October 20, 2025 • 65 mins
This week, AJ is joined by AUSL Senior Manager of Softball Operations, Sam Fischer. Sam shares her journey as a professional softball player, reflecting on the importance of being recognized as more than just an athlete. She opens up about the emotional challenges of retirement, the thoughtful decisions behind it, and her transition into a managerial role within the sport.
Looking for more diamonds?
Watch the show on YouTube and follow on Instagram.
For more on the latest with AJ, catch her on Instagram and X. Share the diamonds you received from this episode by leaving a rating and a review!
Dropping Diamonds with AJ Andrews is in partnership with the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
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 head first into.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
The world of softball. Today we are joined by one
of my favorite people on Earth, favorite people within softball.
She is an LMU Hall of Famer, an AU Pro
Softball PEC chairperson. She's a World Cup of Softball Goll
medalists and one of seven to appear in one hundred
games or more in AUX and Championship series. She's completed
(00:45):
eight seasons of AU Pro Softball, and after hanging up
her cleats, she announce as the role of manager of
Softball Operations for AUSL. She is the one, she's the only,
She's the incomparace, She's the formidable. She is the no
one can compare to Sam Fisher. He's it. That was lovely.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
I think we can call it a call it an
episode after that, like, yeah, thank you great. I loved
every second of that. Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Oh You're so welcome. I honestly don'teel like I did
it enough to be honest to talk about you.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
You're amazing well.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Sam. To start off every podcast, I typically like to
start with a quote or affirmation, and so one of
the ones that I thought of with you, because if
there's one thing when we talk about someone that just
will never give up on their favorite pitch, it is
Sam Fisher. Okay, she has never seen a rise ball
(01:50):
she doesn't like, and so there the quote that I
thought of today would be some days will be as
low it's the sickest drop ball, and some will be
as high as the most amazing rise ball. But every
day is a chance to keep swinging, and that's really
the only way to put the ball in play.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
I agree with it completely. Yeah, and we were gonna.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Grab an affirmation from that. What do you think like?
Our affirmation for the day would.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Be swing hard, baby, Swing hard.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
But just look at the mirror. Yeah, swing a maybe
high today and it may be low either way.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
We go swing hard, baby, Yeah, you can You know what,
if you can believe you can hit it, then you
go for it like you're gonna hit it. O.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
I like it. I like it too, baby.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
If you believe I'm wanna post it note on my
bathroom mirror, just spoom.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
I love it. First all, can we talk about the
rise ball? Why don't you set your favorite pitch?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
It's just right at my eyes, Like I feel like
I could see it the best. You know, if you're
making eye contact with something, wouldn't you want it as
close to your face as possible? You know, like I
could see it the best, and it's just they go
with the farthest aj it. I've talked about this a
lot where it's like the reinforcement that I get from
when I do hit one.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Is that it's just gone. It's like, all right, I'm
gonna immediately adam, Yeah done. Every miss from swinging at
a rice ball is worth every connection.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Absolutely yeah, no doubt about that. Has it always been
your favorite pitch? I you know what's so funny is
I have truly.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Good at I love the Lord You're so good at
the low ones.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
That is so nice of you to point out, because
I have like, if it's close to me, it's my
favorite pitch. I don't care. I want like like I'm
I I'm not picky. I think that anybody who has
ever seen me play can attest to that. Like Hey,
if it's near me, all right, sure, let it rip.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
I love it. Just swing swingheart baby, just literally a
body the quote low high, it doesn't matter, swing baby,
you think it's.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Near me, I'm going for it.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
To hitting the rise ball, then to being able to
actually make the connection, gosh.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
I think a lot of it is like you're already there.
Like you think about where you hold your hands as
a hitter, you're literally already there. You actually have to
do less to hit a rise ball. You see it
and you just go just deliver yourself to it. You know.
It's it's it's already, it's already at your hands level,
and you're just like, all right, it's the it's up there.
It's gonna be fast, it's gonna do the work for you,
(04:34):
and then boom, you just smack it out of the park.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Is there one that's maybe the better ones to swing
at two before before it takes that jump and it's
like okay, I know, like.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Silly, yeah, you know, those those low rise balls, those
are really risky as a picture, I think, because that's
right in the wheelhouse where it's like if I if
it's at my shoulders, all right, we're in trouble. But
if it starts at the shoal, that's when I think
it's a harder pitch to hit because it's gonna jump
up to your eyes. You know, it's gonna jump up higher.
But the ones that start at your letters, it's a
(05:07):
smart pitch, but it's a real risky pitch because it's
gonna end up right right at your hands.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
That's so funny as someone that's typically a speed player
and like that, anything that starts that high, it's just
that immediate no. And then then you're just like absolutely
little no, no, never.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
And if I take it, I usually it usually takes
every ounce in my body. Did not, Yeah, fall down.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
I'm just gonna say, literally, like your entire body like
convulges down when you're trying to take that pitch. You
can always tell me you really wanted a ball.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Yeah, yeah, I'm very much like yes, yes, yes, yes,
says no.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Hey that's how it's hot to be though, right, yes,
very true. End Yeah. Oh yeah, so just keep your
hands on top and swing hard baby. Yeah yeah, it's
right there.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Just do it.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Don't complicate it, right, I don't think too much. Yeah,
what first drew you to softball? You grew up in
seem Valley, see me, see me Vally and what really said?
For Sam? This is a sport for me, I'm going
all in for softball.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Honestly, I think it started with my dad who was like,
let's play catch in the backyard. And then from there
it was like, wait, this is so fun. And then
we would you know, hit the whiffle you know, we
had like a whiffle ball bat and whiffle ball where
we'd you know, hit it around the backyard and then
I hit it over the neighbor's fence one day, and
(06:42):
I'm like, this, that's it. That's all I need, that feeling.
Are you kidding me? I like I was excited to
go knock on the neighbor's door and be like, hey,
I hit my ball over here. Can I get it
back and try again? No, Sam, lot.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
For you, it's like no, I'm getting all my balls.
I need you to know, yeah that I hate it
over here. Actually this isn't for me. This is more
so that you know the power that I have where
the ball is.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Yeah, you know this five year old next door, Yeah,
she's hit it over your fence.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Dog.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
So that just the feeling and like playing catch with
my dad. Like there's just so you know, there's the
line that you see over and over like how can
you not be romantic about baseball? And I just feel
that so deeply, like about softball, that like there's nothing
like having a catch, and there's there's like to me,
(07:33):
it just it sucked me in immediately. And then the
more I played, and you know, the byproduct of practicing
and enjoying it and getting better and playing better, and
it just was like I was toast at four years old.
I was like, all right, this is gonna be my
entire life and my entire personality.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Thanks. What drew you to the infield? I mean you've played,
whether it's first base, shortstop, third base, you have been
all over the infield.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
What was your favorite shortstop? It my heart and soul
is at shortstop. I love the dirt. I just like
I like the feel of the crunch under the spikes,
but also the action. Like I my attention span is
made for the infield. It's like I'm I'm it's quick,
(08:19):
I'm yapping, I'm talking to people next to me. You know,
it's very much. I just loved being close to the
action and it most of the time at shortstop, like
involved in a lot of the actions. So my yeah,
my heart and soul is right in there on the dirt.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Everything started on the dirt. From four years old. It's
a hitting to your neighbors. Let the world know, I'm
gonna be really good at softball. By the way, then
going to Loyal and Mary Mott, where you really made
your mark, and let not just your neighbors know, but
the entire world know that I'm really good at softball.
Let me just throw these out for you guys, just
(08:55):
in case you weren't sure. How amazing sample like when
I described her earlier as the formidable, the incomparable, like
I wasn't. I wasn't just trying to be nice, like
I'm being serious. So Sam Fisher, she is the very
first All American from loyala Marima. She ended her career
as the all time hold your breath, all time home
(09:15):
run leader, who was sixty five all time runs batted in,
one hundred and seventy two total basis four hundred and
ninety five batting highs, batting average three hundred and eighty seven,
slugging percentage seven eighty six, on base percentage four ninety
four that I was done. I'm not run scored one
ninety four, doubles fifty two and walks one hundred and
(09:38):
twenty seven. Oh wait, there's more. Sam Fisher led NCAA
Division I in batting average with four ninety two and
a six six' five on base percentage as a. Senior
that was before all the technology of Now like now
you see it's like normal to see girls with four
hundred batting, averages to have a four hunt to be
batting basically five hundred was unimaginable back when we were
(10:04):
playing in, college before we had all the new stuff
that helps you get. Better so, yes the quite literally
Formidable Sam fisher making your. Mark you like that. ONE
i knew you'd want us to keep going BECAUSE i had,
MORE i had more to say. About oh, like there's right,
right thank, You. Sam going TO lmu and having the
(10:29):
career that you. Had what what do you attribute that?
Speaker 3 (10:32):
To, HONESTLY i feel LIKE i would attribute it to
just like honestly being myself and like following my my
heart and following my. Passion AND i love softball and
e AND i also very was my, gosh even like
especially WHEN i was in high school and, younger such a,
homebody like my dream day was staying, home SO i
(10:55):
couldn't imagine going far away across the country to. School
SO i NARROWED i narrowed down the search very simply
to Southern california BECAUSE i didn't want to be farther
than a drive away from. Home but staying true to
myself and, like, hey, man LIKE i love. Softball IF
i want to accomplish these goals That i've suffered, myself
(11:17):
here's HOW i have to do. It AND i have
to work, hard AND i have to, sacrifice you, know
maybe some other things for the love THAT i have
for this sport and for the love THAT i have
for performing and for wanting to be the best THAT
i can. Be and LUCKILY lmu was the program that
allowed me to be myself and to grow and to
get better without losing that sense of self like what
(11:39):
made Me Sam fisher going into college was able to
stay the, same AND i was able to you, know
harness that and still LEAVING lmu be the you know
WHO i was As Sam fisher was still. There so
it was just it was a perfect combination of allowing
me to grow but allowing me to stay true to myself, also.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
BUT i think is also so cool and a testament
to your story is oftentimes when you're young and you're getting,
recruited you're, THINKING i got to go to the biggest,
school or the only way for me to make an
impact is for me to be at A power Five
like these are things THAT i have to, do and
you're able to. Go you are a testament that that
is not the. Case, right you can be On TEAM,
usa you can be a professional softball, player you can
(12:23):
do all these, things have all these, accolades have the
highest batting average in the entire country and not be
out Of power five. School and if you were to
give advice to someone that is struggling with maybe not
being recruited by these top, schools but to still be
able to go out and, say, listen this could actually
be the best thing for, you what would you say to?
Speaker 3 (12:40):
Them, truly there's nothing that you can't accomplish if you put.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Your mind to.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
It but also put the work. In like there's a
lot to be said about about having goals and setting,
goals but the other side of that is like go
out and do the, Work LIKE i went home every
weekend in the fall to work out extra with my.
Dad LIKE i didn't go to all the college, stuff
AND i MEAN i probably missed out on some things like,
That like Obviously i'm a little bit of an, extremist
so take it with a grain of, salt but putting
(13:09):
in the extra. Work like we didn't have lights AT
lmu WHEN i was in, college SO i would stay
after practice until the sun went down TO i couldn't
physically practice anymore because it would be. Dangerous so that's
the only reason Was, yeah, NO i would have still
done it IF i could see the. Ball BUT i
really think that it's not about where you, go it's
(13:30):
about who you. Are and was it maybe? Harder Was
it was definitely less, traveled that's for sure the path
THAT i. Took BUT i had a goal of being
An All american even though it had never been done AT,
Lmu and the only thing that could have stopped me was.
Myself IF i, said, oh, well nobody's ever done, it
it's not. Possible it's like that's not the end of the.
(13:51):
Story somebody has to do the first of. Something SO
i really think it's not about where you, go it's
about who you are there are perks to going to
a big school when it comes to having big, dreams
but it's not. Everything you still have to go and,
work work your tush. Off but Elmu. ELMU i think
we've we've talked about it a, lot so as long winded,
(14:12):
answer we've talked about a, lot like me and my
dad about, man how cool would it have been to
go to like AN sec school and like fight for
a natty or you, know just things like that where
you can go and just be so big time like.
It it would have been so. COOL i, mean my,
GOSH i do think about it a. Lot but going
to the pride THAT i feel of What i've been
(14:33):
able to do and going TO, lmu which turned out
to be just like the most amazing four years My,
LIKE i love that place and to know THAT i
was able to still accomplish all of, that it brings
me so much pride that IF i was given the,
opportunity Like genie in a bottle, said all, right what's
your one, WISH i would wish to go to LM u.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Again, wow that is so. FUN i want to reiterate
what you, said it's not where you, go but who
you are saying that where you, go but who you
Are when you think about who you, were how would
you define yourself as the player AT lmu that they'd
accomplished all that you were able to.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Accomplish, man that that was a kid who just loved,
softball like she would do anything for. SOFTBALL i, like,
sorry can't, go can't go do this with you, Guys
i'm going to. Practice like you, know you talk about
sacrifice like that you're missing out on, something and that's
very true for, Me like there were things THAT i
(15:33):
missed out. ON i would not sugarcoat, it like birthday
Parties i've, missed like weddings and babies being born and
all these things in, life Right AND i would say
this to my friend's. Faces but like man winning a
gold medal With TEAM usa worth, it, Girl i'd miss it,
Again LIKE I i feel, like you, know there's there's
(15:57):
a lot of times where if you make decisions that
are for, yourself it comes across as. Selfish BUT i
only ever wanted to put my best foot forward and
do the things that bring me joy and make me really.
Happy and that kid AT lmu was happy all the
time she was out there playing college. Softball she was
(16:18):
out there practicing extra and making memories and just having
the time of her. Life and it led to all of.
This you, know you eat you ask the question of,
like what would you tell your younger. SELF i just be, like,
girl you keep, going you keep doing it like people
are gonna call you a total dork a lot of,
times or like a softball, Nerd and that's a, compliment
(16:39):
because that's really what at the end of the, day
that's what you.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Were it was just, saying it's, like whether you are the,
biggest best businessman or the best street sweeper on the
tombstone is she, say here lies the best street sweeper
that ever. Lived? Right you do, anything, yeah and everything
to the best of your, ability no matter what it looks.
(17:03):
Like let's take a quick break to hear a word
from our. SPONSOR i really think that when we talked
about your love for softball and being able to go.
OUT i remember endless times when a friend of mine
(17:26):
and travel, ball like the same time we'd have, anything we're, like, yeah,
sorry can't? Softball like that was like we should have
always talked about as as adults, now like we should
have made. Shirts it's like, sorry can't? SOFTBALL i have
softball like?
Speaker 3 (17:39):
That, yeah, YEAH i had the, Best SORRY i CAN'T
i have. Softball story is THAT i had my own
wedding planned AND i signed a contract to go play
softball In. JAPAN i was like to my wedding, People i'm, like,
sorry can't got. Softball SO i had to, like can't
solve my.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
WEDDING i feel like that needs to come a new. Segment,
yeah what was your? Best, SORRY i CAN'T i have.
Softball Because i'm sure we all have my, Stories like my,
GOD i really wanted to do a. THING i could
have done this. THING i had a softball, tournament and
YEAH i. Don't i've only gone to one homecoming in
(18:20):
high school and because all the other, times, yeah and
at the end of my senior, year LIKE i was just, like,
well you know, WHAT i should probably do this one,
time you, know just once get it out of the.
Way it's a wrap because every other time there was
like a.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
Tournament oh no, doubt especially in the. Fall come, on
that's when you go to showcases.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
EXACTLY i mean thinking ABOUT i just kind of want
to touch on it one more. Time when with going
to a smaller school or school in which maybe you
feel like wasn't what you wanted or thought you COULD
i get. To and it's not where you go but
who you are as you're going through the the inevitable
(19:02):
highs and, lows as low as the drop, ball as
high as the high as rise, ball and you're trying
to figure out or trying to develop who you, are
not just as as a, player but as a. Person
and you're in this position Where i'm going to be
An All. American i'm going to be the. First it's
never been done. BEFORE i think you have to have
a different type of mentality and a different type of
(19:24):
persistence to Say i'm going to be the. First what
did that look like for?
Speaker 3 (19:28):
You oh that's a hard hitting, stuff AJ. I, HONESTLY
i really feel like The All american thing number one
my proudest. Accomplishment, literally LIKE i had got the, trophy
rate like. It it makes me. Proud, yeah she's. CUTE
(19:49):
i cut am so proud of. It BUT i really
feel like it was a byproduct of the love THAT
i had for the game and the work THAT i
was willing to put in the, Goal LIKE i don't
set goals like, flimsily like it is very. Intentional it's
LIKE i know when that when that comes out of my,
(20:10):
mouth when my dad AND i are, like, hey here's
here's my goal and it's to become An All. American
that it was like you can't just say it and
not do anything about. It like if you're going to say,
this you have to do something about. It and you,
know it was just a, goal but it wasn't like
to be the like looking in hindsight and seeing like
(20:31):
the first and only still it. Was it didn't feel like.
That it just felt, like here's a goal on the,
list and then it just happened to be the, first you,
know so just putting in the extra work and knowing
what it was going to take BECAUSE i was going
up against against players that, were you, know shortstops at
the big time programs At, oklahoma At Arizona, state LIKE.
(20:51):
Ucla i'm just going up against those. Girls IF i
was going to get this, award.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
DID i ever discourage? YOU i don't think.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
SO i THINK i had to be realistic about it that,
like not only DO i have to play as well as,
THEM i probably have to play better than. Them and
it wasn't necessarily, comparison BECAUSE i would never look at
someone and be LIKE i got LIKE i got to
be them or. Whatever it was never. Comparison it was just.
Realistic like these All american awards, there they're very. Serious
SO i think knowing THAT i had to literally hit
(21:22):
the best in the entire.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Country and go.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
OUT i don't remember how many ERRORS i, made but
it was low that, Year like just make sure THAT
i not only was playing as good as those, players
but above and, beyond BECAUSE i wasn't playing at the
same kind of school that was playing against the same
kind of. Competition SO i think it was just being,
realistic understanding that there was a chance it could it wouldn't,
(21:45):
happen and going out and doing the work in fighting
for it.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Anyway and before you said, that that was what came
to my, mind understanding that it might not, happen but
do it. Anyway and LIKE I i feel like that's
just like a testament to whether to your point character you,
say who you are kind of all comes back to
that where you, go but who you, are it's, like
no one may not give you a pat on the
back for putting that cart. Back do it, anyway you,
(22:12):
know someone may not see you giving out the dollar
to someone and more in. Need, right maybe someone's not
gonna point that, out but do it, Anyway, like this
is about, Character it's about who you, are AND i
think that that all attributes to the type of player
you are and what you can achieve once you realize, that.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
YES i love that man always put away your shopping cart,
Period well, YEAH i love. That.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Yeah and then the Hot arizona heat, back, yep we'll
do it. Back not where you, go but who you
are has certainly led you to some of the coolest
places and the best opportunities of being who you, are
from college TO npf WHERE i got to, First Sam,
(23:00):
fish you're playing with The Akron, racers To TEAM, usa
to them preparing For Athletes unlimited and for the many
many years and games that you would played with. Them
how do you feel like all these different chapters of
your life and your career helped prepare you for the
final chapter Of athletes Un?
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Limited m, GOSH i look at each of those things
that you mentioned as like a new, challenge you, know
and seeing like CAN i rise to this? Challenge because
you know the different levels that you play, at the
different pictures you face and the different you, know environments
that you play. In it's all a new kind of. Challenge,
so you, know WAS i able to get it done TO? Lmu? Absolutely?
(23:42):
So Then TEAM? Usa you, know it was it a
fluke THAT i got it done AT. Lmu you, know
Now i'm playing against the best in the. World CAN
i compete?
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Here?
Speaker 3 (23:50):
Okay was able to raise the? Challenge? OKAY mpf man
pro is a completely different ballgame than, international you, know
figuring all those, out so to, me looking at those
chapters very much symbolizes to me the ability to rise
to a, challenge and it can be. INTIMIDATING i remember
going overseas and playing In japan like the first half
THAT i was, there and be, like holy, crap AM
(24:11):
i gonna be able to do? This you, know because
it is something AND i was able to you, know
dig deep and rise to the. Challenge SO i would
say that there's just all all of That i've just
had such you, Know i'm gonna say pride again BECAUSE
i look back in my final season THAT i had
(24:32):
in twenty twenty, four looking back on all those, things
obviously you get. Nostalgic you're, like oh you, know remember
my college days and remember this and remember, that AND i
look back And i'm, LIKE i don't have one single,
regret one single moment Where i'm, LIKE i WISH i would,
have you, KNOW i WISH i would have been happier
THAT i was going to. Practice no, Man LIKE i
(24:53):
was probably annoying BECAUSE i was, like.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Let's, Go we're going to. Practice come, on, guys let's.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
Go so all of that led me TO i feel
so lucky THAT i was able to have a final
chapter and finish the way THAT i had always envisioned or.
Dreamed ONCE i knew that could have been a, possible that,
retirement you, know could have been a possibility for, me
BECAUSE i know that not everybody gets, it AND i
(25:16):
don't take that. LIGHTLY i WAS i felt, like, GOSH
i felt so so blessed and so lucky just the
entirety of the season BECAUSE i, like, what like this
is my.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
Life that's.
Speaker 3 (25:29):
Crazy that's HOW i was feeling the whole.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
TIME i, mean you're one of only seven players do
you have appeared in one hundred or MORE au games
and just continue to add to your legacy in Softball
when we're having the conversation about how much you love,
softball how just excited you were to be out there to,
(25:53):
play coming back every single. Year what was probably your
favorite part about stepping back on the field with a, you.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
Oh, man just like the opportunity was just. Unreal like
to think to think THAT i could, say you, know
we had sixty, players sixty players that were, there and
THAT i was one of. Them what an Opportunity because
you look at anything, else like THE, mlb there's hundreds
(26:22):
and hundreds and hundreds of guys that are, playing and
like that's still not a. Lot so you think about
sixty and you think about all the Talented somba players
that we've. Got LIKE i felt every TIME i would
pack my stuff up and get to my hotel room
and you, know get ready to go put my stuff
in my, Locker i'm, LIKE i, Am i'm so LUCKY
(26:44):
i get to do. This I'm i'm in a position
THAT i get to like throw a ball around and
hit it for my, job you, know for for a few,
months and it just.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
It you never get for.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
ME i never got tired of like hearing my walk
up song and like seeing my name on the board
and being.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Announced in like number fifty.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Two i'm, LIKE i just never ever got used to
it and or or felt like it was any less.
Special like literally every single TIME i got to Hear
rocky like A, HURRICANE i was, like this is the
best moment in my life every.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
Time so much so that that's in your. BIO i
don't know If i've ever seen. It so's walk up
song be hit their bio in my entire. Life i'm so.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
Passionate, YEAH i. Don't IF i like, Something i'm making
it my. Personality, man it's just all. In it's all
in or. Nothing that's a lesson that we can all take.
Completely it's not where you, go but who you. Are
and a part of who you are is your walk up. Song, remember,
(27:48):
ladies it's important.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
That walk up. SONG i don't want to say it defines,
you but it kind of.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
Does so pit yeah pick what make sure you?
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Pick?
Speaker 3 (27:56):
Yeah, exactly. Exactly.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Yes on top of, playing you also served as chair
of The Players Executive committee for two. Years what went
into being on THE, Pec when were your responsibilities and
how were you really able to kind of get a
better understanding of the business and the working and workings
(28:19):
OF au as a.
Speaker 3 (28:20):
WHOLE i really enjoyed being on THE. PEC i didn't,
Know like what's interesting is WHEN i first Joined Athletes,
unlimited LIKE i had turned, thirty and like my first
time on THE, pec so LIKE i had already kind
of been around for a little. Bit so getting to
that point and being in a position that like people
were asking us questions and then listening to our, answers
(28:43):
that was Part like for, me it took some, Adjusting
it really, did BECAUSE i was very much, Like, Okay i'm.
HERE i don't want to cause any. PROBLEMS i just
want to play the, Softball like, okay here's what it was,
Like i'm. Ready, Yeah i'm just SAYING i have my,
Ball i'm gonna go to the. Field i'll be, there thank.
You AND I i was very much someone who if
there was SOMETHING i felt like could have been, better
(29:04):
or like even something simple as like maybe my pants
were too, Small i'd be nervous to go and be
like Can i'm so, sorry but like COULD i get
a bigger? PAIR i BECAUSE i didn't want to lose my,
opportunity and with such a small amount of players that
are in the in the pro, space like it's it's
a reasonable fear be, like, well you're causing too many,
(29:25):
problems will literally find somebody.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
Else SO i had to break out of.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
THAT i had to start to feel like safe as
kind of like a dramatic way to put, it but
like safe to say, like, YEAH i think that that
uniform is ugly and then be, like, oh, okay so
let's let's work into.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
It i'm, like oh my, god you don't hate.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
Me so being on THE, PEC i think really helped
in my, development like as a person, too in that it's,
Like i'm not gonna bother somebody by having an. Opinion
they could, say you know, What you're gonna wear the ugly,
Uniform like all, right, well at LEAST i spoke my,
mind you. Know SO i think that being on being
(30:05):
on that committee and being pushed, to you, know break
out and say things THAT i had all this. Experience
i'm thirty years, OLD i played so many places THAT
i can then. HELP i can help our, LEAGUE i
can help the. Players and we we did, things you,
know we talked about things like where were we going to,
play what was the housing going to? Be? Like what the,
(30:25):
uniforms what are they going to look? Like what kind
of gear do the players? Want like literally everything that
touched the players THE pec was talking about AND i
fell in. LOVE i was, like, yeah this is this
is something that just it kind of like lit a
fire THAT i knew at some Point i'm gonna have
to stop. Playing what AM? I what AM i going to?
(30:45):
DO i would have loved to, be you, know like a.
HOUSEWIFE I i didn't know Because i'd always played, Softball
so how AM i supposed to know what.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
Work i'm going to?
Speaker 3 (30:56):
Do and then the being on THE pc was, like oh,
wait this is the work THAT i want to, do
and IT i. LOVED i loved being on. It it
was an interesting position because you're still a, player but
you're also kind of like part of decision making in some.
Sense but it was it Was it really was such
(31:17):
a well, rounded important experience for.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
Me when you think ABOUT au and whether it's A
pc or just, playing what do you feel like most
encapsulates or captures the essence or spirit of playing IN
au and what the league stands.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
For, gosh you feel like you're more than a player
because you know as as a, player as a, person
you know that you're more than a. Player you're a
person who has wants and you, know passions and things
that you care, about as well as being a player
with all this experience and the competitive nature of what
(31:55):
it takes to be a professional softball. Player so it
feels like you're seen in all different aspects of who you,
are not just like if you hit a home run or,
not it's, like, okay that's just part of. It like
we care about you and we want to know how
to make your experience, really really good so that you
can have maybe longevity in how long you're going to,
(32:18):
play or that if you don't want to play with us,
anymore you feel good going out in the world because
we support, You like do you need do you need a?
Reference do you need somebody to you, know help guide.
You we're here for. You even things like like we
got to play for a nonprofit raise money for something
that you care about based on how you, play you
(32:39):
play well and that they donate to a nonprofit of your,
choosing that is what you care, about that you. Chose
SO i really feel, like you, know my elevator pitch
is kind of, long but it's truly like it's it's
truly seeing you as what you are which includes being
a suba, player but also as a person you talk.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
About whether you're on the field or thinking about life after.
Softball for, you as someone that has committed THE r
word retired, guys because you know this day and, age
you actually never know what before talking, about so retirement
in your final playing, seasons that last of take you
(33:25):
back to twenty twenty. Four on the last, day as
you realize it's going to be your last. Game you
wake up in the, morning you tie your, shoes eat your,
Breakfast you put on your clothes the same, way you
put on your, jersey the same. Way at what moment
(33:45):
did you realize that this thing that you've been doing
since you were four years, old this was the last
moment you're going to be doing. It and what seeared
through your mind in that, Moment i'm gonna.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
Cry you Know what's it's. WEIRD i didn't. CRY i
didn't cry at all during this whole. Thing but the
way that you just talked about, It i'm, like, wow that's.
EMOTIONAL i just feel like WHEN i was going through,
it you, KNOW i was listening to my pump up
music the same way THAT i would.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
Lots Of Lil wayne lots Of wayne you, guys and
every millennial understands. These, uh if you're a gen, z
maybe you don't get, it but we all get.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
It it's the only WAY i, like don't know how
else to get pumped. Up BUT i had pulled my
hamstring the day before my last, day AND i THOUGHT
i reflected a lot on it to Where i'm, like
is this? Sad or is this exactly what was supposed to?
Happen because maybe it distracted me from the you, know
(34:49):
the hugeness of retiring That i'm, like OW i, ow you,
know to WHERE i wouldn't be able to focus solely on,
like holy, caw this is my last Day i'm ever
going to play a softball.
Speaker 2 (35:02):
Game SO i thought the universe.
Speaker 3 (35:06):
Really really had its hands in the way that this
weekend and the way that my final day, went because
there was no WAY i was going to be able
to play a full. Game AND i knew that BECAUSE
i had hurt myself trying. TO i liked out a
TRIPLE AJ i was. Safe but what you were, Saying, oh,
(35:26):
yeah it's important because IF i was thrown out AND
i pulled a, hamstring game, over, Oh i've been so,
grumpy LIKE i can.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
Actually retire right, now, Guys, yeah you know, what.
Speaker 3 (35:34):
Take me off in a, stretcher like, seriously it's. Embarrassing
SO i KNEW i wasn't gonna be able to. Play
And georgina was the captain for for my final, weekend
AND i talked to. HER i was, LIKE i am
good enough to get in that baden and she she
put me. Fifth she she, respect LIKE i respect the
(35:57):
heck out of her for for, still you, know because
she wanted to win AND i could have held us,
back but she started me at third. Base she put
me fifth in, lineup AND i Got it's just it
just like was so, perfect like the day was so.
PERFECT i hobbled. UP I I i let off the second,
(36:18):
inning SO i didn't get that bat until the second
inning of the. Game AND i got to hear my
walk up song play so, much because you, know when
you lead, off you get more of your. Song, Yeah
And i'm, like all, right number one.
Speaker 2 (36:31):
PERFECT i.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
GOT i got to a three and oh, count And i'm,
like AM i gonna walk to?
Speaker 1 (36:36):
End?
Speaker 3 (36:36):
This is? This How i'm?
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Gonna is? This on a?
Speaker 3 (36:39):
Walk it's so. Uncharacteristic AND i ended up going three,
ONE i GOTTA i got a pitch to, hit AND
i got a single up the, middle AND i hobbled
to first, base AND i remember thinking, like this day
is just, Perfect like this day was perfect and all
the things THAT i you, know because the way that
you described it was the way THAT i had been
(36:59):
thinking about it leading up to, it Like.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
I'm going to be a.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
Wreck you're gonna have to carry me off the, field like,
there it's going to be too. Emotional and THEN i lived,
it AND i was, like this Is it's.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
PERFECT i feel like retirement can be something that's so,
tricky whether it's from college to pro to high. School,
honestly high school college to, pro because there's so many
different levels in different moments which we kind of all, Realize,
okay this is probably be my final game of the
sport That i've known my entire. Life AND i was
(37:35):
reading this one. Poem i'm just gonna read like a
couple inserts from it just BECAUSE i feel like this
it hopefully like makes some people feel, better or like
having this conversation with, you you realize like what's beyond
the horizon can be bigger and better and greater than
what you've experienced behind. It so this part says the,
(38:01):
dust the dust on my, uniform a metal of, MIGHT
a story of games played in the day and the.
Night each, slide each, air each perfect hit is a
lesson in life and a virtue of. Grit but the
last inning's, over the final outs, made the memories and
triumphs will never. Fade the diamond will, call but the
answers no. MORE a different horizon waits just outside the.
(38:23):
Door so hang up the, bat the helmet and, gear
and hold to the LESSONS i learned throughout the. Years
for the PERSON i am for cheer on this land
is the Person i'll be with or without the bat
in my. Hand oh my, god.
Speaker 1 (38:39):
That is.
Speaker 2 (38:40):
Wonderful BUT i think ages to me it kind of like.
Circles back to what we said in the. Beginning it's
not where you, go but who you. Are AND i
MEAN i feel like that can be used not just
in like this reference of a, school but sure in.
Life like it doesn't matter where you go in, life
whether it's play on the softball field or, beyond but
(39:00):
it's who you are and what you take through, that
and you can be that with or without the bad
and as you described retirement and how the universe kind
of all came, together it was like that right, moment
when did you realize that this would probably be be
the last year for? Me like make the. Decision WHEN i.
Speaker 3 (39:21):
Got home from the twenty twenty three season and you,
Know i'm unpacking my stuff and getting back in the
routine of hanging out with my. HUSBAND i said it to.
HIM i was, like, yeah Good. keV he's always listening
to me talk about sopball. Man BUT i remember saying
it out loud to, him AND i hadn't said it
out loud at all, before AND i was, LIKE i
THINK i think next season's going to be. It and
(39:44):
it was, like, yeah, That like saying it out loud
didn't feel, Weird it didn't feel. Forced it was, like very,
much you're saying something that you didn't even know you
were really thinking. About AND i was, like, yeah that feels.
Right and then the more TIMELINE i was, like, yeah,
nope this is this is. It and then the way
that everything played out it very much was it LIKE
(40:07):
i don't HAVE i, mean AM i gonna want to
play soft all the, respect, absolutely BUT i don't have
any of those feelings of LIKE i gotta get out,
there Like i'm gonna come out of retirement or. Whatever
LIKE i very much felt so so confident WHEN i
said it out loud To kevin at the, first the
first time THAT i did after the twenty twenty three
season THAT i was, like all, Right i'm like starting
(40:28):
to close the. Book and WHEN i closed the, BOOK
i was, like all, right it was the best Book
i've ever. Read but it had to.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
End you, know and you are you are a novice of,
books SHALL i? Say? Acid? Yeah truly. Truly for those just,
listening she just should pointed to her bookcase of all
of her amazing. Books there's more to, cover but, first
(40:55):
let's take a quick. Break if you were to have
this conversation with someone that is deliberating whether next year
is going to be their last year or are kind
of sometimes even forced into retirement from maybe an injury
(41:17):
or from for health, reasons what would you say to
them to make it a little less. Scary oh that's.
Speaker 3 (41:26):
GOSH i think what's really, cool and like you just,
said is that people can retire for different, reasons or
people can end their careers for different. Reasons so meeting
people where they are because my retirement looks the way
for me because it's, mine but other, people you know.
THAT i believe so much in trusting your. Gut so
(41:46):
IF i was talking to somebody who maybe is deliberating
or might be needing to come to terms with, it
like listen to your, gut like you're, you you'll. Know
like it's so cheesy when you know you, know but
like it's also, real like, yeah you'll know if it's,
right you'll know if you're forcing. It i'm a big
(42:08):
believer in a pro con list to where you can
really be like factual about, it you, know because if
you can't make a, decision like sometimes you might be
playing a certain you, know at a certain level that's
good enough to keep, going but the feelings that come
with it or like that the cons might start to outweigh,
things and that that could also be a time to be,
(42:28):
like maybe it's not worth it, anymore you. Know like
there's a lot of things THAT i think go into
ending your, Career BUT i would, say first and, foremost
trust your. Gut say it out, loud you, know let it.
Marinate it's not a decision that is impulsive or. Quick
it shouldn't and it shouldn't BE i would hope that
it wouldn't be for anybody that is making the decision
(42:48):
that it should be thought about and sat on and
slept on and set out loud and just like you,
know how's it? Feel because then at the end of the,
day like you, CAN i just anybody who makes a
decision to make them feel better is that they put
the right amount of thought into it so that they
don't look back with. Regret that's the one thing THAT
(43:08):
i would just hate for people that they had any
change of heart or like wish that they would have
done something different because they didn't think about.
Speaker 2 (43:16):
IT i think it's to your point being able to
say it out loud and see how you, feel because you,
know there's times when you say something out loud like
that even sounds, right like you, yeah, yeah that was
either here that didn't even sound right my mouth, next
you know WHAT i. Mean versus if you say it
out loud and it's, like you know, what that kind
(43:37):
of makes, sense or you say it out loud and
it just it resonates with you more than you actually
thought it. Would as, women our intuition never lies to
us and it's something NEVER i, think what what. It
i've read something where it says to kind of tell
the difference between whether it's your intuition or your, anxiety
is your anxiety speaks to you. Questions your intuition speaks
(44:01):
to you in, Statements so it's it'll like it'll it'll
feel more like if it's more of an anxious thought
or anxious, decision it'll be, like is this WHAT i
want to? Do, okay well what about d versus if
you say it in it's your, intuition it's like you've
had a great this has been a GREAT x amount of. Years,
(44:22):
wow you've done all the things you can. Do if
next year your body just doesn someone who it just,
doesn't it's more of like speaking to you rather than
you having these. Questions and SO i think that's. AMAZING
i think your point of saying it out loud allows
you to deliberate a little bit, better.
Speaker 3 (44:38):
Totally get it out, there put it into the. World you.
Know but that that's.
Speaker 2 (44:42):
WOW i.
Speaker 3 (44:42):
LIKED i like what you said that that's really, impactful.
Speaker 2 (44:46):
And also being able to understand that it's that's not.
IT i know when we played the sport since we could.
Walk it seems, like, WELL i really don't know what
else to. Do but you are also again another example
the Formidable Sam. Fisher i'm showing that there's always. More
you can still be in the sport without having to play.
It as you've transitioned from player to manager of softball,
(45:08):
operations what are your roles now and how has this
ship been for? YOU i.
Speaker 3 (45:17):
LOVE i love my. JOB i work directly for The
commissioner for.
Speaker 2 (45:23):
PICTURE i see you right Behind.
Speaker 3 (45:24):
Kim, yeah she had no idea what she was getting,
into and she hired me BECAUSE i was, Like i'm
gonna make you my best. Friend, yeah, sorry it's in my.
Contract BUT i remember When kim came, ON i was
still in THE, pc and so she was starting to
join our meetings and, stuff AND i was, like this
(45:45):
is a person THAT i need to be around, her,
LIKE i don't care if it's getting her, Coffee LIKE
i want that's the job THAT i want to. Do
SO i bugged her that. SUMMER i, said hey, Girl i'm,
retiring so, LIKE i want to work for. YOU i
don't know what that. MEANS i don't have a clue
what it, means BUT i want to work for, you
(46:05):
and then you know season's getting close to, it And i'm, like, hey.
Speaker 2 (46:08):
Girl just, sir, yeah like when you send those emails
like just want to bring this to the top of
your just means the top of your, email just let
you know still work for.
Speaker 3 (46:17):
You exactly a little. Refresh SO i a few weeks
AFTER i, Retired kim called was, like all, right you?
Speaker 2 (46:23):
READY i was, like, Yes i've never been more.
Speaker 3 (46:26):
Ready what AM i?
Speaker 2 (46:27):
DOING i feel like you probably said that verbatim, too like, absolutely, Yeah,
Kim so, wait just go a. Question what AM i?
Doing what's my?
Speaker 3 (46:37):
Job tell me what to, Do i'll do. It and you,
know because you look at her and everything that she's,
accomplished And i'm, like, YEAH i how COULD i not
want to work for, her learn from, her and just
be like right by her side as she's leading us
into this amazing chapter of professional Softball LIKE i she.
Were she has to be my best. Friend SO i
(46:59):
get TO i get to be involved in pretty much
every like everything that goes into the, league like Uniform
i'm still involved, with like making sure that the, uniform
working with, equipment working with, marketing working with, ticketing working
with the, athletes working with operations of, like all, right
how many balls do we? Need what time are we
(47:19):
going to? Practice how long should practice? Be like how
should we schedule off days or like, travel what is
that going to look? Like LIKE i try to explain
it as Like i'm just so nosy THAT i just
have my like my nose in every part of softball.
Part SO i deal a lot with the general, Managers
LIKE i manage a lot of that those relationships and
(47:42):
help them get their job. Done SO i get to
really kind of have a little, hand a little piece
in everything that goes into putting on our season and
with our. PLAYERS i feel LIKE i have a very
special position with this role BECAUSE i can still have
the relationship with players AND i can be somebody that
they trust or that if they need to go to
(48:03):
somebody and they're not quite sure who to go, to,
like they can always go to. Me and that that's
my favorite part of my. Job but but, yeah mostly
just like Adding kim on speed down to like hey girl.
Speaker 2 (48:16):
And you just hang out With.
Speaker 3 (48:17):
Kim, yeah that, part that's that's that's the second best
part of the.
Speaker 2 (48:22):
JOB I, mean there's been so much innovation and so
many different brands coming on and wanting to SUPPORT i
mean not just, brands LEAGUES mlb coming on and wanting
to SUPPORT. Ausl when you talk about innovation and grow
for twenty twenty, six what are you most excited for
that you've been working.
Speaker 3 (48:41):
ON I we are expanding from four to six, Teams
So i'm really really excited for. THAT I I i'm
so excited that there's going to be more opportunity for
players and for us to. Grow and you know that
we did we did well enough in twenty twenty five
that we can go forward and do, This So i'm
excited for six. Teams i'm really. Excited like the way
(49:02):
that the players reacted to The sephora partnership was really
really fun to, watch and that was very much towards
the end of the. Season So i'm really excited to
see kind of like what a meaningful partnership looks like With.
Sephora with with the. Players they, man they they were
so excited about.
Speaker 2 (49:22):
It but.
Speaker 3 (49:24):
Also like THE, mlb you, know you, know growing up
as a softball, player like if you're not, watching like
there wasn't a lot of softball to watch when we
were growing, up so you're watching THE mlb like my
idols were baseball players growing, up because that's WHAT i.
Watched AND i have always looked at THE mlb like the,
dream you. Know And i've learned so much through this
(49:46):
partnership with THE mlb that they're like they want to
be invested in, us like they want to be a
part of, us rather than us feeling, like you, know
we're not begging LIKE i feel like as softball, players
there's so much like please please give me, scraps you.
Know but this THIS mlb thing with you, know with
how they've how they've just like put us out there
(50:08):
and kind of like taking a big brother role and
like come, on come, on like you're coming with, us
and we're we're going into this, together rather than, us you,
know us having to beg them or having to like
tiptoe and be, like, OH i hope they don't drop.
Us you, know it's been very like like you, know,
collaborative AND i that part is is REALLY i, MEAN
(50:30):
i still don't really know THAT i have the right
words for it because of how, like because of my
relationship with THE mlb growing up watching it like It's,
october you know, what you, know what's on in my,
house so, that LIKE, I i hold THE mlb so
close to my heart and to know that they, are you,
know helping us and partnering with us and celebrating us has.
(50:51):
Been twenty twenty five was a, ride. Man So i'm
really excited to see what what we can continue to
do in twenty twenty six with with these amazing people
who have seen us for everything that we've seen us. For,
like we know the product we put on the, field
we know what our athletes can, bring and so that
they're they're seeing that, too and that we're showing it
(51:13):
and we're and we're proving what we've always.
Speaker 2 (51:15):
KNOWN i feel, LIKE i, mean you came out with
the biggest of bangs and now it's just kinda so
just keep letting off the, fireworks you. KNOW i feel
like it's almost the start of a fireworks show where it's, like,
oh it's, Happening like all the things are coming, out
things are, coming and then you get to that, big big,
finale it just keeps, coming keeps getting. BIGGER i feel, Like,
oh it's just it's gonna just keep getting. BIGGER i
(51:36):
don't know when the finale is gonna, be but hopefully
it's not for a long.
Speaker 3 (51:39):
TIME i, know and THEN i know.
Speaker 2 (51:41):
It's just we have from eight. Teams do you feel,
like is is six the the perfect? Number what do
you feel like would be like the perfect number of
teams to get to IN x amount of?
Speaker 3 (51:54):
YEARS i you, know It's i've Always i've always known
myself to be a, dreamer But i've Never i've never
really dreamt past what we're doing now Because i've only
ever known six. Teams like when we were in THE
mpf on the race, race there was six. Teams, like
so seeing past that IS i want to see past.
(52:16):
IT i don't know what THAT i think it'd be
really cool to get to twelve and maybe have like you,
Know Eastern western or like something like, that Like american
And National, league like like something to where it's a
little bit more you're not playing the same people all the.
Time BUT i THINK i think that could be really.
Cool BUT i think six is going to be a
(52:37):
really really cool place to be for a little while
of making sure that we you, know that that we're,
stable like growing growing from fort four to, six it's
like that's growing fifty, Percent like that's that's a. Lot
so seeing how six teams, GOES i think it's gonna
be really fun and it's gonna be really insightful to see, like, oh,
yeah we could do, Eight, okay we could do, Ten,
(52:58):
okay we could do. Twelve you, know SO i think
twelve twelve feels kind of right, saying you, know saying
it that maybe one, day because that means that there's
roster spots for so many pro suffle players with the
way that our the talent that we have and that
we've always, had that they can go and maybe maybe
(53:19):
maybe play some ball for a, while you, know, heck, yeah.
Speaker 1 (53:23):
Thanks for staking us from first to second. Base we'll
be routing third after the.
Speaker 2 (53:27):
Breaks what goes into selecting who it is going to
be drafting for these past four teams and then what
it may look like or if it's going to change for the.
Speaker 3 (53:43):
Six, yeah it's actually been really that's been a really
fun part of my job is getting our gms all
the information that they could need about the players that
are out. There so they're the gms and the head
coaches are really making the decisions about the. Talent and
that's been really fun, because you, know with the four,
(54:03):
teams that's eight different brains. Working and so with six,
teams you, know having twelve different brains working in twelve
different networks and perspectives and, stuff so that they've really
done the work on building the talent and building the
rosters and oh, Hey, sam can you reach out to
this person and see if they're interested and then kind
(54:25):
of working that way and making sure that everybody has
everything that they need to make that, decision which that's
WHAT i. Love you, know you talked earlier about like
the technology and the and the data that we didn't. Have,
well there's so, much so much, now there's so much
now THAT i you know that you that they can
do their research and see these players and and be
able to you, know determine if they're they're ready for the.
(54:47):
Pros and, yeah so the, gms it's a really like
feels like a very new position for pro softball where
there's designated things that A gm it's to do, that you,
know and part of that is building the. Team so
that's been really. FUN i like sitting back and watching them.
Talk i'm, like, oh, interesting, okay, Cool OH i like,
(55:09):
yep that's, yeah that makes sense or you, know stuff like.
Speaker 2 (55:11):
That oh, MAN i feel, like, hmm it's really cool
to be able to for you to go to dive
in to college and to get all that. Information WHAT
i think is cool ABOUT ausl is everybody's still so
involved that people just know versus you, KNOW. Mlb you
have scouts that have to do those things for, you
(55:32):
right to go out and try to find this information
or for you to see who is, this who's the top,
tier who's number? One, RIGHT, x Y. Z and but
WITHIN ausl you have a lot of athletes that are.
Coaches the coaches and gms are also coaches at, colleges
so their play against these individuals constantly and seeing the talent.
(55:55):
CONSTANTLY i imagine that that helps a little bit for a.
Speaker 3 (55:59):
Lot oh totally like, yeah because you have no, choice
but it to be in your face for the most.
Part you're like and if they're not coaches or, whatever they're,
broadcasting like they're around the game all the. Time so,
yeah oh, yeah that helps so.
Speaker 2 (56:15):
Much we'll, Say i'm now we're going to my favorite,
segments the no Fly zone. Segment whether you're at, shortstop third,
base or first, base one thing you're gonna do is
you're gonna lay your body on the line to make
sure it is a vie zone from laying it, out, falling.
(56:36):
Tripping it does matter wherever the ball. Is just your
mentality to. HITTING i feel like it's the same on the.
Field you just go hard for a, baby maybe not hard. Yep.
Speaker 3 (56:47):
Exactly what is.
Speaker 2 (56:48):
Your favorite play that you've made in your? Career, OH
i love. Defense.
Speaker 3 (56:56):
Okay my senior year, college we're Playing cson in a
doubleheader Cal Sate northridge and we went into, extras so
we were. Home it was AT lmu and we're in
like the ninth, inning and they laid a bunt down
AND i met.
Speaker 2 (57:12):
SHORT i.
Speaker 3 (57:13):
RAN i ran over to cover third because they've got
a runner on second, right so we're in international, tiebreaker
runner out. Second they bunt the. BALL i yell at
our third base And i'm, like throw, it throw it to,
me three through. Three she throws it to. ME i
tagged the runner. Out heck, Yeah but the batter who
bunted the ball nobody's at second, base so she starts
(57:33):
to take.
Speaker 2 (57:33):
Off SO i just.
Speaker 3 (57:35):
Sprinted across the field with the ball and got her
in a pickle and ended up tagging her. Out for
a double. Play we ended up winning the, game like
in our next at, bat because that was just like
kind of a momentum. Shift BUT i just remember like
being involved in that play and thinking like this was
so fun because it was impackal for the. Game but
(57:55):
ALSO i just, LIKE i don't know what. HAPPENED i
just TOOK i just ran across the field like a
mad woman and cut and then tagged her tagged out the,
bunter and that that was a fun. PLAY i REALLY
i really enjoyed that one. Out, yeah, yeah that was
a little.
Speaker 2 (58:13):
Bit.
Speaker 3 (58:14):
Yeah i'm like you, guys you, know don't give me
a pinch, runner look, Out i'm just running across the.
Fields get out of my way, HERE i. Come, Like,
YEAH i LOVE i love. PLAY i love defensive plays
that are, like you, know like you make like just
flying through the air and catching the. Ball AND i
also really love like brain, plays which that's SOMETHING i
felt like on that, play LIKE i was able, to you,
(58:36):
know physically make the, play BUT i also felt LIKE
i used my, brain AND i really loved those.
Speaker 2 (58:40):
Plays we love big brain, plays big, brains big brain Well. Sam,
ALSO i, mean on aside from being able to utilize
your big brain for, baby get the runner out for
a double. Play you also need to use in order
to overcome, failure and in the game of softball it is.
(59:00):
Inevitable so for, you what would you say is probably
your favorite failure that has ultimately led you to maybe
some of your biggest.
Speaker 3 (59:09):
Successes oh, man so much? Failure where DO i?
Speaker 2 (59:18):
Start?
Speaker 3 (59:18):
Agent, YEAH i did not Make TEAM usa in twenty.
THIRTEEN i made it in twenty twelve AFTER i graduated,
college and THEN i went back for tryouts in twenty
thirteen AND i got. Cut and that was a mega
failure that was like a Total oh my, God what
(59:39):
DO i? Do and it's funny having this conversation in
twenty twenty five BECAUSE i had to face like is that?
It AM i just done playing? Softball Like i'm not
going back to. School there's one team In america THAT
i want to be on with seventeen players THAT i
think probably everybody else wants to be on that.
Speaker 2 (01:00:00):
Team so what DO i?
Speaker 3 (01:00:02):
Do AND i HAD i had to number one answer that,
question like AM i done playing? Softball and the answer
was very clearly, No like that that saying that out
loud was, disgusting and SO i had to figure out
how to Make team usay. Again and what was that
(01:00:23):
going to take from me THAT i hadn't done? Before
and SO i had always thought of myself as a
hard worker with a good work, ethic and you, KNOW i,
COULD i could do the things that weren't glamorous blah blah,
Blah but how COULD i kick it up a? Notch
AND i in twenty you, know twenty thirteen summer into twenty,
FOURTEEN i, like, HONESTLY i kicked my own. Ass LIKE
i also started going to. THERAPY i was, like, DEAL
(01:00:47):
i was, like you know, What, sam let's just go all,
in let's go and let's face whatever we need to.
Face and you got to you gotta put your best foot.
Forward SO i went through a year of like insanity
and figure out my new normal and my new. Routine
and then in twenty FOURTEEN i was invited back to
try out AND i made the team and the, rest
(01:01:09):
as they, say you, know here we are eleven years,
later and HAD i not been cut from the team
in twenty, thirteen a just a, mega huge, FAILURE i
would not have had the successful career THAT i THAT
i had BECAUSE i had to really look at WHAT
i you, know the past was the, past like everything
that made me SUCCESSFUL lmu and in high school and travel.
Speaker 2 (01:01:29):
Ball that's.
Speaker 3 (01:01:30):
Done that chapter is. CLOSED i need to write the
chapter and look towards what's next in the, sequel if you.
Will and twenty thirteen into twenty. Fourteen REALLY i was
forced to AND i rewrote The Sam fisher routine and
it paid, off like.
Speaker 2 (01:01:49):
Greatly rewrote The Sam fisher. Routine that REMINDS i love.
THAT i feel like that's that's something that everybody can.
Utilize it's sometimes it's not a, no it's just a not.
Yet and it's what you do in between the no
and not yet that is gonna eventually elongate the not.
Yet so it could be in one, year it could
(01:02:11):
be in two, years or it could be in ten
whatever it. Is but you have to. Rewrite would you,
say rewrite your.
Speaker 3 (01:02:19):
The Sand fisher, routine.
Speaker 2 (01:02:20):
The Sand fisher. Routine what that looks like to really
lock In, Sam you've dropped a lot of diamonds today
on this. PODCAST i want to say thank you so.
Much always so excited to talk to you and to
see your face and when it comes down to the.
AFFIRMATION i, MEAN i feel like we've we've said a.
(01:02:42):
Lot it could either be you, know just swing, hard,
baby go out there and swing, hard high, balls low, balls,
drop rise in, out doesn't, matter swing. Hard but the
biggest DIAMOND i feel like really resonated with. Me and
something that you can all circle back to is it
doesn't matter where you, Go it just matters who you.
(01:03:03):
Are and if you have to rewrite what that looks
like for, you rewrite it over and over again so
that your no can turn into your. Yes so keep
going till THE nt yet turns the two. Yes, sam
thank you so much for joining me and dropping your.
Diamonds thank you for having.
Speaker 3 (01:03:24):
Me this is great AND i think the world of,
you AND i want that to make sure that's, recorded
BECAUSE i think that what you do is incredible because
it's not just it's not just at the ball field
that that grows the game and gives you, know it's everything.
Else and my, god what you've done with your platform
has been so, impressive and it's it's really really cool
(01:03:45):
to watch you do your thing because it's so it's so.
Speaker 2 (01:03:48):
Impactful SO i just want you to.
Speaker 3 (01:03:50):
Know that AND i love You, OH.
Speaker 2 (01:03:51):
I love, You Bore. Sam thank you again for dropping
your diamonds and for being who you. Are for being
who you, are and for everyone who's listened, today thank
you so much for listening today's. Episode let's continue the
conversation On instagram At Dropping diamonds pod and remember it's
not where you, go but who you. Are we write
(01:04:13):
as many times so that no goes into the not
yet and turns into your. Guest thank you guys so.
Much i'll meet you here next week back at The
Diamonds bye for.
Speaker 1 (01:04:22):
Now Dropping diamonds WITH Aj andrews is An iHeart women's
sports production and 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,
(01:04:45):
producer and this episode was mixed and mastered By Mary
do listen To Dropping diamonds WITH Aj andrews on The iHeartRadio,
App apple, podcast or wherever you get your.
Speaker 2 (01:04:55):
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 head first into.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
The world of softball. Today we are joined by one
of my favorite people on Earth, favorite people within softball.
She is an LMU Hall of Famer, an AU Pro
Softball PEC chairperson. She's a World Cup of Softball Goll
medalists and one of seven to appear in one hundred
games or more in AUX and Championship series. She's completed
(00:45):
eight seasons of AU Pro Softball, and after hanging up
her cleats, she announce as the role of manager of
Softball Operations for AUSL. She is the one, she's the only,
She's the incomparace, She's the formidable. She is the no
one can compare to Sam Fisher. He's it. That was lovely.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
I think we can call it a call it an
episode after that, like, yeah, thank you great. I loved
every second of that. Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Oh You're so welcome. I honestly don'teel like I did
it enough to be honest to talk about you.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
You're amazing well.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Sam. To start off every podcast, I typically like to
start with a quote or affirmation, and so one of
the ones that I thought of with you, because if
there's one thing when we talk about someone that just
will never give up on their favorite pitch, it is
Sam Fisher. Okay, she has never seen a rise ball
(01:50):
she doesn't like, and so there the quote that I
thought of today would be some days will be as
low it's the sickest drop ball, and some will be
as high as the most amazing rise ball. But every
day is a chance to keep swinging, and that's really
the only way to put the ball in play.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
I agree with it completely. Yeah, and we were gonna.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Grab an affirmation from that. What do you think like?
Our affirmation for the day would.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Be swing hard, baby, Swing hard.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
But just look at the mirror. Yeah, swing a maybe
high today and it may be low either way.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
We go swing hard, baby, Yeah, you can You know what,
if you can believe you can hit it, then you
go for it like you're gonna hit it. O.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
I like it. I like it too, baby.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
If you believe I'm wanna post it note on my
bathroom mirror, just spoom.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
I love it. First all, can we talk about the
rise ball? Why don't you set your favorite pitch?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
It's just right at my eyes, Like I feel like
I could see it the best. You know, if you're
making eye contact with something, wouldn't you want it as
close to your face as possible? You know, like I
could see it the best, and it's just they go
with the farthest aj it. I've talked about this a
lot where it's like the reinforcement that I get from
when I do hit one.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Is that it's just gone. It's like, all right, I'm
gonna immediately adam, Yeah done. Every miss from swinging at
a rice ball is worth every connection.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Absolutely yeah, no doubt about that. Has it always been
your favorite pitch? I you know what's so funny is
I have truly.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Good at I love the Lord You're so good at
the low ones.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
That is so nice of you to point out, because
I have like, if it's close to me, it's my
favorite pitch. I don't care. I want like like I'm
I I'm not picky. I think that anybody who has
ever seen me play can attest to that. Like Hey,
if it's near me, all right, sure, let it rip.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
I love it. Just swing swingheart baby, just literally a
body the quote low high, it doesn't matter, swing baby,
you think it's.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Near me, I'm going for it.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
To hitting the rise ball, then to being able to
actually make the connection, gosh.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
I think a lot of it is like you're already there.
Like you think about where you hold your hands as
a hitter, you're literally already there. You actually have to
do less to hit a rise ball. You see it
and you just go just deliver yourself to it. You know.
It's it's it's already, it's already at your hands level,
and you're just like, all right, it's the it's up there.
It's gonna be fast, it's gonna do the work for you,
(04:34):
and then boom, you just smack it out of the park.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Is there one that's maybe the better ones to swing
at two before before it takes that jump and it's
like okay, I know, like.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Silly, yeah, you know, those those low rise balls, those
are really risky as a picture, I think, because that's
right in the wheelhouse where it's like if I if
it's at my shoulders, all right, we're in trouble. But
if it starts at the shoal, that's when I think
it's a harder pitch to hit because it's gonna jump
up to your eyes. You know, it's gonna jump up higher.
But the ones that start at your letters, it's a
(05:07):
smart pitch, but it's a real risky pitch because it's
gonna end up right right at your hands.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
That's so funny as someone that's typically a speed player
and like that, anything that starts that high, it's just
that immediate no. And then then you're just like absolutely
little no, no, never.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
And if I take it, I usually it usually takes
every ounce in my body. Did not, Yeah, fall down.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
I'm just gonna say, literally, like your entire body like
convulges down when you're trying to take that pitch. You
can always tell me you really wanted a ball.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Yeah, yeah, I'm very much like yes, yes, yes, yes,
says no.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Hey that's how it's hot to be though, right, yes,
very true. End Yeah. Oh yeah, so just keep your
hands on top and swing hard baby. Yeah yeah, it's
right there.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Just do it.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Don't complicate it, right, I don't think too much. Yeah,
what first drew you to softball? You grew up in
seem Valley, see me, see me Vally and what really said?
For Sam? This is a sport for me, I'm going
all in for softball.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Honestly, I think it started with my dad who was like,
let's play catch in the backyard. And then from there
it was like, wait, this is so fun. And then
we would you know, hit the whiffle you know, we
had like a whiffle ball bat and whiffle ball where
we'd you know, hit it around the backyard and then
I hit it over the neighbor's fence one day, and
(06:42):
I'm like, this, that's it. That's all I need, that feeling.
Are you kidding me? I like I was excited to
go knock on the neighbor's door and be like, hey,
I hit my ball over here. Can I get it
back and try again? No, Sam, lot.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
For you, it's like no, I'm getting all my balls.
I need you to know, yeah that I hate it
over here. Actually this isn't for me. This is more
so that you know the power that I have where
the ball is.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Yeah, you know this five year old next door, Yeah,
she's hit it over your fence.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Dog.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
So that just the feeling and like playing catch with
my dad. Like there's just so you know, there's the
line that you see over and over like how can
you not be romantic about baseball? And I just feel
that so deeply, like about softball, that like there's nothing
like having a catch, and there's there's like to me,
(07:33):
it just it sucked me in immediately. And then the
more I played, and you know, the byproduct of practicing
and enjoying it and getting better and playing better, and
it just was like I was toast at four years old.
I was like, all right, this is gonna be my
entire life and my entire personality.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Thanks. What drew you to the infield? I mean you've played,
whether it's first base, shortstop, third base, you have been
all over the infield.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
What was your favorite shortstop? It my heart and soul
is at shortstop. I love the dirt. I just like
I like the feel of the crunch under the spikes,
but also the action. Like I my attention span is
made for the infield. It's like I'm I'm it's quick,
(08:19):
I'm yapping, I'm talking to people next to me. You know,
it's very much. I just loved being close to the
action and it most of the time at shortstop, like
involved in a lot of the actions. So my yeah,
my heart and soul is right in there on the dirt.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Everything started on the dirt. From four years old. It's
a hitting to your neighbors. Let the world know, I'm
gonna be really good at softball. By the way, then
going to Loyal and Mary Mott, where you really made
your mark, and let not just your neighbors know, but
the entire world know that I'm really good at softball.
Let me just throw these out for you guys, just
(08:55):
in case you weren't sure. How amazing sample like when
I described her earlier as the formidable, the incomparable, like
I wasn't. I wasn't just trying to be nice, like
I'm being serious. So Sam Fisher, she is the very
first All American from loyala Marima. She ended her career
as the all time hold your breath, all time home
(09:15):
run leader, who was sixty five all time runs batted in,
one hundred and seventy two total basis four hundred and
ninety five batting highs, batting average three hundred and eighty seven,
slugging percentage seven eighty six, on base percentage four ninety
four that I was done. I'm not run scored one
ninety four, doubles fifty two and walks one hundred and
(09:38):
twenty seven. Oh wait, there's more. Sam Fisher led NCAA
Division I in batting average with four ninety two and
a six six' five on base percentage as a. Senior
that was before all the technology of Now like now
you see it's like normal to see girls with four
hundred batting, averages to have a four hunt to be
batting basically five hundred was unimaginable back when we were
(10:04):
playing in, college before we had all the new stuff
that helps you get. Better so, yes the quite literally
Formidable Sam fisher making your. Mark you like that. ONE
i knew you'd want us to keep going BECAUSE i had,
MORE i had more to say. About oh, like there's right,
right thank, You. Sam going TO lmu and having the
(10:29):
career that you. Had what what do you attribute that?
Speaker 3 (10:32):
To, HONESTLY i feel LIKE i would attribute it to
just like honestly being myself and like following my my
heart and following my. Passion AND i love softball and
e AND i also very was my, gosh even like
especially WHEN i was in high school and, younger such a,
homebody like my dream day was staying, home SO i
(10:55):
couldn't imagine going far away across the country to. School
SO i NARROWED i narrowed down the search very simply
to Southern california BECAUSE i didn't want to be farther
than a drive away from. Home but staying true to
myself and, like, hey, man LIKE i love. Softball IF
i want to accomplish these goals That i've suffered, myself
(11:17):
here's HOW i have to do. It AND i have
to work, hard AND i have to, sacrifice you, know
maybe some other things for the love THAT i have
for this sport and for the love THAT i have
for performing and for wanting to be the best THAT
i can. Be and LUCKILY lmu was the program that
allowed me to be myself and to grow and to
get better without losing that sense of self like what
(11:39):
made Me Sam fisher going into college was able to
stay the, same AND i was able to you, know
harness that and still LEAVING lmu be the you know
WHO i was As Sam fisher was still. There so
it was just it was a perfect combination of allowing
me to grow but allowing me to stay true to myself, also.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
BUT i think is also so cool and a testament
to your story is oftentimes when you're young and you're getting,
recruited you're, THINKING i got to go to the biggest,
school or the only way for me to make an
impact is for me to be at A power Five
like these are things THAT i have to, do and
you're able to. Go you are a testament that that
is not the. Case, right you can be On TEAM,
usa you can be a professional softball, player you can
(12:23):
do all these, things have all these, accolades have the
highest batting average in the entire country and not be
out Of power five. School and if you were to
give advice to someone that is struggling with maybe not
being recruited by these top, schools but to still be
able to go out and, say, listen this could actually
be the best thing for, you what would you say to?
Speaker 3 (12:40):
Them, truly there's nothing that you can't accomplish if you put.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Your mind to.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
It but also put the work. In like there's a
lot to be said about about having goals and setting,
goals but the other side of that is like go
out and do the, Work LIKE i went home every
weekend in the fall to work out extra with my.
Dad LIKE i didn't go to all the college, stuff
AND i MEAN i probably missed out on some things like,
That like Obviously i'm a little bit of an, extremist
so take it with a grain of, salt but putting
(13:09):
in the extra. Work like we didn't have lights AT
lmu WHEN i was in, college SO i would stay
after practice until the sun went down TO i couldn't
physically practice anymore because it would be. Dangerous so that's
the only reason Was, yeah, NO i would have still
done it IF i could see the. Ball BUT i
really think that it's not about where you, go it's
(13:30):
about who you. Are and was it maybe? Harder Was
it was definitely less, traveled that's for sure the path
THAT i. Took BUT i had a goal of being
An All american even though it had never been done AT,
Lmu and the only thing that could have stopped me was.
Myself IF i, said, oh, well nobody's ever done, it
it's not. Possible it's like that's not the end of the.
(13:51):
Story somebody has to do the first of. Something SO
i really think it's not about where you, go it's
about who you are there are perks to going to
a big school when it comes to having big, dreams
but it's not. Everything you still have to go and,
work work your tush. Off but Elmu. ELMU i think
we've we've talked about it a, lot so as long winded,
(14:12):
answer we've talked about a, lot like me and my
dad about, man how cool would it have been to
go to like AN sec school and like fight for
a natty or you, know just things like that where
you can go and just be so big time like.
It it would have been so. COOL i, mean my,
GOSH i do think about it a. Lot but going
to the pride THAT i feel of What i've been
(14:33):
able to do and going TO, lmu which turned out
to be just like the most amazing four years My,
LIKE i love that place and to know THAT i
was able to still accomplish all of, that it brings
me so much pride that IF i was given the,
opportunity Like genie in a bottle, said all, right what's
your one, WISH i would wish to go to LM u.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Again, wow that is so. FUN i want to reiterate
what you, said it's not where you, go but who
you are saying that where you, go but who you
Are when you think about who you, were how would
you define yourself as the player AT lmu that they'd
accomplished all that you were able to.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Accomplish, man that that was a kid who just loved,
softball like she would do anything for. SOFTBALL i, like,
sorry can't, go can't go do this with you, Guys
i'm going to. Practice like you, know you talk about
sacrifice like that you're missing out on, something and that's
very true for, Me like there were things THAT i
(15:33):
missed out. ON i would not sugarcoat, it like birthday
Parties i've, missed like weddings and babies being born and
all these things in, life Right AND i would say
this to my friend's. Faces but like man winning a
gold medal With TEAM usa worth, it, Girl i'd miss it,
Again LIKE I i feel, like you, know there's there's
(15:57):
a lot of times where if you make decisions that
are for, yourself it comes across as. Selfish BUT i
only ever wanted to put my best foot forward and
do the things that bring me joy and make me really.
Happy and that kid AT lmu was happy all the
time she was out there playing college. Softball she was
(16:18):
out there practicing extra and making memories and just having
the time of her. Life and it led to all of.
This you, know you eat you ask the question of,
like what would you tell your younger. SELF i just be, like,
girl you keep, going you keep doing it like people
are gonna call you a total dork a lot of,
times or like a softball, Nerd and that's a, compliment
(16:39):
because that's really what at the end of the, day
that's what you.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Were it was just, saying it's, like whether you are the,
biggest best businessman or the best street sweeper on the
tombstone is she, say here lies the best street sweeper
that ever. Lived? Right you do, anything, yeah and everything
to the best of your, ability no matter what it looks.
(17:03):
Like let's take a quick break to hear a word
from our. SPONSOR i really think that when we talked
about your love for softball and being able to go.
OUT i remember endless times when a friend of mine
(17:26):
and travel, ball like the same time we'd have, anything we're, like, yeah,
sorry can't? Softball like that was like we should have
always talked about as as adults, now like we should
have made. Shirts it's like, sorry can't? SOFTBALL i have
softball like?
Speaker 3 (17:39):
That, yeah, YEAH i had the, Best SORRY i CAN'T
i have. Softball story is THAT i had my own
wedding planned AND i signed a contract to go play
softball In. JAPAN i was like to my wedding, People i'm, like,
sorry can't got. Softball SO i had to, like can't
solve my.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
WEDDING i feel like that needs to come a new. Segment,
yeah what was your? Best, SORRY i CAN'T i have.
Softball Because i'm sure we all have my, Stories like my,
GOD i really wanted to do a. THING i could
have done this. THING i had a softball, tournament and
YEAH i. Don't i've only gone to one homecoming in
(18:20):
high school and because all the other, times, yeah and
at the end of my senior, year LIKE i was just, like,
well you know, WHAT i should probably do this one,
time you, know just once get it out of the.
Way it's a wrap because every other time there was
like a.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
Tournament oh no, doubt especially in the. Fall come, on
that's when you go to showcases.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
EXACTLY i mean thinking ABOUT i just kind of want
to touch on it one more. Time when with going
to a smaller school or school in which maybe you
feel like wasn't what you wanted or thought you COULD
i get. To and it's not where you go but
who you are as you're going through the the inevitable
(19:02):
highs and, lows as low as the drop, ball as
high as the high as rise, ball and you're trying
to figure out or trying to develop who you, are
not just as as a, player but as a. Person
and you're in this position Where i'm going to be
An All. American i'm going to be the. First it's
never been done. BEFORE i think you have to have
a different type of mentality and a different type of
(19:24):
persistence to Say i'm going to be the. First what
did that look like for?
Speaker 3 (19:28):
You oh that's a hard hitting, stuff AJ. I, HONESTLY
i really feel like The All american thing number one
my proudest. Accomplishment, literally LIKE i had got the, trophy
rate like. It it makes me. Proud, yeah she's. CUTE
(19:49):
i cut am so proud of. It BUT i really
feel like it was a byproduct of the love THAT
i had for the game and the work THAT i
was willing to put in the, Goal LIKE i don't
set goals like, flimsily like it is very. Intentional it's
LIKE i know when that when that comes out of my,
(20:10):
mouth when my dad AND i are, like, hey here's
here's my goal and it's to become An All. American
that it was like you can't just say it and
not do anything about. It like if you're going to say,
this you have to do something about. It and you,
know it was just a, goal but it wasn't like
to be the like looking in hindsight and seeing like
(20:31):
the first and only still it. Was it didn't feel like.
That it just felt, like here's a goal on the,
list and then it just happened to be the, first you,
know so just putting in the extra work and knowing
what it was going to take BECAUSE i was going
up against against players that, were you, know shortstops at
the big time programs At, oklahoma At Arizona, state LIKE.
(20:51):
Ucla i'm just going up against those. Girls IF i
was going to get this, award.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
DID i ever discourage? YOU i don't think.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
SO i THINK i had to be realistic about it that,
like not only DO i have to play as well as,
THEM i probably have to play better than. Them and
it wasn't necessarily, comparison BECAUSE i would never look at
someone and be LIKE i got LIKE i got to
be them or. Whatever it was never. Comparison it was just.
Realistic like these All american awards, there they're very. Serious
SO i think knowing THAT i had to literally hit
(21:22):
the best in the entire.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Country and go.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
OUT i don't remember how many ERRORS i, made but
it was low that, Year like just make sure THAT
i not only was playing as good as those, players
but above and, beyond BECAUSE i wasn't playing at the
same kind of school that was playing against the same
kind of. Competition SO i think it was just being,
realistic understanding that there was a chance it could it wouldn't,
(21:45):
happen and going out and doing the work in fighting
for it.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Anyway and before you said, that that was what came
to my, mind understanding that it might not, happen but
do it. Anyway and LIKE I i feel like that's
just like a testament to whether to your point character you,
say who you are kind of all comes back to
that where you, go but who you, are it's, like
no one may not give you a pat on the
back for putting that cart. Back do it, anyway you,
(22:12):
know someone may not see you giving out the dollar
to someone and more in. Need, right maybe someone's not
gonna point that, out but do it, Anyway, like this
is about, Character it's about who you, are AND i
think that that all attributes to the type of player
you are and what you can achieve once you realize, that.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
YES i love that man always put away your shopping cart,
Period well, YEAH i love. That.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Yeah and then the Hot arizona heat, back, yep we'll
do it. Back not where you, go but who you
are has certainly led you to some of the coolest
places and the best opportunities of being who you, are
from college TO npf WHERE i got to, First Sam,
(23:00):
fish you're playing with The Akron, racers To TEAM, usa
to them preparing For Athletes unlimited and for the many
many years and games that you would played with. Them
how do you feel like all these different chapters of
your life and your career helped prepare you for the
final chapter Of athletes Un?
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Limited m, GOSH i look at each of those things
that you mentioned as like a new, challenge you, know
and seeing like CAN i rise to this? Challenge because
you know the different levels that you play, at the
different pictures you face and the different you, know environments
that you play. In it's all a new kind of. Challenge,
so you, know WAS i able to get it done TO? Lmu? Absolutely?
(23:42):
So Then TEAM? Usa you, know it was it a
fluke THAT i got it done AT. Lmu you, know
Now i'm playing against the best in the. World CAN
i compete?
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Here?
Speaker 3 (23:50):
Okay was able to raise the? Challenge? OKAY mpf man
pro is a completely different ballgame than, international you, know
figuring all those, out so to, me looking at those
chapters very much symbolizes to me the ability to rise
to a, challenge and it can be. INTIMIDATING i remember
going overseas and playing In japan like the first half
THAT i was, there and be, like holy, crap AM
(24:11):
i gonna be able to do? This you, know because
it is something AND i was able to you, know
dig deep and rise to the. Challenge SO i would
say that there's just all all of That i've just
had such you, Know i'm gonna say pride again BECAUSE
i look back in my final season THAT i had
(24:32):
in twenty twenty, four looking back on all those, things
obviously you get. Nostalgic you're, like oh you, know remember
my college days and remember this and remember, that AND i
look back And i'm, LIKE i don't have one single,
regret one single moment Where i'm, LIKE i WISH i would,
have you, KNOW i WISH i would have been happier
THAT i was going to. Practice no, Man LIKE i
(24:53):
was probably annoying BECAUSE i was, like.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Let's, Go we're going to. Practice come, on, guys let's.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
Go so all of that led me TO i feel
so lucky THAT i was able to have a final
chapter and finish the way THAT i had always envisioned or.
Dreamed ONCE i knew that could have been a, possible that,
retirement you, know could have been a possibility for, me
BECAUSE i know that not everybody gets, it AND i
(25:16):
don't take that. LIGHTLY i WAS i felt, like, GOSH
i felt so so blessed and so lucky just the
entirety of the season BECAUSE i, like, what like this
is my.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
Life that's.
Speaker 3 (25:29):
Crazy that's HOW i was feeling the whole.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
TIME i, mean you're one of only seven players do
you have appeared in one hundred or MORE au games
and just continue to add to your legacy in Softball
when we're having the conversation about how much you love,
softball how just excited you were to be out there to,
(25:53):
play coming back every single. Year what was probably your
favorite part about stepping back on the field with a, you.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
Oh, man just like the opportunity was just. Unreal like
to think to think THAT i could, say you, know
we had sixty, players sixty players that were, there and
THAT i was one of. Them what an Opportunity because
you look at anything, else like THE, mlb there's hundreds
(26:22):
and hundreds and hundreds of guys that are, playing and
like that's still not a. Lot so you think about
sixty and you think about all the Talented somba players
that we've. Got LIKE i felt every TIME i would
pack my stuff up and get to my hotel room
and you, know get ready to go put my stuff
in my, Locker i'm, LIKE i, Am i'm so LUCKY
(26:44):
i get to do. This I'm i'm in a position
THAT i get to like throw a ball around and
hit it for my, job you, know for for a few,
months and it just.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
It you never get for.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
ME i never got tired of like hearing my walk
up song and like seeing my name on the board
and being.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Announced in like number fifty.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Two i'm, LIKE i just never ever got used to
it and or or felt like it was any less.
Special like literally every single TIME i got to Hear
rocky like A, HURRICANE i was, like this is the
best moment in my life every.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
Time so much so that that's in your. BIO i
don't know If i've ever seen. It so's walk up
song be hit their bio in my entire. Life i'm so.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
Passionate, YEAH i. Don't IF i like, Something i'm making
it my. Personality, man it's just all. In it's all
in or. Nothing that's a lesson that we can all take.
Completely it's not where you, go but who you. Are
and a part of who you are is your walk up. Song, remember,
(27:48):
ladies it's important.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
That walk up. SONG i don't want to say it defines,
you but it kind of.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
Does so pit yeah pick what make sure you?
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Pick?
Speaker 3 (27:56):
Yeah, exactly. Exactly.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Yes on top of, playing you also served as chair
of The Players Executive committee for two. Years what went
into being on THE, Pec when were your responsibilities and
how were you really able to kind of get a
better understanding of the business and the working and workings
(28:19):
OF au as a.
Speaker 3 (28:20):
WHOLE i really enjoyed being on THE. PEC i didn't,
Know like what's interesting is WHEN i first Joined Athletes,
unlimited LIKE i had turned, thirty and like my first
time on THE, pec so LIKE i had already kind
of been around for a little. Bit so getting to
that point and being in a position that like people
were asking us questions and then listening to our, answers
(28:43):
that was Part like for, me it took some, Adjusting
it really, did BECAUSE i was very much, Like, Okay i'm.
HERE i don't want to cause any. PROBLEMS i just
want to play the, Softball like, okay here's what it was,
Like i'm. Ready, Yeah i'm just SAYING i have my,
Ball i'm gonna go to the. Field i'll be, there thank.
You AND I i was very much someone who if
there was SOMETHING i felt like could have been, better
(29:04):
or like even something simple as like maybe my pants
were too, Small i'd be nervous to go and be
like Can i'm so, sorry but like COULD i get
a bigger? PAIR i BECAUSE i didn't want to lose my,
opportunity and with such a small amount of players that
are in the in the pro, space like it's it's
a reasonable fear be, like, well you're causing too many,
(29:25):
problems will literally find somebody.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
Else SO i had to break out of.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
THAT i had to start to feel like safe as
kind of like a dramatic way to put, it but
like safe to say, like, YEAH i think that that
uniform is ugly and then be, like, oh, okay so
let's let's work into.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
It i'm, like oh my, god you don't hate.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
Me so being on THE, PEC i think really helped
in my, development like as a person, too in that it's,
Like i'm not gonna bother somebody by having an. Opinion
they could, say you know, What you're gonna wear the ugly,
Uniform like all, right, well at LEAST i spoke my,
mind you. Know SO i think that being on being
(30:05):
on that committee and being pushed, to you, know break
out and say things THAT i had all this. Experience
i'm thirty years, OLD i played so many places THAT
i can then. HELP i can help our, LEAGUE i
can help the. Players and we we did, things you,
know we talked about things like where were we going to,
play what was the housing going to? Be? Like what the,
(30:25):
uniforms what are they going to look? Like what kind
of gear do the players? Want like literally everything that
touched the players THE pec was talking about AND i
fell in. LOVE i was, like, yeah this is this
is something that just it kind of like lit a
fire THAT i knew at some Point i'm gonna have
to stop. Playing what AM? I what AM i going to?
(30:45):
DO i would have loved to, be you, know like a.
HOUSEWIFE I i didn't know Because i'd always played, Softball
so how AM i supposed to know what.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
Work i'm going to?
Speaker 3 (30:56):
Do and then the being on THE pc was, like oh,
wait this is the work THAT i want to, do
and IT i. LOVED i loved being on. It it
was an interesting position because you're still a, player but
you're also kind of like part of decision making in some.
Sense but it was it Was it really was such
(31:17):
a well, rounded important experience for.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
Me when you think ABOUT au and whether it's A
pc or just, playing what do you feel like most
encapsulates or captures the essence or spirit of playing IN
au and what the league stands.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
For, gosh you feel like you're more than a player
because you know as as a, player as a, person
you know that you're more than a. Player you're a
person who has wants and you, know passions and things
that you care, about as well as being a player
with all this experience and the competitive nature of what
(31:55):
it takes to be a professional softball. Player so it
feels like you're seen in all different aspects of who you,
are not just like if you hit a home run or,
not it's, like, okay that's just part of. It like
we care about you and we want to know how
to make your experience, really really good so that you
can have maybe longevity in how long you're going to,
(32:18):
play or that if you don't want to play with us,
anymore you feel good going out in the world because
we support, You like do you need do you need a?
Reference do you need somebody to you, know help guide.
You we're here for. You even things like like we
got to play for a nonprofit raise money for something
that you care about based on how you, play you
(32:39):
play well and that they donate to a nonprofit of your,
choosing that is what you care, about that you. Chose
SO i really feel, like you, know my elevator pitch
is kind of, long but it's truly like it's it's
truly seeing you as what you are which includes being
a suba, player but also as a person you talk.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
About whether you're on the field or thinking about life after.
Softball for, you as someone that has committed THE r
word retired, guys because you know this day and, age
you actually never know what before talking, about so retirement
in your final playing, seasons that last of take you
(33:25):
back to twenty twenty. Four on the last, day as
you realize it's going to be your last. Game you
wake up in the, morning you tie your, shoes eat your,
Breakfast you put on your clothes the same, way you
put on your, jersey the same. Way at what moment
(33:45):
did you realize that this thing that you've been doing
since you were four years, old this was the last
moment you're going to be doing. It and what seeared
through your mind in that, Moment i'm gonna.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
Cry you Know what's it's. WEIRD i didn't. CRY i
didn't cry at all during this whole. Thing but the
way that you just talked about, It i'm, like, wow that's.
EMOTIONAL i just feel like WHEN i was going through,
it you, KNOW i was listening to my pump up
music the same way THAT i would.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
Lots Of Lil wayne lots Of wayne you, guys and
every millennial understands. These, uh if you're a gen, z
maybe you don't get, it but we all get.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
It it's the only WAY i, like don't know how
else to get pumped. Up BUT i had pulled my
hamstring the day before my last, day AND i THOUGHT
i reflected a lot on it to Where i'm, like
is this? Sad or is this exactly what was supposed to?
Happen because maybe it distracted me from the you, know
(34:49):
the hugeness of retiring That i'm, like OW i, ow you,
know to WHERE i wouldn't be able to focus solely on,
like holy, caw this is my last Day i'm ever
going to play a softball.
Speaker 2 (35:02):
Game SO i thought the universe.
Speaker 3 (35:06):
Really really had its hands in the way that this
weekend and the way that my final day, went because
there was no WAY i was going to be able
to play a full. Game AND i knew that BECAUSE
i had hurt myself trying. TO i liked out a
TRIPLE AJ i was. Safe but what you were, Saying, oh,
(35:26):
yeah it's important because IF i was thrown out AND
i pulled a, hamstring game, over, Oh i've been so,
grumpy LIKE i can.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
Actually retire right, now, Guys, yeah you know, what.
Speaker 3 (35:34):
Take me off in a, stretcher like, seriously it's. Embarrassing
SO i KNEW i wasn't gonna be able to. Play
And georgina was the captain for for my final, weekend
AND i talked to. HER i was, LIKE i am
good enough to get in that baden and she she
put me. Fifth she she, respect LIKE i respect the
(35:57):
heck out of her for for, still you, know because
she wanted to win AND i could have held us,
back but she started me at third. Base she put
me fifth in, lineup AND i Got it's just it
just like was so, perfect like the day was so.
PERFECT i hobbled. UP I I i let off the second,
(36:18):
inning SO i didn't get that bat until the second
inning of the. Game AND i got to hear my
walk up song play so, much because you, know when
you lead, off you get more of your. Song, Yeah
And i'm, like all, right number one.
Speaker 2 (36:31):
PERFECT i.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
GOT i got to a three and oh, count And i'm,
like AM i gonna walk to?
Speaker 1 (36:36):
End?
Speaker 3 (36:36):
This is? This How i'm?
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Gonna is? This on a?
Speaker 3 (36:39):
Walk it's so. Uncharacteristic AND i ended up going three,
ONE i GOTTA i got a pitch to, hit AND
i got a single up the, middle AND i hobbled
to first, base AND i remember thinking, like this day
is just, Perfect like this day was perfect and all
the things THAT i you, know because the way that
you described it was the way THAT i had been
(36:59):
thinking about it leading up to, it Like.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
I'm going to be a.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
Wreck you're gonna have to carry me off the, field like,
there it's going to be too. Emotional and THEN i lived,
it AND i was, like this Is it's.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
PERFECT i feel like retirement can be something that's so,
tricky whether it's from college to pro to high. School,
honestly high school college to, pro because there's so many
different levels in different moments which we kind of all, Realize,
okay this is probably be my final game of the
sport That i've known my entire. Life AND i was
(37:35):
reading this one. Poem i'm just gonna read like a
couple inserts from it just BECAUSE i feel like this
it hopefully like makes some people feel, better or like
having this conversation with, you you realize like what's beyond
the horizon can be bigger and better and greater than
what you've experienced behind. It so this part says the,
(38:01):
dust the dust on my, uniform a metal of, MIGHT
a story of games played in the day and the.
Night each, slide each, air each perfect hit is a
lesson in life and a virtue of. Grit but the
last inning's, over the final outs, made the memories and
triumphs will never. Fade the diamond will, call but the
answers no. MORE a different horizon waits just outside the.
(38:23):
Door so hang up the, bat the helmet and, gear
and hold to the LESSONS i learned throughout the. Years
for the PERSON i am for cheer on this land
is the Person i'll be with or without the bat
in my. Hand oh my, god.
Speaker 1 (38:39):
That is.
Speaker 2 (38:40):
Wonderful BUT i think ages to me it kind of like.
Circles back to what we said in the. Beginning it's
not where you, go but who you. Are AND i
MEAN i feel like that can be used not just
in like this reference of a, school but sure in.
Life like it doesn't matter where you go in, life
whether it's play on the softball field or, beyond but
(39:00):
it's who you are and what you take through, that
and you can be that with or without the bad
and as you described retirement and how the universe kind
of all came, together it was like that right, moment
when did you realize that this would probably be be
the last year for? Me like make the. Decision WHEN i.
Speaker 3 (39:21):
Got home from the twenty twenty three season and you,
Know i'm unpacking my stuff and getting back in the
routine of hanging out with my. HUSBAND i said it to.
HIM i was, like, yeah Good. keV he's always listening
to me talk about sopball. Man BUT i remember saying
it out loud to, him AND i hadn't said it
out loud at all, before AND i was, LIKE i
THINK i think next season's going to be. It and
(39:44):
it was, like, yeah, That like saying it out loud
didn't feel, Weird it didn't feel. Forced it was, like very,
much you're saying something that you didn't even know you
were really thinking. About AND i was, like, yeah that feels.
Right and then the more TIMELINE i was, like, yeah,
nope this is this is. It and then the way
that everything played out it very much was it LIKE
(40:07):
i don't HAVE i, mean AM i gonna want to
play soft all the, respect, absolutely BUT i don't have
any of those feelings of LIKE i gotta get out,
there Like i'm gonna come out of retirement or. Whatever
LIKE i very much felt so so confident WHEN i
said it out loud To kevin at the, first the
first time THAT i did after the twenty twenty three
season THAT i was, like all, Right i'm like starting
(40:28):
to close the. Book and WHEN i closed the, BOOK
i was, like all, right it was the best Book
i've ever. Read but it had to.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
End you, know and you are you are a novice of,
books SHALL i? Say? Acid? Yeah truly. Truly for those just,
listening she just should pointed to her bookcase of all
of her amazing. Books there's more to, cover but, first
(40:55):
let's take a quick. Break if you were to have
this conversation with someone that is deliberating whether next year
is going to be their last year or are kind
of sometimes even forced into retirement from maybe an injury
(41:17):
or from for health, reasons what would you say to
them to make it a little less. Scary oh that's.
Speaker 3 (41:26):
GOSH i think what's really, cool and like you just,
said is that people can retire for different, reasons or
people can end their careers for different. Reasons so meeting
people where they are because my retirement looks the way
for me because it's, mine but other, people you know.
THAT i believe so much in trusting your. Gut so
(41:46):
IF i was talking to somebody who maybe is deliberating
or might be needing to come to terms with, it
like listen to your, gut like you're, you you'll. Know
like it's so cheesy when you know you, know but
like it's also, real like, yeah you'll know if it's,
right you'll know if you're forcing. It i'm a big
(42:08):
believer in a pro con list to where you can
really be like factual about, it you, know because if
you can't make a, decision like sometimes you might be
playing a certain you, know at a certain level that's
good enough to keep, going but the feelings that come
with it or like that the cons might start to outweigh,
things and that that could also be a time to be,
(42:28):
like maybe it's not worth it, anymore you. Know like
there's a lot of things THAT i think go into
ending your, Career BUT i would, say first and, foremost
trust your. Gut say it out, loud you, know let it.
Marinate it's not a decision that is impulsive or. Quick
it shouldn't and it shouldn't BE i would hope that
it wouldn't be for anybody that is making the decision
(42:48):
that it should be thought about and sat on and
slept on and set out loud and just like you,
know how's it? Feel because then at the end of the,
day like you, CAN i just anybody who makes a
decision to make them feel better is that they put
the right amount of thought into it so that they
don't look back with. Regret that's the one thing THAT
(43:08):
i would just hate for people that they had any
change of heart or like wish that they would have
done something different because they didn't think about.
Speaker 2 (43:16):
IT i think it's to your point being able to
say it out loud and see how you, feel because you,
know there's times when you say something out loud like
that even sounds, right like you, yeah, yeah that was
either here that didn't even sound right my mouth, next
you know WHAT i. Mean versus if you say it
out loud and it's, like you know, what that kind
(43:37):
of makes, sense or you say it out loud and
it just it resonates with you more than you actually
thought it. Would as, women our intuition never lies to
us and it's something NEVER i, think what what. It
i've read something where it says to kind of tell
the difference between whether it's your intuition or your, anxiety
is your anxiety speaks to you. Questions your intuition speaks
(44:01):
to you in, Statements so it's it'll like it'll it'll
feel more like if it's more of an anxious thought
or anxious, decision it'll be, like is this WHAT i
want to? Do, okay well what about d versus if
you say it in it's your, intuition it's like you've
had a great this has been a GREAT x amount of. Years,
(44:22):
wow you've done all the things you can. Do if
next year your body just doesn someone who it just,
doesn't it's more of like speaking to you rather than
you having these. Questions and SO i think that's. AMAZING
i think your point of saying it out loud allows
you to deliberate a little bit, better.
Speaker 3 (44:38):
Totally get it out, there put it into the. World you.
Know but that that's.
Speaker 2 (44:42):
WOW i.
Speaker 3 (44:42):
LIKED i like what you said that that's really, impactful.
Speaker 2 (44:46):
And also being able to understand that it's that's not.
IT i know when we played the sport since we could.
Walk it seems, like, WELL i really don't know what
else to. Do but you are also again another example
the Formidable Sam. Fisher i'm showing that there's always. More
you can still be in the sport without having to play.
It as you've transitioned from player to manager of softball,
(45:08):
operations what are your roles now and how has this
ship been for? YOU i.
Speaker 3 (45:17):
LOVE i love my. JOB i work directly for The
commissioner for.
Speaker 2 (45:23):
PICTURE i see you right Behind.
Speaker 3 (45:24):
Kim, yeah she had no idea what she was getting,
into and she hired me BECAUSE i was, Like i'm
gonna make you my best. Friend, yeah, sorry it's in my.
Contract BUT i remember When kim came, ON i was
still in THE, pc and so she was starting to
join our meetings and, stuff AND i was, like this
(45:45):
is a person THAT i need to be around, her,
LIKE i don't care if it's getting her, Coffee LIKE
i want that's the job THAT i want to. Do
SO i bugged her that. SUMMER i, said hey, Girl i'm,
retiring so, LIKE i want to work for. YOU i
don't know what that. MEANS i don't have a clue
what it, means BUT i want to work for, you
(46:05):
and then you know season's getting close to, it And i'm, like, hey.
Speaker 2 (46:08):
Girl just, sir, yeah like when you send those emails
like just want to bring this to the top of
your just means the top of your, email just let
you know still work for.
Speaker 3 (46:17):
You exactly a little. Refresh SO i a few weeks
AFTER i, Retired kim called was, like all, right you?
Speaker 2 (46:23):
READY i was, like, Yes i've never been more.
Speaker 3 (46:26):
Ready what AM i?
Speaker 2 (46:27):
DOING i feel like you probably said that verbatim, too like, absolutely, Yeah,
Kim so, wait just go a. Question what AM i?
Doing what's my?
Speaker 3 (46:37):
Job tell me what to, Do i'll do. It and you,
know because you look at her and everything that she's,
accomplished And i'm, like, YEAH i how COULD i not
want to work for, her learn from, her and just
be like right by her side as she's leading us
into this amazing chapter of professional Softball LIKE i she.
Were she has to be my best. Friend SO i
(46:59):
get TO i get to be involved in pretty much
every like everything that goes into the, league like Uniform
i'm still involved, with like making sure that the, uniform
working with, equipment working with, marketing working with, ticketing working
with the, athletes working with operations of, like all, right
how many balls do we? Need what time are we
(47:19):
going to? Practice how long should practice? Be like how
should we schedule off days or like, travel what is
that going to look? Like LIKE i try to explain
it as Like i'm just so nosy THAT i just
have my like my nose in every part of softball.
Part SO i deal a lot with the general, Managers
LIKE i manage a lot of that those relationships and
(47:42):
help them get their job. Done SO i get to
really kind of have a little, hand a little piece
in everything that goes into putting on our season and
with our. PLAYERS i feel LIKE i have a very
special position with this role BECAUSE i can still have
the relationship with players AND i can be somebody that
they trust or that if they need to go to
(48:03):
somebody and they're not quite sure who to go, to,
like they can always go to. Me and that that's
my favorite part of my. Job but but, yeah mostly
just like Adding kim on speed down to like hey girl.
Speaker 2 (48:16):
And you just hang out With.
Speaker 3 (48:17):
Kim, yeah that, part that's that's that's the second best
part of the.
Speaker 2 (48:22):
JOB I, mean there's been so much innovation and so
many different brands coming on and wanting to SUPPORT i
mean not just, brands LEAGUES mlb coming on and wanting
to SUPPORT. Ausl when you talk about innovation and grow
for twenty twenty, six what are you most excited for
that you've been working.
Speaker 3 (48:41):
ON I we are expanding from four to six, Teams
So i'm really really excited for. THAT I I i'm
so excited that there's going to be more opportunity for
players and for us to. Grow and you know that
we did we did well enough in twenty twenty five
that we can go forward and do, This So i'm
excited for six. Teams i'm really. Excited like the way
(49:02):
that the players reacted to The sephora partnership was really
really fun to, watch and that was very much towards
the end of the. Season So i'm really excited to
see kind of like what a meaningful partnership looks like With.
Sephora with with the. Players they, man they they were
so excited about.
Speaker 2 (49:22):
It but.
Speaker 3 (49:24):
Also like THE, mlb you, know you, know growing up
as a softball, player like if you're not, watching like
there wasn't a lot of softball to watch when we
were growing, up so you're watching THE mlb like my
idols were baseball players growing, up because that's WHAT i.
Watched AND i have always looked at THE mlb like the,
dream you. Know And i've learned so much through this
(49:46):
partnership with THE mlb that they're like they want to
be invested in, us like they want to be a
part of, us rather than us feeling, like you, know
we're not begging LIKE i feel like as softball, players
there's so much like please please give me, scraps you.
Know but this THIS mlb thing with you, know with
how they've how they've just like put us out there
(50:08):
and kind of like taking a big brother role and
like come, on come, on like you're coming with, us
and we're we're going into this, together rather than, us you,
know us having to beg them or having to like
tiptoe and be, like, OH i hope they don't drop.
Us you, know it's been very like like you, know,
collaborative AND i that part is is REALLY i, MEAN
(50:30):
i still don't really know THAT i have the right
words for it because of how, like because of my
relationship with THE mlb growing up watching it like It's,
october you know, what you, know what's on in my,
house so, that LIKE, I i hold THE mlb so
close to my heart and to know that they, are you,
know helping us and partnering with us and celebrating us has.
(50:51):
Been twenty twenty five was a, ride. Man So i'm
really excited to see what what we can continue to
do in twenty twenty six with with these amazing people
who have seen us for everything that we've seen us. For,
like we know the product we put on the, field
we know what our athletes can, bring and so that
they're they're seeing that, too and that we're showing it
(51:13):
and we're and we're proving what we've always.
Speaker 2 (51:15):
KNOWN i feel, LIKE i, mean you came out with
the biggest of bangs and now it's just kinda so
just keep letting off the, fireworks you. KNOW i feel
like it's almost the start of a fireworks show where it's, like,
oh it's, Happening like all the things are coming, out
things are, coming and then you get to that, big big,
finale it just keeps, coming keeps getting. BIGGER i feel, Like,
oh it's just it's gonna just keep getting. BIGGER i
(51:36):
don't know when the finale is gonna, be but hopefully
it's not for a long.
Speaker 3 (51:39):
TIME i, know and THEN i know.
Speaker 2 (51:41):
It's just we have from eight. Teams do you feel,
like is is six the the perfect? Number what do
you feel like would be like the perfect number of
teams to get to IN x amount of?
Speaker 3 (51:54):
YEARS i you, know It's i've Always i've always known
myself to be a, dreamer But i've Never i've never
really dreamt past what we're doing now Because i've only
ever known six. Teams like when we were in THE
mpf on the race, race there was six. Teams, like
so seeing past that IS i want to see past.
(52:16):
IT i don't know what THAT i think it'd be
really cool to get to twelve and maybe have like you,
Know Eastern western or like something like, that Like american
And National, league like like something to where it's a
little bit more you're not playing the same people all the.
Time BUT i THINK i think that could be really.
Cool BUT i think six is going to be a
(52:37):
really really cool place to be for a little while
of making sure that we you, know that that we're,
stable like growing growing from fort four to, six it's
like that's growing fifty, Percent like that's that's a. Lot
so seeing how six teams, GOES i think it's gonna
be really fun and it's gonna be really insightful to see, like, oh,
yeah we could do, Eight, okay we could do, Ten,
(52:58):
okay we could do. Twelve you, know SO i think
twelve twelve feels kind of right, saying you, know saying
it that maybe one, day because that means that there's
roster spots for so many pro suffle players with the
way that our the talent that we have and that
we've always, had that they can go and maybe maybe
(53:19):
maybe play some ball for a, while you, know, heck, yeah.
Speaker 1 (53:23):
Thanks for staking us from first to second. Base we'll
be routing third after the.
Speaker 2 (53:27):
Breaks what goes into selecting who it is going to
be drafting for these past four teams and then what
it may look like or if it's going to change for the.
Speaker 3 (53:43):
Six, yeah it's actually been really that's been a really
fun part of my job is getting our gms all
the information that they could need about the players that
are out. There so they're the gms and the head
coaches are really making the decisions about the. Talent and
that's been really fun, because you, know with the four,
(54:03):
teams that's eight different brains. Working and so with six,
teams you, know having twelve different brains working in twelve
different networks and perspectives and, stuff so that they've really
done the work on building the talent and building the
rosters and oh, Hey, sam can you reach out to
this person and see if they're interested and then kind
(54:25):
of working that way and making sure that everybody has
everything that they need to make that, decision which that's
WHAT i. Love you, know you talked earlier about like
the technology and the and the data that we didn't. Have,
well there's so, much so much, now there's so much
now THAT i you know that you that they can
do their research and see these players and and be
able to you, know determine if they're they're ready for the.
(54:47):
Pros and, yeah so the, gms it's a really like
feels like a very new position for pro softball where
there's designated things that A gm it's to do, that you,
know and part of that is building the. Team so
that's been really. FUN i like sitting back and watching them.
Talk i'm, like, oh, interesting, okay, Cool OH i like,
(55:09):
yep that's, yeah that makes sense or you, know stuff like.
Speaker 2 (55:11):
That oh, MAN i feel, like, hmm it's really cool
to be able to for you to go to dive
in to college and to get all that. Information WHAT
i think is cool ABOUT ausl is everybody's still so
involved that people just know versus you, KNOW. Mlb you
have scouts that have to do those things for, you
(55:32):
right to go out and try to find this information
or for you to see who is, this who's the top,
tier who's number? One, RIGHT, x Y. Z and but
WITHIN ausl you have a lot of athletes that are.
Coaches the coaches and gms are also coaches at, colleges
so their play against these individuals constantly and seeing the talent.
(55:55):
CONSTANTLY i imagine that that helps a little bit for a.
Speaker 3 (55:59):
Lot oh totally like, yeah because you have no, choice
but it to be in your face for the most.
Part you're like and if they're not coaches or, whatever they're,
broadcasting like they're around the game all the. Time so,
yeah oh, yeah that helps so.
Speaker 2 (56:15):
Much we'll, Say i'm now we're going to my favorite,
segments the no Fly zone. Segment whether you're at, shortstop third,
base or first, base one thing you're gonna do is
you're gonna lay your body on the line to make
sure it is a vie zone from laying it, out, falling.
(56:36):
Tripping it does matter wherever the ball. Is just your
mentality to. HITTING i feel like it's the same on the.
Field you just go hard for a, baby maybe not hard. Yep.
Speaker 3 (56:47):
Exactly what is.
Speaker 2 (56:48):
Your favorite play that you've made in your? Career, OH
i love. Defense.
Speaker 3 (56:56):
Okay my senior year, college we're Playing cson in a
doubleheader Cal Sate northridge and we went into, extras so
we were. Home it was AT lmu and we're in
like the ninth, inning and they laid a bunt down
AND i met.
Speaker 2 (57:12):
SHORT i.
Speaker 3 (57:13):
RAN i ran over to cover third because they've got
a runner on second, right so we're in international, tiebreaker
runner out. Second they bunt the. BALL i yell at
our third base And i'm, like throw, it throw it to,
me three through. Three she throws it to. ME i
tagged the runner. Out heck, Yeah but the batter who
bunted the ball nobody's at second, base so she starts
(57:33):
to take.
Speaker 2 (57:33):
Off SO i just.
Speaker 3 (57:35):
Sprinted across the field with the ball and got her
in a pickle and ended up tagging her. Out for
a double. Play we ended up winning the, game like
in our next at, bat because that was just like
kind of a momentum. Shift BUT i just remember like
being involved in that play and thinking like this was
so fun because it was impackal for the. Game but
(57:55):
ALSO i just, LIKE i don't know what. HAPPENED i
just TOOK i just ran across the field like a
mad woman and cut and then tagged her tagged out the,
bunter and that that was a fun. PLAY i REALLY
i really enjoyed that one. Out, yeah, yeah that was
a little.
Speaker 2 (58:13):
Bit.
Speaker 3 (58:14):
Yeah i'm like you, guys you, know don't give me
a pinch, runner look, Out i'm just running across the.
Fields get out of my way, HERE i. Come, Like,
YEAH i LOVE i love. PLAY i love defensive plays
that are, like you, know like you make like just
flying through the air and catching the. Ball AND i
also really love like brain, plays which that's SOMETHING i
felt like on that, play LIKE i was able, to you,
(58:36):
know physically make the, play BUT i also felt LIKE
i used my, brain AND i really loved those.
Speaker 2 (58:40):
Plays we love big brain, plays big, brains big brain Well. Sam,
ALSO i, mean on aside from being able to utilize
your big brain for, baby get the runner out for
a double. Play you also need to use in order
to overcome, failure and in the game of softball it is.
(59:00):
Inevitable so for, you what would you say is probably
your favorite failure that has ultimately led you to maybe
some of your biggest.
Speaker 3 (59:09):
Successes oh, man so much? Failure where DO i?
Speaker 2 (59:18):
Start?
Speaker 3 (59:18):
Agent, YEAH i did not Make TEAM usa in twenty.
THIRTEEN i made it in twenty twelve AFTER i graduated,
college and THEN i went back for tryouts in twenty
thirteen AND i got. Cut and that was a mega
failure that was like a Total oh my, God what
(59:39):
DO i? Do and it's funny having this conversation in
twenty twenty five BECAUSE i had to face like is that?
It AM i just done playing? Softball Like i'm not
going back to. School there's one team In america THAT
i want to be on with seventeen players THAT i
think probably everybody else wants to be on that.
Speaker 2 (01:00:00):
Team so what DO i?
Speaker 3 (01:00:02):
Do AND i HAD i had to number one answer that,
question like AM i done playing? Softball and the answer
was very clearly, No like that that saying that out
loud was, disgusting and SO i had to figure out
how to Make team usay. Again and what was that
(01:00:23):
going to take from me THAT i hadn't done? Before
and SO i had always thought of myself as a
hard worker with a good work, ethic and you, KNOW i,
COULD i could do the things that weren't glamorous blah blah,
Blah but how COULD i kick it up a? Notch
AND i in twenty you, know twenty thirteen summer into twenty,
FOURTEEN i, like, HONESTLY i kicked my own. Ass LIKE
i also started going to. THERAPY i was, like, DEAL
(01:00:47):
i was, like you know, What, sam let's just go all,
in let's go and let's face whatever we need to.
Face and you got to you gotta put your best foot.
Forward SO i went through a year of like insanity
and figure out my new normal and my new. Routine
and then in twenty FOURTEEN i was invited back to
try out AND i made the team and the, rest
(01:01:09):
as they, say you, know here we are eleven years,
later and HAD i not been cut from the team
in twenty, thirteen a just a, mega huge, FAILURE i
would not have had the successful career THAT i THAT
i had BECAUSE i had to really look at WHAT
i you, know the past was the, past like everything
that made me SUCCESSFUL lmu and in high school and travel.
Speaker 2 (01:01:29):
Ball that's.
Speaker 3 (01:01:30):
Done that chapter is. CLOSED i need to write the
chapter and look towards what's next in the, sequel if you.
Will and twenty thirteen into twenty. Fourteen REALLY i was
forced to AND i rewrote The Sam fisher routine and
it paid, off like.
Speaker 2 (01:01:49):
Greatly rewrote The Sam fisher. Routine that REMINDS i love.
THAT i feel like that's that's something that everybody can.
Utilize it's sometimes it's not a, no it's just a not.
Yet and it's what you do in between the no
and not yet that is gonna eventually elongate the not.
Yet so it could be in one, year it could
(01:02:11):
be in two, years or it could be in ten
whatever it. Is but you have to. Rewrite would you,
say rewrite your.
Speaker 3 (01:02:19):
The Sand fisher, routine.
Speaker 2 (01:02:20):
The Sand fisher. Routine what that looks like to really
lock In, Sam you've dropped a lot of diamonds today
on this. PODCAST i want to say thank you so.
Much always so excited to talk to you and to
see your face and when it comes down to the.
AFFIRMATION i, MEAN i feel like we've we've said a.
(01:02:42):
Lot it could either be you, know just swing, hard,
baby go out there and swing, hard high, balls low, balls,
drop rise in, out doesn't, matter swing. Hard but the
biggest DIAMOND i feel like really resonated with. Me and
something that you can all circle back to is it
doesn't matter where you, Go it just matters who you.
(01:03:03):
Are and if you have to rewrite what that looks
like for, you rewrite it over and over again so
that your no can turn into your. Yes so keep
going till THE nt yet turns the two. Yes, sam
thank you so much for joining me and dropping your.
Diamonds thank you for having.
Speaker 3 (01:03:24):
Me this is great AND i think the world of,
you AND i want that to make sure that's, recorded
BECAUSE i think that what you do is incredible because
it's not just it's not just at the ball field
that that grows the game and gives you, know it's everything.
Else and my, god what you've done with your platform
has been so, impressive and it's it's really really cool
(01:03:45):
to watch you do your thing because it's so it's so.
Speaker 2 (01:03:48):
Impactful SO i just want you to.
Speaker 3 (01:03:50):
Know that AND i love You, OH.
Speaker 2 (01:03:51):
I love, You Bore. Sam thank you again for dropping
your diamonds and for being who you. Are for being
who you, are and for everyone who's listened, today thank
you so much for listening today's. Episode let's continue the
conversation On instagram At Dropping diamonds pod and remember it's
not where you, go but who you. Are we write
(01:04:13):
as many times so that no goes into the not
yet and turns into your. Guest thank you guys so.
Much i'll meet you here next week back at The
Diamonds bye for.
Speaker 1 (01:04:22):
Now Dropping diamonds WITH Aj andrews is An iHeart women's
sports production and 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,
(01:04:45):
producer and this episode was mixed and mastered By Mary
do listen To Dropping diamonds WITH Aj andrews on The iHeartRadio,
App apple, podcast or wherever you get your.
Speaker 2 (01:04:55):
Podcasts
Popular Podcasts
Two Guys, Five Rings: Matt, Bowen & The Olympics
Two Guys (Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers). Five Rings (you know, from the Olympics logo). One essential podcast for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Bowen Yang (SNL, Wicked) and Matt Rogers (Palm Royale, No Good Deed) of Las Culturistas are back for a second season of Two Guys, Five Rings, a collaboration with NBC Sports and iHeartRadio. In this 15-episode event, Bowen and Matt discuss the top storylines, obsess over Italian culture, and find out what really goes on in the Olympic Village.
iHeartOlympics: The Latest
Listen to the latest news from the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Milan Cortina Winter Olympics
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina are here and have everyone talking. iHeartPodcasts is buzzing with content in honor of the XXV Winter Olympics We’re bringing you episodes from a variety of iHeartPodcast shows to help you keep up with the action. Follow Milan Cortina Winter Olympics so you don’t miss any coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics, and if you like what you hear, be sure to follow each Podcast in the feed for more great content from iHeartPodcasts.