August 18, 2025 • 17 mins
Joining the show today is AUSL Volts infielder Tiare Jennings. Tiare sits down with AJ to reflect on her journey at the University of Oklahoma, opening up about how faith, teamwork, and strong leadership shaped her path to success. She shares powerful lessons from her coach and the crucial role that relationships and support systems played in helping her navigate adversity. Together, they explore the deeper meaning of the game that goes far beyond wins and losses.
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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 headfirst into the world of softball.
(00:22):
Joining me today is a superstar amongst superstars. She's a
four time All American, she's a four time in c
DOAA Softball champion, and she is playing infield for the
aus L Volts. It is none other than the illustrious,
the amazing, the one and the only Tierry Jennings.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Oh my gosh, I love that.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
It just had me bring me everywhere so I can
just introduce you as you walk into firms.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
This ISCR. I appreciate that. Thank you for having me, thank.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
You for coming on.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Well, when we talk about greatness, I would like to
start everything with a affirmation, because it's hard to be
great if you are not affirming yourself that you arreat.
And so one of the quotes I wanted to start
with was real leadership is about transforming potential into possibilities.
And I thought of affirmation to bring from that is
my potential is endless I can achieve it all.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
My ceilings of possibilities is completely my call. I love
a good rhyme.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
That's so cool. Do you have a favorite quote or
affirmation you kind of live by?
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Not really, I mean, I mean this is a totally
simple one that Coach Gas always is just saying it's
just never settling, and I just take that with me
in life and just always remember that you know the
sky's limit and continue to break glass ceilings. I mean,
I've always learned that at OU and kind of take
it into my pro career and just in life in general
that I could do anything as sky's limit and there's
no boundary, there's no limit that I can go. I
(01:43):
can keep going further and further as long as I
have my faith in front of me, and I can
just keep going.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Well, you are living proof that the sky's the limit.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
The impossible is nothing more than a dare sid declaration.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
That word.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
When it comes to making history of a four p
you've been able to be a part of.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
That all four times.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
What makes not just you, but obviously Oklahoma Dynasty turned
the impossible too possible.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
It's I mean, so unbelievable, just kind of hearing it
still and I'm like, wow, like I actually did that. Yeah,
he actually did that. I Mean, it's just so crazy
hearing it. But I mean I'm just not surprised. It
just all comes from the culture that coach Gusts and
her staff brings. I mean every year we didn't talk
about you know, a two pet a three pet a
four p. So that was just the greatest thing is
that we never talked about it. And I think that
(02:35):
was so cool. Is we obviously thought about it, like
we brought it up, like in our own internally minds,
but like as a staff and as our team meetings,
that was never brought up. And that was never our intention.
Our intention was just to have fun and play free.
And I feel like it's so cliche to say, like
you hear that all the time, but that's what truly,
truly is what we did, and go out there and
play for something bigger than yourself. And I think for me,
(02:55):
it was my faith that I stood by. I mean,
none of this is possible without God, and I take
that fullheartedly. But also just seeing my family in the
stands and all the sacrifices they made for me, and
so I knew that when I'm out on the field
playing for a national championship every year, that I knew
was something greater, and I knew that what I was
playing for and what our whole team was playing for
was something bigger than just Oklahoma.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
And I think that was the best part.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
I think that's what makes Oklahoma stand on top, is
just playing for something more.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
And we know that softball doesn't define who we are.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
One of the biggest lessons you've learned in your life
is that softball does not define.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
You and that you are more than that.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
When did you come to a realization of I'm Tari,
this Jari, that not just Tri the softball player.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Luckily, my freshman year and that was so great that
I had seniors who treated me as a sister from
day one and going through my freshman year was COVID,
so we couldn't really spend a lot of time together.
You know, we were wearing masks and couldn't see each
other or like non conco yes, I'm like hi hello.
But once like that kind of went away, COVID kind
of went away. We all kindly got together and thankfully
(04:02):
the seniors taught me that from day one and I'm
so lucky for them, Like Nicole Mendez was with me,
and I know she was the one person obviously having
Jocelyn Allo and all these people, Grace Lines, just all
these veterans around me teaching me that from the start,
and they weren't teaching me, you know, softball skills or
like this is how you feel the ball. It's about
life lessons And that's what I love about OU and
(04:23):
the program is how everybody's so connected.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
But thankfully I learned that from the start. I think
that just helped me grow my whole four years because
I couldn't imagine not learning that and trying to go
through those trials from the beginning, I imagine.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
It would give a sense of ease because your freshman year,
there's a lot of times you can feel pressure.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Yes, right, I want to make this time. I want
to be a starter. What can I do to do that?
Speaker 1 (04:43):
But then when you have teammates or even a culture
that's like it's not that big of a deal.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
It's really not nice. Yeah it's a yellow ball.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Yeah, just go play for sure. It just takes that away.
And for you play that way, like when watching you play,
it just seems like you're up to play, is like
you know you're gonna get a.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Hit, and even if you don't know, you'll be fine, right.
I just I enjoy getting good hit, so'body do what
I can.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
But to be able to do it and do it
so well and so consistently to where you are the
third on the list of all time home runs, I mean,
you have ninety eight. A girl can dream to have
nine and to have fifty eight thirty eight, right, we
won't go leader that. Maybe maybe I had thirty eight.
But for you, when you step into the box, what
(05:27):
is your mentality? What do you tell yourself before you
go hit?
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Clear minded? I think I'm at my best when I'm
really clear.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
I think just knowing no matter what team I've played for,
I've been so lucky to have a sellar lineup with
the Volts, with you just everywhere I've played, so I
know that the pressure takes it off of me because
I have such a stacked lineup one through nine and
even our bench can play anywhere. So I mean, it
kind of just took the weight off my shoulders, knowing
that even if I fail, the next person's gonna have
my back. So I think what you're talking about is
(05:56):
how just being consistent and not letting the game, you know,
get to your head.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
It could be so hard because it's a game of failure.
But just knowing in.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
College, I had, you know, jocen Allo behind me or
in front of me, so like I'm like, what could
I possibly do wrong? Because I have her behind me,
who hit a home run anyway, and then I just
kind of just take their successes a part of mine.
And so even if I go oh for four, but
some of my teammates go four for four, we won.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
That's all that matters.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
And I think knowing that and that kind of makes
me play free. But when I'm just in the box,
it's clear minded, hit the ball hard, and you know,
the end's already written.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
So at that point there's nothing else that I can do.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Sam Leanie, I talked to her earlier today and she
told me that that is what coach Gaso says as
she brought her to the office and said the end's
already written, and how that gave her so much for leave.
Is that something that you've really held onto you from
Coach Gaso? And if so, what else has she sold
you or lessons you've learned.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
She's taught me so much.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
But definitely the end has already written, has been a
motto from coach Gaso and just knowing we were going
through that four p especially for me and if Sam
had a different season this last year, but for her
too as well.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
You know, championships end, and you know it's they're fun
and they're great to win.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
The next day, you live another day and it's just
another normal day. So championships are great, but that's not
all what it is. And I think for me, the
end is already written. Just is meaning enjoy spending time
with your teammates, in those relationships and those coaches, because
that lasts forever, and the championships do last forever, but
the memories that come with it is what holds more
to me. And I feel like knowing that throughout the
(07:26):
whole entire college season, at the end was already written,
I knew that I wasn't playing really for a championship,
that I was playing the last game with my teammates,
my last seniors, and trying to get all of them
and all the information from everyone together, And I just
think that's kind of what the end is already written.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Means, and I kind.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Of take that now is like you know, with the Volts,
you know our record might not be great, but the
end is already written and we're gonna keep playing and
we have nothing to lose. So I mean, every year
of playing my career, I could always say that end
is already written. So it just kind of lets me smile,
play free out there and kind of just really really
cheery the moments with my team.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Let's take a quick break to hear a word from
our sponsor.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Was your favorite Patty Gasso's story or moment where she's
brought you aside and has allowed tr to betri.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Gosh, there's so many.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
I think there's a time during my senior weekend, I
take really a lot of pride in my Polynesian culture
being someone and I had a ceremony in the beginning
of my senior day where we had a Polynesian group
come and do a cultural dance on the field at
Love's Field, and it was super cool because there's many
Polynesian softball players that came through ou So coach has
(08:44):
a very close relationship with all of us, and she
takes in the culture with so much pride and love
I ran straight to coach and just bald in her
eyes before the game, and we just took in that
moment because she loves you so much, just for more
than as a softball player. And you can tell that
that moment it hit her hard too, and we kind
of shared that moment together, so being able to share
our cultures, our backgrounds, and she takes us all in
(09:07):
for who you are, and we are a very faith
based group, but she lets us know that you don't
have to be and she's gonna love you for who
you are. So yes, most of us are faith based
and that comes from my culture, but not everybody has
to be. And that's one thing I love is she
tells us all the time. She goes, I don't care
who you are on the field, like I want you
to be the best as you can be, but I
care about you more off the field and who you
(09:28):
are as a person, who you are as a teammate.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
And I just take that with so much heart because
she just loves us for who we are.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
You talked about a video I watched a view where
leadership is about those relationships, and so to me, it
sounds like that's why she's been such a great leader
for Oklahoma and Oklahoma staff. The relationships that she's built
for sure, and as a player, the relationship with yourself
is extremely important for you to have the success that
you have. What do you tell yourself in moments of
(09:54):
adversity in order to continue to prevail and to see
the success that you've had.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Stay together as my team.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
I don't do great when when I'm alone, and I
feel alone, and after a bad game, you easily can
get mad at yourself. But easily, you know, go in
your room and just kind of lock yourself up. But
in moments where I feel that way, I need to
be with my girls, and you're like, hey, let's go
to dinner, let's go to not do something softball related,
but let's go. You know, this game does again, doesn't
define you, So let's go have some fun. Let's go bowling,
(10:22):
let's go just do something as a team. I think
for me, I do better when I'm around others and
others who are like minded like me. I think Coach
Gas has always said that is like, go find your
people and go find your inner circle. And then I
go to those people for help and kind of get
me back on track. And I think that's what gets
me out of my shell, is being surrounded by other
people who not only love the game, but or who
are like minded like me as well.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
I love that this immense part is so important. Is
there anything you do physically as far as like a
drill or hitting wise, to kind of get yourself back
on track?
Speaker 4 (10:51):
I think for me, just getting on the team, putting
some good music on, you know, just spending that day
in the cage. If I'm not feeling it, like hey,
just reset. I mean you're gonna have to reset after
every at bat, no matter if it's good or bad anyway.
So for me, if I'm not feeling that confident, I like,
just like go back to the basics and go back
to who I was when I was a little girl,
finding that love for the game again, like when I
(11:11):
was eight years old playing you know whatever, but just
kind of finding my why, my purpose mentally, and like
why am I playing this game in the first place.
So definitely go back to those moments and then go
back to the basics on drill work and tea and
just having some fun putting some good music on.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
That's how you hitting any eight home runs. So for
me to get there and you get on the tee,
play some good music.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Go back to the basics.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
I'm sure how ould ye all right?
Speaker 4 (11:35):
Now?
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Sorry?
Speaker 2 (11:36):
I'd love to get ninety eight.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
You're right, I'm gonna go into the no Fi zone
because it's so fun turn the feel into a No
five zone.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
What is your favorite play that you've ever made.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
I would say I just loved turning double plays.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
I don't think I have a favorite, but Kosh Gassa
always says defense wins championship. So as much as I
love hitting ninety eight home runs, I love playing defense
most and it's very shocking. I think she always says
to hear people say that, But I love defense. I
love playing behind my pitchers. I love watching outfielders, you know,
no fly zone. I love watching Jada Coleman rob home
runs in college. So I definitely love being on defense more.
(12:11):
I love celebrating on defense. I love, love, Love Love's
turning double plays.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
One of my favorite quotes.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
It's like offense sells tickets, but defense wins games. Yep,
you gotta have the great defense in order to make
it happen. What would you say is probably your favorite
memory playing softball?
Speaker 4 (12:27):
Favorite memory playing softball, I would say definitely all the
national championships just well, yeah, like all of them, and
I think I remember all of them like it was yesterday,
and just there's.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Not one that sticks out more than the other. I
don't think so. I think if anything, the four peak
just because who does that?
Speaker 4 (12:44):
Right?
Speaker 2 (12:44):
And that was literally who does that?
Speaker 4 (12:46):
That was the most emotional I think, year that we've
all had, just because we knew we were going for it,
but it wasn't talked about, but you just feel the
emotions building up and then we finally did it. It
was like, wow, we just sled it all out. It
would just let all our emotions out and that was
our last ride. So I think the four feet for sure.
Could you believe it when it happened?
Speaker 2 (13:05):
No, I mean I couldn't.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
And the best part was just this girls that I
went in with, you know, Jada and Nicole May just
Ala Sabrito.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Just knowing those girls I went in with.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
I knew of the Sabrito since I was like eight,
so you know, like where it was just a full
circle moment coming in with them.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
When four I mean, that's just unbelievable, literally unbelievable, literally unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Well, Sara, you know, in the game of softball, failure
is inevitable and it's oftentimes something we try to avoid,
but it really is what leads us to our biggest success.
What would you say is your favorite failure that's ultimately
led you to some of your best successes.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
I would say I mean probably at the plate.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
You know, when those oh for twenty days happened, it's like, Okay, well,
you can't do any worse, you know, like you really can't.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
Do anyone, oh for twenty day, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Maybe one for twenty, I think, yeah, you have that,
yeah any once she got one?
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Maybe maybe two? Yeah yeah.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
But those days were those days where I feel like
I was going two for twenty or whatever the stats were.
I'm like, Okay, I really can't do any worse. I
really don't know what I'm doing at the play, like
I don't know what I'm seeing, and I'm like, I
gotta remember, it's gonna be like that sometimes, and you're
not gonna know what your body's feeling that day and
all those things. And that's what I really hold you know,
(14:22):
using my other teammates of success, because I'm clearly not
getting any of my own. But we're winning, So I mean,
I'm like, hey, a win is a win. So I
really take those small winds to heart because I'm like, Okay,
I needed that.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
I don't care if it was an out. It was
a hard hit ball and we won, so that's all
that matters.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
But I feel like I think it was Oklahoma State
my senior weekend, which was crazy because as the best
moment of my life. My senior week with Coach Gasso
didn't even do great play all week and long. So
I was like, you know what I think that's so
great about softball is you can absolutely suck, but you
can have some of the best moments outside and that's
what I think got me out of that slump that
(14:59):
entire weekend.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
And then coach pulled me aside.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
I was like, okay, I need to see, like, look
at your face during that you did not look happy.
I was like, yeah, I did not look happy on
that softball field, but look at me with you before
the game, and look how happy I was. So I'm like,
those moments don't define who I was, and I think
I take pride and.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Try not to show it as much.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
So that was definitely a learning process for me too
is like dang, you could really see it on TV
where I did not look happy, but I have like coach,
I promised I was having the time of my life
like that weekend, and I was, oh, we didn't even
win the series and I was happy the time of
my life.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
So I think just knowing the softball moments don't define.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Who you are, and when you're failing and you can
as you can't do worse, you always got to just
keep swinging, just.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
Keep swaying, just keep swinging, just keep swinging, just keeping
I mean I learned that against Snyger Kennedy the Stanford
game on my birthday, Oh for three with three strikeouts
and had a gay winning hit.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
I'm like love that it Just keep oh to count too.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Would that be the advice you would give to young athletes,
just keep swinging, just keep swinging.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
I mean, things can change in an instant, and all
you need is one pitch when you're hitting so and
I love.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
That we say all you need is one because you
can use that in life as well.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Yes, not just the pitch, but one opportunity, one opportunity.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
All you need is one new day to restart and
start over.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
So Ti, I know your mom Maria.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Every time she was home, she would make you a
signature breakfast bagel to help fuel you, which had two eggs, bacon,
and a frying pan and toast.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
The bagel layered with cream cheese.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
I grated sharp treader cheese, four slices of bacon and
she's still giving yous.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Thats still your gam day meal.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
She is here today and so that's your game name
waiting for me at the hotel.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
And I texted my group chat with Amanda and Sis
and I'm like, hey, my mom's in town, so you
know what that means, and so they're coming over as well,
So yeah, you know that's right.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
We're having they're having very well, pladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
That is how you ate Dinde home runs.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
That is how you have the Women's College World Series
career record for most RBIs of twenty nine, and that
is how you continue to perform as au vot Tiari.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Thank you so much for joining me on Dropping Diamonds.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
I absolutely loved it. Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
We'll catch you guys all here back next week on
the Diamond Bye for now dropping Diamonds with AJ Andrews
is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Athletes
Unlimited Softball League and Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. I'm
(17:27):
your host, AJ Andrews. Our executive producer is Jesse Katz.
Tari Harrison is our supervising producer, and this episode was
mixed and mastered by Mary Do. Listen to Dropping Diamonds
with AJ Andrews on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or
wherever you get your podcasts.
Dropping Diamonds with AJ Andrews is an iHeart women's sports
production in partnership with Athletes, Unlimited Softball League and Deep
Blue Sports and Entertainment. Welcome to Dropping Diamonds with Me
aj Andrews, where we dive headfirst into the world of softball.
(00:22):
Joining me today is a superstar amongst superstars. She's a
four time All American, she's a four time in c
DOAA Softball champion, and she is playing infield for the
aus L Volts. It is none other than the illustrious,
the amazing, the one and the only Tierry Jennings.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Oh my gosh, I love that.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
It just had me bring me everywhere so I can
just introduce you as you walk into firms.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
This ISCR. I appreciate that. Thank you for having me, thank.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
You for coming on.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Well, when we talk about greatness, I would like to
start everything with a affirmation, because it's hard to be
great if you are not affirming yourself that you arreat.
And so one of the quotes I wanted to start
with was real leadership is about transforming potential into possibilities.
And I thought of affirmation to bring from that is
my potential is endless I can achieve it all.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
My ceilings of possibilities is completely my call. I love
a good rhyme.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
That's so cool. Do you have a favorite quote or
affirmation you kind of live by?
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Not really, I mean, I mean this is a totally
simple one that Coach Gas always is just saying it's
just never settling, and I just take that with me
in life and just always remember that you know the
sky's limit and continue to break glass ceilings. I mean,
I've always learned that at OU and kind of take
it into my pro career and just in life in general
that I could do anything as sky's limit and there's
no boundary, there's no limit that I can go. I
(01:43):
can keep going further and further as long as I
have my faith in front of me, and I can
just keep going.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Well, you are living proof that the sky's the limit.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
The impossible is nothing more than a dare sid declaration.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
That word.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
When it comes to making history of a four p
you've been able to be a part of.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
That all four times.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
What makes not just you, but obviously Oklahoma Dynasty turned
the impossible too possible.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
It's I mean, so unbelievable, just kind of hearing it
still and I'm like, wow, like I actually did that. Yeah,
he actually did that. I Mean, it's just so crazy
hearing it. But I mean I'm just not surprised. It
just all comes from the culture that coach Gusts and
her staff brings. I mean every year we didn't talk
about you know, a two pet a three pet a
four p. So that was just the greatest thing is
that we never talked about it. And I think that
(02:35):
was so cool. Is we obviously thought about it, like
we brought it up, like in our own internally minds,
but like as a staff and as our team meetings,
that was never brought up. And that was never our intention.
Our intention was just to have fun and play free.
And I feel like it's so cliche to say, like
you hear that all the time, but that's what truly,
truly is what we did, and go out there and
play for something bigger than yourself. And I think for me,
(02:55):
it was my faith that I stood by. I mean,
none of this is possible without God, and I take
that fullheartedly. But also just seeing my family in the
stands and all the sacrifices they made for me, and
so I knew that when I'm out on the field
playing for a national championship every year, that I knew
was something greater, and I knew that what I was
playing for and what our whole team was playing for
was something bigger than just Oklahoma.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
And I think that was the best part.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
I think that's what makes Oklahoma stand on top, is
just playing for something more.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
And we know that softball doesn't define who we are.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
One of the biggest lessons you've learned in your life
is that softball does not define.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
You and that you are more than that.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
When did you come to a realization of I'm Tari,
this Jari, that not just Tri the softball player.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Luckily, my freshman year and that was so great that
I had seniors who treated me as a sister from
day one and going through my freshman year was COVID,
so we couldn't really spend a lot of time together.
You know, we were wearing masks and couldn't see each
other or like non conco yes, I'm like hi hello.
But once like that kind of went away, COVID kind
of went away. We all kindly got together and thankfully
(04:02):
the seniors taught me that from day one and I'm
so lucky for them, Like Nicole Mendez was with me,
and I know she was the one person obviously having
Jocelyn Allo and all these people, Grace Lines, just all
these veterans around me teaching me that from the start,
and they weren't teaching me, you know, softball skills or
like this is how you feel the ball. It's about
life lessons And that's what I love about OU and
(04:23):
the program is how everybody's so connected.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
But thankfully I learned that from the start. I think
that just helped me grow my whole four years because
I couldn't imagine not learning that and trying to go
through those trials from the beginning, I imagine.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
It would give a sense of ease because your freshman year,
there's a lot of times you can feel pressure.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Yes, right, I want to make this time. I want
to be a starter. What can I do to do that?
Speaker 1 (04:43):
But then when you have teammates or even a culture
that's like it's not that big of a deal.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
It's really not nice. Yeah it's a yellow ball.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Yeah, just go play for sure. It just takes that away.
And for you play that way, like when watching you play,
it just seems like you're up to play, is like
you know you're gonna get a.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Hit, and even if you don't know, you'll be fine, right.
I just I enjoy getting good hit, so'body do what
I can.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
But to be able to do it and do it
so well and so consistently to where you are the
third on the list of all time home runs, I mean,
you have ninety eight. A girl can dream to have
nine and to have fifty eight thirty eight, right, we
won't go leader that. Maybe maybe I had thirty eight.
But for you, when you step into the box, what
(05:27):
is your mentality? What do you tell yourself before you
go hit?
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Clear minded? I think I'm at my best when I'm
really clear.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
I think just knowing no matter what team I've played for,
I've been so lucky to have a sellar lineup with
the Volts, with you just everywhere I've played, so I
know that the pressure takes it off of me because
I have such a stacked lineup one through nine and
even our bench can play anywhere. So I mean, it
kind of just took the weight off my shoulders, knowing
that even if I fail, the next person's gonna have
my back. So I think what you're talking about is
(05:56):
how just being consistent and not letting the game, you know,
get to your head.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
It could be so hard because it's a game of failure.
But just knowing in.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
College, I had, you know, jocen Allo behind me or
in front of me, so like I'm like, what could
I possibly do wrong? Because I have her behind me,
who hit a home run anyway, and then I just
kind of just take their successes a part of mine.
And so even if I go oh for four, but
some of my teammates go four for four, we won.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
That's all that matters.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
And I think knowing that and that kind of makes
me play free. But when I'm just in the box,
it's clear minded, hit the ball hard, and you know,
the end's already written.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
So at that point there's nothing else that I can do.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Sam Leanie, I talked to her earlier today and she
told me that that is what coach Gaso says as
she brought her to the office and said the end's
already written, and how that gave her so much for leave.
Is that something that you've really held onto you from
Coach Gaso? And if so, what else has she sold
you or lessons you've learned.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
She's taught me so much.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
But definitely the end has already written, has been a
motto from coach Gaso and just knowing we were going
through that four p especially for me and if Sam
had a different season this last year, but for her
too as well.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
You know, championships end, and you know it's they're fun
and they're great to win.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
The next day, you live another day and it's just
another normal day. So championships are great, but that's not
all what it is. And I think for me, the
end is already written. Just is meaning enjoy spending time
with your teammates, in those relationships and those coaches, because
that lasts forever, and the championships do last forever, but
the memories that come with it is what holds more
to me. And I feel like knowing that throughout the
(07:26):
whole entire college season, at the end was already written,
I knew that I wasn't playing really for a championship,
that I was playing the last game with my teammates,
my last seniors, and trying to get all of them
and all the information from everyone together, And I just
think that's kind of what the end is already written.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Means, and I kind.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Of take that now is like you know, with the Volts,
you know our record might not be great, but the
end is already written and we're gonna keep playing and
we have nothing to lose. So I mean, every year
of playing my career, I could always say that end
is already written. So it just kind of lets me smile,
play free out there and kind of just really really
cheery the moments with my team.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Let's take a quick break to hear a word from
our sponsor.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Was your favorite Patty Gasso's story or moment where she's
brought you aside and has allowed tr to betri.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Gosh, there's so many.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
I think there's a time during my senior weekend, I
take really a lot of pride in my Polynesian culture
being someone and I had a ceremony in the beginning
of my senior day where we had a Polynesian group
come and do a cultural dance on the field at
Love's Field, and it was super cool because there's many
Polynesian softball players that came through ou So coach has
(08:44):
a very close relationship with all of us, and she
takes in the culture with so much pride and love
I ran straight to coach and just bald in her
eyes before the game, and we just took in that
moment because she loves you so much, just for more
than as a softball player. And you can tell that
that moment it hit her hard too, and we kind
of shared that moment together, so being able to share
our cultures, our backgrounds, and she takes us all in
(09:07):
for who you are, and we are a very faith
based group, but she lets us know that you don't
have to be and she's gonna love you for who
you are. So yes, most of us are faith based
and that comes from my culture, but not everybody has
to be. And that's one thing I love is she
tells us all the time. She goes, I don't care
who you are on the field, like I want you
to be the best as you can be, but I
care about you more off the field and who you
(09:28):
are as a person, who you are as a teammate.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
And I just take that with so much heart because
she just loves us for who we are.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
You talked about a video I watched a view where
leadership is about those relationships, and so to me, it
sounds like that's why she's been such a great leader
for Oklahoma and Oklahoma staff. The relationships that she's built
for sure, and as a player, the relationship with yourself
is extremely important for you to have the success that
you have. What do you tell yourself in moments of
(09:54):
adversity in order to continue to prevail and to see
the success that you've had.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Stay together as my team.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
I don't do great when when I'm alone, and I
feel alone, and after a bad game, you easily can
get mad at yourself. But easily, you know, go in
your room and just kind of lock yourself up. But
in moments where I feel that way, I need to
be with my girls, and you're like, hey, let's go
to dinner, let's go to not do something softball related,
but let's go. You know, this game does again, doesn't
define you, So let's go have some fun. Let's go bowling,
(10:22):
let's go just do something as a team. I think
for me, I do better when I'm around others and
others who are like minded like me. I think Coach
Gas has always said that is like, go find your
people and go find your inner circle. And then I
go to those people for help and kind of get
me back on track. And I think that's what gets
me out of my shell, is being surrounded by other
people who not only love the game, but or who
are like minded like me as well.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
I love that this immense part is so important. Is
there anything you do physically as far as like a
drill or hitting wise, to kind of get yourself back
on track?
Speaker 4 (10:51):
I think for me, just getting on the team, putting
some good music on, you know, just spending that day
in the cage. If I'm not feeling it, like hey,
just reset. I mean you're gonna have to reset after
every at bat, no matter if it's good or bad anyway.
So for me, if I'm not feeling that confident, I like,
just like go back to the basics and go back
to who I was when I was a little girl,
finding that love for the game again, like when I
(11:11):
was eight years old playing you know whatever, but just
kind of finding my why, my purpose mentally, and like
why am I playing this game in the first place.
So definitely go back to those moments and then go
back to the basics on drill work and tea and
just having some fun putting some good music on.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
That's how you hitting any eight home runs. So for
me to get there and you get on the tee,
play some good music.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Go back to the basics.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
I'm sure how ould ye all right?
Speaker 4 (11:35):
Now?
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Sorry?
Speaker 2 (11:36):
I'd love to get ninety eight.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
You're right, I'm gonna go into the no Fi zone
because it's so fun turn the feel into a No
five zone.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
What is your favorite play that you've ever made.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
I would say I just loved turning double plays.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
I don't think I have a favorite, but Kosh Gassa
always says defense wins championship. So as much as I
love hitting ninety eight home runs, I love playing defense
most and it's very shocking. I think she always says
to hear people say that, But I love defense. I
love playing behind my pitchers. I love watching outfielders, you know,
no fly zone. I love watching Jada Coleman rob home
runs in college. So I definitely love being on defense more.
(12:11):
I love celebrating on defense. I love, love, Love Love's
turning double plays.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
One of my favorite quotes.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
It's like offense sells tickets, but defense wins games. Yep,
you gotta have the great defense in order to make
it happen. What would you say is probably your favorite
memory playing softball?
Speaker 4 (12:27):
Favorite memory playing softball, I would say definitely all the
national championships just well, yeah, like all of them, and
I think I remember all of them like it was yesterday,
and just there's.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Not one that sticks out more than the other. I
don't think so. I think if anything, the four peak
just because who does that?
Speaker 4 (12:44):
Right?
Speaker 2 (12:44):
And that was literally who does that?
Speaker 4 (12:46):
That was the most emotional I think, year that we've
all had, just because we knew we were going for it,
but it wasn't talked about, but you just feel the
emotions building up and then we finally did it. It
was like, wow, we just sled it all out. It
would just let all our emotions out and that was
our last ride. So I think the four feet for sure.
Could you believe it when it happened?
Speaker 2 (13:05):
No, I mean I couldn't.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
And the best part was just this girls that I
went in with, you know, Jada and Nicole May just
Ala Sabrito.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Just knowing those girls I went in with.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
I knew of the Sabrito since I was like eight,
so you know, like where it was just a full
circle moment coming in with them.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
When four I mean, that's just unbelievable, literally unbelievable, literally unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Well, Sara, you know, in the game of softball, failure
is inevitable and it's oftentimes something we try to avoid,
but it really is what leads us to our biggest success.
What would you say is your favorite failure that's ultimately
led you to some of your best successes.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
I would say I mean probably at the plate.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
You know, when those oh for twenty days happened, it's like, Okay, well,
you can't do any worse, you know, like you really can't.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
Do anyone, oh for twenty day, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Maybe one for twenty, I think, yeah, you have that,
yeah any once she got one?
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Maybe maybe two? Yeah yeah.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
But those days were those days where I feel like
I was going two for twenty or whatever the stats were.
I'm like, Okay, I really can't do any worse. I
really don't know what I'm doing at the play, like
I don't know what I'm seeing, and I'm like, I
gotta remember, it's gonna be like that sometimes, and you're
not gonna know what your body's feeling that day and
all those things. And that's what I really hold you know,
(14:22):
using my other teammates of success, because I'm clearly not
getting any of my own. But we're winning, So I mean,
I'm like, hey, a win is a win. So I
really take those small winds to heart because I'm like, Okay,
I needed that.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
I don't care if it was an out. It was
a hard hit ball and we won, so that's all
that matters.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
But I feel like I think it was Oklahoma State
my senior weekend, which was crazy because as the best
moment of my life. My senior week with Coach Gasso
didn't even do great play all week and long. So
I was like, you know what I think that's so
great about softball is you can absolutely suck, but you
can have some of the best moments outside and that's
what I think got me out of that slump that
(14:59):
entire weekend.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
And then coach pulled me aside.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
I was like, okay, I need to see, like, look
at your face during that you did not look happy.
I was like, yeah, I did not look happy on
that softball field, but look at me with you before
the game, and look how happy I was. So I'm like,
those moments don't define who I was, and I think
I take pride and.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Try not to show it as much.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
So that was definitely a learning process for me too
is like dang, you could really see it on TV
where I did not look happy, but I have like coach,
I promised I was having the time of my life
like that weekend, and I was, oh, we didn't even
win the series and I was happy the time of
my life.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
So I think just knowing the softball moments don't define.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Who you are, and when you're failing and you can
as you can't do worse, you always got to just
keep swinging, just.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
Keep swaying, just keep swinging, just keep swinging, just keeping
I mean I learned that against Snyger Kennedy the Stanford
game on my birthday, Oh for three with three strikeouts
and had a gay winning hit.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
I'm like love that it Just keep oh to count too.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Would that be the advice you would give to young athletes,
just keep swinging, just keep swinging.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
I mean, things can change in an instant, and all
you need is one pitch when you're hitting so and
I love.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
That we say all you need is one because you
can use that in life as well.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Yes, not just the pitch, but one opportunity, one opportunity.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
All you need is one new day to restart and
start over.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
So Ti, I know your mom Maria.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Every time she was home, she would make you a
signature breakfast bagel to help fuel you, which had two eggs, bacon,
and a frying pan and toast.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
The bagel layered with cream cheese.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
I grated sharp treader cheese, four slices of bacon and
she's still giving yous.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Thats still your gam day meal.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
She is here today and so that's your game name
waiting for me at the hotel.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
And I texted my group chat with Amanda and Sis
and I'm like, hey, my mom's in town, so you
know what that means, and so they're coming over as well,
So yeah, you know that's right.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
We're having they're having very well, pladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
That is how you ate Dinde home runs.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
That is how you have the Women's College World Series
career record for most RBIs of twenty nine, and that
is how you continue to perform as au vot Tiari.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Thank you so much for joining me on Dropping Diamonds.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
I absolutely loved it. Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
We'll catch you guys all here back next week on
the Diamond Bye for now dropping Diamonds with AJ Andrews
is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Athletes
Unlimited Softball League and Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. I'm
(17:27):
your host, AJ Andrews. Our executive producer is Jesse Katz.
Tari Harrison is our supervising producer, and this episode was
mixed and mastered by Mary Do. Listen to Dropping Diamonds
with AJ Andrews on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or
wherever you get your podcasts.
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