The Power of Connection in Softball

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Dropping Diamonds with AJ Andrews is an iHeart women's sports
production in partnership with Athletes, Unlimited Softball League and Deep
Blue Sports and Entertainment.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
You win awards by performing well, but there are also
valuable lessons to be learned when things don't go your way,
and that's where I think you see the most growth
in sports.

Speaker 1 (00:26):
Welcome to Dropping Diamonds with Me AJ Andrews, where we
dive headfirst into the world of softball. On today's episode,
we are joined by an Olympian. She is Olympic softball player,
ESPN SEC analysts and current player of the AUSL Talents.
The Fabulous, the Amazing, the stunning, Tory, the Dallas.

Speaker 2 (00:50):
Oh my gosh, you're making me blush. We keep going though,
keep good right right? I think, thank you so much
for having me. This is really exciting. I'm glad to
get to chat with you about some ball.

Speaker 1 (01:02):
I'm so excited before we even jump into the conversation.
I definitely want to let your diamond shine bright, so
give Tory her flowers. Tory in the Championship in AUX seasons,
has achieved career best finishes, earning multiple MVP awards and
ranking among the leads top performers off the field, Tory

(01:24):
the Fabulous enjoys hobbies like ballet, She's amazing at makeup,
I've seen it firsthand, gaming, and she's passionate about being
involved in the game of softball. Tory again, thank you
so much for.

Speaker 2 (01:36):
Joining me, Queen. Of course, I love when our lives
mesh in other ways than one. Right not to field,
but behind the camera too.

Speaker 1 (01:44):
We both really dove into whether it's softball but also
being on camera talents and when I think about our
affirmations and what really led us to get to this place,
because it took a lot of mental fortitude to play
on the softball field be great at it, but then
also perform in front of a camera and develop greatness

(02:07):
at it. To start this off with our affirmations, because
I just think that's just how we really move throughout
life and do it successfully. One of my favorite quotes
is the five piece.

Speaker 2 (02:19):
I call them.

Speaker 1 (02:19):
Proper preparation prevents poor performance, and so the affirmation I'm
gonna grab from that is I'm ready, I'm prepared, I
can do hard things. All I know is success, and
that's what today is gonna bring.

Speaker 2 (02:33):
I love that.

Speaker 1 (02:34):
That's like the on field off field affirmation.

Speaker 2 (02:37):
I love that you need some positive affirmations in your
life no matter what you do, like it's all about
that self belief and good things happen from there. I
truly believe that.

Speaker 1 (02:47):
Yes, good things happen when you believe good things will
happen when you know that you're capable of doing those
good things. Toy, do you have a quote that you
feel like has really resonated with you throughout the years.

Speaker 2 (02:58):
I think one that's always been pretty big for me
was control the controllables. I learned that, I want to say,
in like middle school.

Speaker 1 (03:05):
Maybe yeah, it's a.

Speaker 2 (03:06):
Long time ago, but I was able to frame it
in a way that could reflect any situation, right. It
could be softball, it could be you know, social life,
it could be things just in your daily life that
happened to you with friends or work or whatever it is.
And any umbrella, there's always something that you can control.
And if you're controlling that, what you can do. That's

(03:30):
the only thing that's in my power. Everything else is
out of my control. And why stress about things that
you cannot control? And that's been able to keep me
sane in a lot of situations and really just let
let go of the control of other people or the
control of expectations. So definitely one that keeps me a
little bit more grounded and understand like, I'm doing what

(03:52):
I need to do. I can't control anybody else. So
just take care of what you need to take care of.

Speaker 1 (03:56):
Control the controllables, and you can't control the outcomes or
what other people are doing and or saying. If we
were to come up with an affirmation right now, out
of control the controllables, what will we come up with.

Speaker 2 (04:11):
You are in control. You control your thoughts, you control
your confidence, and you control your life.

Speaker 1 (04:22):
You are in control. You can show your thoughts, you
can show your confidence, and you control your life. You
dictate how it wants to look and how it's going
to go. I love that because oftentimes I feel like
we release that control to other people and we let
them dictate, whether it's from their words or their opinions

(04:42):
or the things that they're suggesting. We kind of take
heat that way, even if it goes against how we
feel and what we think we want to do. And
so reaffirming that we are in control of these situations,
and that's the things you can't control that's right.

Speaker 2 (04:57):
We can't control them little comments on social media. But
I what I'm doing right. That's a big one because
social media is so prevalent these days. But I'm still
in control. And if I'm controlling my decisions and I'm
happy with them, then who cares what anybody else has
to say.

Speaker 1 (05:11):
We don't make it out alive, So you gotta do
what you gotta do what you want a apar.

Speaker 2 (05:15):
Time here, because nobody makes it out alive.

Speaker 1 (05:17):
You know, no what well, the light that you're living in,
the affirmations that you've been able to acquire throughout your
time as a softball player, as an analyst, it really
all started when you decided to commit to Texas A
and M at the ripe age of fourteen years old.

(05:39):
What went into that decision? Why did you feel like
Texas A and M was the school for you?

Speaker 2 (05:45):
You know, it's crazy hearing you say that out loud,
because it is crazy. Fourteen years old you don't even
really know about high school, much less college. But for me,
I think a lot of it was I knew I
wanted to stay close to home, you know, born and
bred in Houston, and I really have always had a
really great support system, so my parents were always at

(06:07):
my games, My grandparents were always at my games, and
my grandparents actually only live about forty five minutes from
College Station. So I went to a camp with one
of my teammates at the time, and we just honestly
were enjoying the campus and joining the players that were
there at the time. And it was a summer camp
that was a week long, so it wasn't a short trip, right.
We were there for quite a while, so we got

(06:28):
to experience Aguilan and get all of the motions and
the feelings that come along with being in the city,
and I just felt this overwhelming sense of home and family.
And it's funny because when I would talk to Coach
Evans after I graduated, she said that the day that
she decided that they were going to offer me, my

(06:50):
grandparents actually had come to pick me up from the camp,
and I hadn't seen them in what felt like forever,
It was probably like a month, but I remember writing
them and hugging them so hard, like bear hugging their
necks and just being like, I'm so excited to see you.
And she said, like that moment right there confirmed for
me that you had the right core values for our

(07:11):
program and like you were the type of player that
we wanted to recruit, not only just the talent level,
but who you were as a person and what you
believed in. And so hearing that of course too, Like
family is such a big thing for me. So hearing
her affirm that for me and being like, we love
that you love your family, like we want to be
your family, I'm like, oh yeah, Like I want people

(07:34):
who are going to choose me as well, right, And
I knew that. I knew that, like recruiting was such
a different time, and I don't know if it was
just Texas in general or if it was just me,
like not really being in the scope of things. But
I took one visit and that was to A and M,
and I committed on the spot. Like coach was like, hey,

(07:55):
we want you to be an Aggie and I was like, okay, cool.
She was like if you need to.

Speaker 1 (07:58):
Take me, yeah, you got it.

Speaker 2 (08:00):
I want to be an Aggie like I want to
play softball. So it was a very quick process for me,
and I was only a freshman, so I didn't really like,
you know, you always hear people oh yeah, when I
went to this visit. When I went to this visit,
had to make a really tough decision. I was just like, nope,
they offered me, and I was like, let's get it,
let's go. I'm ready.

Speaker 1 (08:19):
So of course I love that. I feel like you
end up where you're supposed to be, though you always
ultimately end u where you're supposed to be, whether it's
your first visit or your fourth fifth visit. Yeah, And
when you talk about family and the recruitment, and I
feel like, so oftentimes you have questions of how to
get recruited, what does that process look like? And everybody's

(08:40):
story is so different, but I feel like it all
circles back to being more than just an athlete, Like, yes,
your talent is important, but they're also paying attention to
so many other things. And I remember my recruitment story
and when I asked, like, what was it that made
Ellice you want to recruit me, Coach said it was

(09:01):
because you made a diving catch as we were walking by,
and you like, as soon as you got up, you
just started laughing and it was I remember the catch too,
and so it was like one of those ones where
like I didn't feel like I had to die, you
know what I mean, Like, you know, you make you
make it was diving catchers, Like, man, I probably could
have stayed on my feet. So I'm like, I'm laughing, yeah,

(09:22):
because I was like, oh, that's a bit that was
a bit much aj at, a little flair, but okay.
And it's so funny to me because I think about
that and there's so many moments and what the power
in that is though that Like I made so many
diving catches in my career, but had I not do
for that one ball in that one moment, my entire
life could be completely different. Right. So I'm thinking back

(09:43):
to being like, yeah, I could have stayed on my feet,
but it's like, no, you needed to dive in that
moment or to get that attention, and that's what really
brought you to where you were supposed to be. When
you think about your journey to softball, from the first
moment you picked up a softball to now twin twenty five,
being professional, being an Olympian, can you think of one

(10:03):
moment that you feel like was really transformative for you
and like you kind of had a realization of like,
oh wow, this is where I'm supposed to be and
this is why this happened, the butterfly effect.

Speaker 2 (10:14):
Ooh, and not necessarily like a specific moment, but I remember,
you know, going through Select and being on teams around
the area. And so I grew up in laport which
is like a little suburb of Houston, and we had
to drive quite a bit to get to different places
to play on competitive teams. And I don't know how

(10:36):
it worked out so perfectly, but there was a group
of girls that were from Deer Park, which is our
like rival city, like biggest rivalry ever, and their school
was really good at softball, Like historically they were very
good and always had been. And Laporte wasn't really known
for softball. We were more so known for like a

(10:57):
football or baseball, but so ball was still on the
come up. Well, some of these girls I had played
with when I was really young. But you know you
go through like a bunch of different stages in your life. Well,
we all found our way back to one another. And
when I tell you, it was like this group we
were all from around like maybe twenty minutes max from
where we practiced, so homegrown talent, and we were in fourteen.

(11:21):
You playing up in sixteen you and I just remember
us running through all the brackets, like of all the tournaments.
We were just win after win after when and we
didn't think anything of it, right, we were just playing,
having fun, getting dirty, like just enjoying the ballpark together.
And the one time, actually, the first time Coach Evans

(11:43):
ever saw me play was at one of those tournaments
we were playing up in sixteen U and sixteen you
is usually when you get recruited, at least before there
were a lot of the rules that there are now. Yeah,
but we had played against Glory and that was the
first time I had ever heard the name Glory, and
I remember our coach being like, yeah, you know, they're
a real notorious program, produced a lot of all Americans,

(12:05):
a lot of D one athletes and all these things.
And we're like, oh, cool, Like we don't know anything,
and he's like, yeah, their second basement is committed to Kansas.
And from that moment we called her Kansas for her
entire career, and she actually did end up going to
Kansas and like played shortstop at Kansas. I can't remember
her name off the top of my head. I would
have to like look it up but yeah, I would

(12:25):
say that year specifically, I remember thinking like, wow, we
are really good. I think I want to do this
really seriously. And you know, it's always been like ooh,
I want to go to college haha, like fun, you know,
but that year was really an eye opener for me
to realize, oh, I'm not just playing around anymore, like

(12:46):
this means something to me, and I'm good at this,
Like I love it and I'm good at it. And
so I felt like everything was just coming perfectly meshing
and allowing me a door to open for me and
being like like, hey, if you want to pursue this,
here it is. And so we were still in eighth grade,
playing up in a sixteen tournament. So because of the

(13:08):
rules for NC DOUBLEA, the coaches couldn't talk to anybody
that was in high school, but they could talk to
kids that weren't in high school yet. So none of
us were in high school. So like, hey, coach, like,
my name's Torrid Allis, Like I would and introduce myself,
and she was like, no, I really enjoyed watching you play.
We'd love to have you come to a camp. And
that was literally the first time I met coach Evans.
So it's just crazy how all of it comes back

(13:31):
to that one tournament and we went through the whole
thing and so bad. You know, the mojo when it's
when it's flow, and it's flowing. We weren't washing our
uniforms and we were so disgusting. I think back on it,
I'm like, you need to take a shower. Another one.

Speaker 1 (13:46):
Oh my gosh.

Speaker 2 (13:47):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (13:48):
My dad used to always say he used to dread
the riots home because or you beg for me not
to take my cleats off. He's like, just take off.
He's like, your feet are rancid. Aja, like you, lily,
keep your shoes on. That's all I ask, you know. Yeah,
it's like the dad, that's hardworking, dedication right there. That's
all that is. That's what you smell.

Speaker 2 (14:08):
That's success.

Speaker 1 (14:10):
You smell that.

Speaker 2 (14:11):
That's a scholarship, Dad.

Speaker 1 (14:13):
That's a scholarship. Dot right, let me you know what.
You're welcome right, rub my feet. Actually you're worried about
the stenche please you don't have to pay for college.

Speaker 2 (14:22):
Yeah, you're welcome.

Speaker 1 (14:25):
I mean playing and thinking about when you were younger,
thinking the dream is college. Did you ever dream or
think that you would be playing pro.

Speaker 2 (14:34):
No well and too because of the opportunities that were available.
Whenever I was younger. Really the only thing that we
would ever hear about is the Olympics. And I remember
when the two thousand and eight Olympics happened. I was
I think I was in seventh grade, and so back
when photo bucket was a thing, taking you back, Me

(14:54):
and one of my teammates were making like pickart of
all the USA team and like Crystal Bustos was my
favorite because I'm a power hitter. She was a power
hitter and like hit the ball like five miles, like
not just one, like five. So I would make like
little edits of their team picture and being like dream
team and you know, all of these crazy things that

(15:16):
I just look back and I'm like, wow, I really
was a child, but it was so fun. Like those
are memories that I look back on and I'm like, yeah,
like I did want to play pro, And now I
look at my life and I'm like, you're here, Like
I just imagine what that little girl was thinking and
how she found a way to get where I'm at
right now. It's honestly mind blowing because, like we mentioned earlier,

(15:39):
so many things have to happen in that order. And
I truly believe all of us started because I committed
to Texas A and M. Like my career in softball, my
career in broadcasting, my life, my friends, the people that
I care about most in the world, like all came
from some decision that revolved around choosing A and M.

Speaker 1 (15:58):
Isn't that so powerful? Well, you think, just like that
one choice you made before you even were taking a
science class in high school, You're making this life decision
that ultimately sets you up for your entire life, and
for so many of us, it really is the biggest
and the best decision we could have ever made. And

(16:22):
you talk about coach Joe and how she believed that
you were going to be a good fit for the family,
and how she's someone that's really shaped your career and
who you are as a person. What is something that
she said or something that she's done that really sticks
with you to this day.

Speaker 2 (16:39):
Oh, this is a big one. I always talk about
this in terms of like my leadership journey. There was
a situation my sophomore year, and you know, I was
coming off of really good freshman year. I wasn't I
would say as vocal, just because there were a lot
of upperclassmen, and you know, as a freshman, you're trying
to just find your place, like you're not trying to

(17:00):
step on anybody's clothes, but like, I want you to
respect me as a player, so that way, like in turn,
you will respect me as a human, when in reality
it should be the other way around. But you know,
you're young, you're learning. And we did the inner squad,
so our maroon and white, and they split all the
teams up, and I know that they did this on
purpose now of course looking back on it, but they

(17:21):
put all of the projected starters on one team, including
like the four new freshmen who were all came in
and made a huge impact to our lineup, like for years,
not just that one year, so all of them. And
then they put me on a team with people who
maybe hadn't had the opportunity to play as many innings
or maybe some role players. And there were a few
people that had a couple AB's under their belt, but

(17:42):
it was a lot of inexperience plus me, and we
got waxed, like it was. It was not close, right,
And I'm always the one to talk in the circle right,
And so I was like, you know what, I'm not
going to say anything. I'm just gonna let everybody else
do their thing. I'm going to try to lay low. Yeah. Right, Well,

(18:05):
the coaches noticed that I wasn't saying anything and they
looked at me and they were like, Tory, what did
you think? And in my head, I'm like, really trying
to make this like, Okay, you got to be respectful.
You can't like sit here and be like, oh, well,
they don't get opportunities, so how would they know. So
in my head I'm thinking, Okay, how can you say
this in the best way? And I remember saying something

(18:26):
along the lines of like, you know, I think we
just have a lot of people on our team that
haven't been in this moment before and haven't had this
experience before. And obviously in my head it sounds better
than it came out. And it's funny because I will
refer to my friends all the time. I'm like, did
it sound bad? And they were like, yeah, it sounded

(18:48):
pretty bad. So and like, honestly, I didn't even think
about it again, Like didn't cross my mind. Wasn't an
issue until the next day we come to practice and
I'm in hitting groups and coach Evans walks up to
me and she was actually like leaving later in the day,
so I just thought, oh, she needs to talk to
me before she goes on this road trip for recruiting.
And she walks over me. She's like, hey, let me

(19:09):
pull you over into the first base dugout, which is
on the other side of the stadium. And I'm like, okay,
like what's going on, Like hello, yeah, and she sits
me down. She's like, I just want to let you
know that. After practice, like, I was walking back into
the office and one of one of my teammates she
ran into her under the bleachers and she was like, hey,

(19:30):
how did that comment make you feel? And she starts
crying and she's like, you know, made me feel like
my teammates didn't believe in me and that they didn't
trust me, and you know, just like obviously feeling bad
about yourself. And she tells me this, and I'm like immediately,
like tears are welling in my eyes. I'm emotional because
my goal is to never hurt anybody's feelings. And that

(19:54):
was a moment that really stuck with me because she
sat me down and honestly, face to face, real conversation
with me and was like, Tori, you have the ability
to be a very good leader, but you have to
pay attention to how you make people feel. And that
I swear to you. That is the moment that I
think about so often when I'm communicating with people and

(20:15):
I have something that maybe could come off a little
bit overbearing or almost like two forward, and I think
about that moment. I'm like, Okay, how would I feel
if someone was telling me this right now? And so
I make a conscious effort to adjust my words and
think about, Okay, how do I give my feedback and
give my opinion without making it seem like my opinion

(20:38):
is the only one, because at the end of the day,
like your opinion is your own and not everybody feels
the same way as you. So I like to have
people ask for my opinion now instead of just like
giving it, because.

Speaker 1 (20:49):
That's definitely the more respectful.

Speaker 2 (20:51):
Thing to do. But yeah, that moment there changed my
life and change the way I viewed communicating with other people.
It changed the way I viewed leadership and the way
I viewed teammates even and it's it's crazy because I
tell that story a lot whenever I talk about Coach
Evans and just my time a m because that moment
changed my career and my life altogether.

Speaker 1 (21:15):
I remember a conversation I had with Coach Sharena, and
it was similar about stepping into really like a leadership role.
The conversation was, in order to be a leader, you
cannot worry about being liked aj So that was like
the things she would always like, you just can't be
concerned about being liked, Like, you're gonna have to say
the hard thing. You're gonna have to say the thing
at times that may feel abrasive but needs to be said.

(21:37):
And it's like, and I trust your judgment on when
and where to say that, And it just like I
got to a place where I kind of learned when
the right time was and to your point, how to
say it, because obviously I didn't want anyone to not
like me. But there's some times goms like, look, this
has to be said. Sorry if you don't like the
way it sounds like, this is just the real deal.

(21:57):
And for you talk about how that changed your respective
on leadership and how that really just changed the trajectory
of your communication and you as a player. How how
did you were able to implement that conversation into your
career moving forward?

Speaker 2 (22:11):
Yeah, well, honestly, like it made me self reflect a
lot more. And my thing was always I don't care
to be liked. I want to be respected as a leader,
and like I remember saying that to myself freshman year.
But because of my personality at that time, like I
wasn't afraid to say the thing, Like I didn't care
how it was said, right, I was just saying it.

(22:33):
And that was a self development moment, right, not just sports,
but in life. And honestly, now that I move forward
with my career, I always think about whenever I do
have something to say, I make it seem probably less
abrasive because I'm actively thinking about, Okay, if I was

(22:55):
receiving this feedback, how would I want someone to approach me?
And that could be making it seem like it's their idea, Like, Hey,
what'd you feel on that?

Speaker 1 (23:05):
Hmmm?

Speaker 2 (23:06):
Oh well I was pulling off my shoulder, right, I've
been seeing them make the same mistake a million times over.
I'm like, hey, what do you feel on that? Like
what part of your body are you focusing on? They'll
be like oh well, I'm focusing on my hands, And
I was like, have you ever tried? Like this is
something that I do a lot, Like do you ever
try focusing on taking your back shoulder to the ball?
Have you ever tried that one? And they're like, actually, no,

(23:28):
I haven't tried that, And I was like, it's worth
a shot. I mean, you never know. Basically put the
ball in their court and be like I'm putting the
thought in their head and then giving them the opportunity
to either take the feedback or take the idea and
make it their own, or it just becomes a conversation
about hitting right. So I'm able to navigate those situations

(23:49):
a lot easier rather than being so caught up on
how do I tell them this? It's more problem solving,
like how do I make a conversation about this turn
into me being able to give this advice? So it's
a little bit of a workaround, but I have to
actively think about, Okay, how would I want to approach
the situation. How do I make it not as combative,

(24:11):
because again I don't care about saying the hard things,
like I'll say it, but I forget that not everybody
takes words the same way, right, Like some words really
impact people in a way that's deeper than surface. Right.
Sometimes you can just tell someone, hey, I don't link
your health that they're like cool and I love it,
and you're right, okay, next yeah, and we'll think about

(24:32):
that moment for the whole week, the whole month. So
being cognizant of the fact that everybody is so different
and not everybody operates like me, and that's something that
I've had to learn, like along the way of leadership
is my mind is not the same as somebody else's,
So getting to know them as well has been a
big part of understanding how to connect and how to

(24:53):
change and shape that leadership into something that may fit
the mold of that specific teammate or that specific person.

Speaker 3 (25:03):
We'll be dropping more diamonds after these messages.

Speaker 1 (25:19):
I feel like hearing the conversation and it sounds the
way it impacted your leadership, But I would imagine that
probably also impacts a little bit how you broadcast. Right,
You're thinking of ways in which to be critical of
the player but also not condemn them or make them
seem like they're doing a terrible thing. And it's like

(25:40):
trying to intricately find the ways in which I'm going
to analyze the situation explain it, but not doing a
way which I'm beating the player down. How do you
feel like in which that leadership lesson that you learn
has impacted you in all facets of life?

Speaker 2 (25:53):
It is so true because as my job, like I
have to critique and analyze what's going on, and softball
is a game of it er, it's a game of failure,
like you are going to mess up at some point.
I honestly tried to analyze the situation of like, okay,
what type of ball was this? Was this a routine ball?
Would this have been a you know, top ten play?
Like what is the caliber of the play? And then

(26:16):
what would that player say about that play? Would they
come up and be like, dang, I should have had
that ball? Or are they coming up being like I
didn't get that one, but that would have been a
heck of a play if I got that. So I
start in that moment of like, okay, what is the
likelihood like nine times out of ten are you making
this play? If so, I say that, right, I'll be like,

(26:36):
you know, she missed this one, but nine times out
of ten she's gonna make that play, and we know
that there's always going to be that one. And I
think the big difference is I've been there, and I
know what feels like to mess up on the big stage.
I know what it feels like to strike out in
the big at bat right, I know what it feels
like to lose the game on a walk off. So
putting myself in their shoes, and that's a very common

(26:57):
theme for this conversation we're having, is putting myself in
other people's shoes and imagining if I was hearing these
things about myself, which I do because we have analysts
that cover our game as well, and it's just a cool,
little full circle moment. But I would say definitely understanding
that everybody's human, everybody messes up, everybody does it. But

(27:19):
I can also acknowledge the fact that it was an
air or that they did mess up. So it's a
constant balance of finding a way to be forward but
also knowing that you're not coming from a malicious place either.
Like I think it would be a lot different if
I'm sitting at the desk being like, oh, you know,
Ole Miss can't hit LSU can't hit it's all far

(27:39):
from the truth, or South Carolina can't catch or you know,
whatever it is. I don't make statements like that unless
they are proven by facts or proven by numbers.

Speaker 1 (27:51):
Right.

Speaker 2 (27:51):
So a lot of times it is bringing your opinion,
but also my opinions are formed from what I'm seeing
and the numbers that I'm looking at and the players
that I'm watching. So you got to go through it
with a fine tooth comb, right, You got to be
real careful some situations, but also bringing my personality into it.
I would hope that most people know that I'm never
trying to be malicious or you know, attack anyone, that

(28:14):
You're just trying to get the best out of them.
And I hope that a lot of the young women
that are watching the SEC now when I'm covering them,
do watch and do see that, because I was them once.
Turning that SEC now on every single day after our games,
I'd be like, turning on, are they talking about you know?
Are they talking about talking about our team? You know?
So I try to view it from that perspective.

Speaker 1 (28:36):
Going through with a fine tooth comb, But also the
leadership roles, whether you're able to apply them in broadcasting
on the field in which has changed who you as
a person, in the perspective of what you bring to
the game and the things that you say and how
you show up. And I feel like that's all led
and ebbed and flowed to the place where not just

(28:56):
where you're competing professionally, but also as an Olympian. And
in twenty twenty getting you go to the Olympics with
Team Mexico and it's the first time Team Mexico was
at the Olympics for softball, So you being able to
show up as a full on trendsetter, a barrier breaker
of first in those moments when you think about controlling

(29:19):
the controllables, you think about the affirmation we talked about
earlier of you are confident and you are capable, and
you set out to go out and just your thoughts
of when you were younger were ooh, college softball, And
then you look fast forward and you're an Olympian. When
you really sit down and you reflect on the situations
and the involvement of Tory that picked up that ball,

(29:42):
the fourteen year old bright eyed about college to tour,
the Olympian and the professional softball player, what are you
most proud.

Speaker 2 (29:50):
Of ooh, I think I'm most proud of, especially in
my international experience, just my resilience and my ability to
connect with people, because without those two, I don't think
I would be an Olympian today. And you know, we
went through a lot of struggles of our own with
the coaching staff and the behind the scenes with Team Mexico,

(30:12):
Like it was not all glitz and glamour, that's for sure.
And I actually joined two years before it was in
the Olympics, So I joined in twenty sixteen, and softball
didn't get reinstated until twenty eighteen, so I was playing
for a longer time than just like the qualifying season,
which says a lot because there was no funding, there

(30:34):
was no here's a trip to you know wherever. You know,
we were in Canada. We had ten dollars a day
that we could eat on. You know, we were eating
a pizzas in between our games. Like talk about nutrition,
feeding the best, so being resilient not only with the
circumstances that we were put in, but also the way

(30:55):
the coaching staff you know, would speak to us, the
way that you know, a lot of stuff went down
behind the scenes. We won't get into all of that,
but the way our team bonded together and the way
we were able to create that lifetime connection like those
will always be my girls, like forever in a day,
like forever plus one. Going through that together allowed me

(31:20):
to realize, like, yes, softballs so important, it's so fun,
but the life that you create outside of it and
the people that you meet along the way truly, truly
are the biggest prize of all. Like you could have
all the accolades, but the fact that you know, I
could pick up my phone and call you and be like, hey, J,
like I really need advice on broadcasting, or you know,

(31:44):
I need advice on what you think about this slapper.
You know, like a multitude of different things. I could
call you, I could call your sister, I could call
Kat Austerman, like I could call so many people. And
I truly believe that the connections throughout my entire softball
career have allowed me to be in this space. And
that is no different for the Olympics. Like, truly, I

(32:06):
believe that was even even higher priority for the Olympics
because it is a team sport and because we were
able to do it together. That's how we were able
to make history win the first games ever for Mexico
softball first two.

Speaker 1 (32:20):
Actually, yeah, let it be known, queen.

Speaker 2 (32:25):
Right we won two, almost three. Button, you know, we
will take place, will take it. Not a medal, but
we'll take it. But yeah, together and like building those
connections have really been the greatest gift of all in
the sport.

Speaker 1 (32:40):
Yeah, you can get the ring tattoo you were there.
Oh there, but it's up here.

Speaker 2 (32:48):
I have to show you guys some Japanese cherry blossoms
in there.

Speaker 1 (32:53):
Oh. I love oftentimes when I get asked like my
favorite moments of playing softball, so much of it I
often can't really think of, like my favorite story, but
that just involves me. It's always involved someone else or
another teammate. But the one that always comes to mind
is Bianca bell in our super Regional against Arizona. That's

(33:14):
the first thing that comes to my mind every single time.
And I think the power of the connection and to
your point, like what you learned about leadership, being able
to make those relationships and how they last a lifetime
within softball, what would you say with the different teammates
or the different coaches that you've had that you really
feel like you've been connected to that you have your

(33:37):
favorite story or maybe something that you feel like you've
learned the best advice that you've gotten from one of
the best people you've been able to play with or
play for.

Speaker 2 (33:46):
Ooh, I've played on so many different teams and people,
but honestly, I think more than getting advice from them
is just listening to their story and like how they
ended up where they ended up. Like you and I
talk and you know, you're asking me about A and M.
Like these are the conversations we have all the time,
like in the hotel room, like I think about t Mexico,

(34:08):
you know, Sachelle Pelasio. So then I'm like, hey, how'd
you go to ASU? Like how'd you end up there?
And she tells me her story and then she's like,
what about you, How'd you end up at A and M?
And we talk about that, and then we talk about
different situations in the game that have led us. We
talk about leadership moments, we talk about you know, the
drama that happened, We talk about the big wins, the
bad losses, we talk about everything. And more than I

(34:31):
would say giving us advice, it's just like really learning
about each other and not just like learning like oh,
she's really good at backhands or she's really good at
hitting an inside pitch. It's like how their brain operates
and how point A to point B, because that influences
your whole life.

Speaker 1 (34:49):
Who would you say, has that the craziest conversation or
realize like, oh, wow, your brain works very different from mine. Oh.

Speaker 2 (34:58):
It's funny because we played in college together Eric or Russell.
She was the center fielder for Texas A and M for
the same amount of time that I was, and we
are complete opposites, but we became best friends in high school.
Junior year of high school, and her parents actually lived
in College Dation, so anytime we were there for like
a new student conference or meetings or you know, whatever

(35:21):
caused us to be needed in College Station, we would
stay at her parents' house. So we spent a lot
of time together. And I remember, just even to this day,
like she'll talk about things and she'll say something and
I'm like, is that what you got from that or
is that what you think? And she's like yeah, and
I'm like, okay, explain it to me. And she's the

(35:41):
like people pleaser. If you come over to our house,
It's like what can I get you? What can I
get you? Are you hungry? Are you thirsty? Like? Can
I get you something over here? Like do you need this?
Like just go go, go, go go, and has a
hard time settling, and she has a hard time with
hard conversations, and she just wants to make everyone else happy.

(36:03):
And it's so funny because I'm the complete opposite, right,
especially growing up in that time, I was like, I
don't care about anybody else. I care about me and
if I'm happy and if I like like myself and
me and I and I and so now like as
we have grown, have you ever heard of the enneagram? Yeah?

Speaker 1 (36:23):
Right?

Speaker 2 (36:24):
Perfect? Great, So she's a two, so she's a people
pleaser and I'm an eight. I'm a challenger, right, So
just complete spectrums. But the growth that we had had
together because when eights are most healthy, they lean towards
a two, and when a two is most healthy, they
lean towards an eight. Interesting, maybe it might be a five,

(36:46):
but we compliment each other so well. And it's crazy
because we both have had the conversation of we felt
like we've grown so much as humans in college and
even post college because we're viewing things from the other perspective.
So sometimes, like I'll send her like a text, I'm like,
how does this sound to you? How does this read?
She'd be like, ooh, that sounds a little confrontational, like

(37:07):
is that the vibe you're going for? And I'm like, actually, oh,
I thought it was very respectful and very like fine,
you know, and She'll be like, mm, well, this makes
it sound a little bit like this. So it's giving
me my own insight into how other people think. See,
it's not an issue, right, I'm just like, here's what
it is, Here's how it's going to be x Y
and Z YadA, YadA YadA. And she's like, well, I

(37:28):
would change this and this and this, and so I
just laugh and think about how many moments that we've
shared that have really helped us grow because we're appreciating
the flip side of our own personality. So I would
definitely say Eric is one that I've learned the most from.
She's allowed me to like feel my emotions more like
I was always just taking the information. It goes in

(37:50):
and then it just goes out and I don't think
about it again. So she's allowed me to start like
breaking down those emotions. And I don't want to say
caring about other people because I care about other people
for sure, but yeah, sometimes you have to change the
way you're saying things because of how people might take it.
And the growth is all I have to say. The growth.

Speaker 1 (38:12):
Yeah, you never know what perspectives you can learn if
you're not open to hearing those other perspectives and how
it can evolve and shape you into a person and
a player. And for me, when I was playing in Italy,
that really changed a lot for me my perspective when
I was because there's some of the girls didn't speak English,
but one of the girls I got the closest with

(38:33):
didn't speak a lot of English. I definitely didn't speak Italian,
but she became one of my best friends. And the
lesson I feel like I got from that was you
don't always have to speak the same language. To speak
the same language. You could be a two, you could
be an eight. Always you find that way in the
middle if you really open your eyes to that perspective,
and that can help you so much, whether it's on

(38:55):
the field or just in life and lead you from
A and M to Olympics to being in pro to
you grock in the way the talents gear with the
new ausl lead that was going to be happening. She's
on the talents ladies and gentlemen, Tori, the Dallas. You
have been with athletes a limited since the inception. You've

(39:17):
seen talking about perspectives, so many different perspectives from when
it first started to twenty twenty five and the growth
and the involvement and how it's come and shaped and
the ways in which he keeps getting better. How do
you feel like AU continues to evolve through the time
from since twenty twenty to that.

Speaker 2 (39:34):
Oh man, it's crazy. When I think back twenty twenty
worldwide pandemic. Things were different, right. We were playing in masks.
We had to stay in our little bubble. We couldn't
go to the grocery store, We couldn't, you know, go
do anything fun. It was literally just us and I
think being in that situation. Yeah, you know, you were

(39:55):
there too, girl, You remember that crazy. It was just
rough saying, being in a bubble and really having nobody's
to connect with. But the group that formed, I think
in that season really helped propel AU to where it is,
not only because of all of the things that the
league are doing, but because we believed in it and

(40:16):
we knew that this was something special and that the
more of us that bought in, the bigger this would become.
Right Because at the beginning, I remember when I first
heard the league, I'm like, what another league? Like this
is kind of crazy, Like who's paying us? Who's starting it?
Like what is this? Real? Softwa is a legit? So

(40:36):
all these questions are floating around and getting on a
call with Sherry Kemp, who at the time was the
director of Sport for softball. She laid out this presentation
for us, and without a doubt I left that presentation thinking, oh,
we're in good hands. We're in very good hands. Our
sport is in good hands. And seeing the growth like

(40:59):
a does everything so professionally in my opinion, and the
way that they've established a precedent and continually pushed the
envelope every single year. Like I think about back at
the beginning, like we had uniforms, and the next year, well,
of course you have uniforms. But the next year, right,
the uniforms were more detailed, they were a little bit

(41:19):
leveled up. We had different options, the locker room was bigger.
We all had, you know, the appropriate attire that we needed.
We could ask for anything we wanted and they would
do their best to provide it for us. They had
equipment for us, which that's a big issue for a
lot of players who don't have a sponsorship or a
brand deal. Like you're struggling to find a bat, you're

(41:40):
struggling to find a glove, you're probably using one from
four years ago. But AU did a great job at
providing those things for us and really giving me an opportunity,
really giving all of us an opportunity to feel like
an actual professional athlete. And now they continue to create
opportunities for us to play the game and for people

(42:01):
to watch us play those games. And that's become such
a big thing now is you know, ESPN is partnering
with AU and broadcasting these games. And to grow a sport,
you have to have eyes on the sport. And we
know people love to watch softball. We've seen that with
the Women's College World Series a year after year and
the performance and the ratings and the champions that they've

(42:22):
produced and all of the talent, and so now we're
giving people who love this sport and maybe people who
haven't had an opportunity to watch the sport yet fall
in love with it and fall in love with not
just a player now, which before that was the model of,
you know, a fall player, not the team, And now
we're giving them an opportunity to really rally behind a
team and find a new favorite player, find a favorite team.

(42:47):
Maybe it's that we're coming to play in a city
near you, or maybe Megan Ferremo is your favorite pitcher
and then maybe you get to watch me and now
maybe you're a fan of me. So it's it's broadening
everybody's horizons, not just us as professionals, but also all
the full time staff as well, like go I can't
say enough good things about the creative content, the management,

(43:10):
the sales team, the partnerships, like there are so many
things that go into this league, not just us as athletes,
but also the people behind the scenes, and AU does
it right in every single aspect of the game and
of the business as well. And I think that's why
we've been able to see them grow because we know
the softball is going to be good. We already know

(43:32):
that because of the talent that we have in this league,
but it truly has taken all of the support from
the behind the scenes people and you know, the people
that are pushing this league forward, and even you know,
like content that has nothing to do with AU, like
together has been really supportive of us. The Sports Brawl

(43:52):
has actually partnered with AU. They're the women's sports bar
in Oregon. So, you know, finding so many opportunities to
give back to the game and grow the game and
just find a way to continually push forward and knocking
down doors. If they're closed, you better watch out, because
we're knocking them down. So I can't say enough good

(44:13):
things about everything that AU has done in terms of
opportunities and financially too, Like can we talk about AU
like raising the bar financially for players, Like I remember
the first summer that I played, I got paid like
four thousand dollars for an entire summer. It's like, you
expect me to live on this, Like how that's like
not even a month rest.

Speaker 1 (44:32):
Two months or the right everything on where you live.

Speaker 2 (44:36):
And so you know, just thinking about how far it's come,
Like now I can actually support myself. Of course I
have another gig, but you know I can support myself
and actually put my all into training to become the
best athlete that I had the potential to be. So
can't say enough great things. It's like check mark, checkmark,
checkmark on everything that AU has put their fingers on.

(44:57):
They've been able to excel and find a way to
push our sport forward, which I'm really grateful for.

Speaker 1 (45:04):
There's more to cover, but first let's take a quick
break women's sports in general. Right, is the chicken or
the egg? Do you give them the TV time and
then let people come? Or do we wait till the
fandom is there and then give the TV time. And
to your point, it's been proven if you build it,

(45:26):
they will come. Put us on TV. Let everybody see
the product, people will fall in love. Only continues to
get bigger and AU being able to provide so many
softball fans and new softball fans, I can't tell you.
Sometimes I talk to somebody and they're like, oh, yeah,
I love watching the World Series, right, I love it,
like they don't watch softball the whole year, but no, no,

(45:46):
I love watching softball. It's fun. The World Series is fun.
And then I bring up, yeah, well there's pro softball
now you can keep watching, Like, oh yeah, AU it's
so cool to talk about pro softball. And do you
hear so many people say, oh, athletes unlimited, Like that's
that's the thing. Before the conversation was oh, there is
pro softball, right, and that was always the conversation before,

(46:06):
and now it's oh, ya know, it's athletes in the
middle league that one, like, yeah, you can watch it
from there, you watch on ESPN. So many opportunities, and
when you see the growth and how we're continuing to
prepare forward, I just feel like it's just going to
continue the conversations. And what do you feel like the
way that softball or WNBA has had that big shift

(46:28):
and everybody's paying attention. What are the talents gonna do
to continue to keep people talking about pro softball? What
can we expect? Why are they the team to watch?

Speaker 2 (46:39):
That's right, talents, y'all better watch out. First of all,
we got some bomb uniforms. We just had our uniform reveals,
so gonna be rocking the Green. I can't wait to
see all the other combinations. But outside of just the
physical things, I think it's gonna bring a lot of excitement. Right,
We've got a ton of incredible players, like Honestly, I

(46:59):
look at it roster and I think, wow, I feel
bad for teams that have to face us. I mean,
you talk about the arms that we have on our team,
Megan Framo, Georgina Kork, Like, these are people that have
stamped themselves in history, in college and in the professional league.
In the hitters as well. Like one of your old teammates,
Savannah Jaquish is on the talent. We all know what

(47:22):
she's capable of with that bat, like just lightning in
her barrel. And I think more than anything, you're gonna
see some high quality high IQ softball. Yeah, you're gonna
see the cool plays. But I think more than anything,
our team provides experience, and our team provides that special
thing that you can't teach, right, it's learning the game,

(47:45):
understanding the game, dissecting the game, how to make adjustments
in game. We've actually got our head coach, well not
our head coach, but she is a head coach at Nevada,
Victoria Hayward, who's a slapper most likely going to lead
the outfield. And when I think about her, like she
is always someone that's trying to push the envelope on
what information can I take in what's going to help

(48:06):
me to get on base the next time? What am
I seeing from this picture? What am I seeing from
this player? And I truly think that that trickles down
because of those conversations we're having. And we're a pretty
mature team, I'll say it that way. We're no longer
the youngins, but we have that experience and we have
played professionally internationally and collegiately of course, but having those

(48:30):
experiences kind of broaden your horizons in softball and just
allow you to realize there is no limit to what
we can learn, the information we can take in how
do we make ourselves better, whether that be physically or mentally.
I think our team is going to provide such a
good balance of you know, every aspect of softball, right

(48:50):
the pitching, the hitting, the defense. Our defense is just ugh,
just kiss. I can't wait for infield. It's going to
be phenomenal. But also I think we bring good energy.
We have really good connections and just overall vibe. You
know when you just vibe with the team. Yeah, Like
you see the names and you're like, yeah, we're gonna

(49:10):
be We're gonna be chilling, We're gonna be good this year,
like we're gonna make things happen, but also it's being
in pursuit and like chasing that greatness, right, So you
can be like have as much fun as you want,
but at the end of the day, are you getting
your job done? Are you doing what you need to
do to win? And I think that is truly our goal.
Like every single person we've talked about winning and like

(49:30):
what that means to us this season and getting back
to feeling the win Like yeah and au Before it
was the leaderboard and it was all about you, but
now we get the opportunity to play in a team
and really build on that all season. So I think
you can expect a lot of different things from our team,
but I think you're gonna see that maturity and the
refined softball that you don't get in college because it

(49:51):
comes with experience.

Speaker 1 (49:53):
It comes with experience. I love how everything we talk
about it comes back to connection, and that's what's eating
to success. Being able to have a good vibe with connection,
being able to grow with certain players, certain people and
have the different perspectives to see and you can only
have that with time. The maturity on that team, sure,
and I love that when we talked about connection. It

(50:15):
circles back so much because in one of your posts
on social you state how connection is everything, and we
get a glimpse of how close you are with your family.
You were number twenty nine to honor your dad. Yes,
my dad has shaped my view on hard work from
the moment I told him that I wanted to get
a scholarship and he said, well, there's always going to

(50:37):
be someone better, so there never better, never be someone
that works harder. I don't know what that did to
my brain chemistry, but it completely changed it from I
think I was probably thirteen at the time, and that's
something that's just literally embody. So I am from that
one conversation. Is there anything that you feel like has
really just taken over you? From conversation with your dad,
your relationship with your dad, to why you're so proud

(50:59):
to weorr number twenty in your back?

Speaker 2 (51:01):
Oh? Well, you know, I grew up and my dad
was my hitting coach, so we've been through the ups
and downs. You know, you go through that stubborn teenage
girl where you think you know everything, you don't want
to listen to your parents, and especially when they're your coach,
you're like, oh yeah, bad, Like I know, I know
you know, but you don't know. And I think more

(51:22):
than anything, he allowed me to have the space to
become who I wanted to become. Like. It was never
I want you to follow my footsteps. I want you
to be good like your brother like. It was never
placing any expectations on me. It was never oh, you
want to go play college softball, Okay, let's go do it.
It was always me leading the conversation, me leading the charge,
and me deciding oh, I should probably go swing today,

(51:44):
and him being like, okay, let's go. It was never
him shoving it down my throat and be like we
got a hit or you're not going to get a scholarship.
It was very much, oh you want to hit, all right, cool,
let's go. And if I didn't, he'd be like, all right, cool,
let's go. It was not up to him, and I
think giving me that freedom to understand who I was,
how I wanted to work, how I showed up in life,

(52:07):
and even I think about like bad games, right, People
always talk about the car ride home. I never dreaded
the car ride home. The car ride home was actually
my solace. And in a world of craziness at the field,
like that was one place where I truly felt most
myself and that I could, you know, let my walls down,
and if I wanted to talk about it, we would
talk about it. But if I didn't want to talk

(52:27):
about the bad game that I had, we wouldn't speak
about it. Him giving me that space. Really both of
my parents, because they've both been there throughout the entire journey.
My dad of course more hands on, but don't we
can't forget about my mom. She was always picking up
all of me shagging and always coming with even if
she wasn't actively participating, she was always there to watch.
She was always there to cheer me on and tell

(52:49):
me good job. So I think a lot of it
for me was well one. Number eight was my number
in college. I have a very big connection to that
because my brother wore number eight and it just kind
of became family number. And of course Alicio Cossio I
always tell her this. I'm like, oh, you stole my number,
so I could never wear it. Oh, we laugh, because
so many people are number eight, it's like their thing.

(53:10):
But twenty nine became a thing because I was like
Dad guess what twenty nine is like open? Should I
take it? And he was like, yeah, that would be
really cool. Like he didn't make it seem like that
big of a deal. But my first jersey that I
got was scrapyard playing professionally in the summer of eighteen.
Actually it said vidalis twenty nine, and I think it

(53:32):
hit him and he was like, oh my gosh, you're
wearing number twenty nine. And I was like, yeah, I'm
wearing number twenty nine, and now it has the same
last name. Like you passed down your name, you passed
down your number, you passed down not just his brain,
but like all the experience and everything he's learned about
the game, he truly has passed it along to me.
So I felt like it was just very fitting because

(53:54):
he's been there the whole way, and truly, I can say,
without a doubt I would not be the hitter or
the player I am without my dad.

Speaker 1 (54:02):
Oh I love that man. Thanks for sticking us from
first to second base. We'll be routing third after the break. Sorry.
Through the connections, whether it's with your family, with your teammates,
how do you feel like those connections have allowed you

(54:24):
to get over hurdles that you and nevitly face in softball,
to get over the tough times I hate the word slump,
but to get over the moments when we are not
in the rhythm that we feel like we should be in.
How to utilize those connections in order to get yourself
where you want to be.

Speaker 2 (54:42):
For me, I think it takes me back to not
everybody thinks the same way, right, So when you do
get into those moments where you know things aren't going
your way, your thoughts are the ones that are on replay, right,
Your thoughts are the ones that are running through your head.
Sometimes all it takes is one person to be like,

(55:04):
what are you talking about? Are you seeing the same
thing that I'm seeing? And I'd be like, well, I'm
doing this and I'm doing this and it's not going
right for me. But they see it in a completely
different light.

Speaker 1 (55:16):
Right.

Speaker 2 (55:16):
So for an example, like maybe I roll over three
times to the shortstop and I think I'm just a
terrible ab and not getting the results that I wanted,
whereas someone in the dugout, maybe a rookie is thinking, wow,
I love her confidence at the plate no matter what
she does. After she gets out, she's ready to go

(55:39):
the next pitch, like I hope one day I can
be that way, Like I hope one day that I
can do that, And they're not thinking about the result
of the play what happened, but they're talking about, you
know something else, how I responded to the way that
things were happening and the way things weren't going my way,
and how I was able to come back to it.
So sometimes all it takes is to vocalize that. So

(56:01):
for me, it's listening to the feedback that other people have.
But my dad, again, is one of those that can
just get me out of my head really quickly because
I'll be like, ah, I'm feeling like I can't get
to this pitch. I'm feeling like I can't barrel anything up.
I feel like I just suck at hitting. And he's like, babe, really,
you're really gonna sit here and say that you suck
at hitting? And then he'll be like, oh, what about

(56:23):
this time? What about this time you hit this home
run and all of this, And I'm like, but that's
not the same. He's like, well, what makes it different?
And he challenges me, And that's honestly as simple as
it is right. It is just sharing that information because
my brain is telling me one thing, but somebody else's
brain is thinking a completely different thing for me. And

(56:44):
we talk about it, like in terms of opinions, Right,
sometimes you don't need to share your opinion, but sometimes
you really do because you never know what that could
give someone. And like a perfect example of something that
actually did happen this past year is Sachelle Pelasio's, my
teammate from Mexico. She was a captain the first time ever,
and of course she wanted to pick me on her team.
But the way that the draft shook out, like I

(57:06):
just didn't end up on her team. And it's not
because she hates me and thinks I'm a terrible first
baseman and doesn't want me on the team. It was
literally all because someone picked me first. And she is
someone that worries about you know how I'm gonna feel
about that. And I said, hey, you don't have to
worry about me. I know that you wanted me to
be on your team. I was like, at least you better,

(57:27):
but I was like, I know that you wanted me
to be on your team, Like you don't have to
prove it to me by picking me and like, I
know it wasn't your fault, Like I know you don't
think any differently of me. And she actually just told me,
like a few days ago, she was like, you have
no idea how much that meant to me, because I
was really in my head about you know, not getting
all of you guys on my team and not choosing
you and you know, being a first time captain and

(57:47):
all of these things. And I was like, oh really,
because for me, that was just like a comment in
passing and I was like, yeah, don't worry about me,
like I'm not mad at you, like I know, it
was just you know, how things happened. But for her,
she thought about that for months and months and months
and just now told me. So, sometimes it is good
to share your opinion and to share that information because

(58:10):
you never know what someone else is thinking. And so
realizing that your thoughts are not the only thoughts that
are valid, right, other people have thoughts and those can
also be valid. Two things can be true at once,
but you get a different perspective and it allows you
to open up your brain and be like, oh, yeah,
maybe I'm maybe I'm not as bad as I'm thinking.
Right now, because we all have those days where we

(58:30):
think we're just trash at the sport right we're like, ah,
I'm going to quit softball. But it takes that one
person to be like, wow, you know, I really admired
the way you did that, or I really like the
way you do this. So realizing a slump is it's
really not about you. Sometimes it's about other people, and like,
how can you get back to them and get back
to that person that you know they're watching and they're

(58:50):
admiring because it has nothing to do with results. Half
of the time, you've all proven yourself to get to
that point. So I always have to remind myself of
that it's not always about the results. Some times it
feels that way. And obviously you win awards by you know,
performing well, and you win by performing well, but there
are also valuable lessons to be learned when things don't
go your way, and that's where you see the most

(59:13):
growth in sports and why you see the people that
win now because they've been in the trenches and understand
what that feels like.

Speaker 1 (59:20):
I I did tell people, never let a nice thought
go to waste, say it? Why not just say it?
If you like if it's like your outfit and will
walk a by, It's like, girl, I'll love your outfit today.

Speaker 2 (59:30):
Slay love it, slay.

Speaker 1 (59:34):
Or on the field right giving those moments to your
teammates because you never know the power of words. I mean,
the negative comment can say with people for years. Imagine
what one positive comment can do to change the trajectory
of your rhythm and getting back into a flow of
who you think you are, especially because SO was such
a mental game and just you take that one conversation

(59:57):
to kind of get you back into a flow. Would
you say the conversation with your dad or can you
think of another conversation that was really pivotal for you
that allowed you to get back into your EBB and
flow of the game and find your rhythm again when
you felt you lost it.

Speaker 2 (01:00:11):
Actually, yeah, there was. Wow, that's crazy. I haven't even
thought about that until just now when you said that.
My junior year in college, I was having probably the
worst year of my career, and I think we were
going into regionals and you know, we had a close
group of friends that all of our parents would go
out to eat and we'd all, you know, talk about

(01:00:32):
the games, and we'd have a good time. And one
of my friend's dads is so funny. He's like, I've
never seen you strike out three times in a game.
And I was like, Wow, you're really gonna read down
like that. I can't believe you would do that. He's like, no,
I'm just messing with you. And he looked at me.
I think you could tell that it kind of like

(01:00:52):
took me back, and he said, Tori, you're one of
the best hitters I've ever seen. And he's a college
high school baseball coach of the time, he coached a
little bit of D three. Well, it doesn't matter. He's
a coach, so he's seen a lot of players, right,
and he with the most sincerity in his eyes, he
was like, you are by far the best hitter I've
ever seen, no competition, men or women. And he probably

(01:01:14):
didn't think about that, and I thought about that, and
I kid you not. The next day, we played Texas
in regional at home, and the year before we had
played them and lost in the opening matchup. I went
into that game not having any expectations, but feeling a
little bit more confident and being like, I'm the best

(01:01:35):
hitter he's ever seen, Like Yeah, it gave me just
like a little bit more juice to feel confident in
myself maybe in a time that I wasn't feeling as confident.
And that game I hit my fiftieth career home run,
so and it was against Texas, you know, Hornstown. All
that one comment. I thought about it forever And the
fact that I'm even still referencing it now is amazing

(01:01:59):
because he probably doesn't remember that conversation at all. But
and I felt it, and I use that still to
this day. Sometime I'm like, yeah, I'm the best hitter's
ever seen.

Speaker 1 (01:02:13):
I feel you know, it's so funny. I feel like
you could you say anything too, Like whether it's something
bad happens in your day, you drop your keys, it's like, whatever,
I'm still the best Huray's ever seen.

Speaker 2 (01:02:21):
Literally anytime. Yeah, I mean I use it for everything,
like sometimes when I'm just feeling bad. My favorite thing
to use it for is honestly, when you do something
really bad in the game, like you make an error
or something, I'm like, I'm the best hit he's ever seen.
Or like when you get when you get up a
you know, when you get not nervous but a little

(01:02:43):
bit of anxiousness about you know, people being in the
stands or like say somebody comes to your stands and
is watching the game and you're like, oh no, like
I have to play good, or like what if I
have a bad game? But then I always reframe it.
I'm like, none of those people in the stands right
now could come hit this curveballs, So what they look
like judging me? Like judge someone else because I'm out here,

(01:03:05):
I'm wearing the jersey right you're sitting in the bleachers
paying to watch me play. So I'm like, I'm just
hyping myself up, Like yeah, they could never do what
I do. Just gassing myself up when I'm feeling so bad,
I'm like, yeah, I'm the best hitter he's ever seen.

Speaker 1 (01:03:20):
Oh yeah, and you just keep it going. No, it's true.
I mean watching you hit or being in the outfield
when you're hitting, it literally goes by like a missile,
Like you blink and it's gone. So you don't really
have time to really react to your home runs. They're
just kind of like they're at home plate and then
they're out. It actually even sounds like a missile too
when it's going by, like as I'm running to the fence.

(01:03:43):
I'm making an attempt, look like I'm trying to catch
the BALLUMEO, I know it's gone. It just sounds like, well, Tory,
you are an amazing hitter. You are someone that's been
able to when talk about perspective, such a fun teammate,
the connection you bring that anytime you're around, you lighten
any mood, and you brighten any field. And we're not

(01:04:07):
just on when you're hitting, but also in the field.
Talking about being a great first base. Then, so this
segment is called the no fly zone segment. As we know,
you can still turn the field into a no fly
zone whether you're an infield or outfield. What's the favorite

(01:04:29):
play you've ever made?

Speaker 2 (01:04:31):
Ooh, that's a great one. Wow, favorite play ever. There's
been not a ton because first base doesn't get as
much action. But I will say a really awesome one
that I was a part of was a triple play
at Florida. It was a top ten on ESPN and
it was a line shot. Speaking of Alisio Costio, she

(01:04:54):
was the one that hit it. She loved to try
to take my head off over at first base. There
was runners first and second, no outs. She hits a
missile to my left. I don't know if it would
have been foul or not, but so fast, didn't even
have time to like blink, reached out, caught the ball,
stepped on first, all in the same motion, so that's
two outs, and then threw it to my shortstop who

(01:05:16):
was covering second, got the girl off of second, and
we turned a triple play and it was sick. I
think that was the only one I've ever been a
part of, and it was sick. Oh, like, let's go.
What do like?

Speaker 1 (01:05:30):
I remember that being on ESPN actually, because you just
don't see triple plays ever really, so it's so rare.

Speaker 2 (01:05:38):
But it was cool. I was like three. I was like,
we're going, We're going off the field. Oh, that's rid.
It was three, Like it happens. That's that you you
don't even know how to count the outs for a second.
You're like, wait a minute, one, two, three, Yeah, let's go,
let's go off the field.

Speaker 1 (01:05:55):
Oh man, that I feel like you get It's like
you don't even really think in those mompen so fast.

Speaker 2 (01:06:01):
All reaction, especially on the corners for infield. Yeah, good luck.
That's all my advice is is good luck. You gotta
be a little crazy to play third base. First base
not as much, but you still get some hot shots
over there.

Speaker 1 (01:06:13):
What do you think the key is to be an
elite first baseman outside of flexibility to reach out there
you get those balls.

Speaker 2 (01:06:21):
Yeah, I think there's a few things, but the first
ones that pop into my mind are your footwork and
like knowing where you're at in proximity to the base
because you have to release and get back, and also
know where everybody is on your right side because your
back is turned for a quick second and you have

(01:06:41):
to understand what's happening on the field while you're there.
And like knowing where that base is and getting yourself
there and getting in a good position. I've seen so
many people have collisions over at first base because they
don't have their foot in the right spot, and if
your foot is on top of the bag, you're increasing
your likelihood of a collision, and that's for both you

(01:07:01):
and the runner. So I'm like, number one thing is
good footwork, getting yourself in the right position. And on
the other side, like more mentally, it's understanding that the
infield is not about you. Like my job as an infielder,
as a first basement is to make everybody else look
good around me. Like if my shortstop dives in the
five to six hole and throws a ball over to me,
it doesn't matter what that ball looks like, I have

(01:07:23):
to catch it. I always think about, you know, Cis
Bates dives in the hole, throws a ball to me
at first base, it short hops me, and I miss
the short hop. Now all we can think about is
the way that I didn't catch that ball instead of
Sis's great play that she just made. So you have
to be able to understand that you're not going to
get the glory as first baseman most times, Like it's

(01:07:45):
not about your position, it's about the other ones because
they're throwing to you. So understanding that and doing your
best to make those plays will change your game. Like
every pick matters, like every every ball that's in your
vicinity should be caught if you can. Like obviously the
ones that are wide are off the base, Like that's

(01:08:05):
not your fault, but you should be trying to catch
every single ball that comes over there, and with good timing,
we'll put that there too.

Speaker 1 (01:08:12):
I love that it sounds like exactly how I explain
making dive and catches an outfield as far as making
it in no fly zones, Like if it's in your vicinity,
it's getting caught. Yeah, that's that's what we're doing here.
We're making attempts to catch everything in your vicinity.

Speaker 2 (01:08:27):
Yeah, the outfield or the infield, you I supposed say,
like even as an outfielder, like understanding where you're at
and like where your dive is going to take you
and like the trajectory of where that ball is going
to end up. Right, So for me as a first basement,
I have to understand where they're letting go their release
point of that ball and how that's going to make

(01:08:47):
the ball spin. And like you're reading the ball off
the bat, I'm reading it out of their hand, so
I'm seeing if they're coming over the top. I'm seeing
if they're putting a little funky spin in like a
slot angle, and that in turn makes the ball move
in different ways and bounce in different ways too. So
if they're short hopping me, I have to understand, like
where's this ball gonna hit. If it's like a side arm,

(01:09:10):
it's probably gonna take me away from my body across
rather than a straight on hop like somebody trying to
make a quick play right, They're trying to get rid
of it really fast, they're trying to throw it hard.
They're usually coming over the top, so it's gonna make
it go like this up and so understanding that spin
and just understanding the game in general, it's so much
bigger than just catch it right.

Speaker 1 (01:09:32):
Yeah. Wow. I personally always give for a spaceman's er
prop because that's what I always say. It's like, they
make everybody else look good, but they make them look
good because oftentimes they're making up for bad throws and
they're making things happen. So I've always give it. Just
sew you up. Always give for a spaceman there.

Speaker 2 (01:09:51):
You appreciate you.

Speaker 1 (01:09:54):
But I love how it sounds so similar because I
feel like most people wouldn't think that center field and
first baseman are so similar in the way the thought
process of making sure the field is a no fly
zone er making the catches that you want to make.
But it really is whether you're in the outfield reading
the ball off the bat. You know, if it's a
left handed hitter, your pitcher throws a lot of screwballs

(01:10:16):
right the way the ball is gonna come off the bat,
going to left field or center field, and it's the
same way in which you're thinking of the way somebody's throwing,
how that's going to look as far as the ball came.
The other hand, going back to how we talk about perspectives, right,
you're not open to the different perspectives and learning and
seeing that, you don't realize how similar you actually are.

Speaker 2 (01:10:36):
Once you have the conversations, it all brings us together
one way or another.

Speaker 1 (01:10:41):
Softball is such a game of failure. We know that,
and as athletes we try so hard, I think, oftentimes
to avoid failure without realizing that it's inevitable. And it's
almost like you had to get excited for failure, as
silly as that may sound, and as hard as that
may sound, it's only after you fail will you then
know how to seek. And so for you, what do

(01:11:02):
you feel like throughout your career has been your favorite
failure that's ultimately led to some of your best successes.

Speaker 2 (01:11:11):
Dang, you're hitting me with the good ones. My biggest failure. Honestly,
there's not one that pops out to me as like
a personal failure, because I feel like I've always been
the type of player that softball didn't define me, and
like I always knew that no matter what, like my

(01:11:32):
parents are still gonna love me, right, my friends are
still gonna be my friends. They have always instilled that
in me, like no matter how I perform, We're still
gonna love you the same, right. And so for me,
failure was always framed as a necessary thing and understanding
that you don't know when, but you will go through

(01:11:54):
it a big one that I think about, and it's
hard to like frame it because you know, like personally
in the game I did well, but as a team,
like we lost my last game of my career in
super Regionals at Florida, they had a walk off Grand
Slam that they still talk about in the program today
as like moments that define the program, right, And that's

(01:12:16):
talking about them walking off my team. Like I think
that failure and us not getting to the World Series
for the second time in a row, it kind of
reminded me now that I look back on it. Of
course not at the time, but it reminded me that,
you know, the accolades weren't like everything right, and I

(01:12:36):
always say I would give up every single personal accolade
that I have to be a national champion, because I
think that is something that is so special and seeing
that in that moment has really allowed me now to realize, like,
it may not be all the accolades that you get
out of the game, but it's the things in between

(01:12:57):
that matter the most. And that failure, like we were
a big senior class. We had led the team like
back into the spotlight for Texas A and M. They'd
not been I don't want to say not good, but
they hadn't been competitive and like ranked for a really
long time. And our class really took it. From freshman
year not being ranked, nobody talked about us, nobody was

(01:13:20):
afraid to play us to senior year. People were thinking,
oh man, this A and M team, we really got
to prepare and be ready. So getting to that pinnacle
of what you think you're about to go to the
World Series, we were one strike away from going to
the World Series, and in the blink of an eye,
your career is over. Literally the time it took Jordan

(01:13:40):
Matthews to swing that back and for that ball to
leave the park, I just stared at it. My mouth
was wide open, like my career is suddenly over. So
that also allowed me to realize how special it was
to have another opportunity to play professionally and like to
have the opportunity to still play. I think it made

(01:14:02):
me have a lot more grace for myself and understanding, like, hey,
everybody goes through this. Everybody is going to experience this
at one point. This is yours, Like this one is
your challenge and how are you going to overcome that?
Because people still bring it up to this day, they'd
be like, ooh, you guys were so close to that

(01:14:22):
world series and I'm like, I'm like, really, how do
you think I feel? Okay? But understanding that is it
happens to everyone, and like this specific moment is your
journey now and now you have to figure out how
to navigate it. But just because you fail, it's not gonna,
you know, stay like that forever. There's gonna be ebbs

(01:14:44):
and flows and you have to be able to ebb
with the flow.

Speaker 1 (01:14:47):
Life is determined by how well you can ebb and
you can.

Speaker 2 (01:14:51):
Flow because life be life.

Speaker 1 (01:14:54):
Life definitely do be life. And when we think of
those kind of failures of like all mos phos, right,
it's like we almost had it. It was at the tip
of my tongue. I was right there. And those are
the things you have talked about, Jordan Matthews, Like you
remember the player, you remember the exact moment, you can
detail to like the degrees in the air on those

(01:15:16):
days when it was your last game. And that's how
I think about it, our last game against Michigan and
what that was like. From that failure, quote unquote, it
has really allowed me to be so present in all
my other ventures, not just in softball, but in life,
because I know that everything's fleeting and to really sit

(01:15:38):
and enjoy these moments and to appreciate the fact that
at any moment we're living out one of our dreams.
Right at some point, we're here. So I was dreaming
about playing in the World Series. I remember the day
I was watching Natasha Wattley in the UCLA play Michigan
in the World Series when I was I don't know,
eleven years old, right, And like thinking about that moment
as I'm walking onto the World Series of I'm literally

(01:16:01):
walking into my dream that was realized when I was
eleven years old, And as much of a failure, it
may seem like the fact that I'm even here is
actually a testament to my success. And so I think
as far as your failure quote unquote, I had to
feel like I feel put quotes because so you are

(01:16:22):
an Olympian, you are a professional softball player, and as
someone that's been able to play with you, I can
attest to the energy and the way in which you
make everybody feel around you and the connection. And it's
important to feel those connections in the game in order
to go out and perform well. And so I just
got to say your perspective and what you learned that

(01:16:44):
conversation you had with coach Joe, it has truly not
only impacted you as a player, but everyone around you,
and I can attest to that.

Speaker 2 (01:16:52):
Thank you so much. That's so nice, because that really
has been like my life goal is to make sure
that people can feel the genuineness and my attempt at,
you know, trying to give what people need the most.
And so I hope at the end of the day
everyone that comes in contact with me has that same
feeling like that would truly be a fulfilling life.

Speaker 1 (01:17:15):
Well, Tory, thank you so much for joining me. When
we talk about dropping diamonds, the diamonds that I feel
like you drop so many, But the diamond that really
sticks out to me from this conversation is the power
of connection and the power of the different perspectives you
can gain, and how when you put it all together,
not only do you become a better player, but you
become a better teammate. And only together can you, guys,

(01:17:37):
reach the successes and get to the championships, the Olympics
and to playing pro softball and being a talent and
all the things. And you need the connection or to
do so. So go out and anyone listening, go out
and make sure that those connections and those perspectives you're
open to listening to them, because not only could it
change your trajectory as a player, but it could change

(01:17:59):
your trajector in life tory. Thank you so much for
joining me on Dropping Diamonds, and thank you all for
listening to today's episode. Remember to open your heart, remember
the five p's proper preparation prevents poor performance. Create the
affirmation you want from that. But know that you are
a better that you are confident, and you can achieve

(01:18:19):
all things you want to. Thank you so much. I'll
meet you next time next week here on the diamond.
Bye for now dropping Diamonds with AJ Andrews is an
iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Athletes Unlimited, Softball

(01:18:40):
Link and Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. I'm your host,
AJ Andrews. Our executive producer is Jesse Katz. Tari Harrison
is our supervising producer, and this episode was mixed and
mastered by Mary Doo. Listen to Dropping Diamonds with AJ
Andrews on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you
get your podcast ess

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