There's
just a certain feel, it's like a third eye almost.
That in synct to me is whenever she shakes, I
put down the next pitch, and usually I'm pretty online
(08:38):
with what the picture is wanting at that point. In
Jazzy Forensic and Kat Santa Cock were probably the two
pictures I had like that floors state.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
So do you feel like when you are calling the
pictures and you kind of get that intuition if you
call the next one, is it based off your own
intuition or is it solely based off what you think
the picture feels comfortable with.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
It's a mix, okay, right, Like of course, like I'm
want to play to my picture strengths, but I mean
I'm right there.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
I like you see the battle.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Yeah, adder Like I've studied swings, I've coached hitting like,
I'm a hitter myself, so I understand like a little bit,
especially if it's more of a wiser hitter, like, oh,
she might be expecting this, So I think if we
lead off with here, then we could go with this
pitch next. So you always want to be like two
pitches ahead of the system. And then if you just
get the out on the one pitch and you're like,
(09:25):
well that's nice, Yeah, you can go do whatever. But
I always try to like the thing two pitches ahead.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Here at AUSL, I imagine it gets a little bit
harder to maintain staying two pitches ahead of these elite players.
It's your rookie season, you got the aus Cel Golden
ticket at FSU. When you did he received the ticket,
you got emotional and you were really excited.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
What was going through your mind when you realize you're
about to be a pro.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Honestly, I mean the whole situation was a really cool
event because we didn't have Senior Day due to the
tragic shooting on campus, so our games against Georgia Tech
got canceled and so the whole event that that happened
was a makeup for a senior day for us. So
it was like a little fun like there was a
home run Derby, Peace Goes Race the Ross. It was
(10:16):
all like based events around the seniors and like our strengths.
So it was super cool just to have that and
like have our fans come out just to see that,
no game, no nothing, just to see the seniors and
celebrate us. And I always think like adversity brings community together,
and that was a moment to see that, and it
was just super exciting. And I remember like seeing the
ausl ad like going on our big screen and I'm like,
(10:41):
that's interesting. I was like that, We're interesting, and I
wasn't thinking too much about it. And then the next
thing I know, I see Jen like go on our field,
and I'm like, what is Jim? What are you doing here?
And I see like the going ticket and then everyone's
like kind of like looking around, and I'm like, who
(11:01):
could it be? I didn't even think of it myself.
Everyone's like, oh, like you knew, didn't you?
Speaker 1 (11:06):
No?
Speaker 3 (11:06):
I did not. I did not. I looked around. I
was like I did put like a little filler saying
that I would like to play pro softball, but like
you never that doesn't guarantee anything, right, And to the
point that I was looking around for Jani because she's
that girl too. You know, I've played it for a
safe for five years. I've been a part of amazing
teams and amazing athletes, and I know any of them
(11:27):
are like well deserving of the chance to be able
to play pro. And I remember when my name was called,
like I was just in shock, and I was grateful
I had my team, like I had my aunt there.
She surprised me. She said originally that she wasn't going
to be able to go, and then she you know,
(11:47):
I think coach I had told her that I was
getting drafted, so that that ended up happening so apparently
i'd been They had known this for weeks and I didn't,
and so it was it was a really good surprise,
and I got really really because I know one person
would have loved to been there was my grandpa, and
me and my aunt share a super close relationship, understanding
(12:08):
that we might have been his favorites. And I think
like me and her have that like special simile softball
up because she also played for FSU from ninety seventy
to two thousand and one. And I just think having
that moment with everyone that I love being there was
just super super special, and I just wouldn't have imagined,
like little Me didn't even know she was going to
(12:30):
make it us Sneeze Florida. I mean, little Me was bullied.
Could have been completely polar opposite story. You know, if
I didn't have sports, If I didn't have sports, the
community and everything, like, I don't think I'd be the
person I am today. So like all of that was
kind of hitting me at once, and just like being
(12:50):
so grateful to be in the uniform that I was
and just given the opportunities that come right way.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
And realizing you made it, you did it. I just
did it.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
And I hope you know your grandfather was there with
you in those moments.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
It's probably why you felt so much to feel all
the love that you had.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Let's take a quick break to hear a word from
our sponsor. You step off to the field in Chicago
for ausl or the Vaults, and how do you feel
like the transition?
Speaker 2 (13:29):
How do you feel it's different from college?
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Oh my gosh, I mean I first day in, I'm like, okay,
like I know some of these girls through college, Like
it'll be fine. Don't freak out, MICHAELA, Like it's fine.
Like they drafted you for a reason, so like if
it doesn't work out, it's on their behalf, like not yours.
Like I was really trying to like show a halp
myself up, and it's like it's humbling, you know. Like
(13:55):
we joke around and say, like you go from high
school to college and you're like the biggest fish in
your pond, and then you go into the lake and
you're no longer the big fish anymore, and essentially like
it's the same thing over again, like you're no longer
the big fish. And I like really took a step
back understanding that I am going to be playing with Olympians,
all Americans, National Player of the years. When I found
(14:18):
out I got drafted to the Vaults, I was like,
so doesn't mean I get to catch Rachel Garcia? Like
what what? And it's just like a really surreal moment
because I would have never imagined, for one that I
was going to be able to play pro softball, but
to play with these girls that have done so much
for the sport. I mean to have Kat Osman as
my GM like insane, insane for her to throw me
(14:42):
BP on day three here, I was like, what is life?
I call my aunt, what is life like? I don't know?
And she reminded me, like she was like, no, like
Kat is awesome. Cat is cool, like not taking that away,
but like she's also throwing to you. And that really
flipped my perspective there for a bit, Like yes, like
taking the gratitude and gratefulness part, like very very seriously,
(15:05):
but also understanding that I have a role here. So
you have a role, you have a purpose.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
You're the only catcher to be drafted.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
You are that girl.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
You're here and you're doing it.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
And you talked about a little bit earlier how sports
has really changed your life. And you experienced some bullying
when you were younger, and I remember you quote it
and you said that it took you a while to
transform the different into me and like being different and
embracing that and realizing there's nobody me or than me,
there's nobody you were than you when you did embrace that,
(15:39):
What did that look like? How were you able to
finally step into Mikayla.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
My small town like getting bullied, Like it was constantly
in the back of my head, like how could I
fit in? How could I look normal? What is everyone
else wearing that? Like I could potentially wear? Like how
could I make my hair less of like what it is?
Do I straighten it? Like? What do I need to
do to make myself blend in to everyone else that
is around me? And Yeah, you go through those phases
(16:06):
of like wanting to like just fit in, But eventually
I realized that like this was just never gonna happen.
And sports kind of gave me that avenue of realizing that,
you know, being like one of the few that are
really good, like has that certain edge, that feeling and
within sport, within volleyball and softball specifically, like I was
(16:26):
able to create that edge of where it felt like
I was the truest form of me at that time
of my life. And having that feel in sport, I
was like, well, how can I do that in my
personal life? How can I be that in my personal life?
So I say sports quite literally changed me because I
probably want to have known or taken the step to
like want to be that way on both ends of
(16:48):
the stick in life that is. But going from there,
the confidence, the feeld, the ego, like just everything that
happened from sport, I had to break down and realize
that like I can be that, I am that. And
I was around a bunch of strong young females of
Verretsne's High school, especially the volleyball team, and Sheila Roberts.
(17:09):
I credit that woman a lot of things and probably
the reason why I ended up going D one, even
though it wasn't in volleyball. I went softball. She taught
me a lot of life lessons and discipline and how
to apply that to everything, and very grateful for that.
And within all of that, embracing the unique piece. When
I started to do that, it was doing the makeup.
(17:31):
If you asked Jesse Warrent, literally I used to do
like makeup looks to camps me and my mom called
it was like my war paint. So I was like
very serious about that, and I loved it. And I
started to realize that, you know what, like, if I
have a couple other people that I know that like
the things I like, that's really all that matters. That
the people that I hold closest to me still like
(17:53):
me at the end of the day, That's all it matters.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
I think it's so interesting.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
And you talked about how, even with your hair, you
tried to find ways and who you are as a
person to be less, and I also want to land
Oh yeah, where it's like I think his quota is
you've lost your muchness. You used to be much muchier,
And I think that that is such an important could
talk about trying to be less, but in order for
you to be where you are today, you had to
(18:18):
be more, you had to be better, and through that
you use makeup.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
You talk about using makeup.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
As a crutch and watching ru Paul's drag Race, and
when do you really find your identity or find your
love for makeup? How did you allow that to continue
to also propel you forward? And your confidence a couple
of videos.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
Right, It's all it takes is to get hooked onto
something these days say talk like it's easy platform. You
find a funny video haha, and then you think the
person that makes the videos make more other funny videos,
and you're like, okay, cool, Like I want to follow,
I want to keep up because I like those laughs. Right.
For me, it was the makeup and like the artistry,
but also the confidence that those people had, especially RuPaul,
like they walk around like they own the world and
(18:57):
like ten eleven twelve year old me, like I didn't
know what that was. Like I was scared of the world.
And to see like someone else embody that and understand
how different they are. All the facets of scrutiny that
people that you know do drag race that go and
RuPaul like go under and they don't care something about
that really just stuck with me and I enjoyed watching
(19:20):
the art piece. I come from a very creative family.
My grandma owned a quote shop at some point in time,
I used to pay I did piano lessons because someone
thought I wasn't going to be an athlete, so like
that was I came from that kind of background and
into just like loving the show and the personalities and
seeing them just be one them at all times and
(19:43):
like don't care, don't care, and I wanted that and
the makeup piece I had fun with. I would start
to do like little fun looks and people would be like,
oh that's cool. Like I'll be like, oh nice, and
I fed into the makeup was my crutch because people
thought it was either like cool at that moment in
time or it's because like it was the trend. Everyone
(20:03):
knows the twenty sixteen era of the brow dip and
I mean the massive eyebrows, the massive eyeliner. It was
very like in trend okay at that point in time.
I may have a couple of pictures of me back
then where my like eyeliner and eyebrows were like this
close together. We have to pull those up. No, yeah,
(20:25):
they're very along with the Nike headband face that was
an easily face.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Yeah, we all went through it.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
And so like all of that, like I was trying
to fit in into like what was cool in that
moment in time, growing up again from like a southern
bell area as well, like you have to look at a
certain way, you have to do your makeup, you have
to wear a dress to go to church, like you
have to present yourself in a certain way all the time.
And within all of that, like I started to realize that, like,
(20:54):
am I doing this for me? Or am I doing
this again to fit in? And that probably my senior
year of high school and then of course COVID hit,
so a lot of things change in that piece and
be able to have a little bit of identity crisis
through my freshman year of college with COVID. My grandpa
passed the summer before I got in, and just like
(21:15):
within all of that, I started to realize what am
I really doing to make myself happy? And like what
am I doing to make others happy? Don't get me wrong,
I'm a big people person. I love to like do
things to make other people happy. But at the end
of the day, like I'm the one going to sleep
with myself, and if I can't go to sleep a
peace knowing that, like I'm happy with my life, then
(21:39):
I need to change something.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
And makeup is what brings you.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
It's that big. It makes me happy. Yeah, And I
started to realize, like, no, I'm doing the cool books
for me because I like how it looks. No other
people can think it's cool, and like can want to
match and do stuff like that. But like at the
end of the day, like I can be like, no,
I did that. I show up to the ballfield knowing that,
like more people are interested on what'saw my eyes versus
(22:03):
how I did respectfully and respectfully and if But That's
what I'm known for, and like people know me as
a person and they're super excited to get to talk
to me, and like know me. That means more to
me than you know, being three for three. Sometimes you know, well, I.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Also love your eye makeup so much the star Stier's
weighting out the star. What would you say is your
favorite look other than mine? Obviously my phoenix look.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
I would say I did a flame look yesterday that
was a little different. I did it in Volts colors,
which was different from me. I've been like doing a
bunch of teen oriented colors, green and purple at stuff,
like I need to change it up, But I did do.
I like doing movie related looks. I did a Willy
Wonka look on Draft Day and I had like the
(22:56):
Golden Ticket and I put a us L I put
twelve out of twelve, well, because I was the last ticket,
Like I like stuff that can kind of hint on
to real things, and that's where the makeup as a
message starts to like really click. And that's where I
feel like I'm doing it much more than oh, it's
a cool look or it's pretty or it's makeup. Like no,
(23:18):
like this has a message, like it has a USL
I it was a golden ticket, like it has something
to portray to the audience. I also did who for juneteenth.
I had the fists like enough sad, you know, like
making sure that it's more than makeup to me, like
makeup as a message, And I think it's really fun
to be able to use that medium, you know, to
(23:41):
like portray people, like on things that matter to me
the most, and.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
Be able to see it through Because you were in
a helmet, so it's sometimes hard to see your face,
but then you have the ie makeup on.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
It's like, oh, I see that, I see that playing,
I see that star.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
She's making it look good. But let's let's not get confused.
You are the you have the voice say history Maker
for fifty four home runs career home Runs your third
so you're also people know that you for your hitting,
not just for your makeup looks.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
You are doing the thing. There's more to cover.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
But first let's take a quick break. You talk about
what you've been able to achieve at FSU and being
able to be coached by coach Alamida. She's someone that
anybody I've talked to you that went to FSU, you
(24:35):
all are just so inspired and have nothing but the
most amazing words. What was the culture like at FSU
and how has it impacted you as a player in person.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
The reason why I committed to Forestay it was because
family was felt, not told. I think, you know, going
on a lot of recruits as a high schooler, like
everyone says, oh, we're a family. Oh we're a family,
and then you look at two girls that like are
on the team and they like give an eye roll
to one, and you're like, oh, well, like what am
I supposed to do? Right? And I think just being there,
(25:05):
family truly was felt. I had a Sergeant Bear mom,
which is what Coacha dressed up as for a Halloween
because she gives like bear hugs, but she's like, you know,
she gives you know a little bit of the both
ends of the sick like Devil's advocate of how to
go about things. So I got that, and I got
(25:26):
two funny uncles and analytical aunt. And I think the
coaching staff and the dynamic that they have just work
so effortlessly, don't get me wrong. Like everyone's going to
have like a rough day every now and then, but
at the end of the day, like there's an open
door policy, and I have bald like a little baby
(25:46):
and Coach's arms and like I want you to imagine
like the height difference, and then I'm just kind of
like crouched down. But she has quite literally been there
during my darkest moments. My grandpa was my father figure,
literally the closest person I had growing up, and he
meant the world to me. And when I lost him
(26:07):
the summer before I got into college, I just I
didn't think I was ever going to be the same.
And for Coach and the coaching staff to like constantly,
you know, kind of press my buttons just to make
sure like I'm still there, Like trying to figure that
dynamic out truly meant a lot, because I think some
other places would have probably given up on me. And
(26:29):
at a certain point in time, I was giving up
on myself because I didn't even think I belonged at
Floria State, you know. So there's a lot of things
within all of that. In the family. Aspect of being
up for state, it just means more because you just
don't find coaches. You don't find many head coaches like Coacha.
(26:50):
That's just so genuine, quite literally, She's the best human
being I've ever met, hands down, and.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
I think life is still stand at this in the
lay that you are now there for her in one
of her darkest moments as she's going through breast cancer
and going through different treatments. And you told me earlier
that she was coaching while going through chemo and radiation,
and those that have had family members that have experienced both,
we know what it's like watching someone go through chemo radiation.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
They are so sick and so weak, and.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
To see her it still show up for you guys
every single day and you be there for her, and
you were also one of the individuals that shaved her
head as well. Can you talk to me about the
moments that you've been able to share with her and
how she's been a pillar of strength for her and.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
Now you also being able to be a pillar of
strength for herself. I hid a pillarship for you and
you being a pillow shit for her.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
Yeah, I mean truly, there's not a good way to
describe the feeling. Like I said, She's been there for
me on my darkest days, and to be there for
her is in its own way like a very good feeling,
like I'm glad I can be here for her in
this moment. I'm grateful that this is happening in my
(28:05):
fifth and final Europe or stay because I get to
be with her. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right,
And to see someone so strong take it head on
is again inspiring because when she told us when we
had the team meeting, she has said it, thank you
so much for the compliments on my bob, there's actually
(28:28):
a reason why I cut my hair. And you know,
she kind of, you know, dropped the bomb on us.
She's got breast cancer, and a bunch of the girls
like immediately like we're all very emotional because a lot
of people have lost people to breast cancer and have
gone through many other facets of understanding that it's a
(28:48):
very serious thing. And I wouldn't watch this upon my
enemy yet along like one of the best human beings
I've ever met, and with Coacha just being up there
and kind of cry, kind of telling us. She was
still telling us to make sure we do our checkups,
like she was making a life lesson for us while
like we're like bowling our eyes out. And I think
(29:10):
that just like shows and volumes like the type of
person she is because at the end of the day,
like she could be having breast cancer and she would
still put us first to tell us to like, you know,
this is what you need to do and how you
do it. And being vulnerable. I used to think being
vulnerable was the most horrible thing ever. You should never
(29:30):
show people your weaknesses because that's just gonna at the
end of the day kind of come back to buy you.
And she showed me that vulnerability is strength. And for
her to be vulnerable for not only us but the
world and just letting us be there in those wrong
moments and shaving her head, that really clicked for me.
And I'm grateful for all the moments. And a lot
(29:53):
of people ask me like, oh, like that's a really
unfortunate thing to happen in your last year of first date.
That's not unfortunate. I'm very grateful to number one of
course be there for coaching, but number two, like you
learn certain aspects about life firsthand. And I think that
just again made a couple of things click about how
(30:13):
simple life can be and how you should never take
people or things for granted and tell your loved ones
that you love them, you know, because you're never guaranteed tomorrow.
And so that was another thing that clicked for me
that I'm very grateful but like I had experienced. Yes,
I was sad, emotional, but it's a good thing to
(30:34):
face right before you go off into the real world
after college.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
What do you feel like is the biggest lesson that
coach has taught you on and off the field.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
Yeah, I mean vulnerability, one hundred percent. Vulnerability as a
strength and to be able to share your story. She's
made me realize that my story is a pretty inspiring
story coming from the area that I lived in and
small small town. I mean, I think I graduated in
(31:02):
like ninety four individuals and it was a public school,
so like I'm.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
Very very like ninety individuals in one class where yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
I think like my high school, it's like four hundred
people like maybe total yeah with like staff maybe four
fifteen yeah, like very small area and to like be
the girl out of the backyard of Tallahassee, like going
to play Division one ball and then getting the opportunity
to be myself and create this branding of Area fifty
(31:33):
one and the makeup and like showing people who I
really am even though I play ball, Like this is
everything else I can do, Like and this is the
reason why you should like follow, you know, keep up
with me, because at the end of the day, like
we're all human beings. We all like bring something to
the sport, but it's also on the flip side, like
we bring something to life, and that's something that like
(31:55):
I'm very grateful for that She's taught me that, Like
I am my own inspirational story, and I should be
very grateful for Like, yes, like understand where I came from,
Like in the low points I feel today can't tell
you like yesterday. Like I've been super emotional as of
late because it's tomorrow is going to be five years
(32:15):
officially that my Grandpa's passed, and so I've been going
through a lot and thinking about everything. Right, I can
be super sad about everything I'm going on right now,
or I can see everything that I have faced adversity
wise and continue to face and just be so inspired
(32:36):
that the fact I'm still going on and that makes
me continue to want to go on.
Speaker 1 (32:42):
Diamond was just dropped by the way I am my
own inspirational story. I think that that is so powerful
to say, because if you when you look at the
things that you go through in life, whether it's on
the field off the field, you're just building your story,
and you're building your own so you can look back
and say, wow, I really made it through so much.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
Yeah, I really did a lot.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
Your grandfather has obviously had a huge impact on you
when you think about him and what he has done
for you and the person you are today. What's one
thing you believe he would say to you if he
was sitting across from you after watching your inspirational story
come to life.
Speaker 3 (33:25):
He probably knew it was a little quote. I forgot
exactly where it's from, But it's like, if you shoot
for the stars, you might land on the moon. I
know for a fact I can hear him every now
and then in the back of my head of what
to do and what not to do. But I know
for a fact that he would just say that he's proud,
(33:47):
and there's not much else I can't really ask for,
and in those tough moments, me and my aunt like
shared that super close relationship because of paw and everything
that we've gone for. But I know for a fact
he would probably say that neon, green and purple are
(34:08):
interesting team colors to have, but I managed to pull
it off, and you make it look great. It look amazing,
and the makeup piece. He would probably be very surprised
when words ended up, but he would be proud that
I've owned it in every bit of it. And then
he would probably ask me, where's the next Starbucks cup
that we can get together. We love that so a
(34:29):
little bit of everything, but I know for a fact
he would be proud. And at the end of the day,
I can sleep really well knowing that.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
You're your father, proud of who you are off the field,
but also on and the amazing plays that you have
been able to make behind the plate, whether you're diving,
whether you're blocking, whether you are letting the picture know, okay, yes,
we don't throw that pitch again when it comes to
(34:59):
an the field and do a no fly zone my favorite.
I mean, what's your favorite play you've ever made, and
what do you think it.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Takes to make an elite catcher?
Speaker 3 (35:09):
I made it on Sports Center this year period. Yeah,
like that was a bucket list for me. I've always
wanted to be on Sports Center, and I always pride
myself of being a pretty agile catcher. So I would say,
like foul tips like are tough because if you can
just just one, you know, that one pitch means a lot,
because it's like I needed a game right It's quick
(35:30):
reaction and then those are like pretty short pop ups sometimes,
you know, and that one specifically, like I've all gotten
to the wall of man, I was like, dang, that
your stuff on a bet hour. The volleyball skills are
coming in right now. I mean, full, full dive, full
out moment and I called it. I was like, dang,
(35:51):
I don't know how many people on my team could do.
I'm just kidding, but she's not. No, it's it's that
was a really cool moment. That was probably one of
my best plays defensively of forested of course, like I
have a pretty good arm, so throwing people out it's
always fun, especially like the faster the better. It feels
like a badge. Like if that was like a boy scout,
(36:12):
like I would have like that person's name on a
little ribbon.
Speaker 1 (36:16):
Wait, that'd be so funny. Anytime you make a great.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
I throw someone out that's like known for their wheels. Yeah,
like Kindri fall by Skylar wall In inside the UF Rivalry. Yeah,
I throw you out. Just know that I thought about
it a little bit, and you make me more confident
you xl X.
Speaker 1 (36:38):
Last question is the know we're running out of time unfortunately,
but what would you say is your favorite failure that
has ultimately led to your biggest successes?
Speaker 3 (36:46):
M my biggest failure, your favorite failure, my favorite failure,
not my biggest figure.
Speaker 2 (36:53):
That's right is important.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
My favorite failure was probably red shirt red shirt ear right,
I wouldn't consider that failure. I knew I was going
to read shirt before I got into college. I knew
that was going to happen in high school. So if
I had to say probably, like all through, I couldn't
practice first like fall of my red sher ear, I
(37:17):
couldn't practice with the team because I got COVID, And
I feel like that moment I understand it's not necessarily
softball related, but it did cause me to have an
identity crisis with softball because I couldn't practice at Forest State,
at a place where I didn't feel like I already
belonged again, right, And I couldn't practice, couldn't work out
(37:40):
with them, and all three four months a fall, I
was like, what am I doing here? Like I'm literally
just a glorified manager. I'm exactly what everyone in my
hometown thinks I was going to do. I'm just going
to be like on the bench and then no one's
going to know about me. Like that's what I was
feeding myself. And to be able to flip that and
really own the bullpen catcher, and like, how can I
(38:01):
make up for lost time that I didn't have in
the fall due to COVID and all the screening that
you have to go through to be cleared at that
point in time to spring being able to practice and
work out with them, every little bit I could potentially
get in I was there. I was asking questions. It
was how could I be smarter about the game? How
(38:22):
can I be more involved with anything? Spin flips? Like, hey, no,
don't throw to the net, throw to me. Like I
need that, and I feel like that could be seen
as like a failure piece. The event wasn't you know,
caused by me, but that like really set an identity
crisis and I had to work through that my first
(38:44):
year of college. So I'm grateful for that.
Speaker 1 (38:47):
But because of all that training, I really prepared you
for your moment when you were able to step up
and start the year. Thus are equals. Oh heala. Thank
you so much for dropping your diamonds, letting us all
know and remember to be our own inspirational not story
yes and that go out and control our responses to
(39:09):
ultimately get the outcomes.
Speaker 2 (39:10):
That we are hoping for.
Speaker 3 (39:12):
Thank you so much for having me. I'll see you
guys the next week.
Speaker 2 (39:15):
Back on the diamond Thanks Mikayla.
Speaker 3 (39:18):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (39:25):
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.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
I'm your host, AJ Andrews.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
Our executive producer is Jesse Katz. Tari Harrison is our
supervising producer, and this episode was mixed and mastered by
Mary Do listen to Dropping Diamonds with Aj Andrews on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
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. I'm extra glam, extra fab.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
I'm a star. It's a staff star. Sorry, and you're
just listening. It's because I have actual star on my face.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
But I have been blessed by someone who is an
All American out of FSU. She's an AUSL vault catcher.
And also she's about to make this her brand makeup
by Mikayla because I look so fab. Mikayla Edenfield, thank
you for joining me.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yes, thank you so much for having me and the
glam fire right the gold. I love it. She's a
gold goal. I'm a gold goal. I told her.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
I feel like a phoenix, the one from Harry Potter.
I'll have like oranges and you know, reds.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
But gold, except you're not going to burn up. No,
We're not gonna do that.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
No.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
No, well, I mean well, when I was doing it,
it was burning a little bit, but then you came
in and you helped me rise from the ashes. We
love a good metaphor we love it well. It's a
story podcast. I love to start with a quote and
affirmation because you know, as athletes it can get hard
and we have to continue to motivate ourselves. And so
for this one, talking to you and just knowing how
(01:28):
hard you work, I thought a great quote would be
the hardest challenge is to be yourself in a world
where everyone is trying to make you something else. And
so affirmation I came from this. I put a little
bit from Doctor Seuss. But look into the mirror and
we'll say I love myself and all that I am
and can be, for there's no one on earth more
(01:49):
mirror than me.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Yeah that's good.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Nobody is more you than you, and that is our
super bad.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Do you have a quote or affirmation that you really
feel like you live by.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
There's been a couple of things, Like, of course, as
an athlete at Florida State, we took our mental health
like and talks very seriously and we always had like
this cheat sheet of random quotes and whatnot of things
that stuck out to many people that we've worked through
the mental performance area and one that I put on
my glove the past couple of years was E plus
(02:21):
our equals oh and its event plus response equals your
supposed outcome. And the only thing you can control is
the response. And so within like wanting to be myself
and make sure that like I'm giving myself the best
value of life is understanding that, like the event is
what it is, right, and it's on me to control
(02:43):
my response. And I think that's the big thing. As
a catcher, I'm always feeding off of my picture. It's
what can I do for my picture? What can I
do for my defense? What can I do this? Blah
blah blah blah blah. Right, And with that, I'm just
making sure I can kind of do a balancing act.
So I go in if my picture's like a super
like hot head, like I want to be cool and
(03:03):
calm connected, like that's my response to her and her attitude,
but also like bad call, like whatever it is, like
me getting angry, it's not going to do anything about it.
And I think as athletes we can get wound up
on the negatives of the game, and kind of controlling
that response will make it a little bit more of
a positive outcome. Hopefully, and then on top of that,
(03:25):
like you're gonna be a little less angry at the
end of the day. And I think we go through
so many different emotions.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
So knowing that the only control from the event E
plus R equals oh is your response. I think that's
really important because oftentimes we try to control the outcome
to your point, especially as pictures and you're someone for
being a catcher, you have to go and help people
control their responses. How do you do that when you
(03:52):
step onto the mound and you're trying to console the
picture or trying to help them through a situation. Do
you have a method of attack or does it change depending.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
It changes like according to the picture, you know, Like
I think I always joke around and say it's like
speed dating like seven to eight people, especially in college
when you got to like a whole full staff, you
got to get to know them like pretty good, Like
what is their favorite food, what can get them out
of a really weird spot? Are they going through an
emotional time right now personally like outside of softball, and
(04:21):
how is that going to weigh into their performance? And
for me, it's making sure I know all of those
things off the field, so on the field, I can
apply it and make sure i'm you know, directing the
conversation how it needs to be. But at the end
of the day, like you have to have a realness
whenever you talk to a teammate, regardless of picture catcher
(04:43):
and field outfield, you got to be real with the situation,
like did she just throw one right over the middle
of the plate?
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Yeah, and that's going to happen. And I think now
with understanding the personalities of the picture, it's like how
you go about saying that, Like that was a bit
plated there. Next time, Let's work a little bit more
off here. Hey, you were ahead O two in that count, Like,
I'll set up a little bit more outside. Let's just
make sure we start to expand better, you know. So
it's not oh, like you messed up, it's how can
(05:12):
we go on from this? And so that's the big
thing there and having to kind of direct the conversation
and we can laugh. It happens. You know, you got
people that are like big time sluggers and you make
it a little missed up, a little mistake and you
leave one over the middle of the plate and when
they smack it You're like, well, yeah, that's what I get. Yeah,
it humbles you a little bit. But at the same time,
(05:34):
like you can tip your hat off to some people
because I've seen people like hit balls so inside and
so close to their shin and I'm like, I don't
even know that yet. Yeah, I'm my girlfriend like, don't
look at me, but like, hey, I don't even know
how that happened. So it's like, how can we be
about the next pitch?
Speaker 1 (05:50):
What is probably the craziest or funniest time or thing
that you had to say to get a picture out.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Of her mood?
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Like your favorite mound, I'm calling mission, your favorite mound mission?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
What did that look like?
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Oh, oh my gosh. There's a handful. Because I've worked
with a bunch of different personalities and Kat Sander cog I,
me and her had a really special relationship. So there's
that there's times that like things could be really funny
because we had that type of relationship off the field.
But I would say, Daniel Watson, she is like big, fiery.
(06:28):
I am like love her. She would just recently got married.
Congrats to her. I remember specifically I went up to
her and she was like, I'm not doing that again.
I was like, oh, okay, period. Yeah, and that's very
like sentence ender, got it? What can I do? Yeah?
And at times like that, like I felt super intimidated.
(06:48):
So it's for me that's funny. Whenever I feel like
intimidated by the picture, I'm like, okay, cool, like, but
I will say, there's been plenty of times where I've
just look at my picture and be like, dude, you're
overthinking a look at me right now, Like you're a boss,
you know, like you're her, you're her. I don't know
(07:09):
anyone else that looks as good in the uniform like
you do.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
OHI like, you know, like we just like, yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
A little sassy comment here and there, just like to
break the surface and understand the like, at the end
of the day, we're human, we're playing the sport like
it happens, things will happen. But if you're not, if
you're so focused on the negative piece of the pitches
prior to the moment, Like again, just like a little check.
I usually like to make a little joke or too,
depending on the person, of course, But hey, girl, a
(07:36):
hot dog sounds so good right now. Listen, all we
gotta do is get through this inning, score a couple
of runs, and then it's me and you pool side tomorrow,
you know, yeah, and it's done. Get through it, you know,
just get through it. Yeah. So just yeah, just kind
of like having those fun conversations.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
When you are catching. Do you call the pitches.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Here in a USL yes, so, and fsu I did occasionally,
like would call Now Kocha would always lay down first
of all. We would always say we're laying down like
a menu, you know, and it's up to the picture
to decide. And that's a bit of the ownership on
the flip end of the picture and responsibility of knowing
what she would want to throw as well. But I think,
(08:17):
especially a florist, say some one of my favorite pictures
to work with are the more analytical ones, the ones
that definitely know what they want to throw, the ones
that would shake off because they have that feel. There's
just a certain feel, it's like a third eye almost.
That in synct to me is whenever she shakes, I
put down the next pitch, and usually I'm pretty online
(08:38):
with what the picture is wanting at that point. In
Jazzy Forensic and Kat Santa Cock were probably the two
pictures I had like that floors state.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
So do you feel like when you are calling the
pictures and you kind of get that intuition if you
call the next one, is it based off your own
intuition or is it solely based off what you think
the picture feels comfortable with.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
It's a mix, okay, right, Like of course, like I'm
want to play to my picture strengths, but I mean
I'm right there.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
I like you see the battle.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Yeah, adder Like I've studied swings, I've coached hitting like,
I'm a hitter myself, so I understand like a little bit,
especially if it's more of a wiser hitter, like, oh,
she might be expecting this, So I think if we
lead off with here, then we could go with this
pitch next. So you always want to be like two
pitches ahead of the system. And then if you just
get the out on the one pitch and you're like,
(09:25):
well that's nice, Yeah, you can go do whatever. But
I always try to like the thing two pitches ahead.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Here at AUSL, I imagine it gets a little bit
harder to maintain staying two pitches ahead of these elite players.
It's your rookie season, you got the aus Cel Golden
ticket at FSU. When you did he received the ticket,
you got emotional and you were really excited.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
What was going through your mind when you realize you're
about to be a pro.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Honestly, I mean the whole situation was a really cool
event because we didn't have Senior Day due to the
tragic shooting on campus, so our games against Georgia Tech
got canceled and so the whole event that that happened
was a makeup for a senior day for us. So
it was like a little fun like there was a
home run Derby, Peace Goes Race the Ross. It was
(10:16):
all like based events around the seniors and like our strengths.
So it was super cool just to have that and
like have our fans come out just to see that,
no game, no nothing, just to see the seniors and
celebrate us. And I always think like adversity brings community together,
and that was a moment to see that, and it
was just super exciting. And I remember like seeing the
ausl ad like going on our big screen and I'm like,
(10:41):
that's interesting. I was like that, We're interesting, and I
wasn't thinking too much about it. And then the next
thing I know, I see Jen like go on our field,
and I'm like, what is Jim? What are you doing here?
And I see like the going ticket and then everyone's
like kind of like looking around, and I'm like, who
(11:01):
could it be? I didn't even think of it myself.
Everyone's like, oh, like you knew, didn't you?
Speaker 1 (11:06):
No?
Speaker 3 (11:06):
I did not. I did not. I looked around. I
was like I did put like a little filler saying
that I would like to play pro softball, but like
you never that doesn't guarantee anything, right, And to the
point that I was looking around for Jani because she's
that girl too. You know, I've played it for a
safe for five years. I've been a part of amazing
teams and amazing athletes, and I know any of them
(11:27):
are like well deserving of the chance to be able
to play pro. And I remember when my name was called,
like I was just in shock, and I was grateful
I had my team, like I had my aunt there.
She surprised me. She said originally that she wasn't going
to be able to go, and then she you know,
(11:47):
I think coach I had told her that I was
getting drafted, so that that ended up happening so apparently
i'd been They had known this for weeks and I didn't,
and so it was it was a really good surprise,
and I got really really because I know one person
would have loved to been there was my grandpa, and
me and my aunt share a super close relationship, understanding
(12:08):
that we might have been his favorites. And I think
like me and her have that like special simile softball
up because she also played for FSU from ninety seventy
to two thousand and one. And I just think having
that moment with everyone that I love being there was
just super super special, and I just wouldn't have imagined,
like little Me didn't even know she was going to
(12:30):
make it us Sneeze Florida. I mean, little Me was bullied.
Could have been completely polar opposite story. You know, if
I didn't have sports, If I didn't have sports, the
community and everything, like, I don't think I'd be the
person I am today. So like all of that was
kind of hitting me at once, and just like being
(12:50):
so grateful to be in the uniform that I was
and just given the opportunities that come right way.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
And realizing you made it, you did it. I just
did it.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
And I hope you know your grandfather was there with
you in those moments.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
It's probably why you felt so much to feel all
the love that you had.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Let's take a quick break to hear a word from
our sponsor. You step off to the field in Chicago
for ausl or the Vaults, and how do you feel
like the transition?
Speaker 2 (13:29):
How do you feel it's different from college?
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Oh my gosh, I mean I first day in, I'm like, okay,
like I know some of these girls through college, Like
it'll be fine. Don't freak out, MICHAELA, Like it's fine.
Like they drafted you for a reason, so like if
it doesn't work out, it's on their behalf, like not yours.
Like I was really trying to like show a halp
myself up, and it's like it's humbling, you know. Like
(13:55):
we joke around and say, like you go from high
school to college and you're like the biggest fish in
your pond, and then you go into the lake and
you're no longer the big fish anymore, and essentially like
it's the same thing over again, like you're no longer
the big fish. And I like really took a step
back understanding that I am going to be playing with Olympians,
all Americans, National Player of the years. When I found
(14:18):
out I got drafted to the Vaults, I was like,
so doesn't mean I get to catch Rachel Garcia? Like
what what? And it's just like a really surreal moment
because I would have never imagined, for one that I
was going to be able to play pro softball, but
to play with these girls that have done so much
for the sport. I mean to have Kat Osman as
my GM like insane, insane for her to throw me
(14:42):
BP on day three here, I was like, what is life?
I call my aunt, what is life like? I don't know?
And she reminded me, like she was like, no, like
Kat is awesome. Cat is cool, like not taking that away,
but like she's also throwing to you. And that really
flipped my perspective there for a bit, Like yes, like
taking the gratitude and gratefulness part, like very very seriously,
(15:05):
but also understanding that I have a role here. So
you have a role, you have a purpose.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
You're the only catcher to be drafted.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
You are that girl.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
You're here and you're doing it.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
And you talked about a little bit earlier how sports
has really changed your life. And you experienced some bullying
when you were younger, and I remember you quote it
and you said that it took you a while to
transform the different into me and like being different and
embracing that and realizing there's nobody me or than me,
there's nobody you were than you when you did embrace that,
(15:39):
What did that look like? How were you able to
finally step into Mikayla.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
My small town like getting bullied, Like it was constantly
in the back of my head, like how could I
fit in? How could I look normal? What is everyone
else wearing that? Like I could potentially wear? Like how
could I make my hair less of like what it is?
Do I straighten it? Like? What do I need to
do to make myself blend in to everyone else that
is around me? And Yeah, you go through those phases
(16:06):
of like wanting to like just fit in, But eventually
I realized that like this was just never gonna happen.
And sports kind of gave me that avenue of realizing that,
you know, being like one of the few that are
really good, like has that certain edge, that feeling and
within sport, within volleyball and softball specifically, like I was
(16:26):
able to create that edge of where it felt like
I was the truest form of me at that time
of my life. And having that feel in sport, I
was like, well, how can I do that in my
personal life? How can I be that in my personal life?
So I say sports quite literally changed me because I
probably want to have known or taken the step to
like want to be that way on both ends of
(16:48):
the stick in life that is. But going from there,
the confidence, the feeld, the ego, like just everything that
happened from sport, I had to break down and realize
that like I can be that, I am that. And
I was around a bunch of strong young females of
Verretsne's High school, especially the volleyball team, and Sheila Roberts.
(17:09):
I credit that woman a lot of things and probably
the reason why I ended up going D one, even
though it wasn't in volleyball. I went softball. She taught
me a lot of life lessons and discipline and how
to apply that to everything, and very grateful for that.
And within all of that, embracing the unique piece. When
I started to do that, it was doing the makeup.
(17:31):
If you asked Jesse Warrent, literally I used to do
like makeup looks to camps me and my mom called
it was like my war paint. So I was like
very serious about that, and I loved it. And I
started to realize that, you know what, like, if I
have a couple other people that I know that like
the things I like, that's really all that matters. That
the people that I hold closest to me still like
(17:53):
me at the end of the day, That's all it matters.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
I think it's so interesting.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
And you talked about how, even with your hair, you
tried to find ways and who you are as a
person to be less, and I also want to land
Oh yeah, where it's like I think his quota is
you've lost your muchness. You used to be much muchier,
And I think that that is such an important could
talk about trying to be less, but in order for
you to be where you are today, you had to
(18:18):
be more, you had to be better, and through that
you use makeup.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
You talk about using makeup.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
As a crutch and watching ru Paul's drag Race, and
when do you really find your identity or find your
love for makeup? How did you allow that to continue
to also propel you forward? And your confidence a couple
of videos.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
Right, It's all it takes is to get hooked onto
something these days say talk like it's easy platform. You
find a funny video haha, and then you think the
person that makes the videos make more other funny videos,
and you're like, okay, cool, Like I want to follow,
I want to keep up because I like those laughs. Right.
For me, it was the makeup and like the artistry,
but also the confidence that those people had, especially RuPaul,
like they walk around like they own the world and
(18:57):
like ten eleven twelve year old me, like I didn't
know what that was. Like I was scared of the world.
And to see like someone else embody that and understand
how different they are. All the facets of scrutiny that
people that you know do drag race that go and
RuPaul like go under and they don't care something about
that really just stuck with me and I enjoyed watching
(19:20):
the art piece. I come from a very creative family.
My grandma owned a quote shop at some point in time,
I used to pay I did piano lessons because someone
thought I wasn't going to be an athlete, so like
that was I came from that kind of background and
into just like loving the show and the personalities and
seeing them just be one them at all times and
(19:43):
like don't care, don't care, and I wanted that and
the makeup piece I had fun with. I would start
to do like little fun looks and people would be like,
oh that's cool. Like I'll be like, oh nice, and
I fed into the makeup was my crutch because people
thought it was either like cool at that moment in
time or it's because like it was the trend. Everyone
(20:03):
knows the twenty sixteen era of the brow dip and
I mean the massive eyebrows, the massive eyeliner. It was
very like in trend okay at that point in time.
I may have a couple of pictures of me back
then where my like eyeliner and eyebrows were like this
close together. We have to pull those up. No, yeah,
(20:25):
they're very along with the Nike headband face that was
an easily face.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Yeah, we all went through it.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
And so like all of that, like I was trying
to fit in into like what was cool in that
moment in time, growing up again from like a southern
bell area as well, like you have to look at a
certain way, you have to do your makeup, you have
to wear a dress to go to church, like you
have to present yourself in a certain way all the time.
And within all of that, like I started to realize that, like,
(20:54):
am I doing this for me? Or am I doing
this again to fit in? And that probably my senior
year of high school and then of course COVID hit,
so a lot of things change in that piece and
be able to have a little bit of identity crisis
through my freshman year of college with COVID. My grandpa
passed the summer before I got in, and just like
(21:15):
within all of that, I started to realize what am
I really doing to make myself happy? And like what
am I doing to make others happy? Don't get me wrong,
I'm a big people person. I love to like do
things to make other people happy. But at the end
of the day, like I'm the one going to sleep
with myself, and if I can't go to sleep a
peace knowing that, like I'm happy with my life, then
(21:39):
I need to change something.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
And makeup is what brings you.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
It's that big. It makes me happy. Yeah, And I
started to realize, like, no, I'm doing the cool books
for me because I like how it looks. No other
people can think it's cool, and like can want to
match and do stuff like that. But like at the
end of the day, like I can be like, no,
I did that. I show up to the ballfield knowing that,
like more people are interested on what'saw my eyes versus
(22:03):
how I did respectfully and respectfully and if But That's
what I'm known for, and like people know me as
a person and they're super excited to get to talk
to me, and like know me. That means more to
me than you know, being three for three. Sometimes you know, well, I.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Also love your eye makeup so much the star Stier's
weighting out the star. What would you say is your
favorite look other than mine? Obviously my phoenix look.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
I would say I did a flame look yesterday that
was a little different. I did it in Volts colors,
which was different from me. I've been like doing a
bunch of teen oriented colors, green and purple at stuff,
like I need to change it up, But I did do.
I like doing movie related looks. I did a Willy
Wonka look on Draft Day and I had like the
(22:56):
Golden Ticket and I put a us L I put
twelve out of twelve, well, because I was the last ticket,
Like I like stuff that can kind of hint on
to real things, and that's where the makeup as a
message starts to like really click. And that's where I
feel like I'm doing it much more than oh, it's
a cool look or it's pretty or it's makeup. Like no,
(23:18):
like this has a message, like it has a USL
I it was a golden ticket, like it has something
to portray to the audience. I also did who for juneteenth.
I had the fists like enough sad, you know, like
making sure that it's more than makeup to me, like
makeup as a message, And I think it's really fun
to be able to use that medium, you know, to
(23:41):
like portray people, like on things that matter to me
the most, and.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
Be able to see it through Because you were in
a helmet, so it's sometimes hard to see your face,
but then you have the ie makeup on.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
It's like, oh, I see that, I see that playing,
I see that star.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
She's making it look good. But let's let's not get confused.
You are the you have the voice say history Maker
for fifty four home runs career home Runs your third
so you're also people know that you for your hitting,
not just for your makeup looks.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
You are doing the thing. There's more to cover.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
But first let's take a quick break. You talk about
what you've been able to achieve at FSU and being
able to be coached by coach Alamida. She's someone that
anybody I've talked to you that went to FSU, you
(24:35):
all are just so inspired and have nothing but the
most amazing words. What was the culture like at FSU
and how has it impacted you as a player in person.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
The reason why I committed to Forestay it was because
family was felt, not told. I think, you know, going
on a lot of recruits as a high schooler, like
everyone says, oh, we're a family. Oh we're a family,
and then you look at two girls that like are
on the team and they like give an eye roll
to one, and you're like, oh, well, like what am
I supposed to do? Right? And I think just being there,
(25:05):
family truly was felt. I had a Sergeant Bear mom,
which is what Coacha dressed up as for a Halloween
because she gives like bear hugs, but she's like, you know,
she gives you know a little bit of the both
ends of the sick like Devil's advocate of how to
go about things. So I got that, and I got
(25:26):
two funny uncles and analytical aunt. And I think the
coaching staff and the dynamic that they have just work
so effortlessly, don't get me wrong. Like everyone's going to
have like a rough day every now and then, but
at the end of the day, like there's an open
door policy, and I have bald like a little baby
(25:46):
and Coach's arms and like I want you to imagine
like the height difference, and then I'm just kind of
like crouched down. But she has quite literally been there
during my darkest moments. My grandpa was my father figure,
literally the closest person I had growing up, and he
meant the world to me. And when I lost him
(26:07):
the summer before I got into college, I just I
didn't think I was ever going to be the same.
And for Coach and the coaching staff to like constantly,
you know, kind of press my buttons just to make
sure like I'm still there, Like trying to figure that
dynamic out truly meant a lot, because I think some
other places would have probably given up on me. And
(26:29):
at a certain point in time, I was giving up
on myself because I didn't even think I belonged at
Floria State, you know. So there's a lot of things
within all of that. In the family. Aspect of being
up for state, it just means more because you just
don't find coaches. You don't find many head coaches like Coacha.
(26:50):
That's just so genuine, quite literally, She's the best human
being I've ever met, hands down, and.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
I think life is still stand at this in the
lay that you are now there for her in one
of her darkest moments as she's going through breast cancer
and going through different treatments. And you told me earlier
that she was coaching while going through chemo and radiation,
and those that have had family members that have experienced both,
we know what it's like watching someone go through chemo radiation.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
They are so sick and so weak, and.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
To see her it still show up for you guys
every single day and you be there for her, and
you were also one of the individuals that shaved her
head as well. Can you talk to me about the
moments that you've been able to share with her and
how she's been a pillar of strength for her and.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
Now you also being able to be a pillar of
strength for herself. I hid a pillarship for you and
you being a pillow shit for her.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
Yeah, I mean truly, there's not a good way to
describe the feeling. Like I said, She's been there for
me on my darkest days, and to be there for
her is in its own way like a very good feeling,
like I'm glad I can be here for her in
this moment. I'm grateful that this is happening in my
(28:05):
fifth and final Europe or stay because I get to
be with her. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right,
And to see someone so strong take it head on
is again inspiring because when she told us when we
had the team meeting, she has said it, thank you
so much for the compliments on my bob, there's actually
(28:28):
a reason why I cut my hair. And you know,
she kind of, you know, dropped the bomb on us.
She's got breast cancer, and a bunch of the girls
like immediately like we're all very emotional because a lot
of people have lost people to breast cancer and have
gone through many other facets of understanding that it's a
(28:48):
very serious thing. And I wouldn't watch this upon my
enemy yet along like one of the best human beings
I've ever met, and with Coacha just being up there
and kind of cry, kind of telling us. She was
still telling us to make sure we do our checkups,
like she was making a life lesson for us while
like we're like bowling our eyes out. And I think
(29:10):
that just like shows and volumes like the type of
person she is because at the end of the day,
like she could be having breast cancer and she would
still put us first to tell us to like, you know,
this is what you need to do and how you
do it. And being vulnerable. I used to think being
vulnerable was the most horrible thing ever. You should never
(29:30):
show people your weaknesses because that's just gonna at the
end of the day kind of come back to buy you.
And she showed me that vulnerability is strength. And for
her to be vulnerable for not only us but the
world and just letting us be there in those wrong
moments and shaving her head, that really clicked for me.
And I'm grateful for all the moments. And a lot
(29:53):
of people ask me like, oh, like that's a really
unfortunate thing to happen in your last year of first date.
That's not unfortunate. I'm very grateful to number one of
course be there for coaching, but number two, like you
learn certain aspects about life firsthand. And I think that
just again made a couple of things click about how
(30:13):
simple life can be and how you should never take
people or things for granted and tell your loved ones
that you love them, you know, because you're never guaranteed tomorrow.
And so that was another thing that clicked for me
that I'm very grateful but like I had experienced. Yes,
I was sad, emotional, but it's a good thing to
(30:34):
face right before you go off into the real world
after college.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
What do you feel like is the biggest lesson that
coach has taught you on and off the field.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
Yeah, I mean vulnerability, one hundred percent. Vulnerability as a
strength and to be able to share your story. She's
made me realize that my story is a pretty inspiring
story coming from the area that I lived in and
small small town. I mean, I think I graduated in
(31:02):
like ninety four individuals and it was a public school,
so like I'm.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
Very very like ninety individuals in one class where yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
I think like my high school, it's like four hundred
people like maybe total yeah with like staff maybe four
fifteen yeah, like very small area and to like be
the girl out of the backyard of Tallahassee, like going
to play Division one ball and then getting the opportunity
to be myself and create this branding of Area fifty
(31:33):
one and the makeup and like showing people who I
really am even though I play ball, Like this is
everything else I can do, Like and this is the
reason why you should like follow, you know, keep up
with me, because at the end of the day, like
we're all human beings. We all like bring something to
the sport, but it's also on the flip side, like
we bring something to life, and that's something that like
(31:55):
I'm very grateful for that She's taught me that, Like
I am my own inspirational story, and I should be
very grateful for Like, yes, like understand where I came from,
Like in the low points I feel today can't tell
you like yesterday. Like I've been super emotional as of
late because it's tomorrow is going to be five years
(32:15):
officially that my Grandpa's passed, and so I've been going
through a lot and thinking about everything. Right, I can
be super sad about everything I'm going on right now,
or I can see everything that I have faced adversity
wise and continue to face and just be so inspired
(32:36):
that the fact I'm still going on and that makes
me continue to want to go on.
Speaker 1 (32:42):
Diamond was just dropped by the way I am my
own inspirational story. I think that that is so powerful
to say, because if you when you look at the
things that you go through in life, whether it's on
the field off the field, you're just building your story,
and you're building your own so you can look back
and say, wow, I really made it through so much.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
Yeah, I really did a lot.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
Your grandfather has obviously had a huge impact on you
when you think about him and what he has done
for you and the person you are today. What's one
thing you believe he would say to you if he
was sitting across from you after watching your inspirational story
come to life.
Speaker 3 (33:25):
He probably knew it was a little quote. I forgot
exactly where it's from, But it's like, if you shoot
for the stars, you might land on the moon. I
know for a fact I can hear him every now
and then in the back of my head of what
to do and what not to do. But I know
for a fact that he would just say that he's proud,
(33:47):
and there's not much else I can't really ask for,
and in those tough moments, me and my aunt like
shared that super close relationship because of paw and everything
that we've gone for. But I know for a fact
he would probably say that neon, green and purple are
(34:08):
interesting team colors to have, but I managed to pull
it off, and you make it look great. It look amazing,
and the makeup piece. He would probably be very surprised
when words ended up, but he would be proud that
I've owned it in every bit of it. And then
he would probably ask me, where's the next Starbucks cup
that we can get together. We love that so a
(34:29):
little bit of everything, but I know for a fact
he would be proud. And at the end of the day,
I can sleep really well knowing that.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
You're your father, proud of who you are off the field,
but also on and the amazing plays that you have
been able to make behind the plate, whether you're diving,
whether you're blocking, whether you are letting the picture know, okay, yes,
we don't throw that pitch again when it comes to
(34:59):
an the field and do a no fly zone my favorite.
I mean, what's your favorite play you've ever made, and
what do you think it.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Takes to make an elite catcher?
Speaker 3 (35:09):
I made it on Sports Center this year period. Yeah,
like that was a bucket list for me. I've always
wanted to be on Sports Center, and I always pride
myself of being a pretty agile catcher. So I would say,
like foul tips like are tough because if you can
just just one, you know, that one pitch means a lot,
because it's like I needed a game right It's quick
(35:30):
reaction and then those are like pretty short pop ups sometimes,
you know, and that one specifically, like I've all gotten
to the wall of man, I was like, dang, that
your stuff on a bet hour. The volleyball skills are
coming in right now. I mean, full, full dive, full
out moment and I called it. I was like, dang,
(35:51):
I don't know how many people on my team could do.
I'm just kidding, but she's not. No, it's it's that
was a really cool moment. That was probably one of
my best plays defensively of forested of course, like I
have a pretty good arm, so throwing people out it's
always fun, especially like the faster the better. It feels
like a badge. Like if that was like a boy scout,
(36:12):
like I would have like that person's name on a
little ribbon.
Speaker 1 (36:16):
Wait, that'd be so funny. Anytime you make a great.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
I throw someone out that's like known for their wheels. Yeah,
like Kindri fall by Skylar wall In inside the UF Rivalry. Yeah,
I throw you out. Just know that I thought about
it a little bit, and you make me more confident
you xl X.
Speaker 1 (36:38):
Last question is the know we're running out of time unfortunately,
but what would you say is your favorite failure that
has ultimately led to your biggest successes?
Speaker 3 (36:46):
M my biggest failure, your favorite failure, my favorite failure,
not my biggest figure.
Speaker 2 (36:53):
That's right is important.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
My favorite failure was probably red shirt red shirt ear right,
I wouldn't consider that failure. I knew I was going
to read shirt before I got into college. I knew
that was going to happen in high school. So if
I had to say probably, like all through, I couldn't
practice first like fall of my red sher ear, I
(37:17):
couldn't practice with the team because I got COVID, And
I feel like that moment I understand it's not necessarily
softball related, but it did cause me to have an
identity crisis with softball because I couldn't practice at Forest State,
at a place where I didn't feel like I already
belonged again, right, And I couldn't practice, couldn't work out
(37:40):
with them, and all three four months a fall, I
was like, what am I doing here? Like I'm literally
just a glorified manager. I'm exactly what everyone in my
hometown thinks I was going to do. I'm just going
to be like on the bench and then no one's
going to know about me. Like that's what I was
feeding myself. And to be able to flip that and
really own the bullpen catcher, and like, how can I
(38:01):
make up for lost time that I didn't have in
the fall due to COVID and all the screening that
you have to go through to be cleared at that
point in time to spring being able to practice and
work out with them, every little bit I could potentially
get in I was there. I was asking questions. It
was how could I be smarter about the game? How
(38:22):
can I be more involved with anything? Spin flips? Like, hey, no,
don't throw to the net, throw to me. Like I
need that, and I feel like that could be seen
as like a failure piece. The event wasn't you know,
caused by me, but that like really set an identity
crisis and I had to work through that my first
(38:44):
year of college. So I'm grateful for that.
Speaker 1 (38:47):
But because of all that training, I really prepared you
for your moment when you were able to step up
and start the year. Thus are equals. Oh heala. Thank
you so much for dropping your diamonds, letting us all
know and remember to be our own inspirational not story
yes and that go out and control our responses to
(39:09):
ultimately get the outcomes.
Speaker 2 (39:10):
That we are hoping for.
Speaker 3 (39:12):
Thank you so much for having me. I'll see you
guys the next week.
Speaker 2 (39:15):
Back on the diamond Thanks Mikayla.
Speaker 3 (39:18):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (39:25):
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.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
I'm your host, AJ Andrews.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
Our executive producer is Jesse Katz. Tari Harrison is our
supervising producer, and this episode was mixed and mastered by
Mary Do listen to Dropping Diamonds with Aj Andrews on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
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