Kayla Kowalik - A Champion

In today’s episode, AJ is joined by Kayla Kowalik, the 2025 Athletes Unlimited Softball League All-Star Champion. Kayla opens up about her journey from a multi-sport athlete to one of the most dynamic catchers in softball. She reflects on the key lessons that have shaped her career and what it means to move with intention, both on and off the field. Together, she and AJ dive into the importance of resilience, the power of teamwork, and the mindset it takes to excel at the highest level.

 

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Episode Transcript

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 softball. Today,

(00:24):
we are joined by none other than the twenty twenty
five AUSL All Star Champion. She's also Kentucky's all time
leader in run scored Shantimusa. She's a blaze catcher. It
is none other than the one and only Kayla Kaalik.
Thank you for joining me absolutely, Aj, I'm so excited. Well,

(00:46):
I'm excited that we get to talk about all the
things that you do, because you know, sometimes catchers don't
just y'all don't get the love that you guys deserve
like you guys are doing.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
Correct, We're used to it. I'm used to it by now.
I've been doing this long enough that we don't need
any credit anymore.

Speaker 1 (01:02):
It's line which, first of all, if you can having
knees like Megan is probably already a feet enough, let
alone being able to drop it low for two hours
and then make throws and then go up and actually
have to hit. Like, just thinking about it, I think
my knees cracked already. But as we continue to go

(01:26):
in and talk about your amazing career and all that
you do, I like to start our discussions with a
good affirmation, and one affirmation. One quote that I feel
like is something that we could kind of move off
of and create a good affirmation from is because I'm
doing this on speed. Because not only is Kayla thoroughly

(01:47):
fast behind the plate, but she also runs really fast
from the plate to first base to second a third home.
So the quote is moving fast, isn't the goal? Moving correctly?
Is that's what we want to do, whether it's on
the field or just in life, right, moving with a
moving correctly about this speed, but about the direction, because

(02:10):
you can do it really really fast in the wrong
direction and end up nowhere versus going slowly towards what
you want and towards your goals, end up at the
highest peak. What do you think is an affirmation we
could pull from that?

Speaker 3 (02:21):
Well?

Speaker 2 (02:22):
I always tell my girls, like, go as slow as
you need to go in order to get it right,
and then once we start getting it right, then we
can start speeding it up. But I think everybody still
Like when you jump into things, people want to go one.
They want to go fast, fast, fast, fast fast. They're like,
we have to learn first. Let's learn how to do
it right, and then let's speed it up and let's

(02:43):
be quick with it. Oh I like that.

Speaker 1 (02:45):
Okay, so I don't know why, but rhyming is like
my jam. So we do go as slow as you
need to go to get it right, so that longevity
in the sixth is insight.

Speaker 2 (03:02):
Oh wait, you can snap. I don't set that.

Speaker 1 (03:09):
I think we snapped. Okay, go as slow as you
need to go to get it right, so that longevity
in success is insight. Ah right, I love it.

Speaker 2 (03:22):
You're killed that right, that's right. Take notes, taking out
I did.

Speaker 1 (03:26):
I did take it notes. It's also being recorded, so
that's also a pleasure.

Speaker 2 (03:30):
Killed that. Okay.

Speaker 1 (03:32):
Do you have a quote that you feel like you've
lived by or that you know it's really stuck with
you throughout your career?

Speaker 2 (03:38):
Oh gosh, I I Something that has always resonated with
me is like when someone tells you can't do And
that's like something I felt always growing up, like being
like non twitter, like you don't see a lot of
catchers who are slappers. You don't see a lot of
catchers who are fast and growing up. I never necessarily

(03:59):
was some and who was ranked or a big player.
So something I've always kind of lived for is like
when someone told me I can't I'm going to go
do It's like, dare you just dare one hundred percent
like you said I can't do that? But but thank
you right now?

Speaker 1 (04:15):
Great. I actually wasn't really necessarily concerned about it before,
but now I'm going.

Speaker 2 (04:19):
To do It was not on my radar, but now
it is.

Speaker 1 (04:23):
Well jumping off of what we were talking about of
it's almost like you're daring me when you say I
can't do something. I saw this quote through the day
and it just resonated with me so well. It's like
I attribute a lot of my success, if not most
of it, despite like doing all these people.

Speaker 2 (04:41):
I've never resonated with something more. And I don't know
how to tell people that where they're like what motivates
you and I I don't say that because it it
doesn't necessarily reflect well on me, but that's one hundred
percent I'm like, I do it because I feel like
people don't think I can.

Speaker 1 (04:58):
Yeah, Oh I love it.

Speaker 2 (04:59):
Here you go. Well, yeah, so I resonate with that fully.

Speaker 1 (05:03):
Whenever someone's like okay, aj, just you did so great
on something, It's like, yeah, thank you. I do everything
to spay, not literally, but you know you guys.

Speaker 2 (05:13):
Are lying.

Speaker 1 (05:15):
There's always truth to every just kidding absolutely, Okay, Look,
while growing up, I mean, what makes you super athletic
is similar to me. You played a lot of sports
when you were younger. You like I did softball, volleyball, basketball,
ran track as which is a lost art nowadays, playing
being a multi sport athlete before getting into one sport focused.

(05:37):
How do you feel like playing so many sports really
shaped you as a softball player?

Speaker 2 (05:41):
Oh? Absolutely, well, I think I can look at softball
a little bit differently because I played so many sports.
I grew up with had I have a twin sister,
and so we've grown up doing literally everything together. But
I think like playing volleyball and running track has really
grown my game. Like when I'm hitting, I'm thinking about ball,
like you don't always have to hit a home run.

(06:03):
You don't have to hit the ball as hard as
you can. It's about where you place the ball and
strategically thinking about where the defense is. That way you
can get a point. And that's how I think about
like my titting is, I'm not really going out there
to hit doubles and home runs, and sure that happens,
but I'm fine with the blop singles. I'm fine with
poking the ball through a hole. I'm fine with really
bad hits ending up in my favor because how does

(06:26):
the defense cover that? And I think that is really
adapted my style of offense. And I think obviously like
helping me be strong, be dynamic. Running truck has helped
me run the bases immensely, And it's just you know,
being able to put your body in uncomfortable positions because
I catching is not fun all the time. And playing
a lot of positions and doing a lot of things

(06:48):
throughout high school has strengthened my body.

Speaker 1 (06:50):
Being in the outfield. I attribute so much to you.
I remember going to LSU and doing like you know
you do your first in the fall, you do like
all your little assessment and the little personal days. Well
I came in late because that's something new had happened.
But anyway, I went to go make a diving catch
and coach Trina was always saying, hell, you just read
the ball differently than what you know. We see a
lot of outfielders, and I attribute that to basketball, Like

(07:16):
I played a lot of basketball, and I played AAU
basketball traveled a lot, very competitive, and I was very
good defensively, Like I was very good at reading or
anticipating where the ball was going to be, where they
were going to throw the ball, what passes they were
going to make. And I feel like that went into
softball of me anticipating where the ball was going to land,

(07:36):
oftentimes to where I would take routes that maybe the
average person wouldn't take because of just you know, the
way I'm seeing it. And a lot of that is
being able to play different sports and learning so much
of what you learned in those different sports, which everyone
that's young, listen, play multiple sports before you get sports specific.

Speaker 2 (07:55):
Also, I was never injured. Oh no, I've never had
a major injury. And it's like, how have you never
had a major injury. I'm like I have, Like my
body has done literally everything it can do. I I
touch and I turn on courts, I do all of
the things that like my body is used to all
of Like if I'm put in an uncomfortable situation in softball.

(08:17):
Maybe the ground slits, maybe the grass slits under my
fee Like you're used to those movements, your body is
accustomed to it. I can't preach more to like younger
girls that we give cants do that we see and
it is like it is hard these days because of
recruiting and all this stuff, like softball is getting so serious,
so early go do all the things like when I

(08:37):
played volleyball and all the stuff, like it was fun
for me. It was competitive one, like I wanted to
win everything. But it's like a nice little vacation away
from softball, which was my real job. Okay, I can
go play a sport and have fun and not put
so much pressure on myself. And I think that also
attributes to a very healthy mentality. When you play.

Speaker 1 (08:59):
Healthy mentalities something to release, something where you're not being
judged on or have to figure out where you're gonna
be placed at. But also, whether you know it or not,
you're working muscles that you're not gonna work in softball
or in the sport that is your main sport that
keeps you from being injured. I didn't get injured until
I became until my freshman year of college when I

(09:19):
really became sports specific. So but I for you being
a catcher, Gosh, there's just so much that. I mean,
you're doing all the athleticism plus gear, like all the
things that everyone has to worry about and be concerned about.
And then it's like, yeah, go ahead and add a
few more pounds, also add a helmet while I'm doing

(09:41):
it to obstruct my vision a little bit. For you,
what made you want I kind of know. I mean
you started going and say catching because of your twin sister, right,
Your twin sister pitched and your parents are like, yeah,
well we don't want to catch her, So Kayla, you're
up and then became a pitcher. But it's one thing
to art in one position, move all. I've been a

(10:01):
picture at one point in my life.

Speaker 2 (10:03):
Never say, think everybody has to be pure at one point.

Speaker 1 (10:06):
But then it's one thing to stick. So what made
you really love catching and what keeps you passionate about
it today?

Speaker 2 (10:14):
Well, I so we talked about how I think everybody's
become a picture at some point, And the reason I
started pitching for a very brief moment was because you
were locked in at every point of the game. I
didn't like being in the circle. I didn't like being
like in that position on the field, but Catcher allowed
me to be kind of in that role where I'm
involved in every single play that's happening right now, and

(10:36):
it's keeping me locked in and engaged mentally, and it
keeps you moving forward. So I can't stick here and
dwell on a bad play or whatever it may be,
because the pitcher's boring the next ball to me, and
I've got to be ready. And I think that's been
one of the things I've always loved, is just being
involved in everything. And of course my sister, who I've

(10:57):
been I caught her lessons until we go graduated high school,
and I mean that was probably the best experience and
one of the best core memories that I'll have in
my life.

Speaker 1 (11:09):
I was I always wanted that one chance to play
with Aleyah, we've never played together. I'm like, h just
one game, Let's just do one game, Let's do the things,
just say we did it.

Speaker 2 (11:20):
No want to share a dog. It really is so
fun to share a dugout. And then like in college,
we played against each other for a couple of games,
and to be across the dugout is hilarious.

Speaker 1 (11:29):
Probably not, it is. It really is, especially surreally because
you know, like that year, that first year out of
college where it just feels it's like a out of
body experience watching Kentucky player, watching lsu play. You just
feel like you're supposed to be there missing something. I
imagine probably feels like that having played with your sister
your entire life, and then all of a sudden he's
here across the field and another dugout.

Speaker 2 (11:52):
It's like, yeah, it's like the ultimate fomo because I mean,
we didn't we did. We did everything together growing up.
We went to a tiny Catholic school that we had
the same friend group, we had the same teammates, we
had all of these things that we shared. We've shared
room growing up, like we shared so many things. Just
to be completely separated. And she like had her own
friends in college and I had my own friends in college.

(12:13):
I'm like, I've never felt like I've missed out more
in my life. But it worked out absolutely the way.

Speaker 1 (12:19):
It was intended to. Did she pitch against you in
the games.

Speaker 2 (12:23):
So when she went to college, she decided she didn't
want to pitch because she wanted to be a hitter
and she liked playing in the field, and a lot
of pictures get turned into pos when they get to college,
and that's not something that she wanted to do. She
wanted to play a position and be involved that way.
So she was sent at Saint Louis University.

Speaker 1 (12:44):
Okay, yeah, I was going to ask, if you guys
have like twin telepathy, if you can kind of like
read her mind, what pitch she's going to throw a
little bit of an advantage.

Speaker 2 (12:53):
No, there was no advantage. In fact, when we played
each other my our fifth year together, she her team
like we were not supposed to lose, and her team
was beating us up until like the fifth or sixth inning.
And I mean, I'm super competitive, and there was nothing
on the line in this game besides bragging rights in
our family for the next twenty years. And if I lost,

(13:17):
my dad would have never let me live that down.
And it was the most I couldn't even I couldn't
even enjoy playing her for our like for our fifth
year because I was so stressed out about losing.

Speaker 1 (13:29):
I am I can imagine that would be like that.
But you guys want right end of Winny.

Speaker 2 (13:33):
Oh we did. Thank godness, thank goodness, thank god.

Speaker 1 (13:39):
You've worn a number ninety nine since the beginning of time?
Is there a story behind that number since you're eight
years old?

Speaker 2 (13:47):
Okay, so not a crazy story. I So when I
first got to pick my number in EU, I wanted
to be one hundred, and so they come up and
they're like writing stuff down on a piece of paper. There, Kayla,
what do you what number do you want to be?
Like one hundred? Like you can't be one hundred because
you can't have three numbers on your jersey. I was like,

(14:07):
this is this is lame, This sucks.

Speaker 1 (14:09):
That I'm out of everybody's league. Why wouldn't it be
one hundred?

Speaker 2 (14:13):
Come on, man? So I subtracted one and did ninety
nine to be as close to one hundred as I
could be, and I've I've stuck with that number ever
since I had my own high school jersey. Made that
way we could have it, and ever since I've been there, I.

Speaker 1 (14:30):
Feel like there's there, there's like a wrap that goes
to that Listen, can't be one hundred. So I'm just
ninety nine but looking good looking fine. I don't know.
I don't know if I just want to be a
rapper really bad or what, like.

Speaker 2 (14:43):
Did we find your calling?

Speaker 1 (14:45):
I think that, you know, I honestly feel like I'm
more along the lines to like slam poetry than actual rapper.
But either way, the rhymes are necessary.

Speaker 2 (14:54):
I think it's a fine line between those two. I
think they can be easily interchangeable.

Speaker 1 (14:59):
You're right, You're absolutely right. Let's take a quick break
to hear a word from our sponsored Natasha Wattley was
your someone that you really modeled your game after being

(15:20):
that you are a catcher. She was a shortstop, but
then you add in the slapping component and the speed component.
What was it that you really tried to model from Natasha?
I imagine it was.

Speaker 2 (15:32):
Being at the plate absolutely. I mean, she was just
so dynamic. I grew up watching her compete with TEAMU.
I say, when I was a little kid and just
loved how dynamic she was in the box and how
many tools she could use to get on base, and
it was it's so fun to watch when someone can
do all of the tools and use them really really well,

(15:53):
because we I mean, you know, hitting in this game
is super hard, but when you can slap and you
can hit, and you can do certain things slapping, and
you can add the bunt game to it. It's truly unreal.
But when you can do all of the things, it
just it makes it so fun to watch and it
makes you such a hard out that it actually makes
my life easier as a softball player to be able
to have all those fall back. And so I just

(16:16):
I loved what watching Natasha growing up. And I mean
she's still one of my arnolds today and I love
that she gets to call some of our games and
I see her around on the field. It's truly a
full circle, such a cool moment that we get to
have in a sport.

Speaker 1 (16:29):
How do you ask for any questions, any insight?

Speaker 2 (16:34):
I haven't. But actually the first time that I truly
met her face to face was at a hotel in
a hotel in Chicago and she got on the elevator
and I was going down with all of my laundry
to go to the laundry and I was like, oh, hi,
Natasha wedding. I love you. You're right, this is awkward,
these are my clothes, but hey.

Speaker 1 (16:53):
Yeah, you've been my idol since I remember. That was
literally me when I first met Natasha, Now it's my girl.
When I first met, I was like, Hi, I don't
know if i'd play softball if it wasn't for you,
So you're like casual, Hi.

Speaker 2 (17:08):
I think that's such a cool thing too, is like
we get to see these awesome women that like, who
knows if I would have loved the game of softball
as much as I did and wanted to do it
if it weren't for these awesome athletes who were so
hard to watch when I was growing up, who like
modeled the game and gave me something to like strive
for and see myself in. I think that is so
cool because I love this sport because of all the

(17:28):
people who've come before me.

Speaker 1 (17:29):
Truly, some of you have paved the way, and you
being one of the people that are now paving the
way for so many, especially speed players, because it's immediately
when you are fast or you were stepping onto the
field and you could really move, everybody immediately thinks, will okay,
shortstop or outfield or you know middle infield. That's just
like the immediate thought of where they should place the

(17:50):
player like that. But you've you've changed the dynamics and
you've allowed and you've probably inspired so many young girls
to believe that they're not stuck in a certain position
just because of there. Fast when you think about what
it is that you've been able to do and being
able to be asp player and be a catcher, how
do you want to motivate or inspire others the way
in which Natasha did for you?

Speaker 2 (18:11):
Absolutely, I mean I think it's a wonderful position. And
I'm like, I still sometimes like stepping back and looking
at like the position that I am in now, it's
kind of hard to believe that, Like I am now
a role model for little girls, and I that's why
I've gotten to the coaching is to just give back
and the way that my coach is given to me.
But like, I hope there's still I hope people are

(18:33):
so untraditional in the way that they play softball going forward.
I want untraditional swings. I want untraditional people in untraditional positions,
just because I think that's what makes the sport great.
Like in volleyball, like you're tall and you're lanky, and
sure you have your back row players who who can
be a little bit shorter, but I feel like there's
such a mold that you fit for certain sports that

(18:55):
softball has never been that mold and you can do
so many things if you just push yourself into what
you want to do. Like I enjoy playing the outfield.
It's fine. I'm going to leave that for you and
Aliyah and all the all you crazy ball readers. But
I just I think softball is so cool because you
can do so many things and be so untraditional on

(19:16):
how you do it and it's still going to work out.
Like we we have a five foot player on our
team now and we have someone who sticks three and
they do different things, but they are still so awesome
and so dynamic in this sport that like, that's the
agenda that I want to push is you don't have
to fit inside a box to play the sport.

Speaker 1 (19:34):
Yeah, I think that is the coolest thing about it.

Speaker 2 (19:36):
Sport.

Speaker 1 (19:36):
Like you look around and typically you look you see
someone super tall and you look at the build, you're like, okay,
probably basketball, or you see someone super tall a good bill, Okay,
probably volleyball. And then you know you can just tell
by certain body type just because that's what we need
utilized or to be great athletes. But when you look
at softball, you never know I get, I get I
never run track all the time. Yeah you never know.
I'm like, yeah, no, but softball. And so I think

(19:58):
that it's your point. It's the beauty of our game
that you don't have to look a certain way or
be a certain size and you go and be dominant
no matter what the position that you choose to play.
And when you being a catcher, what do you feel
like makes someone a dominant catcher? What makes someone so
successful behind the plate?

Speaker 2 (20:16):
I think there's a lot of tools, and I think
there's a lot of skill work that goes into it,
but I think above all is presence. Like I have
never seen a good catcher that's not a little bit cocky,
that's not a little bit overconfident, or have a presence
on a field where you're locked into them. And I
think a common word we use now is like having aura,

(20:38):
Like I think you need a little bit of that
to be a catcher and just be a dog behind
the plate. I think you can have a whole bunch
of different tools. Maybe you don't have the tools, but
above all else, like you need to be a little
bit cocky behind the plate. And I love seeing that
from catchers and I love seeing that from like younger generation,
like own that position. That's not a position you can
shy away from. What do you think it's important to

(20:59):
be copy to have that that le flair? I think
the kids call it or a farming very yes, or
farming get in the flair. Why why is that something
that's so necessary or to be a great catcher? Well,
to be honest, I think it's a little bit of delusion,
like you have to think you're better than you are
because I think it is such a hard position and

(21:20):
because you are involved, and I think pictures are the
same exact way. You are so involved in every single
play that you need to have presence and you need
to be locked in for your team. So whether like
some people it's just they're like I just keep saying presence,
But if they're vocal on the field, they're connecting with
the people that are on the field. You have to
You can't be someone that's in a squat all day

(21:42):
not interacting with your teammates because you're people, say the
quarterback and you know, coaches whatever may run the field.
Catchers can run it a little bit. But I like
catchers really are like they are the rock solid front
behind home plate and they see everything. Like you have
to have a presence, you have to have confidence, and
you have to have a voice behind the plate.

Speaker 1 (22:03):
Having I mean, I always feel like, I don't know,
I always thought the catchers like just the generals, y'all,
just like big dogs back there. I mean outside of outfield,
you see the whole field. So it's catchers and it's
pretty much center field, but I'll outfeel see the entire
field and see what takes place and goes on. And
for you, when you look at what you're looking around,

(22:23):
is there something specific that's important to pay attention to
when you're on the field as a catcher outside of
when you're obviously making the catches and pitches, is there
something you're looking for or maybe if you step before
you put your helmet on, is there a routine that
you have that really sets you in the zone, gets
you cockier, maybe even gives you another personality, you know
what I mean, a mantra to step into the step

(22:45):
on the field.

Speaker 2 (22:46):
Yeah, well, it's definitely using the space that you have
behind the mountain. Like you'll see like infielders and outfielders
they'll like walk around, keep themselves moving, and catching is
the same way coming out from behind home plate, making
eye contact with the corners, make eye contact with your picture.
Like for me, big things are eye contact, like knowing
that you're there for your teammates instead of just visualizing

(23:08):
that they're there, like, oh, I know my third baseman,
my first basement are there, Like No, you need to
make eye contact with them, lock in, see where they're at,
to kind of understand the feel of the game, and
it just builds those relationships. And I think one of
the things I've learned that, like Bailey Klingler talks about,
is like being that Wi Fi router, Like you have
to go in and you have to connect with your teammates.

(23:28):
So be that little router that's going in and connecting. Okay,
you have Wi Fi. You have Wi Fi now, and
just making that eye contact with everybody.

Speaker 1 (23:36):
Ooh, I think that's so cool. Be that Wi Fi
routerer when you are trying to connect let's say, your
picture or the rest of the field, because the catchers,
in my opinion, take control when things are kind of
taking a turn for you when you are stepping out
to try to connect that Wi Fi. Is there something
that you typically say or does it depend on this

(23:56):
circumstance to know how you're going to connect to ye? Yeah,
so I mean it's absolutely circumstantial. And I think a
big piece of that is understanding who's on the mound
and what picture is on the mound. I mean we
call the pitcher on the catcher of the battery all
the time, and that's so true, like they can give
life that they can suck life right out of the
team and the defense if it's not used correctly. But

(24:18):
I think something that I love to like if stuff
is going the wrong way, like you give a timeout.
If it's defense, we reset, bring everybody in, let's connect,
what's our focus here, who's on bass? How many outs?
Just resetting physically and slowing down the pace of the game.
And if it's more of a picture situation that we
need to figure out, I'm usually calling time out, talking

(24:40):
to the picture one on one, asking them what pitches
they want to throw, and probably cracking a joke or
two just to kind of lighten the mood, because I
think a lot of times we get tense and we
think the situation is a lot bigger than it is.
Let's crack a little joke. Let's figure out what we
want here out of this situation. What's our goal, Let's
visualize it, and then let's get back to it. When
you crack a Joe, is it like dark humor? I

(25:02):
feel like in those moments, I'm always like, guys, they
can't get any worse.

Speaker 2 (25:08):
That's literally. In college, my favorite thing was I'm like,
what are they going to do? Score another run? Like
let's go, and that's kind of what it is. I'm like, well, guys,
it can't get any worse. Or you, guys, let's get
one out. We don't even have to get two ups,
get one out right here. So that's my favorite because
I mean it, it's true, like what is the worst

(25:28):
thing that's going to happen. We're going to pitch the ball,
They're going to put the ball in play. We're either
going to make it out or we're not. Like the
game is so simple if you really truly want to
simplify it, we don't have to over complicate everything. We're
either going to get the out or we're not going
to get the out. They're going to put the ball
in play, or they're going to strike out and they
could walk. Hif I pitch you know, whatever it may be,
but you can truly simplify the game. And that's a

(25:49):
lot of the time what I'm trying to do. I'm like,
let's put the ball to her barrel, let's get it out.
I'm just making it up, make it happen. Someone's going
to do it.

Speaker 1 (25:58):
Do you feel like being a catcher helps you up
in the plate.

Speaker 2 (26:03):
I don't tell you why.

Speaker 1 (26:04):
I feel like I need to just like catch every
now and then just to help myself.

Speaker 2 (26:08):
Yeah, I mean, I just think it's like I feel like,
of course it's a different angle, different visualization, but I
think every pitch I catch is a pitch I could
think about hitting. And I'm I'm constantly thinking about what
I could do on pitches, like to hit them better.
And I think it helps better understand the umpire strike
zone when I'm up to the up to the plate,
and I think it helps me better understand. And I think,

(26:31):
especially with athletes ten limited because we're mixing teams all
the time, I'm understanding pitchers far more than a whole
lot of our position players to where when I go
up to that I know sequences and I know what
they're trying to grow me I know what they're trying
to grow some of our hitters, and I try and
help them out with that sometimes. But I think it
helps me immensely with athletes unlimited, just because I'm understanding

(26:53):
the picture on a deeper level.

Speaker 1 (26:55):
Do you feel like you see the pitches better as
well as it does help you slow it down a little?

Speaker 2 (27:00):
It does. Yeah, I'm going to use George Court for example,
Like I went from playing against George to catching George
to playing against her again, and just under like, when
I'm catching her balls, I'm like understanding the spin and
what this ball is truly doing that I never I never.
I never realized her ball moved as much as it
did on a screwball until I caught her. And then

(27:20):
when I'm hitting, I'm like, oh, you know what, I
understand this now. So I think it gives me like
a true perspective that a lot of people don't get
because I'm diving deeper. I'm talking to pictures all the
time about how they like to throw, what they like
to throw. That I think it's unfair to say I
don't have an advantage.

Speaker 1 (27:39):
I wonder if it's just like you know, guys, every
now and then just volunteer to you know, catch in
the bullpen free time.

Speaker 2 (27:47):
Go ahead and do that and sneak turned down. It
never turned if I could have. I've had like four
or five pictures in a day, ask if I can
catch a bullpen and I'm like, I'll catch every single
one of you for you, wink wink, this.

Speaker 1 (28:00):
Is only I'm only happing here. Well, all that you've
been able to do. We talked so much about defense,
but we cannot negate that you are a weapon when
it comes to the plate, not just behind it, but
when you're standing on it. You hold multiple career records

(28:21):
at Kentucky and you're easily and widely considered one of
the greatest to wear the uniform when you look back
at your time at Kentucky, being able to step up
to the plate not only slap get on for speed,
but also power. I remember reporting against you or on
you an SEC network and be like I just I

(28:41):
don't know, I'd be kind of scared, like she just
can do everything, and you just it's hard. It's all
already when I coach kids, it's hard to defend someone
that is just undefendable, like you can let you put
you back up. She put the bunt down, you move up,
she can't hit it right past you. And I would
say that is Kayla to a teeth. What would you

(29:03):
say that you're most proud of, especially in your involvement
as a player in at Kentucky.

Speaker 2 (29:08):
Well, I think something like it is to note is
like I hold the career record for runs scored, and
I think that's super awesome because you look and it's
an insane number, and I think it's so cool because
it's something that I don't do myself, Like I think
I probably had, like I don't even know how many
career at bats, not a whopping amount of home runs.

(29:29):
So that means my team is scoring me so much.
And it's probably Aaron koffl like seventy percent of the
time because she's unreal MVP seriously, But I think that's
one of my favorite ones because that involves an entire
team is moving me around the bases and scoring me.
And I think that that's super cool and something that

(29:49):
I loved. I love scoring. It's literally my favorite thing
to do on the planet. It's touch no plate.

Speaker 1 (29:54):
What do you feel like when you're at the plate?
Really allows you to be so successful. Is it just
a consistency in the cages? Is it being able to
read the pitches? What do you feel like really helped you,
not just in college, but then now also moving on
to pro.

Speaker 2 (30:09):
So I've never been a mechanical hitter. I've never been
someone who's going up to like when I'm going into
my hitting sessions, I'm trying to fix something. I've never
tried to fix any part of my swing, aside from
maybe i'm hitting a pit a certain pitch wrong, like
if I'm getting on top of the drop ball, Okay,
let's get under it. But I think mechanically, mechanics are fine.

(30:30):
I'm just gonna try and put my barrel on a ball.
I don't care how I have. I think probably one
of the ugliest swings in the Pro League, But it
works because I'm not trying to have good mechanics for
certain pitches. I'm trying to hit every pitch imaginable, and
I think that helps me because I'm not trying to
put There are certain mechanics that work on certain pitches

(30:52):
and certain things that work in certain counts, but I'm
just I'm just trying to see the ball, and I'm
trying to poke it in the hole that you're not
because I truly don't care how I look in the box.
I just want to get on base. Okay.

Speaker 1 (31:03):
I think that's something that's so important because I feel
like so many times people want there's swing to look well,
it wanted to be a certain way, but in reality,
it's how much you can make contact and how consistently
you can place it where they're not when you are
focusing on just trying to make contact. Let's say you
feel a little bit down and you're trying to come up.
I hate the word slump, but you're trying to get

(31:24):
that consistency back. What is it that you ultimately do
you have a favorite drill, maybe something with their eyes
that you try to really focus on.

Speaker 2 (31:33):
I bunt if I'm in a slump struggling, I'm gonna
bunt I because that's why I love being a slapper,
and I think being a slapper is so important and
we've kind of lost I think the art of slapping
just a little bit because everybody wants to hit home
runs right, and I think we have a plethora of
lefty hitters, but nobody wants to slap because we just
want to hit the ball hard, and I can't speak

(31:56):
immentally enough how having certain tools and a lot of
tools help to you. Like, if I'm in a slump,
it's never because I'm in a slump entirely, it's like, oh,
my my swing isn't working. Maybe my feet are too
fast in the box and my slapping timing is just off. Okay,
well then we'll hit. If my hitting's not working, let's
drop a bunt. Like, let's let's change everything up so

(32:16):
there's not really a drill or something I do to
kind of center myself. I'm just going to try and
get out in a way that I haven't gotten out before.
Like I'm going to swing the bat if I've been slapping,
I'm gonna bunt. I'm gonna do certain things just to
kind of change the level of the game and change
switch up what I'm doing in the box.

Speaker 1 (32:33):
Do you read, like, what does it? What determines outside
of maybe just not feeling well if you're gonna bunt, slap,
or hit. I think a lot of times kids are like,
well when do I do? What? Do you have a
method to your madness?

Speaker 2 (32:46):
Yeah? So I think a lot of it has become
pitch selection. So I've found that I'm better slapping certain
pitchers and certain pitches. So I'm going to slap off
with certain pictures. I've found the elevated balls I'm great
slapping off of. If I'm having a drop ball pitcher,
i might want to swing. And I'm always going to
mix a bunton at any point because I think if

(33:08):
you can hit the ball hard and you can bunt,
you're golden. Like that's all you really need to do.
Hit a ball at high exit, velo and bunt. How
do you cover like that? Even in itself is hard
to cover? But I think when I'm trying to differentiate
tools and skills, it's what picture am I facing and
what pitches am I getting? And that's through years of

(33:28):
hitting off of so many pictures to where I've kind
of have just a mental database of things I'm good,
things i'm good at off of these pictures, things I'm
not good at, and I just try and match those
skills up with certain pitches.

Speaker 1 (33:41):
There's more to cover, but first let's take a quick break.
I'm curious as a catcher and then also as someone
that is a bunch of holid from a catcher perspective.
Butt is the hardest to get to is the one

(34:03):
down first base, the one you know that just lands
right in front, the one that tails toward third, the
one that's right between third and picture, which was the hardest.

Speaker 2 (34:12):
So I like to call it like a little triangle
of death. So it's like, if you could place the
ball perfectly in between the pitcher of the third basement,
the first basemin and me. That's so hard because you
have to, like you have to be fast because the
ball's not that far. Like the ball's it's a well
placed bunt. It's not going to roll towards anybody else.
It's a well placed bunt, and it's just the right

(34:35):
space away from all the defenders that we now have
to communicate. And not only do you have to communicate,
but you have to be consistent and continuous with your
movement in order to get it out. So I like,
when I'm bunting, I like to like, I don't try
and bunt to the third basement of the first basement.
I try and bunt it to everybody to where everybody
has the opportunity to make the play on the ball.

(34:56):
And at the same time, the communication usually nobody can
decide he's to get the ball. Yeah, that's the hardest one.
Like a ball straight at the third baseman. That's an
easy one because we know the communication is either between
me or the third baseman. Now you put it for everybody,
and we've got a nightmare.

Speaker 1 (35:12):
Yeah. Okay, you guys heard that. Give that triangle, triangle
of death. There you go, Okayla catching, hitting, You have
put all your tools into athletes in Limited Softball League
and the inaugural season of AUSL this year. What do
you feel like has been your best moments you've experienced

(35:34):
throughout the inaugural season.

Speaker 2 (35:36):
Well, I definitely think it. I've always been I'm such
a loyal person when it comes to team like I
would run through a brick wall for my college coaches.
I would run through a brick wall for every single
one of my teammates I've ever played with. I think
it's so fun that we're like being able to build
connections in our teams and really thrive there. I think

(35:56):
the traditional setting of All Star Cup where we switch
around is too unique and it's super fun. But I
think you get new stars and some people work really
well in that environment. You see a lot of different
people shine when they're comfortable and connected with their teammates.
And I think that's been my favorite part about being
able to play on one team the entire time is

(36:17):
you know, understand there what makes them tick? Understand you know,
are they covering this ball? Can they not cover this ball?
And that's been something we've been able to kind of
establish this summer that we haven't had prior to this
because we're always mixing around and changing the environment.

Speaker 1 (36:31):
Also, I imagine, you know, having great team chemistry helps
when one of your teammates is somebody that you love.
Your amazing girlfriend Mackenzie's also on your team. How yes,
how do you guys work together? How is her being
on your team help you? How does it help her?
How do you guys really talk to each other and
help each other be the best softball players.

Speaker 2 (36:52):
I'm going to get this out of the way. This
sounds absolutely terrible, Okay, but I'm like, and I've I've
hit on a little bit how competitive I am. I
and I love everyone I've ever played with, But the
minute you're on the other side of the dugout, I
wish nothing but bad things for you in the box.
Like I I've never wanted anyone to be successful ever,

(37:13):
And I feel like that hurts me a little bit,
and I think it hurt me mentally, and I just
never realized that, Like when I played against Mackenzie. I
think if you look in my career batting average like
and games played against Mackenzie, it's probably like one twenty
because I feel so bad. I feel so bad that
I'm praying on her downfall and I and I and
I am and it. But now that we're on the

(37:35):
same team together, I get to root for her and
wish all the best success because she's not the reason
that my team is losing. So but I think it
is super fun. I think it's so cool that we
have the opportunity to, you know, be together all the time.
I think we make each other better, so why wouldn't
we want to hang out all the time. And I

(37:56):
think it's uh, it's definitely fun to have that outlet
in some one who understands the game to you know,
be able to work together and practice all year long.
And I think a lot of my success that is
hard work for myself. But it's hard for me to
put in that work if she's not there with me. Throwing, throwing,
front toss, beeding the machine, doing all the things with me.

(38:16):
So I have a lot of credit to her for
a lot of my success this last summer.

Speaker 1 (38:21):
But you know, like your your loved ones are kind
of the only people that can cuts you out and
we don't take it too personally or you know, just
put you in check and you know we're like, okay,
take it on the chin. Is there anything that she
says is she motivates you, or like a moment where
you're like if I didn't love you, I may punch
you in the face right now. But thank you for that.
I know you're trying encourage me, So thank you. Love you.

Speaker 2 (38:40):
Oh yeah, well, like the game, any game that we've
ever played against each other, Like if she's lost, I
and it's terrible. I'm such a sore loser, especially like
especially when it's her team that's beating me, because like
I just really want to be the best at everything
that I do. And so like we'll recom like if
when she was when she beat us, like when she

(39:02):
was on the bolt. I don't want to talk. I
need like two I need two hours to myself. We're
gonna go to our own hotel rooms and I'm gonna
sit in silence for a little bit, and then after
a little bit, I'm like, Okay, you can come in
and we can sit and talk about the game. And
I think it's awesome to have that in your back pocket.
And I think it's I mean, it's healthy to have

(39:22):
space when you need it, especially when you're a sore
loser like I am. But I think it's truly awesome
to be able to kind of reconnect and talk about
games and we talk about pictures, and you know, I
think my favorite thing to do is sit here and
set up machines and be like, hey, Mackenzie, we're gonna
go hit this today. And she's like, oh my gosh,
we have to.

Speaker 1 (39:40):
Like, yeah, we have to.

Speaker 2 (39:42):
So it really is. It's so fun when you get
the train with your best friend right beside you.

Speaker 1 (39:47):
Oh no, that's so dope. That's so dope. Talking about
McKenzie Clark, a stand out at a Clemson is now
also stand out in AUSL. When we're continuing talking about
AUSL being great being sore losers, I think and like
taking things personally and daring to be great. I don't

(40:10):
think you took anything more personal than when you hit
your own self in the shin and then came back
up and freaking yanked one off the foul pole to
what they call the limping and pimpin' kayla kuhalak around
the round around the diamond. First of all, I love
watching that because I don't think people realize when we

(40:31):
hit ourselves or when we get hit and we just
kind of have to shake it off quote unquote as
if we're not in immense pain and then go back
up and like school and swing or just go run
and just pretend like and when this game is over,
I'm gonna be icing for days for you to go
back and do that. And then hit a bomb off

(40:51):
of what was like what a drop while it was low,
you went down and got it. Yeah, I walk me
through that place absolutely so fortunately, And I guess maybe
I wasn't ready for this pitch, but the pitch I'd
fouled off against myself was the pitch I was like,
she's gonna give me something harder inside, and I'm gonna
take it two hundred and fifty feet and I absolutely

(41:12):
took it negative feet right into my ankle and it
hit the perfect spot on my foot to where my
whole entire foot was numb, and I was like, I
was like, oh my gosh, did I just break something?
And I'm like, thankfully nothing was broken. But this kid,
this is what happens when you don't get inside the
ball is you foul it right off into your foot.

(41:35):
But that was one hundred percent the pitch I was hunting.
I mishit it. I'm so disappointed.

Speaker 2 (41:41):
I'm in pain. I can't walk. The umpire is trying
to help me out because I took a beating that
game behind the plate as well, and so he's trying
to help me out and take some pressure off my plate.
I'm like, everybody's around me, and I just I don't
I just I want to lock back in. I want
to get ready to hit. I had Aubrey Leach come
up to me. She's like, you don't have to hit,
we can put somebody in. I'm like, put somebody else

(42:03):
in with two strikes. I might now would be the
I would be the worst captain on the planet if
I was like, hey, come over here and hit for
me because I'm because and deal with two strikes that
you didn't put yourself in. So I'm like no, I
can at least finish the abat, Like, let's just I
can make contact. We don't have to swing very hard.
And I think one of the good things also about

(42:26):
catching is like I can anticipate pitches really well on
what I'm going to get called. And I just kind
of figured I was going to get that pitch again,
and I I for sure was not going to foul
that pitch off against my on my foot again, but
absolutely insane. And then they released the headliner tag of
limpin and pimpin, and I just knew. I knew I
would never live that down. And my dad made fun

(42:50):
of me for he was like, well, he was great job,
he was glad I wasn't hurt. He's like, limping and
pimping is hilarious.

Speaker 1 (42:57):
And I.

Speaker 2 (43:01):
I also have never pulled the ball the way I
have th that phit Like, I don't think I've ever
had a hit that far down the line because I
usually go afa, So I mean it was pretty cool.
I wasn't trying to do anything too crazy. I literally
was just trying to make contact with the ball because
I literally I couldn't blant or step. My foot hurts
so bad. But it was a great at bat and

(43:24):
and we I never thought I would be in like
a sports moment like that where I'm like limping around
the bases, But I had my teammates carry me into
the dugout after that. And I've just had the best
I've had the best teammates this summer. I've had people
literally carry me into the dugout, pick me up off
the ground, all of the things. I mean, I couldn't
I couldn't speak more highly of the teammates.

Speaker 1 (43:44):
I've had. Best teammates make you know, limping and pimping
a little bit better. For sure.

Speaker 2 (43:50):
The job is done.

Speaker 1 (43:52):
The job is one and I feel like the big
takeaway from that is just go put the bat on
the ball. You never know where it's gonna go. It
could go out of the park, and you know, then
you just walk slowly. We don't have the spirit after
we just hit ourselves with the shin in the foot.
Thanks for sticking us from first to second base. We'll
be robbing third after the breaks. You talked about being

(44:22):
the captain, You'll want to have to put someone in
there with two strikes. You were a captain three times
for three series in the champ Series, and so for
you being able to I mean, in order to be captain,
you have to have the points. You have to perform.
What do you dive into or look for as a

(44:42):
captain to really per make the best team that you want.

Speaker 2 (44:47):
Good vibes, that's all you need. Like I drafted, and
of course you don't draft everyone you want, because everyone
wants We'll take everybody from you. And I mean, we
have so many great people, but I like drafted people
that I knew I would love to play with. And
that's why Aaron Copple was my first pick until she

(45:07):
ran off and became a captain herself. But I just
I drafted my best friends, and I drafted people that
I knew would vibe really well and have a lot
of fun. And I think that that is an underrated
key to success is having fun and having good vibes
and not letting the pressure get to you on you know,
feeling like you have to win, Like let's just go

(45:27):
play with our best friends or kids on a field
again and let's.

Speaker 1 (45:31):
Have some fun.

Speaker 2 (45:31):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (45:32):
And the format with the Chant series, that format where
you know you have a different team each week, it
can feel a lot of pressure and you're judge off
of a point system to just go out and have fun.
How do you get away from the pressures of performing,
needing to be high on the leaderboard. Is there something
that you focus on or to really make sure you

(45:52):
can just have fun and not focus too much on
other things.

Speaker 2 (45:55):
Yeah, I mean, I think it all stems from teammates
and who you're playing with and his besides you, And
I think it's connecting with them on a deeper level,
you know, like we do gate questions, that we're getting
to know each other each week and all the things
that you know, help us mess together as a team.
I think it's funny conversations in the dugout. I think
it's figure like talking pitches with teammates and all the

(46:17):
things and just focusing on scratching a run across. And
I think the most successful teams I've had are having
the most fun and they're they're joking around in the
dugout and they're not taking the game too seriously. And
I mean, this game can be as easy as you know,
cracking a joke, making fun of something that happened the
inning prior, and the whole tide of the game switches

(46:39):
because you're not locked into are we making ten points
this inning? Are we making twenty points next inning? Because
it really like when you look at it. I mean,
don't get me wrong, being a captain has been so
stressful and nothing for like as stressful as softball is
on your performance. Nothing beats looking at the scoreboard of
zero straight across the board into the fifth inning and

(46:59):
there's fifty points on the line. Like, we choose ways
to make this game more stressful. I don't know why,
but I it's just it's connecting with the people besides
you of hey, yeah, there's fifty points on the line.
We've played this game so many times before. Let's just
push one run across. Let's push two runs across, you know,

(47:20):
And it's simplifying it that way and not letting the
points system get to your head because if you let it,
it will tear you up.

Speaker 1 (47:27):
Yeah, it can be hard. You definitely didn't let it
because not only were you capped in three times, but
you were crowned. At the twenty twenty five aves A
Limited Softball League All Star Cup champion, Caleb finished top
of the leaderboard with one thousand, five hundred and seventy
total points and as she stood out on the mound

(47:51):
and the confetti fell down as you raised your arms.
What were you feeling in that moment, knowing that you
were No. Number One and you came out top as
a champion.

Speaker 2 (48:03):
I'm I'm like reminiscing now feeling it because now I'm
in Lubbock Tech this back to coaching all day. But
I just I it feels kind of surreal and kind
of in that moment, was you know, wow, like all
of this hard work you put I mean, you put
in so much work in the off season because our
off season is so long, and I think it's especially

(48:26):
hard as it makes it a little bit easier for facilities.
Sure as a coach, but the hours invested into other
girls hitting and practice and everybody else performing well to
then kind of switch the tide and worry about you
performing well. It kind of was relief, Like that was
the big feeling, and it was joy. I think it

(48:46):
was a lot of joy for the amount of support
and friends that I had along the way to help
me get there, because I if nobody's aware of the
point system, majority of your points come from inning wins
and game wins, So sure I had a lot of
the I had some individual points that helped push me
there in some key hits and key moments to get

(49:07):
me some and the p points, but the vast majority
of my points were from winning games, and so I
kind of like it kind of felt a little lonely,
like I wish I could have had all my teammates
there with me, because like I sure I was like
at the top, and sure I want a gold medal,
but like at the same time, I'm like, I there's
so many people who were invested in that win for

(49:28):
me to be able to stand where I was at.
But I think one of the feelings that was very
overwhelming was just joy, a little bit of relief that
the season was was very successful, so much joy.

Speaker 1 (49:41):
Did you give a speech?

Speaker 2 (49:43):
I did give a speech. They sent well, they they
sent out like two days before, they sent out a
message like, hey, like, if you think you're going to
if you're one of the you that things they're going
to win, have a speech ready. And I guess I
completely blacked out last year's of like Amanda Lorenz giving
her speech. So I'm like sitting here, I'm like winning.
I'm like, this is so fun. And then they send

(50:06):
the method about the speech, and I was like, oh, sit,
I had to speak in front of everybody. And then
I was like really nervous. I'm like, dang, are we
sure I get to speech? But I look, if you
can win games and you can play in front of
thousands of people, you can give a speech. And I

(50:27):
did give a speech, and I didn't get emotional. I
really thought I was going to get emotional because of
our retirees that we had this year and just how
like joy like that. I truly there's no other word
for it, but like I was just so overwhelmed with
joy of like just that summer and helpful circle and
all my teammates that I had. I love them so

(50:48):
much that I literally was nervous. I was like, if
I start crying, am I gonna work lame? And thank goodness,
we didn't cry, but I did give I did give
a speech. Literally, one of my biggest fears in life
is public speaking, right behind like drowning. So we knocked
it with the second to dying, very very no, it

(51:11):
might pass it eventually, it's in second place.

Speaker 1 (51:16):
Okay, can you give us a little insert of what
the speech was?

Speaker 2 (51:19):
You just like, go on mine and I'll do holding.
Oh well, I one of my big hits was just
touching and they and they made fund me for it.
But I touched on, you know, all our retirees that
I like, I was so sad. I'm so sad that
they're retiring. But all of our retirees are just like

(51:41):
such great humans. And I touched on a piece about
some of them I watched growing up, Like Taylor Edwards.
I was I was like twelve years old watching her
play in the Women's College World series. Uh like like
screaming for her in the stands. So I was like
some of you I've like looked up watching like Victoria Hayward.

(52:02):
I modeled some of my game after her. Loved watching
her growing up, and like I get to be their teammates.
And so they were all laughing at me that I
made them feel old, and that was not my intention.
I was trying to be sentimental, but they gave me
a little bit of a hard time because because some
of them are a little bit older. But yeah, no,

(52:25):
I'm not. I love you gun.

Speaker 1 (52:29):
What would you say from a from Kentucky superstar one
of the greatest to wear the jersey to pro Ball?
Being a USL chap. What's your favorite thing that when
you look back and you say, wow, I did this.

(52:53):
What's the first thing that comes to mind?

Speaker 2 (52:57):
M Senior day one? Not like one. I'm like, okay,
So my senior day, I scored our walk off. I
scored the walk off run on senior Day in the
bottom of the seventh and we came back from like
a five probably not that it was like three to
five run depthsit. And so my dad had never been
to a game in Lexington before, but he came up

(53:20):
for my senior day and scoring in front of him
like that run, Like I mean, pack stans Burn was full.
And afterwards, like we go to sign autographs and there's
just thousands of people, like and I'm sitting there signing
autographs in front of like a big crowd, and my

(53:41):
dad's like sitting there watching me. And because he had
he knew, like I was a good softball player, and
then he just like realized like that he got to
see like the Kentucky community that I fell in love with,
that supported me through my entire collegiate career, and all
these people I'm like signing autographs and like they're and
you know, recognizing some of them and I'm like hugging

(54:02):
little kids, and it was one of my favorite memories
of like him getting to see me and is like
be as successful as I was, because he'd always understood,
but like for him to get to see that, and
he literally he was like, this is so cool. And
I think that's one of my one of my favorite
things that I think back on my time at Kentucky

(54:23):
because I think one of the things that I fell
in love with was the people there and the community.
And I love my dad more than anything in the world,
and so for me to be able to match those
for the first time in my collegiate career and have
him watch that, you know, it was it was pretty
awesome and something that makes you sit back and think, wow,

(54:44):
like I made it, Like we did this.

Speaker 1 (54:49):
Well you did, girl, you made it. I know. Okay,
let me to go now into the no fly zone segment, because,
as you know, as a catcher in the outfield left
to turn the field into a no fly zone, what

(55:10):
would you say is your favorite play that you've ever
made in your career?

Speaker 2 (55:15):
Favorite play I've ever made? Okay, so we're gonna like
flash back to like my freshman year. So my freshman year,
I was a centerfielder. I was not going to be
our senior catcher out for her spot, and I had
played a couple innings of outfield in my travel ball career.

(55:39):
Was not an outfielder, and for some reason, coach Lawson
thought I could be a center fielder, and damned if
I didn't. I was awesome. I don't know what happened.
I'm like a mediocre outfielder. Now we just need more reads.
But that's it for our regional at home. I mean
to see where I had started as an outfielder to

(56:00):
our regional at home, playing Virginia Tech and Miami Ohio
and Northwestern. I was flying all over the field, catching
every single ball, loops over the shortstop, ramming into the fence,
all the things. So I definitely think I had a
couple balls that I caught against a wall and like

(56:21):
go behind shortstop, and I think, like play wise, like
that game was one of my favorites, just performance wise,
showing like versatility in my range was super cool.

Speaker 1 (56:32):
Okay, yes, ma'am, don't yes, don't let us forget that
you were in that outfield girl.

Speaker 2 (56:39):
Yeah, we can. We can forget a little bit that way,
we don't set the expectation too high when I'm like
in the outfield down.

Speaker 1 (56:45):
Yeah, okay, Like when it comes to softball, we know
that failure is a part of the game, but ultimately
failures are what lead us to some of the best successes.
What would you say is probably your favorite failure and
your career that is led to maybe some of the
best successes.

Speaker 2 (57:03):
Oh, hands down. Okay. So when I was naturally a righty,
righty hitter and I was so bad, I mean awful
that instead of like building up my swing, we were like,
you know what, scratch it, get in the other box,
and I think whatever coach looked at me and said,

(57:26):
you know what, We're gonna cut it.

Speaker 1 (57:29):
Start over.

Speaker 2 (57:30):
Let's start over. I owe all of my success too,
because holy cow, and my I mean my sister's a
right handed power hitter, dropped bombs when we were growing up,
and I'm just like over here trying to relearn how
to slap, and it was the most disappointing thing on
the planet. I multiple times, I'm like hitting off of
a tee because our hitting coach wouldn't let me hit

(57:53):
front toss until my swing was comfortable enough off the tee.
I felt like secluded. I'm like crying sometimes I'm like
is this really fun? And it I just never saw
the bigger picture and it ended up working out immenseally.
But I was so bad right handed that that's my
favorite failure because I wouldn't be the hitter I am
today if I was mediocre. I was less the mediocre

(58:15):
back then.

Speaker 3 (58:16):
You know, there is a message in there if ever,
no matter how bad it may seem, just know there's
always a bigger plan.

Speaker 1 (58:29):
You just got to stick to it. You don't got
to know it at that moment. It's coming. It's coming,
and just you know, hit hit auto reset every now
and then see what happens.

Speaker 2 (58:39):
Absolutely, it's never it is never too late to start
from scratch it all.

Speaker 1 (58:43):
I'm gonna say, there is a message never to take
to start from scratch because it could be your best work,
the new one that you start. Absolutely love it. Okay,
let's thank you so much for dropping your diamonds. Not
only are you an amazing player, but now it's this
thing coach also at Texas Tech. Bringing all that you've
learned as a player into coaching. What can we expect

(59:06):
from the already amazing and historic season. The texts that
you had last year coming in this year, how are
you adding and what can we see?

Speaker 2 (59:14):
Absolutely? I think well, I mean, aside from new faces,
I think we're going to see a lot of energy
and a lot of personality. Already, we're scrimmaging right now,
and our scrimmages are insane. I'm like, I coach third
base in our scrimmages and I just want to go
be a fan in the stands because it is just
our girls are so fun to watch and it's only September,

(59:36):
so I'm so excited. Our girls are so energetic and
they're so competitive, so I think we can look forward
to a very competitive team with a lot of energy.

Speaker 1 (59:45):
Is Coach Kayla and player Kyla very different? Are you
as kind of similar?

Speaker 2 (59:50):
Kind of similar? I would say Coach Kayla is a
little bit more laid back, and I try and be
kind of the emotional support coach, and then player Kayla
is when it comes down for the game, like, I'm
going to be locked in and super competitive, but I
try not to put that competitiveness on for my girls
because they have enough in them and they can use

(01:00:11):
me in the back seat. So I think I'm fun
on both ends, but we try and take a little
bit of a backseat when it comes to coaching, just
so our girls, our girls can shine for themselves, So.

Speaker 1 (01:00:22):
The girls can shine for themselves and ultimately learn our
affirmation and diamond that we dropped today to go as
slow as you need to to get it right, so
the longevity in success is always in sight. Kayla, thank
you again for coming on and dropping your diamonds. I
appreciate you all the amazings you've done and can't wait

(01:00:45):
love watching his player, can't wait to watch as a coach.

Speaker 2 (01:00:48):
Absolutely, Thank you so much.

Speaker 1 (01:00:49):
There's so much fun. Yeah, I'll catch all of you
guys next time on the diamond. Make sure that you're
listening all the places where you get your your and
see you next week. I'm Diamonds, bye for now. Dropping

(01:01:11):
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 supervising producer,
and this episode was mixed and mastered by Mary Do
Listen to Dropping Diamonds with AJ Andrews on the iHeartRadio app,

(01:01:34):
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.