Today, the guys talk to Texas Softball Head Coach Mike White after his 2-1 game one victory in the Women’s College Softball World Series. He talks about the performances of key players like Tegan Kavan, Kayden Henry, and Reese Atwood and how the team will need to respond with a 1-0 lead. The impact of veterans like Mia Scott in keeping the team calm. How the team responded to controversial calls. Responding to challenging situations and the continuous clutch playing by the team. You can hear it all here on “The Morning Kickoff Show!”
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
What a legend in the locker room is all supposed
to be. And that is why we have Texas softball
coach Mike White joining us and coach. Last night was
one of those nights that everybody sits back and they
marvel at, especially when you start to think about the
pitching matchup, and as a former pitcher yourself, you know
(00:22):
how important and how crucial these types of games are
supposed to be.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Oh, without a doubt. I mean, you hit two of
the bits going at it to last night and it
really showed. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Teaka Kavan has been a young lady that every time
she is given the ball, she shows up. She fights
through adversity, and she finds a way to get it done.
Last night she tied Kat Austerman's program record for the
most career wins at the Women's College World Series. And
(00:55):
tonight I'm not gonna ask you who you're gonna pitch
because you know, I know last time you didn't want
to give it up. But your team has found a
way to get it done in so many different ways
and fashions that you have to be proud of what
this group has achieved thus far.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
All without a doubt, and especially when you look at
the fist, the things he had leaded bases and nobody
out there's a couple of first things that happened. But
we're able to tend that double play with me at
the rest to Jolie at first base, and I was
a huge momentum builder for us to be able to
do that. And you know, of course, you know, battled
right down to the end. We had the obstruction cool
that we didn't quite figure out how that happened, but
(01:35):
it did, and uh, we're able to bounce back from
that one.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Too, and you overcame a bunch of errors when you
start to look at it. When you have a picture
on the mound. The one thing that I talked to
Mark about when you got a picture like Tigan, like Mac,
you have to be prepared and be on your toes
because you know the ball will be hit to you
and you got to make those plays. But then for
you guys to get out of those situations and to
(02:00):
still have a chance against one of the nation's best pictures,
that is something that is barely short of amazing.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, I mean it really is. I mean it's like
reguling off the hook. There a couple of times but yeah,
you got We always talked about what happens at abvisity
strikes and it's how you respond to it that matter
is the most. And we're able to respond pretty well
and obviously teak and kept her cool and uh, you know,
he made some big plays when we had to in
the infield and then continue to have an opportunity and
when and Reese on that intentional walk, she was ready
(02:30):
for that. So that was good hits up softball by
her coach.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
We this is not our normal legends of the locker room.
Normally we have the actual athlete, not the coach. But
being that we're pointing out the coach being a legend,
I gotta give you this. On that last call, I
thought you were gonna come out looking like us. You're
(02:55):
already looking like a genius right now, but you were
gonna look more of like one if you'd have got
that call hitting the umpire and having both players go out.
But they ended up having her going back to first base, Like,
what made you make that call to challenge that? Because
that that that was the boss move right there.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Yeah, I mean, you know, looking back at reviewing, the
hitter clearly walked in front of our catcher, and I
get that clarified, because I don't know why they didn't
call that out. If they're going to call it out
on the obstruction by the rule book, they should have
called that out by the rule book. So again, that's
something I'm going to have to review with the umpire
dump pause and figure out whether that was with the
(03:37):
challenge or all.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Yeah, I wanted to ask you that too because of
the play at second base. As a middle infielder, you
go where the ball takes you and for a bang
bang play, if you wanted to call that and she
slid into the young lady's foot at second base, I
can understand it. It was more it looks more reasonable,
But for someone to be thrown out that far, that
(04:02):
far up the line and for them to call that
obstruction where it looked like the runner basically gave herself
up even because she knew she was out.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
What why do you think that call was made? You know,
that's a good question, and you know it need clarification on.
I mean, I think what's happening. They have that fifth downpire,
who's them the ree booth, and they're just going by
the rule book saying that you know, if that player
receives the ball plucking the leading edge of the base
before it's received, then technically it is obstruction. But you know,
(04:36):
I mean, you've gotta have some common sense here as well.
And you know, so we need to review that as
a rules committee to be able to kind of allow
some leyway. I know that when we play at home
home plate, yes, if the throw takes you into the
line of the runner, it's okay. So why is it
not the same at second base? I just I just
don't get that.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Well, that's a great example for everybody to see if
y'all go into those meetings.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Isn't that the truth.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
No doubt about it, Coach. I also, Mark brought it up,
and you brought it up a little while ago talking
about the three year old swing by at Wood the
first pitch. I was like, oh, I don't think she's
used to doing this, because that first pitch looked like
they could have called it a strike. And then she
gets another opportunity and she got a flat pitch and
(05:24):
when she took that swing, is there like an unwritten
rule for her or is there a signal that she
gives you that says coach, I might have to take
a swing at this.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Well, she looked at coach Singleton, you know, the hitting
coach and the dug out, and said, you know, I
think I can hit this, and he kind of said
go ahead. So it was something that wasn't a pout
of to tell you the truth. And you know, we
give Reese that leeway. I mean, she's a bedroom player
for us right now. And if they make a mistake
and they throw it down the middle, hit it and
you could tell the short stuff wasn't ready for that either,
(05:58):
you know. So it was a lot of people by surprise. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
I said the same thing earlier because as again, as
an infielder, you're taught, no matter what, be ready to
go because the picture is a picture, and especially one
like Kennedy who is probably not used to I think
that was her first intentional walk attempt in her career
because I mean, if you got a picture like that,
(06:22):
don't you let them go at it and try to
uh win that battle.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Yeah with that without a doubt. I mean, you know
there's times though you've gotta for you to put bravado.
You know, he put brains that hit the bravado, and uh,
you know, maybe that was the time, Jerry wanted to
do that. You know, he knew that that was over
for ten and that point in the in the World Series.
But you know, like I've told other people, she said,
just that much closer to getting a hit. So he
kind of felt the same way to try to pull
(06:49):
the ploy some strategy, but they ended up backfiring. So yeah,
it was good for us.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
And coach you know that this is uh, you got
to ask the question because you're one get one win
away from the first national championship at the University of Texas,
and I know that we don't put the cart before
the horse. We want to make sure that you're focused
on game number two. What was the mindset of the
team right after that ball game, knowing that they got
(07:15):
game number one and they got two chances at a
chance to be a national champion.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Yeah, I feel like we need to, you know, come
out and just hunt right now. We can't get defensive
and think we have one more extra game to play with.
We really want to get after this from game game two,
right from the first innings, and we'll be the visitor tonight,
you know. So they're going to have to go out
there on offense and We're going to make sure we
have some quality at bats against here and show it
that we're not going to be fooled today. I mean
(07:42):
yesterday early she fooled us quite a bit. I mean
she ended up having I think seven eight strikeouts, you know, early.
And we've got to be a little bit better tonight.
So we've got to really kind of focus on what
we want, what we control them, what we do in
the approach we take it. There's play.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
I gotta let you go with this.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Mia Scott.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
One of the small, this most calm controlled players that
I have seen in a very very long time. Is
she the one that comes in and just kind of
tells everybody, be cool, keep your mind strap, and we'll
get ready to go.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Yeah, she's been doing a lot more of that. She's
been using her leadership, and you know, early on she
was very quiet three, you know, staying into herself a
little bit, and we've kind of told her to be
a little bit of a leader and get out there
and help the picture be close because you're the closest
one to the picture and just give it here that
support on the circle. Yeah, you know, And so she's
doing that for us, and I think she's doing a
(08:36):
great job.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Well coach. As always, we appreciate you, We're here, we're
behind you. And let me just tell you you got
Your team has played some of the most exciting softball
games that we have ever been able to witness. And
lock it up and let's have that tower limp by
the end of the weekend, my friend.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Let's do it. Hooke Hohlns Baby
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Coach Mike White getting ready for a big matchup tonight
seven o'clock ESPN, and of course we will have it
all for you tomorrow morning.
What a legend in the locker room is all supposed
to be. And that is why we have Texas softball
coach Mike White joining us and coach. Last night was
one of those nights that everybody sits back and they
marvel at, especially when you start to think about the
pitching matchup, and as a former pitcher yourself, you know
(00:22):
how important and how crucial these types of games are
supposed to be.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Oh, without a doubt. I mean, you hit two of
the bits going at it to last night and it
really showed. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Teaka Kavan has been a young lady that every time
she is given the ball, she shows up. She fights
through adversity, and she finds a way to get it done.
Last night she tied Kat Austerman's program record for the
most career wins at the Women's College World Series. And
(00:55):
tonight I'm not gonna ask you who you're gonna pitch
because you know, I know last time you didn't want
to give it up. But your team has found a
way to get it done in so many different ways
and fashions that you have to be proud of what
this group has achieved thus far.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
All without a doubt, and especially when you look at
the fist, the things he had leaded bases and nobody
out there's a couple of first things that happened. But
we're able to tend that double play with me at
the rest to Jolie at first base, and I was
a huge momentum builder for us to be able to
do that. And you know, of course, you know, battled
right down to the end. We had the obstruction cool
that we didn't quite figure out how that happened, but
(01:35):
it did, and uh, we're able to bounce back from
that one.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Too, and you overcame a bunch of errors when you
start to look at it. When you have a picture
on the mound. The one thing that I talked to
Mark about when you got a picture like Tigan, like Mac,
you have to be prepared and be on your toes
because you know the ball will be hit to you
and you got to make those plays. But then for
you guys to get out of those situations and to
(02:00):
still have a chance against one of the nation's best pictures,
that is something that is barely short of amazing.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, I mean it really is. I mean it's like
reguling off the hook. There a couple of times but yeah,
you got We always talked about what happens at abvisity
strikes and it's how you respond to it that matter
is the most. And we're able to respond pretty well
and obviously teak and kept her cool and uh, you know,
he made some big plays when we had to in
the infield and then continue to have an opportunity and
when and Reese on that intentional walk, she was ready
(02:30):
for that. So that was good hits up softball by
her coach.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
We this is not our normal legends of the locker room.
Normally we have the actual athlete, not the coach. But
being that we're pointing out the coach being a legend,
I gotta give you this. On that last call, I
thought you were gonna come out looking like us. You're
(02:55):
already looking like a genius right now, but you were
gonna look more of like one if you'd have got
that call hitting the umpire and having both players go out.
But they ended up having her going back to first base, Like,
what made you make that call to challenge that? Because
that that that was the boss move right there.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Yeah, I mean, you know, looking back at reviewing, the
hitter clearly walked in front of our catcher, and I
get that clarified, because I don't know why they didn't
call that out. If they're going to call it out
on the obstruction by the rule book, they should have
called that out by the rule book. So again, that's
something I'm going to have to review with the umpire
dump pause and figure out whether that was with the
(03:37):
challenge or all.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Yeah, I wanted to ask you that too because of
the play at second base. As a middle infielder, you
go where the ball takes you and for a bang
bang play, if you wanted to call that and she
slid into the young lady's foot at second base, I
can understand it. It was more it looks more reasonable,
But for someone to be thrown out that far, that
(04:02):
far up the line and for them to call that
obstruction where it looked like the runner basically gave herself
up even because she knew she was out.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
What why do you think that call was made? You know,
that's a good question, and you know it need clarification on.
I mean, I think what's happening. They have that fifth downpire,
who's them the ree booth, and they're just going by
the rule book saying that you know, if that player
receives the ball plucking the leading edge of the base
before it's received, then technically it is obstruction. But you know,
(04:36):
I mean, you've gotta have some common sense here as well.
And you know, so we need to review that as
a rules committee to be able to kind of allow
some leyway. I know that when we play at home
home plate, yes, if the throw takes you into the
line of the runner, it's okay. So why is it
not the same at second base? I just I just
don't get that.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Well, that's a great example for everybody to see if
y'all go into those meetings.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Isn't that the truth.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
No doubt about it, Coach. I also, Mark brought it up,
and you brought it up a little while ago talking
about the three year old swing by at Wood the
first pitch. I was like, oh, I don't think she's
used to doing this, because that first pitch looked like
they could have called it a strike. And then she
gets another opportunity and she got a flat pitch and
(05:24):
when she took that swing, is there like an unwritten
rule for her or is there a signal that she
gives you that says coach, I might have to take
a swing at this.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Well, she looked at coach Singleton, you know, the hitting
coach and the dug out, and said, you know, I
think I can hit this, and he kind of said
go ahead. So it was something that wasn't a pout
of to tell you the truth. And you know, we
give Reese that leeway. I mean, she's a bedroom player
for us right now. And if they make a mistake
and they throw it down the middle, hit it and
you could tell the short stuff wasn't ready for that either,
(05:58):
you know. So it was a lot of people by surprise. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
I said the same thing earlier because as again, as
an infielder, you're taught, no matter what, be ready to
go because the picture is a picture, and especially one
like Kennedy who is probably not used to I think
that was her first intentional walk attempt in her career
because I mean, if you got a picture like that,
(06:22):
don't you let them go at it and try to
uh win that battle.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Yeah with that without a doubt. I mean, you know
there's times though you've gotta for you to put bravado.
You know, he put brains that hit the bravado, and uh,
you know, maybe that was the time, Jerry wanted to
do that. You know, he knew that that was over
for ten and that point in the in the World Series.
But you know, like I've told other people, she said,
just that much closer to getting a hit. So he
kind of felt the same way to try to pull
(06:49):
the ploy some strategy, but they ended up backfiring. So yeah,
it was good for us.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
And coach you know that this is uh, you got
to ask the question because you're one get one win
away from the first national championship at the University of Texas,
and I know that we don't put the cart before
the horse. We want to make sure that you're focused
on game number two. What was the mindset of the
team right after that ball game, knowing that they got
(07:15):
game number one and they got two chances at a
chance to be a national champion.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Yeah, I feel like we need to, you know, come
out and just hunt right now. We can't get defensive
and think we have one more extra game to play with.
We really want to get after this from game game two,
right from the first innings, and we'll be the visitor tonight,
you know. So they're going to have to go out
there on offense and We're going to make sure we
have some quality at bats against here and show it
that we're not going to be fooled today. I mean
(07:42):
yesterday early she fooled us quite a bit. I mean
she ended up having I think seven eight strikeouts, you know, early.
And we've got to be a little bit better tonight.
So we've got to really kind of focus on what
we want, what we control them, what we do in
the approach we take it. There's play.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
I gotta let you go with this.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Mia Scott.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
One of the small, this most calm controlled players that
I have seen in a very very long time. Is
she the one that comes in and just kind of
tells everybody, be cool, keep your mind strap, and we'll
get ready to go.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Yeah, she's been doing a lot more of that. She's
been using her leadership, and you know, early on she
was very quiet three, you know, staying into herself a
little bit, and we've kind of told her to be
a little bit of a leader and get out there
and help the picture be close because you're the closest
one to the picture and just give it here that
support on the circle. Yeah, you know, And so she's
doing that for us, and I think she's doing a
(08:36):
great job.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Well coach. As always, we appreciate you, We're here, we're
behind you. And let me just tell you you got
Your team has played some of the most exciting softball
games that we have ever been able to witness. And
lock it up and let's have that tower limp by
the end of the weekend, my friend.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Let's do it. Hooke Hohlns Baby
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Coach Mike White getting ready for a big matchup tonight
seven o'clock ESPN, and of course we will have it
all for you tomorrow morning.
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