BBN Radio presented by Clark's Pump-n-Shop with Kentucky Women's Soccer and Kentucky Baseball

Join Darren Headrick for BBN Radio, presented by Clark's Pump-n-Shop. We talk with Catherine Rapp and Skye Leach of Kentucky Women's Soccer. Plus Luke Lawrence and Scott Campbell of Kentucky Baseball. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:07):
Across the forty coming here side Tenny five means a buck, He's.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Twenty, He's got off ten fuck touchdown Kentucky.

Speaker 3 (00:17):
From the UK Sports Network. This is Clark's Pumpin' Hump,
Big Blue Nation Radio.

Speaker 4 (00:25):
Second for one makes the turn, got him, Game's over, Kentucky.

Speaker 5 (00:29):
Web interact with the show by calling eight five nine
two eight oh cats that's eight five nine two eight
oh to two eight seven, or state wide at eight
hundred six oh six game that's eight hundred six oh six.

Speaker 6 (00:44):
Four two sixty three four Kentucky, or tweet the show
at UK Sports Network.

Speaker 7 (00:53):
Hi.

Speaker 8 (00:54):
For the eighth time, Collins Basket of All National Championship
Trophy is coming home to Kentucky.

Speaker 3 (01:00):
Now your host, Tarren Hendrick.

Speaker 4 (01:04):
It's a full house on BBN Radio presented by Clark's
Pumping Shop tonight, as we will visit with Sky Leach
and Catherine Rapp from women's soccer, and a couple of
baseball representatives in the house tonight, Luke Lawrence and Scott Campbell.
We'll talk to them about that scrimmage against West Virginia
and what's ahead for the baseball team as they wrap
up fall practice. Welcome into the show. Everybody, it's jam

(01:27):
Pack tonight. We're going to get right to it, but
first a few news and notes surrounding UK athletics. Football
is back in action this week after their second bye week.
The Cats will host number twenty one Texas inside Kroger
Field on Saturday at seven pm. Our airtime on the
UK Sports Network gets underway at five o'clock. Another big
match win for Kentucky volleyball on the road yesterday down

(01:50):
in Baton Rouge, the third ranked Wildcats beat LSU three
sets to none. Another sweep for the volleyball team. They're
now twelve and two, five and zero in s play.
They are finally back at Historic Memorial Coliseum Wednesday night.
They'll host Auburn at seven o'clock. Tomorrow night, a Top
twenty showdown at the Bell Soccer Complex Men's soccer takes

(02:12):
on Indiana first kick at seven o'clock. And then this
coming Friday, you've got the Blue White Scrimmage for baseball
at Kentucky Proud Park that begins at six o'clock and
the Blue White event for hoops is at seven pm
this Friday. Coming up next here on BBN Radio, presented
by Clark's Pumping Shop. We will visit with a pair

(02:34):
of midfielders from the soccer team. Sky Leach and Catherine
Rapp will join us to talk about the home finale.
The women's soccer team will host South Carolina Thursday at
seven point thirty from the Bell Soccer Complex. We'll talk
to them about that and more coming on. This is
the UK Sports Network.

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Speaker 7 (06:04):
Welcome back into BBN Radio.

Speaker 4 (06:06):
We're presented by Clark's Pumping Shop here on the UK
Sports Network, and it's time to catch up with Kentucky
women's soccer as they've got their home finale against South Carolina,
a highly ranked opponent. It's also the pink out game
for the soccer team, and so joining us here in studio,
we've got Sky Leach, a senior middlefielder from Flower Mound, Texas,

(06:26):
and we also have Evergreen, Colorado's Catherine Rapp, a senior
midfielder as well.

Speaker 7 (06:32):
Ladies, welcome to the show, Thanks for being with us,
Thanks for having me.

Speaker 15 (06:35):
Thank you.

Speaker 4 (06:36):
Let's talk a little bit about the season. As you
and I are sitting here and recording this nine match wins.
You also got a couple of ranked wins in SEC play.
How is this team just continuing to get better and
better with each match in each week? And I guess
Sky will open it with you first.

Speaker 7 (06:52):
Yeah.

Speaker 16 (06:53):
I think we started off just coming in in July
and the summer and just spending so much time together,
like it's easy to that just like mesh together and
just having all that time and practice. I think just
starting games and just even now getting into conference, just
the harder games. We're facing different challenges and like obviously
harder opponents. So I think we've responded well. Obviously some

(07:15):
games haven't gone the way we've wanted to, but just
taking those opportunities to just focus on what we can
improve on and take to the next game. I think
we're at a really good spot right now, and yeah,
we're looking forward to the rest of the season and
hopefully after.

Speaker 4 (07:30):
Kat How about you, where are some of the places
you feel like this team has really grown as you
get ready for the postseason run.

Speaker 17 (07:36):
I think we've been I guess consistent in our mentality
of what we want to do.

Speaker 18 (07:42):
I think at the beginning of the.

Speaker 17 (07:43):
Season it's always difficult for every team to start off
like really really intent. I think in every single game now,
we're always showing our presence, trying to win the ball back,
trying to be consistent with our discipline and our attitude,
and in games where it's been really tight, really close,
we're able to show other teams that we're going to

(08:06):
fight and we're going to always try and win no
matter what's going on in the game.

Speaker 4 (08:10):
You ladies have been off the fast starts in your matches,
and like you talked about the intensity that the time
of possession as well. I was just curious playing under
coach Fabiano, how much fun is the style that he
wants to play on the pitch.

Speaker 17 (08:23):
I think it's really fun. It suits I mean the
whole team. We have a lot of great players and
positions and we're trying to get them in those positions
higher in the field to succeed. So I think the
way that we want to play makes everybody better and
it's really fun being able to get to connect and
play with as many people as possible.

Speaker 4 (08:45):
Scot, what's been a big key in controlling possessions for
this team?

Speaker 18 (08:51):
I think just.

Speaker 16 (08:52):
Playing our game and not focusing on our opponent, but
just trusting like the style we play, and like who
we have on our team, and just trusting our coaches
like put us in that position because I really feel
like our energy and how like it starts with our
energy and that really determines how the game's gonna go.

Speaker 4 (09:11):
Yeah, speaking of energy, you've played the full nineties several
times this year. I think at least ten times you've
done that. Tell me first of all, how you're able
to keep that energy for the full ninety but also
how you're able to recover and get ready.

Speaker 7 (09:23):
For the next match.

Speaker 18 (09:24):
Yeah, no, it definitely can be hard.

Speaker 16 (09:26):
But also I rely on every one of my teammates
around me because if I can't do one play, I
know they're there to back me up. So that definitely helps.
And yeah, definitely spending time recovering, especially with our trainers,
and just taking that.

Speaker 18 (09:39):
Time I need.

Speaker 4 (09:41):
You both have had plenty of experience coming to Kentucky.
How much of you relied on that to create that
cohesion and that mesh on the pitch a.

Speaker 18 (09:51):
Lot for me.

Speaker 17 (09:52):
I'm living in the dorms with the freshmen, I'm not
living like off campus or anything, so just being able
to tell them things and things that I've learned I
guess over the past three years before.

Speaker 18 (10:06):
It's helpful for.

Speaker 17 (10:07):
Them, but I also think it's kind of helpful for me.
I get a reminder of things that I can be doing,
be doing more, and so that experience just helps to
make me the best player that I can be.

Speaker 4 (10:21):
Continuing that with the experience that you've brought to Kentucky
this year in terms of just learning this league. How
much has it helped stepping into the SEC coming from
a program where you've played in the postseason.

Speaker 17 (10:37):
I think it helps a lot. I was never like
nervous or scared, I guess of anything. I was just
excited for the opportunity to play in a such a
high against high level players, high competition with teammates that
are also at super high level. So I guess the
experience was just the confidence in myself and of my
new teammates coming here to Kentucky that I was gonna

(10:59):
be able to see.

Speaker 7 (11:00):
I want to ask both of you this, I guess
SKY will come back to you.

Speaker 4 (11:03):
Have there been any surprises going through an SEC schedule
for the first time or is it basically what you
thought it would be.

Speaker 16 (11:11):
Well, I expected it to be hard and challenging, and
I'd say that's fitting, and I just think it's I
didn't expect it to be so like each team so
like high level, like there's not one game that's an
easy game. There's not one game that's going to be
an easy game. But I think that also prepares us
for postseason. But yeah, no, definitely.

Speaker 4 (11:33):
Challenging with the Big twelve. I know you played some
tough matches in the Big Twelve playing for Baylor. How
did that help prepare you for what you've seen this
year in the league.

Speaker 6 (11:44):
Yeah.

Speaker 16 (11:44):
I think the Big Twelve also has lots of different
types of style of plays or like teams, and so
I think just playing those different styles has helped me
prepare for these teams that are very like versatile Dynamics.

Speaker 14 (11:58):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (11:58):
Yeah, you talk about the different styles that teams can play.
What is maybe a more difficult one to prepare for,
not a particular team, but just a style that you
have to get ready to play for. What is there
one that's more challenging than another. It's more of a

(12:18):
casual fan question.

Speaker 18 (12:20):
I don't know.

Speaker 17 (12:20):
I think they're all different because all systems have a
different like weaknesses and strengths that you can use. I
would say, like, if you have players that are very
that do their jobs very well, if they're told no
matter kind of what style they're playing, it's always going
to be difficult because they're going to try and exploit

(12:41):
the weaknesses of our system and like use the strengths
of theirs. But I don't know players that are just
super fast in the front line, that are willing to
take players on one v one. That's always super difficult
to deal with. But I just say each team uses
whatever they're good at against you.

Speaker 4 (12:59):
But Kat, turning that question around now, for your opponents,
the way you all want to play being on the
attack all the time, I mean, you've got to be
on your toes defensively if you're the other team.

Speaker 10 (13:07):
Right, Yeah, totally.

Speaker 17 (13:09):
We have a lot of great players that just want
to drive up people that want to get either to
the inline or towards skull, and I think especially outside
backs for our wingers, we're trying to get them the
ball as much as possible, so they always have to
be on their toes.

Speaker 7 (13:22):
And ready, we've got a couple.

Speaker 4 (13:24):
Of minutes left in this segment, So I wanted to
ask about the two of you playing together on the
field and how you each bring your own styles and skills.
How have you been able to mesh that on the
field together and build chemistry both being midfielders.

Speaker 16 (13:39):
Yeah, well, I think Kat sees the game really well,
and so I feel like I like to distribute the
ball and kind of just have the ball at my
feet and like see those runs. And she just seems
to always be open, so that makes my job really easy.
And so I feel like just both coming from different programs,
but like having experience, being like confident in how we

(14:01):
play has really allowed us, like Mesh really lout on
the midfield along with the Leah, Yeah.

Speaker 17 (14:08):
No, I totally agree. I think we all or we
both have different I guess, skill sets, but I think
that is what makes it work, because you don't want
like two or three of the same players. And I
know Sky's she's been amazing. Like for me, I'm a
person that's like very going forward attacking. Obviously I do defend,

(14:30):
but she's had the role of kind of sitting a
little bit deeper, and I know, like that can be difficult,
especially if we want to go forward so much. So
I just really appreciate her doing all the things necessary
to the team that maybe aren't like highlighted as much,
you know with statistics or like oh you've done this
and that, But everybody on the team knows the important

(14:51):
role that she plays, and I think she just does.

Speaker 18 (14:54):
You do your very very.

Speaker 4 (14:57):
Kat You've had five goals, but you've also I think
got earned five assists, so you have set your teammates
up as much as you've scored, how much fun do.

Speaker 7 (15:05):
You have setting your teammates up.

Speaker 4 (15:07):
Obviously it's fun to score goals, but setting your teammates
up for success too.

Speaker 18 (15:12):
I enjoy it just as much.

Speaker 17 (15:14):
I think whether I get in a goal or syst
it doesn't really matter to me as long as the
team is doing well. I know, like for lots of people,
I think they consider goals. I guess to be better,
but at the end of the day, I want the
team to do well. So if I'm scoring, if somebody
else is scoring, I have just as good a a
time celebrating.

Speaker 18 (15:33):
Afterwards.

Speaker 4 (15:35):
We're here with Sky Leach and Catherine Rapped from Kentucky
women's soccer. They've got a big home finale coming up
against South Carolina. It's their pink out. We'll talk a
little bit about that. On the other side, we'll talk
more about that and we'll break things down with them
as well. You're listening to BBN Radio, presented by Clark's
pumpin Shop here on the UK Sports Network.

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Speaker 4 (20:34):
Welcome back to BBN Radio presented by Clark's Pumpin's Shop.
We've got another segment talking Kentucky women's soccer before their
matchup with South Carolina. Big ranked opponent coming in to
the Bail Soccer Complex for the home finale, and it's
also the pink Out the Kickout Cancer game for the
women's soccer team. Skyleitch and Katherine Rapp join us, both

(20:55):
midfielders for the soccer team and ladies. It's hard to
believe leave that we're already here talking about the stretch
run and the final home match and everything. But I
guess it's also because you start the season so early
in early August. But tell me a little bit about
preparing for the final home match and the crowd that
everybody's excited and expected to see for that game.

Speaker 17 (21:19):
I'm really excited about it. Obviously, we'll prepare as much
as possible, and I think we'll be ready to try
and get the win for the fans that will be there.
Just really excited that it's a kind of pink out
game that we get to do something really cool and
special as like a for our last home game.

Speaker 18 (21:37):
So excited for it.

Speaker 4 (21:39):
It's got to be a fun part too, sky of
being a student athlete and being able to use the
game to help especially promote something like the pink out
and breast cancer awareness and things like that.

Speaker 7 (21:50):
To use your pedestal to do that.

Speaker 16 (21:52):
Yeah, No, for sure, I'm glad we're putting these positions
to be able to do that. I think it's an
awesome cause. And yeah, I'm looking forward to the game.

Speaker 4 (22:00):
In terms of the crowds, I mean, how what's it
like playing at the bell in front of big Blue Nation.

Speaker 18 (22:06):
I think it's an amazing environment.

Speaker 16 (22:08):
I love our fans are loud and they bring so
much energy, and it really does help on the field.
It's easy to play off of that energy and want
to do something for the fans, you know.

Speaker 18 (22:17):
I love the energy. It's so great.

Speaker 4 (22:20):
I wanted to circle back to coach Fabiano. I asked
you how much fun you have in the style that
he wants to play. But what is it like playing
for coach Fabiano?

Speaker 17 (22:29):
Kat, It's really like, I have a great time. Like
in practice, it's very difficult, but not in a sense
of like bad. But he's trying to push you to
do your best along with the other players on the team.
So we're trying to get the little details correct in
order for the whole big picture of what we want

(22:51):
to do to be like done at a high level.
And I think he's hard on us, but he also
has a side that's more or where he is going
to joke with you as well, so it's I think
there is a balance with him, and I think that's
why the team is able to be successful and consistent
because we always know what we're.

Speaker 18 (23:10):
Going to get from him.

Speaker 4 (23:12):
Kat I'm glad you brought up the training and the
practices and how tough they can be, because I would
imagine as midfielders just an all around role, you got
to have the skills and athleticism obviously, but also the
awareness of the pitch and where the ball is. So
what is training like as a midfielder? How intense can
practices be and things like that, is you try to make.

Speaker 17 (23:33):
Yourselves better, They're really intense, like I don't as a midfielder.
I think sometimes I put pressure on myself to perform
as much as possible, but that's coming for me like
my teammates and the coaches. They're all there trying to
get me to do my best. And I think the

(23:54):
intensity of the practices help us and a specifically me
prepare for the games because they're to be so intense
with the pressure of the other teams. So I enjoy
it like I don't want the practices to be easy.
I want them to be difficult so that during a game,
you know, you're never kind of phased by the difficult play,

(24:16):
the physicality, the intensity of it.

Speaker 7 (24:18):
Scott, how about for you?

Speaker 16 (24:20):
Yeah, I think our coaches and teammates have done a
great job of just creating that competitive environment because then
it's just similar to a game. Like it's like Kat said,
like it's not unexpected, like we're used to training like that,
so we just feel prepared. But yeah, I know, I
think our team and coaches have just done a great
job of making practice so similar to what it feels

(24:40):
like in a game.

Speaker 4 (24:42):
Again, Kentucky women's soccer with a big match against South Carolina.
They'll take on the game Cocks Thursday, October sixteenth. It's
a seven point thirty first kick. It is the Kickout
Cancer Pinkout game and the final home match before two
on the road to end the regular season. We're joined
by Sky Leach and Catherine Rapp and we got a

(25:03):
couple of minutes left in the segment, so I wanted
to talk a little bit about your journeys to get
to Kentucky, and I guess, first of all, Sky, the
easiest question would be when did you first fall in
love with soccer?

Speaker 7 (25:14):
What attracted you to the sport?

Speaker 18 (25:16):
Yeah, I started playing soccer.

Speaker 16 (25:18):
I want to see when I was around three years
old and I have an older sister and she played soccer,
and when I was little, I just wanted to do
everything she did.

Speaker 18 (25:26):
She was my role model.

Speaker 16 (25:27):
I just wanted to copy her with everything, and so
immediately started playing soccer. I played a few other sports,
but soccer stuck with me and ever since then, Yeah,
I've been playing.

Speaker 4 (25:40):
Speaking of sisters, Catherine, I know you've been asked about
this plenty, but you are a triplet and all three
of you played Division Ie soccer.

Speaker 7 (25:47):
That is a neat story.

Speaker 17 (25:49):
Yeah, it's pretty amazing. I've really enjoyed the fact that
for my whole life, basically I've not to play with
my sisters, and even though now I'm not playing with them,
just getting to watch them, you know, thrive and do
well at their schools and me here.

Speaker 18 (26:05):
It's just amazing.

Speaker 4 (26:08):
And you're spread out too. I think you have one
sister at Portland State and then you have another one
at Coastal Carolina.

Speaker 7 (26:14):
Do your parents get frequent flyer miles?

Speaker 17 (26:17):
Yeah, they try and go out to as many games
as possible. They're traveling all over the country. I was
lucky my sister at Coastal Carolina. They came down and
played Louisville, and so we had a game the same day,
so they watched my game. Then we drove down to Louisville,
and then we're able to watch my sister. So that
was pretty awesome.

Speaker 4 (26:38):
Now you come to Kentucky from Florida International FIU, and
I think at one point you were playing with one
of your sisters down there.

Speaker 17 (26:44):
Correct, Yes, I was playing with Elizabeth. I got to
play with her for two years and it was amazing.
I had such a great time with her, and I
loved the two years that we were together. But now
I'm just really excited that she has this opportunity to
new school. Along with myself being here.

Speaker 4 (27:03):
You obviously have the support system here at Kentucky with
your teammates, coaches and friends that you've made.

Speaker 7 (27:08):
But how big is it too to have two sisters
that are in the trenches and playing the sport as
well that you can kind of lean on.

Speaker 17 (27:14):
It's amazing, Like I can call them obviously whenever I want,
and we can discuss soccer, whatever that I'm feeling in
the moment. I think having the two of them is
just completely different. I guess to anybody else, I guess
they're like more than sisters. So just anything that I need,
they're always there.

Speaker 4 (27:35):
The Transfer Portal is also a part of your journeys
and your stories in terms of the emotions of the
decision once you've made to jump into the portal sky,
what was that like? Excited, nervous seeing what's out there,
betting on yourself, just kind of take me through the
whole gambit.

Speaker 18 (27:52):
I'd say a mix of all of that.

Speaker 16 (27:53):
I was really nervous, but really excited to see because
I had no idea what was going to happen. But yeah, yeah,
once I was in, it very stressful, but I'm so
thankful for the experience. I had a great experience in
the portal, But yeah, it can be scary for sure.

Speaker 4 (28:09):
You were in the Big Twelve, like we talked about,
was the SEC kind of something you were looking at
when you decided to go in the portal and why Kentucky?

Speaker 16 (28:16):
Yeah, I was looking at other schools in the Big Twelve,
but I really liked the SEC and just I want
to experience a different conference, and I knew it was
going to be a competitive conference, and so yeah, that
was definitely something I was looking towards.

Speaker 7 (28:29):
What stood out about Kentucky?

Speaker 16 (28:31):
Why was this the destination I came on my visit
and I remember after dinner, Troy took me and my
dad back to his office and we just had an
amazing conversation.

Speaker 18 (28:43):
I knew, like right after that, like I wanted to
come here.

Speaker 16 (28:46):
I just like Troy's like honesty and like what he
wanted in the program, and like what he was just
saying about, like the competitiveness and like the hunger, and
like he just wants to win.

Speaker 18 (28:56):
And I just wanted an environment like that.

Speaker 7 (29:00):
About you.

Speaker 4 (29:00):
When you made the decision to go into the portal,
what was it like for you the experience.

Speaker 17 (29:05):
I'd say it was a little bit nervous, but I
was also just really excited at the opportunity to see,
you know, what schools, what people reached out and obviously
ended up coming here and it was an easy choice
at the end of the day I had I didn't
ever even end up coming on a visit here because

(29:26):
I did it, Like entered the portal in the middle
of the semester, so that it just wasn't time. But
just from the conversations I had with all the coaches,
I just knew it was the right place for me
and that I was going to succeed here.

Speaker 7 (29:41):
What was that first meeting with coach Fabiano?

Speaker 17 (29:43):
Like it was over the phone and we just talked
about like it was mostly just it wasn't even really
Socker related. It was about just I guess me and
what I was looking for, what he was looking for,
and so the things that we were discussing were just
matched for both of us, ladies.

Speaker 4 (30:01):
We appreciate you coming on the show with us again.
Good luck against South Carolina the pinkout game on Thursday,
October sixteenth. It is a seven thirty first kick, and
I know the postseason push is coming, so good luck
to that and we look forward to continuing to follow
the team as you guys get into the postseason.

Speaker 18 (30:18):
Thank you.

Speaker 7 (30:19):
That's Catherine Rapp and.

Speaker 4 (30:20):
Sky Leach with us here on BBN Radio presented by
Clark's Pumping Shop. When we come back, we will switch
over to the Baseball Diamond. As the Cats just had
their first fall exhibition against West Virginia.

Speaker 7 (30:32):
They showed really well.

Speaker 4 (30:33):
So Scott Campbell and Luke Lawrence will join us to
talk about that coming up as you listen to the
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Speaker 7 (33:54):
Welcome back, everybody.

Speaker 4 (33:55):
It's a BBN radio presented by Clark's Pumping Shop here
on the UK Sports Network and we're gonna move over
from the soccer pitch to the baseball diamond from the
Bell Soccer Complex over to Kentucky Proud Park. We're joined
by Luke Lawrence, senior infielder out of Evergreen Park, Illinois
and one of the new faces on the team this year,
we got Scott Campbell. He's a senior outfielder from Macon, Georgia.

(34:16):
On the show with us guys. First of all, I
know it's busy with fall practice. You got some scrimmages
and exhibitions, but thanks for taking some time to join us.

Speaker 15 (34:23):
Yeah, thanks for having us.

Speaker 4 (34:24):
Well, you recently scrimmaged West Virginia and Luke, I'm going
to start with you. Both of you were in the
regional West Virginia was a part of last year, but
Luke was there a little extra motivation going into this
exhibition even.

Speaker 7 (34:36):
Though it doesn't really count towards anything in the fall.

Speaker 29 (34:38):
Yeah, I think obviously losing the season like that, it
was a little bit of bitter taste, but yeah, I
thought it was just good to get out there and
play somebody other than ourselves and the inner squads and
see who we're.

Speaker 15 (34:47):
Made of against a different team.

Speaker 4 (34:49):
Scott, I'll get more into your journey and the transfer
in a minute. But you saw Kentucky last year in
that regional, the way they played and everything that that
kind of appeal to you as you were thinking about
entering the portal.

Speaker 7 (35:02):
Yeah.

Speaker 10 (35:02):
Absolutely, I really like what Kentucky brains to the table,
just like every day and the energy on the team.
And two, like, I knew this game against West Virginia
would be big for the program. I mean a lot
to the Kentucky family, So it's fun.

Speaker 4 (35:17):
How big has this fall been for you being in
a totally new place with a whole new system and
team and program.

Speaker 10 (35:22):
Yeah, I mean it's awesome. But it's also my fourth school,
so I'm kind of used to that process of trying
to fit in and understand everything.

Speaker 4 (35:30):
So but it's been awesome, a great experience there.

Speaker 7 (35:33):
And Luke, this is year two. How different is this
fall compared to the one last year?

Speaker 29 (35:38):
I mean, it feels really good just to be, you know,
having another season under my belt and being here. But yeah,
I think the locker room vibe is really good right now.
I feel like everyone's getting along well, so it's super exciting.

Speaker 4 (35:48):
Do you find yourself kind of being a resource. I
think there's twenty three new faces of you know what
they're going through this year, so you can be a
resource to that.

Speaker 29 (35:56):
Yeah, I think it's cool that I went through that,
like you said, and then now it's I'm leading them
and trying to help them find their way through the
program and the system and just doing everything I can
to make them feel like home and comfortable to play
out there.

Speaker 4 (36:10):
You and Tyler formed a great tandem Tyler Bell up
the middle last year. What are some things you're focused
on this fall just to continue to get better?

Speaker 7 (36:17):
Yeah.

Speaker 15 (36:17):
I think I feed off of him really well. I
think he feeds off me well.

Speaker 29 (36:20):
I think it's just continuing to better ourselves up the middle,
whether it's defensively, you know, talking to the pictures out
the whole field, just being a leader in general, and
then obviously just trying to grind together and make it
further in the regional.

Speaker 4 (36:34):
Scott there's plenty of positions up for grabs in that outfield.
What is the competition like amongst the outfielders pushing each other?

Speaker 10 (36:42):
Dude, it's awesome. I mean there's some good bats out there,
not only but there's also some really good defenders, and
I think it's It's really great for all of us,
you know, because whoever ends up out there, they're going
to have to beat out other really strong competitors. So
I think it's going to be good for us no
matter who comes out on top.

Speaker 7 (36:59):
Of the outfield.

Speaker 4 (37:00):
Mentioned having transferred before, so that experience of learning a
new program.

Speaker 7 (37:03):
What's the biggest key for you this fall? Just settling
in with this group.

Speaker 10 (37:07):
The details. Like, I feel like we work on so
many small little things, and I think each program does,
like they have their things that they really like to
hit on. But coach Manage is just like everything like
if he can find something that we can get better at,
like so small, like he's just gonna hammer and hammer it.

Speaker 7 (37:24):
So you all.

Speaker 4 (37:25):
Impressed really well against Virginia scoring a west Virginia scoring
twenty six runs. Luke, what was your takeaway from the
exhibition game.

Speaker 29 (37:33):
I think it was just good to be out there
and you know, fly around a little bit, you know.
I thought the pitching staff did really well upon on
the strike zone and then the headers came out firing.
I think it's something that we were just trying to
see what we were like against a different team that's
a good program and get battle tested. So I think
it's just a little taste of what we're gonna be
like in the spring.

Speaker 7 (37:52):
Yeah, this is for either one of you.

Speaker 4 (37:54):
The coaches like to divide these exhibitions into two seven
inning games, if you will. That first one down eight
to one in the fifth, came back in one that
seven inning set nine to eight. What was the difference
in the two innings where this offense just exploded and
took control.

Speaker 18 (38:09):
Yeah.

Speaker 15 (38:10):
I think we're never out of it as an offense.

Speaker 29 (38:12):
There's so many components that we bring offensively, and I
think that's the best part about our offense is there's
so many little things that we can fire, and we
do a great job at buying into that system and
completing it to the best.

Speaker 21 (38:22):
Of it is.

Speaker 7 (38:23):
Scott, you saw it last year. You're tasting at this fall.

Speaker 4 (38:26):
How much fun are you having in the way this
offense goes, stealing bases, running power, all of it.

Speaker 10 (38:32):
Oh, tons, Like, I love it. It's everything that I
want to be as a baseball player. And he's just
so aggressive and I think that makes us a very
scary offense.

Speaker 7 (38:41):
Yeah, no doubt about it.

Speaker 4 (38:42):
And I mean when you talk about coach Menjion wanting
to get those details down. It's especially in the sec
you know, it's moving a runner here, getting a runner
over when you have a chance to bring that run
in right, those little things make a huge difference.

Speaker 29 (38:54):
Yeah, definitely, always preaches don't underestimate the importance of one run.

Speaker 7 (38:58):
It matters. Yeah. Absolutely.

Speaker 4 (39:00):
We're chatting with Luke Lawrence and Scott Campbell here on
Clark's Pupping Shot BBN Radio. I want to go back
to to Chase Sloan. This is year number two working
with him. How does he push you with the style
that he coaches with.

Speaker 29 (39:13):
I think he does a great job. He's very like,
he gets along with us very well. He's a younger coach,
and I think in the cages he does a great
job at tailoring to what we need as an individual,
but also like what the team needs. So there's a
good balance between that and it's just really super fun
to play with for him as a position player.

Speaker 4 (39:30):
Scott, what's it been like for you kind of learning
Coach Sloan's style and also using the resources available in
the batting cages and all the video and everything that
come with it.

Speaker 10 (39:39):
I think it's awesome. I think He is really good
at messing with college kids, which is I mean you
would think like everybody would be good at it, but
he does it really well. And he also takes care
of that professional aspect where it's like, hey, I'm still
your hitting coach. Let's work right now, and then he
can cut.

Speaker 7 (39:56):
Up with you.

Speaker 10 (39:57):
But it just really helps you have a good relationship
with your heating coaches.

Speaker 7 (40:00):
Really.

Speaker 4 (40:01):
Yeah, Austin Cuzino, I know, will work with you guys
as well, and I love talking to him. There's this
quiet intensity about him, especially when it comes to game time. Scott,
how does that or has that rubbed off on you
and the team?

Speaker 28 (40:13):
Yeah?

Speaker 10 (40:14):
For sure, for sure, Like he just is he seems
like a player, he's still like just seems like he's
one of us, and just having him with us every
day like it definitely like fire.

Speaker 4 (40:23):
Shot Well, I mean he's still pretty young and fresh
off he's playing days loop, so he can kind of
relate to what you guys are going through, especially in
the SEC.

Speaker 15 (40:30):
Yeah, definitely.

Speaker 29 (40:31):
I mean he had the opportunity to put on the
Kentucky jersey and play I think he just loves everything
about Kentucky.

Speaker 4 (40:37):
Yeah, you had a great finish to last year, Luke,
you hit four seventy six in the postseason, just incredible
to watch. How have you built off that finish going
into the summer in the fall.

Speaker 29 (40:48):
Yeah, I think it was a really good and offensively
not what we wanted, but I think that kind of
fueled me to keep going and you know, taking that
little bit of good and then continuing it in this
fall so then can get better and clean up some
other aspects and then be prepared for the spring and
just get after it.

Speaker 4 (41:05):
Then, Scott, you put up great numbers with the USC Upstate,
hitting nearly four hundred, eleven homers, fifty four RBIs, twenty
one stolen bases. How do you feel like your game's
going to translate now to this level and help contribute
in a lineup with Kentucky.

Speaker 10 (41:20):
I think my preparation, you know, I just got to
keep that routine and having confidence in the preparation that
you're putting into all your cage work and your defensive
work and taking care of your body and just letting
that carry over and just continue to show up to
the play with confidence and go out to the field
being aggressive.

Speaker 4 (41:37):
One of my favorite things about Kentucky Proud Park. Is
it plays pretty neutral because the weather can make it
a really big ballpark sometimes or if the wind's blowing
out all of a sudden, you can expect a lot
of runs to be scored. So from an outfielder's perspective,
what has it been like kind of learning how the
ball carries and seeing it at Kentucky Proud.

Speaker 10 (41:56):
Park, it's it's I mean, you hit the nail on
the head. It's you some days, and then some days
it's like you better, like get a little closer to
the wall because the ball is just gonna carry. But
I really like our turf too, Like our turf isn't
too bouncy. It plays very true, So I mean, I'm
loving it out there.

Speaker 4 (42:13):
You led me right into my next question for Luke.
It is a pretty true hop when it comes to
the infielders, isn't it.

Speaker 26 (42:18):
Yeah?

Speaker 10 (42:18):
It is.

Speaker 15 (42:19):
I think we're pretty fortunate for that.

Speaker 4 (42:20):
Yeah, it's really nice, and I feel like there's times
where it plays the bounces not only are true, but
you get you don't have to expect these sped up
hops or anything. So as an infielder, you kind of
know where you need to be when you see it.

Speaker 15 (42:33):
Off the bat right, Yeah, definitely it helps slow the
game down as well.

Speaker 7 (42:36):
Yeah. Absolutely.

Speaker 4 (42:38):
Real quick, guys, before we take our next commercial break,
just kind of tell me in these inner squad scrimmages,
I've been to a couple, they get pretty intense.

Speaker 7 (42:46):
Don't they.

Speaker 15 (42:49):
It gets pretty competitive.

Speaker 4 (42:50):
It's a very competitive group, and we're going to talk
more about them coming up here in just a moment.
Right now, let's get to our final break here on
this week's show, you're listening to bb Radio presented by
Clark's Pumpinshop.

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Speaker 4 (47:39):
Welcome back into our final segment of BBN Radio, presented
by Clark's Pumping Shot. For this week, we're talking Kentucky
baseball with Luke Lawrence and Scott Campbell, and they've got
a couple of scrimmages coming up. You have some chances
to get an early preview of this baseball team, especially
Friday night, October seventeenth. It's the Blue White Scrimmage, free

(48:00):
to the public. It's opened to anybody who wants to
come watch the guys, and I encourage you to do so.
It's a six o'clock first pitch. They've also got a
home exhibition game against Morehead State coming up on Sunday,
October twenty sixth, and then I'll kind of round out
the fall practice for.

Speaker 7 (48:15):
The baseball team.

Speaker 4 (48:16):
But these guys are gonna be a lot of fun
to watch this spring. You got a chance to get
an early preview of that beginning Friday, October seventeenth, So
come on out and check these guys out Scott. We
mentioned you're one of the new faces on the team
this year, so I wanted to ask you about your
journey a little bit. It's been, like you mentioned, a
winding road to get to Lexington. But when you decided

(48:36):
to jump back into the portal this time around, I
imagine you kind of knew what to expect, So maybe
the nerves weren't there, but a lot of excitement over possibilities, right.

Speaker 10 (48:45):
Yeah, for sure, I really wanted to give with the
coaching staff that I felt like liked me for the
player that I am. And when I was talking to
Coach Manage and Coach Coozy and even Coach Sloan, like
I could just tell, like, man, these guys they love
baseball and two like they just like that Kentucky brand
of we're gonna lay him down, we're gonna steal you know,

(49:08):
and that just like I mean, I just couldn't pass
up on. Now I'm so excited to have an opportunity
to come play here.

Speaker 4 (49:14):
Tell us a little bit about your background. When did
you first fall in love with baseball and you knew
that was the sport I wanted.

Speaker 10 (49:20):
To play, dude, I mean, maybe like all the way
back to before I really got memories. My dad played
in college. He played like some independent leagues, but just
like watching him play slow pitch softball. I think that's
like one of my first memories where I was like, dude,
like I want to play this game, like, and I
just never really looked back, like I've always just wanted
to be as good as I could be.

Speaker 4 (49:41):
Yeah, do you have a favorite player that you've either
kind of emulated or you just enjoy watching him play
the game?

Speaker 7 (49:48):
I think a.

Speaker 10 (49:50):
Time, Yeah, of course, of course, but at times like
Acunya can be a little lazy and obviously not those parts,
but I really like watching him when he's just special.

Speaker 7 (50:01):
Yeah, he's a special player.

Speaker 4 (50:02):
Luke, you and I have talked before about you had
a background not just in baseball, but you played some.

Speaker 7 (50:07):
Hockey at a pretty good level too.

Speaker 4 (50:09):
So I've always wanted to circle back to that and
ask you, do you have a fun story or memory
from playing hockey that you like to tell people that
we can share on radio.

Speaker 9 (50:19):
Oh?

Speaker 29 (50:19):
Man, I think I guess my biggest hockey like I
think I was ten years old. Maybe we won state,
which was like really cool. I mean, I know it
was ten years old, but like that was probably one
of my best moments in hockey. Was ten years old
when in state and I thought it was the coolest
thing ever ten years old.

Speaker 7 (50:36):
Do they give ten year olds rings?

Speaker 15 (50:38):
We got like a little cup trophy.

Speaker 7 (50:40):
Yeah, yeah, that's awesome.

Speaker 4 (50:43):
And now, of course you're you're on a great track
with baseball, and I'm just curious for both of you
being transfers into the program. How much was the player
development a key part of wanting to come to Kentucky
Because I was just going through in my mind the
list of guys that came here and now at the
next level. Ryan Ridder was a transfer, He's now in
the bigs. You've got Ryan wald Schmidt, Gil Foyle, Harney Gillham.

(51:05):
The list goes on and on. So how much is
that player development aspect of this program appealing when you're
thinking about Kentucky, Luke, I'll start with you.

Speaker 29 (51:14):
Yeah, I feel like it's everything for any player that
wants to get better with the game. I think the
coaching staff does a great job at, you know, letting
you know that the resources are all here, like the
batting cages, the nutrition centers. I mean, our strength guy
coach Jones is amazing with everything that we do in
that weight room that prepares us to be on the field,
and then they do a great job on the field
as the coaching staff, just bettering every little aspect of

(51:37):
the game that you can imagine.

Speaker 4 (51:39):
Scott, you've touched on it a little bit, but just
that knowing how much this staff can help you at
had to appeal too.

Speaker 10 (51:45):
Yeah, for sure, Like when I went into the portal
this past summer, my previous head coach he was behind
my back, he was like do that, Like yeah, like
let's go, like, let's get you somewhere good. And when
I told him I was talking to Kentucky, he was like, dude,
like we've played them and I've watched them and like
they get after it, and like you that's that would
be great for you. And so yeah, it's it's been

(52:05):
just that. It's been awesome.

Speaker 4 (52:07):
You've got the SEC schedule has been announced. The rest
of the schedule will come out in the in the
coming weeks, but the SEC schedules announced and the one
thing that stood out ten opponents eight regional appearances. Among
those ten four super regionals to College World Series. Look,
it's just another year in the SEC, right, Yeah, it is.

(52:28):
How excited Scott are you to jump in? You've played
these big teams, but now to go into a schedule
like this.

Speaker 10 (52:33):
Yeah, I mean obviously like a mid majors you're playing,
but you're playing on a Tuesday, you know, and that
regional last year is really the first time, like you're
coming out and you're seeing somebody's Friday night guy, and
I'm just so excited for that. I'm excited for our
team too, like I feel like we are going to
compete very well, and so I'm just looking forward.

Speaker 12 (52:51):
To it for sure.

Speaker 4 (52:52):
We're chatting with Luke Lawrence and Scott Campbell from Kentucky
Baseball there in the midst of their fall camp fall practice,
and they've got a big time scrimmage, the Blue White Scrimmage,
coming up Friday, October seventeenth, the chance for fans to
get a sneak preview of this group. And I'm just
curious in your travels with baseball, whether it's with prior
stops or here at Kentucky outside of playing in Lexington, Luke,

(53:16):
is there a place that you enjoyed playing some crowds
you enjoyed playing in front of honestly, No, you love
being at home.

Speaker 29 (53:23):
Yeah, I love being at home, But I think it's
also cool, you know, to walk into a different place
with the Kentucky on your chest.

Speaker 15 (53:29):
I think that's something special.

Speaker 4 (53:30):
Yeah, Scott, has there been anywhere where you were like, yeah,
this place is pretty cool?

Speaker 7 (53:34):
I like competing here.

Speaker 10 (53:35):
There was a minor league park we played at Clemson
at last year and it was awesome. It was like
right in between Spartanburg and Clemson and so it was
sold out. It was pretty cool. Yeah, just really the
big crowds obviously, Like, that's what I'm after.

Speaker 4 (53:51):
Continuing to grow the chemistry, especially between you and Tyler
up the middle. It's already there, I know that, but
trying to just continue to get better. Do you guys
feel like you're getting that point where you don't even
have to say anything, just give each other that look
and you know what the other one's thinking.

Speaker 15 (54:07):
Oh yeah, definitely. I think we're pretty good at that
right now.

Speaker 7 (54:10):
Yeah.

Speaker 29 (54:11):
I mean he's my roommate too, right now. Yeah, this year,
which has been awesome. I think he's just such a
good guy to be around, baseball wise and off the field.
He's one of my best friends, and I'm very grateful
for being able to meet him here at Kentucky.

Speaker 4 (54:24):
How have you seen him just continue to grow and
get better and build off his season last year?

Speaker 7 (54:31):
Yeah?

Speaker 29 (54:31):
I think as a freshman he's just so mature. Last
year it was so mature, and I think he got
better at controlling his emotions. He's game like, you know,
if he has a bad game, just bouncing back, and
I think that just shows who he is as a
player and a person. Like he's just a grinder and
he loves getting after it and he breeds baseball.

Speaker 7 (54:49):
This is for either one of you.

Speaker 4 (54:50):
But I've heard a couple of names consistently this fall,
and especially in particularly in that scrimmage against West Virginia.

Speaker 7 (54:57):
But Ryan Schwartz, what have you seen out of him
this fall?

Speaker 29 (55:00):
I mean, he's just a great guy to be around,
baseball wise and off the field. He's a competitor, super athletic,
and I think he just screams it. He brings a
good vibe to the dugout, you know, kind of loose vibe,
but when it's time to go up there and do
his job, he does it.

Speaker 4 (55:14):
And then Jace Tarnish, who's also a new face to
the teams. He has shown a lot of fire out there.

Speaker 15 (55:21):
Yeah, he does. He loves a smile.

Speaker 29 (55:22):
You can tell that he enjoys every second of the game.
And he's another guy I love being around.

Speaker 4 (55:27):
The one thing I enjoy watching about this team most,
and this is year over year, no matter who's out there,
is that competitive fire and the way you guys celebrate.
I can't wait to see what kind of celebrations you
might have planned this spring on doubles, home runs, whatever
it is, strikeouts.

Speaker 15 (55:44):
They're in the works.

Speaker 7 (55:45):
Yeah, yeah, there's always something with these guys.

Speaker 4 (55:49):
Scott, circling back to you, just getting to when we
talk about that chemistry as you are competing with your
teammates and pushing each other for the outfield spots. Where
is that chemistry right now with the outfielders communicating in
that sort of thing is awesome.

Speaker 10 (56:05):
I mean the old phrase iron sharpens iron, and dude,
we're out there and obviously we're competing for spots, but
I feel like we do a good job of like
being each other's friends as well, you know, and just
knowing that, hey, like we're making each other better and
like nobody wants to just have a spot handed to them.
Everybody's trying to take it and that just creates a
great atmosphere.

Speaker 4 (56:26):
It sounds simple, but when you're out there and it's
live bullets and the balls in the air and everything,
there's a reason why. And these scrimmages and practice men
always repeats the word communicate, right, key, right, that's right,
that's right. So guys again, you got a home scrimmage
Blue White game at Kentucky Proud Park on Friday, October

(56:48):
seventeenth at six o'clock, first pitch.

Speaker 7 (56:50):
I know you guys are looking forward to seeing big
Blue Nation come out and watch.

Speaker 15 (56:52):
Right, Yeah, definitely love for them to come out.

Speaker 4 (56:55):
Yeah, Luke Scott, thank you guys so much for being
with us. That's going to do it for our show
this week, and we'll catch you guys at Kentucky Proud Park.
Thank you all right, that's going to do it for
our show this week. Again, we appreciate everybody joining us.
If you missed any of these interviews with women's soccer
or baseball, you can find those on UKSN All Access.
We'll also post them on our UK Sports Network podcast,

(57:17):
which is a free download and a free listen. You
can catch all of those there, but until next Monday.
We hope you enjoy the rest of your week and
we'll see you next Monday night, beginning at seven o'clock
right here on the UK Sports Network.

Speaker 3 (57:36):
Entucky, Entucky, you've been listening to Clarks Pump and Shop
Big Blue Nation Radio on the UK Sports Network.

Speaker 6 (57:48):
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Speaker 3 (57:49):
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