July 18, 2025 • 35 mins
Jewls and Jade Castillo, sisters and former Lady Conchs softball players, share their journey from players to coaches and their passion for developing the next generation of talent at Key West High School.
• Attending the College World Series in June – a dream trip with record attendance of over 100,000 people
• Professional softball's growing popularity with the AUSL now sponsored by Major League Baseball
• The sisters' softball journey from Kennedy Drive's Rosa Hernandez Field to college scholarships
• Transitioning to coaching roles and working to instill "Conch Pride" in current players
• Creating a family atmosphere and focusing on team bonding for the upcoming season
• Current Lady Conchs graduates playing at colleges including FIU, Dartmouth, Lynn University and USF
• Hosting a summer camp with college players to inspire younger athletes
• The importance of fundamentals like throwing and catching for building skilled players
• Life lessons from softball including teamwork, communication, and accountability
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Thanks for tuning in to the Bring Joy podcast.
We're in season five and it'sall about baseball, Talking big
leagues to the little leagues,Yankees to the Conks and
everything in between.
I'll share my joy for the gamewith you and, whether you're a
fan of baseball or goodstorytelling, you'll be
entertained and each episodewill bring a little joy to your
day.
So sit back and relax.
Let's do this thing how wedoing softball fans.
(00:29):
We're in for a good one.
Today I got the sisters Julesand Jay Castillo.
We're going to talk softball.
The two are legends in the LadyConks softball program.
They're part of the coachingstaff and they're big fans of
softball.
So let's get into it.
Welcome to the show, girls.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Thank you for having us.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Thank you, so I want to hear the whole story about
your life in softball.
But before we get to that, Iknow that in June you and the
family went to the College WorldSeries.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
We did yes.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Yeah, let's start right there.
How did that happen?
Speaker 2 (01:04):
That trip is a trip we've been wanting to take since
as long as I can remember.
We played softball basicallyour whole lives and that was
just a destination trip we'vebeen dying to take.
And our parents actuallysurprised us one day.
We came home from work andthey're like look down, we have
a surprise.
And they just told us we weregoing to the World Series.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
That's awesome and it ended up being a historic
series, right Texas versus TexasTech, both first time in the
World Series.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
They would have been the first time for either of the
teams to win, so it was fun.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
And the attendance.
They said it was over 100,000people attended.
That was the most ever.
Over 2 million people viewedthe series, so it was definitely
historic and all the games werecompetitive yes, it was good.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
It's getting bigger and bigger every year, so for us
to be able to go to that tripwas awesome.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
What was the atmosphere like?
Speaker 3 (01:58):
it was crazy.
Every softball players dreamyeah, there were so many people
there.
Past players that have been tothe World Series were there.
It was a lot of fun.
The atmosphere was crazy.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
And will you go back again?
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Absolutely Hopefully next year.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
It's still on my bucket list, so it sounds like I
need to do it.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Yeah, this time we went to the Championship Series,
which was the last three games.
Need to do it, yeah, this time.
This time we went to thechampionship series, which was
the last three games.
But we said next time we wantto go for the whole first week,
a whole from the beginning tothe end.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
So game one, I think texas tech won right.
It was really close.
The second game same thing.
It was really close.
As coaches, would you havepitched kennedy in game three?
Probably not.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah, I think I have to begin at least I wouldn't
have started her, I would havemaybe finished her, closed her
out, but Kennedy in game three.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Probably not.
Yeah, I think I Not to begin,at least I wouldn't have started
her.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
I would have maybe finished her, closed her out,
but I wouldn't have started herjust because at that level you
have so many good hitters,they're going to adapt to it by
game three.
If they don't, I mean you'reprobably not going to play if
you haven't got a hit.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Yeah, they've seen a lot of her pitches.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
They played her in regular season, so that wasn't
four times.
To see a pitcher is a lot.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
The girl that they did bring in after her.
She did really well.
So I think if they would havestarted her and then closed with
Kennedy, they probably wouldhave taken it.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Yeah, that's what I was thinking.
Easy for us to sit back now,you know.
But I was surprised and I knowshe wanted to pitch and they've
been riding that arm the wholeseason yeah, in a pitch, so yeah
, um, that's one of the things.
So I'm I'm still a rookie whenit comes to softball.
You guys know I'm watching moreand more of it, but that's one
(03:39):
of the things that amazes me ishow the girls are able to throw
100 pitches and then go back outthere the next day and pitch.
What's the difference between asoftball pitcher and a baseball
pitcher to be able to do that?
Speaker 3 (03:52):
So they say pitching is a more natural motion than a
baseball pitcher, so they can goout and pitch as much as they
want if they feel up to it or iftheir arm's healthy.
I know, in high school I messedup my arm and throwing overhand
killed my arm.
I would go and I would stillpractice and everything I would
throw underhand like I would doa pitch and my arm felt fine.
(04:14):
So it's just a more naturalmotion.
I feel like pitching wise, soyou could throw more often, you
could throw every day, everygame, so yeah softball doesn't
have any pitching rules when itcomes to pitch counts or innings
or any of that.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
If you have one pitcher, you could pitch them
all season, every game.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
And how many pitches does a softball pitcher have?
Speaker 3 (04:38):
Quite a bit.
So you have fastball changeup,there's drop ball, curve ball,
screw ball, rise ball.
So you have a lot of differentpitches.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
You can throw.
A lot of the times you'll onlysee a pitcher with about three
good pitches.
That's what a lot of coachestell you to focus on.
If you have three good pitches,then you can be fine.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
We talked about.
Softball just continues to growin popularity, not just this
season and the historic numbersthat we already talked about,
but really over the last decade.
It just continues to grow.
And now the AUSL AthletesUnlimited Softball League is
being promoted and sponsored byMajor League Baseball.
Are you guys paying attentionto that league at all and what
(05:20):
are your thoughts about thatprogram?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
That's huge for the Major League Baseball League to
sponsor it.
I think that's a big stepforward for our sport and it's
going to be good for theseplayers.
A lot of times, these players,once they do this uh
professional softball league,they still have to get regular
jobs because they get paidnothing, so I think this is a
big step forward for them, likesalary wise.
Yeah, they're doing a lot ofdouble work.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
So this is a big step forward for them, like salary
wise.
Yeah, they're doing a lot ofdouble work, so this is like
still fun for them, but theystill have to go to work.
Being that the MLB has nowsponsored them, hopefully they
can get more deals and thiscould be their main job, because
a lot of people are starting towatch like more often and it's
getting bigger and bigger now.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
And I know that a lot of the players that are in the
AUSL just were in college, youknow.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Yeah, they had about a week, they were already
shipped off and started playing.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Like Mikayla Edenfield from FSU, she finished
her season and within the nextfew days, I think, she was
already playing.
She was already playing.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Yeah, that's why I got the Voltaire on Her and
Jesse Warren.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
I was going to say their team is stacked.
They could use a few morepitchers they're third right now
, I believe but their team isstacked.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Yeah, they have a really good roster, but they're
not putting the wins togetherright now.
Yep Got a mesh, but I waswatching the game last weekend
and Rachel Garcia, who I didn'teven really know about her until
I started watching those games.
She was hitting 77 miles perhour and that's fast.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Yeah, it is.
She can also play first, canalso play first base.
She can hit she's a.
She's a beast.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
And I think that's one of the reasons why the game
is growing to be so popular isthe athletes are really good.
I mean, their skill level isjust off the chain and, like you
talk about, the players playmultiple positions.
You know they don't justspecialize like you see in
baseball, so much the greatplayers are always on the field.
(07:30):
So if you go to a game you'regoing to see that star player.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
So I think that's part of it.
Mia Scott, she played everyposition one game.
Yeah, that is crazy, but shecame in and started pitching for
her professional team last week, the week before, and people
weren't expecting that, so itwas cool.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Yeah, that is really cool.
I love her and it was neat tosee her because she was on Texas
, right, and they ended upwinning.
I was pulling for Texas Techtoo, but I'm glad she's on the
vaults now because I can rootfor her.
So.
And then Landry Sam Landry,she's Oklahoma, yeah, so she was
on Oklahoma, so she's on theteam too.
(08:13):
So right now the AUSL has fourteams and they're not really
associated with cities oranything, but the games have
been selling out, they've beendoing a tour type of thing
around the country.
So there's four teams.
I think next year they'resupposed to add two more teams
That'll be more city-based.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Yeah, I'll try to see if there's anything close, but
it's a pretty far trip.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
There is also another professional league.
It's the Women's Fast PitchLeague.
So there's four teams in thatleague too.
So I think they're kind ofdivided right now, but hopefully
, you know, they'll combine intoone league and have all the
superstars in one place.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Yeah, cause that's what happened with basketball
also.
Right, there were already someprofessional leagues and then
the WNBA came and it takes awhile for for them to figure it
out and hopefully get it rightyeah, so that they're not split,
you know, and hopefully majorleague baseball will not only
(09:12):
put the money but really helppromote the game.
I know the games are availableon the major league baseball
network and espn, so so far it'soff to a good start.
But I think that women's sportsin general are demanding that
Women's soccer, you know, isreally getting in.
Of course, wnba is reallypopular now.
So good stuff and greatopportunity.
(09:34):
You guys as coaches and we'llget into the coaching bit here
in a little bit but as coachesnow you not only for your
players, you not only only canencourage them play at the next
level for college, but there's areal possibility that they they
can play professionally, sothat that's pretty cool, I think
, also yeah, it is.
(09:56):
It's awesome something for themto look forward to, for sure so
let's back up a little bit allthe way back to where your love
for softball started.
I imagine it's happened onKennedy Drive's, rosa Hernandez
Field.
Take me back to when softballbecame part of your lives.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
I was very little.
I was probably four years old,so I've been playing since I was
four.
So it did start over here atRosa.
When I was in first grade wemoved to Ocala for a few years
and I played in Ocala for a fewyears and then we came back and
I've been here ever since, sincefifth grade.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
I was a little late when it came to starting
softball.
I didn't start till secondgrade when we moved back.
I actually didn't want anythingto do with softball at first.
I was a gymnastics girl.
Okay, when I moved back, I justpicked it up and never looked
back.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
And what positions did you guys play in?
Who were some of your coachesin Little League?
Speaker 2 (10:56):
I started in the infield.
I played pretty much anywherein the infield except first base
and catching and pitching.
I didn't do much of Triedpitching, that hung that up
really quick.
But coaching my dad's our dad'salways been our coach for most
of our life, up until our highschool career.
And then I had other greatcoaches too Coach Jason, coach
(11:18):
Eric.
They've also been my coachessince I was about 10, I would
say that's cool.
Until I graduated, those threehave really been like my core
coaching, my core coaching group.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Yeah, my dad's been my coach for a long time, until
I got to high school.
Then I had coach Steve Wellsfor my first year there, and
then Ashley James and ClintStorr after that, yeah, the
other three years.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Yeah, and who were some of your teammates?
Speaker 3 (11:49):
I had Kendall Snow, angela Niles.
I had so many different peopleAngelica Green, raelynn Fatwa,
raelynn Mackenzie Cohen, JordanRooney.
We played with her in CityLeague the Shonix, the Shonix
Oysterhout, devin Oysterhout, alot of freshman when she was a
(12:11):
senior.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
So I played with some of those people my senior year.
I had two others with me.
I had Madison Garcia sheactually helps coach with us too
and Ashley Griminellis.
We were the senior class.
I played with Bella Perez,marina Goins, yahar Williams you
know those are three bigfreshmen that came in my senior
year and really made some noisefor the program, played with a
(12:34):
lot of good players, but thoseare just a few to name, and you
guys both earned collegescholarships.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Yes, we both went to TCC to play, and then, after our
two years at TCC, we went andjust did school at FSU and
graduated from there.
But I played in high school.
I did pitch first and third.
I really loved third base.
I went to college for pitching,though, and she went to college
(13:03):
for outfield.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
I didn't start playing outfield until actually
the end of my freshman season inhigh school, clint Storr.
I was on JV and Varsity myfreshman year and Coach Clint
Storr, he always told me atpractice he's like you need to
go to the outfield, you need togo to the outfield.
I was like I never played theoutfield before.
And then when I got moved up tovarsity someone got hurt and
they're like who plays outfield?
I was like I do and then, eversince then, I've been an
(13:28):
outfielder.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
He saw.
He saw some Talk about anathlete.
Yep, he saw it.
So what years did you allgraduate then?
Speaker 3 (13:37):
I graduated in 2016, and I was 2019.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
And so you come back to Key West and you become part
of the coaching staff workingunder Coach Jason Garcia you
already mentioned him.
Eric Snow, they've both beenpart of the program for so long
now.
We've had had a run really goodcoaches.
But coach garcia I think he'swhat on his ninth year- I think
(14:01):
this one will be 2016 2017season.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
He's been the coach yep, he, uh, he was the coach
right after I left, so probably2017 season and so how that?
Speaker 1 (14:12):
how'd that?
Speaker 3 (14:13):
So when I came back I started helping at the Little
League field and we've known himour whole lives.
So he was like you want to comeout and help with the pitchers
over here.
So that's how I kind of gotinto it and then I've been there
since.
So now we're JV coaches now.
So I do both JV and varsity.
After JV season's done, I gostay with varsity for the rest
(14:35):
of their season.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
And Jay, what's your role Are you?
Do you work with a certaingroup?
Speaker 2 (14:42):
I do a little bit of everything except pitching I let
her have that but mainly forvarsity.
I mainly work with outfielders,but for JV I'd help a little
bit of everything.
I always told Coach Jason wealways used to joke around with
each other that I was going tocome back and help coach with
him, especially since we didn'twin a state championship.
I always told him you know, I'mgoing to come back and win one
(15:04):
as a coach.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
I love that.
That was one of the questionsthat I wrote down here was I
don't know if you saw, Iinterviewed Joey Gonzalez up
from Marathon High School, who'sthe head coach there, and he
was part of the program and Iasked him the same question but
what does it mean to be analumni of the program and then
come back and coach?
(15:25):
How do you think that adds tothe quality of the program and
how do you think your playersrespond to you, knowing how deep
those roots are?
Speaker 2 (15:35):
For me.
I think it's like amazing tocome back and help coach this
program that built me, who I wasand the player I was and the
woman I am today.
You know they really I mean thepassion I have for it.
It just makes me love it evenmore and I hope I'm showing
those girls the same passion andteaching them the culture and
the pride to have, you know,cunt pride, instill that in them
(15:57):
, just carry themselves how thisprogram should be carried and
respect it.
And to see how far this programhas come is really what makes
me keep going.
We used to plan, we used tohave to line our own field
before every game and now, likewe have this amazing stadium,
you know turf, everything that'stop of the line, top notch, and
(16:17):
to see how far it came it's,it's crazy yeah, it means a lot.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
It helps them too, knowing that, like we played in
the same position as them, wewere conks, we went through the
same program as them, so ithelps we always talk about.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Yep, there were many female coaches growing up so we
talk about it too.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
They're like oh, how was it when you were here?
I'm like nothing like it is now.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
The 2025 season was really successful.
It didn't end the way we wanted, but it was really successful.
You've had almost two monthsnow since the season ended.
What are some of the highlightsfrom the season for you guys?
Speaker 3 (16:55):
For me it's probably Brenner pitching.
She had a crazy season.
I actually wrote down the statHer freshman year she came in
and struck 64 people out herfreshman year and this year she
had 127 strikeouts.
So that just goes to show thegrowth that she's had just in
(17:15):
one year pitching.
Yeah, that's, that's carriedthe team a long way.
We just got to get pastAmerican Heritage next year,
yeah yeah, that was hard endedthe.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
I was there for the conch baseball team and it was
there and then to to be back upthere and see the girls lose it
on that field.
That was tough.
What do we need to do?
What's that next level that weneed to get to?
Because this is something elseI talked about on an episode
earlier.
We're running up on these teamsthat recruit from all over
(17:49):
Florida, all over the country,all over the world for that
matter, and don't like to besour grapes about it, but it
does make it hard to compete.
So, as coaches, how do you keepthe players up and what are you
trying to get to so that we cancompete with that kind of
program?
Speaker 3 (18:05):
So, yeah, up there it's like they pick and choose
who they want, so they can pickthe best shortstop they have
pitcher, pitcher after pitcherafter pitcher.
So for us we have the limitednumber of people we choose we
can choose from.
It's just our school.
So, um, pitching is a bigfactor.
If you don't have more than two, three pitchers it's hard
(18:26):
because if one starts gettinghit, then you, if you don't have
anybody back up, you can throwin there.
It's hard.
So, like schools like that,they have a lot of pitching,
their hitters are very, verygood.
So we just have to capitalizeon hitting, working on hitting,
live hitting, if you hit, youwin ballgames.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
I feel like at the end of the season, like
postseason, our team was reallyjust starting to gel with each
other.
They were really playing foreach other at the end.
I think my goal next year is toget a little bit more team
bonding activities in thebeginning of the season, make
sure they really capitalize onthe family aspect and then so
they can go on the field andjust play for each other every
single game instead of takingall season to really gel.
(19:07):
I feel like that makes acomplete difference.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
I think coming up this year that's going to be a
lot easier to do.
The girls are really closeright now.
It's a lot of younger girls sothey've played with each other
quite a bit recently and lastyear and the years before.
I feel like they're gellingwell.
I think next year is good.
This year coming up is going tobe good, Very good for them.
We have a young team Young andvery talented yeah, be good,
(19:35):
very good for them.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
We have a young team, young and very talented.
Yeah, because we did, we didgraduate some core players, but
there was a lot of freshmen andsophomores that that played, you
know, and I know the jv team isstacked with talent too, so it
seems that the future is brightfor girls softball in key west
sure, I think that the next yearor two we'll be back to the
Final Four.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
Hopefully take it all the way you heard it here first
Time to charm.
The girls are working hard.
They're already out thereworking, so they're doing what
they're supposed to be doing.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
A lot of them are on travel teams, so they're putting
in the work.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
That was one of the things I was going to ask you is
.
We hear so much aboutyear-round sports and single
sports for athletes.
Is it the same with softball?
Are they playing during thesummer?
Do we have one program or arethey kind of scattered?
How does that work for softball?
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Well, for down here it's really hard to get numbers
to do a travel team per yearbecause a lot of them already go
to out-of-town teams and stuff.
So they all just disperse intothe different teams they're
already on.
Some of them just decide to notplay during the offseason and
they just train, train, train.
A lot of them play other sports.
(20:52):
I think it's great when they doplay other sports during school
year.
It's different muscle groups,you know.
Intact it helps in the long runfor be more flexible and all
that the girls like they do.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
they play basketball and volleyball.
We have a lot of weightlifting,weightlifting which really gets
them in shape for season.
So I do like, when they playdifferent sports during the off
season or during those differentseasons, it helps them a lot.
But going they, a lot of themgo and travel.
We have some play for, likeParkland Power Contenders and um
(21:27):
.
They've been going a lot ofdifferent places all over
Rockhold, so it's helping them alot of different places all
over Rock Gold, so it's helpingthem a lot.
Seeing live pitching all summer, keeping playing all summer.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
And there's a lot to be proud of with the Lady Conk
program Just the fact that youguys, almost not quite 10 years
ago, when you graduated, youearned college scholarships.
We have at least one of theplayers that I know is going on
and playing.
How many former lady conks areplaying college ball right now?
Speaker 3 (21:58):
so right now um Bella's playing at FIU,
scarlett's playing at Dartmouth,marina is playing at Lynn Lynn
University, dharma and Dharma'splaying at USF, and Tavin is
that just graduated she is goingto play at the University of
Fort Lauderdale.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
When do you think, or do you think that one day we'll
hear a Lady Conks name calledfor the draft for professional
softball?
Is that day going to happen?
Speaker 3 (22:29):
I think so.
I think so.
I hope so, hopefully.
Hopefully, sooner than later.
I think it's going to happen,so I hope so.
I hope so, hopefully soonerthan later.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
I think it's going to happen.
I hope so.
I know you guys will be part ofit too.
I already got the chills justthinking about it.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
Yeah, that'd be awesome.
I'd definitely try and be atalmost every game.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Yeah, I bet I thought it was cool last year.
Did this really happen that youguys had the Lady Conks were
traveling in a road game?
You got to go see Bella play atFIU and she hits the first home
run of the season.
Did that really happen?
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Yeah, it was awesome.
The girls were going crazy inthe stands.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Yeah, it was awesome.
She definitely put on for thegirls.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
That's really cool.
And, speaking of Bella andMarina going, the two of you are
teaming up with the two of themand hosting a camp next week.
I think it's July 26th.
Yes, tell me about the camp.
What?
What should the girls expectand what is the goal of a summer
camp?
Speaker 2 (23:29):
So the girls should expect to.
You know, come in and just gettaught by two really good
softball players.
I mean, we're just there tohelp them out, but the main goal
is just to keep them, bringthem down here and really show
these young girls that, likethey have a chance to, there's
an opportunity.
We have two, we have four girlsplaying college softball and
for them, to see them it, givethem a little spark, but also
(23:51):
learn from them too.
So we'll be working on uh,infield drills, outfield drills,
hitting pitching, catching soit's a little bit of everything
for them to learn.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
They've been taught a lot by good coaches wherever
they've been playing um, so it'dbe good for them to come down
and teach what they've learnedup there that's really cool.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
I loved it.
When I saw that that go out onsocial media I was like really
psyched because I thought it wascool that, um, there was a camp
earlier in the summer theOklahoma State came down and I
thought that was cool.
Did you guys go to any of thatand how'd that go?
Speaker 2 (24:27):
yeah, we went and watched.
Uh it was.
It was cool to see like how umthey're taught, how they're
teaching new ways.
I definitely picked up some newoutfieldfield drills.
That was taught differentlythan when I was growing up.
They changed it a little bit,so it's cool to see the
development of the sport.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
We were learning just as much as the girls when they
came down, so it was coollearning what they do compared
to what we do, adding stuff towhat we're going to be doing in
the season.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
I think it's a great opportunity for our girls
exposure and all that.
But you know, I got kong priderunning deep.
So when I saw that you guyswere hosting your own camp, I'm
like that's what I'm talkingabout.
So that's really cool.
And what?
What is the age range that cancome out?
Speaker 3 (25:09):
so we did seven and up.
So okay, so seven to highschool yeah that's.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
That's a wide range.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
Yeah, we're gonna break them up within their age,
their age group.
So so you'll still be in thesame age group of, like the
older girls, you're not gonna be.
We're not gonna have 16 yearolds with seven year olds.
Everyone could still learnsomething, but still be at the
speed of your age, yeah so.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
So let me ask you this what's one of the first
skills that you want to developin a 7-year-old, to get them
some fundamental skill that youwant them to learn at that age
that's still going to carry upthrough high school.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Throwing and catching Definitely throwing and
catching.
Yep, A lot of people skip thatstep and it's crazy.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
You get a lot of funky throws and awkward
catching nowadays yeah, youstart with throwing and catching
it'll help you from here on out.
That's the basics you need toknow.
That's what you need to tocapitalize on to go far in the
game.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
I hear that we have some really good pitchers over
there at rosa hernandez field.
They're not even in high schoolyet.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
Nope, they still got a few years over there.
They're waiting for them tocome up.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
The other thing that I recognized last year Shiloh's
mom, sam, actually pointed outto me is we have, like next
generation, lady Conks.
So, for example, my friendDebbie, debbie Arancibia, her
daughter plays catcher in JVright.
I think that's pretty cool thatwe have some daughters out
(26:41):
there and their moms played aswell.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
Yeah, yeah, no, it's awesome.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Bella Perez, her mom played, so we had that combo.
Yeah, there's been quite a few.
Yeah, I was about to say Samwith Shiloh.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
Sam is a big cheerleader out there, so she's
living through shiloh right nowyeah, it's funny because you
know the k crew, we go to allthe baseball games and we feel
real comfortable out at the recs.
But when you go to the backyardit's like a whole different
vibe.
It's like, okay, you know,let's just stand to the back and
and see what happens, becausesoftball moms are tough.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
Sam and Jill.
They're loud back there.
They're really in the game.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
And did Jill also play.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
She played soccer, soccer and track.
Yeah, she was very good atsoccer.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
And her kids are the ones that play multiple sports.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
Yep.
So Lily likes basketball, Macyshe plays soccer.
She loves soccer too, sothey're both playing running
sports that keep them in shape.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
And I love the fact that you talked about the kids,
the benefit to playing othersports.
I just heard Alex Rodrigueztalking about a play that he
made that he wouldn't have madeif he hadn't also played
football.
You know, it worked some othermuscle group and made him more
flexible.
In some way he was able to makethis play and I thought that
was cool to hear that.
Because everything's sospecialized right now Travel,
(28:07):
ball and all these things thatare become a business Sometimes
we lose the purpose of justcreating, creating healthy
athletes we want them to havefun too.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
So if we're just like , oh no, just softball, just
softball, and then they, theylose the love for the game, then
we don't want that what do wehave to look forward to in the
2026 season?
Speaker 1 (28:30):
we talked already about we've got a lot of the
young talent coming back.
But from any fans out therethat are listening, we said
we're going to get achampionship.
Did I hear that?
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Yep, yep, we're on the road for it.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
Soon coming.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
Ready to get back there this year?
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Yeah, it's going to be an exciting season.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
It's going to be a really good season.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
I hope that you guys will put in a good word for me
with Coach Jason and see if wecan get him to be on the show.
Maybe when it's closer to theseason we can do an episode with
the whole coaching staff.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
We'll be ready, we'll tell him he has to go.
He would like it, he would likeit.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
He's got a game face on.
He's always got that game face.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
Last time we were playing in the interview, he was
like have you done it yet?
We were like not yet.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
It's good stuff.
So one of the things I like todo to end the session is a
segment called For the Cycle,and I ask four questions and,
just like completing the cycleon a softball field, it gets
harder as it goes.
All right.
So I'm going to ask fourquestions.
The first two you can bothanswer, and then the last, the
third and fourth.
(29:43):
We'll just pick who wants toanswer which question.
First question is besides theLady Conks or the Conks, what's
your favorite team to root for?
Speaker 3 (29:53):
FSU, for sure, florida State Florida.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
State.
That's it.
How about Kyle Riley?
Speaker 3 (29:59):
winning the home run derby.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
That was awesome.
We were watching and a bunch ofNoles got drafted.
Speaking of FSU yes, they did.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
Yep, we were watching , so, yeah, that was cool.
That home run, derby hisbrother was catching, dad was
pitching, it was awesome.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
Yeah, that was really special.
If he didn't win it, I mean itwas going to ruin the whole
story because the storyline wasright there for it to happen.
What's your favorite baseballmovie?
Speaker 3 (30:29):
Sandlot, yeah, sandlot, for sure.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
Mine too.
Mine too, yeah, joey that Iinterviewed a couple weeks ago.
That was his favorite too, sothat one seems like we have the
most votes.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
Yeah, it's a classic.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
It's really good.
All right, so I got two morequestions that are harder.
One of you can answer one andthe other.
Jules, you're the oldest, soyou answer the last question.
Okay, all right.
Jules, you're the oldest, soyou answer the last question.
Okay, all right.
So the NIL and Transfer Portalare having a big impact on
(31:05):
college athletics.
So, jay, what do you think Is?
Speaker 2 (31:08):
the impact, positive or negative.
Right now, I think, since it'sso fresh, I think everyone's
seeing the positive side of it.
I think in a couple years wemight start seeing the negatives
to it.
That's because everyone's sohigh on the high horse about,
like you know, athletes finallygetting paid and everything.
But I think with money, moneycomes evil too, so I think
there's going to be a nasty sideof it as well, that we're and
(31:30):
then the transfer portal, that's.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
That's a whole other thing.
It's really hard.
You recruit a player to comeplay for you and then, if it
doesn't work out, you know youcould potentially lose half your
your lineup.
So there's that, and.
But there's also theopportunity, if you're not
getting playing time, to go toanother program.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
So yeah, that's like a texas tech.
I think they had a whole newteam, almost Florida's got a lot
of people transferring out.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
So that's, that's a interesting thing happening over
there and as a fan, you getattached to the players, right,
and so I like, I really likethis player, and then the next
season they may be on anotherteam, so it'll be interesting.
Like you said, it's it's earlyin the infancy stages, so to
(32:19):
speak.
We'll see.
We may not know the impact forfor a few more years.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
I think right now, so far it's been great.
You know athletes are, it'sit's a lot of work, it's a
full-time job.
Being a student athlete, um,you know you don't have time to
go work and all that and a lotof the times when you're in
college there's not many playerswho get a full ride.
You know, a lot of thesescholarships are about 20%.
They only cover about 20% ofyour tuition, that's it.
(32:45):
So a lot of people struggle, alot of kids struggle mentally
and stuff with that.
So I think it's good for themthat way, like getting paid just
to be able to do what they love.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
I agree, because the the demands on their time as a
college athlete as both of youknow is is really tough so, and
the colleges are definitelymaking millions and millions of
dollars off of these um athleticprograms.
So, yes, they are, yes, theyare all right, let's, let's,
let's wrap this one up.
This, this, this is a hard one.
I think you can handle it,though.
(33:20):
What what's a life lesson?
That softball has taught youthat you hope your players will
also recognize and learn fromthe game probably like teamwork
communication.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
they're going to need to learn that for jobs in the
future when they go away toschool.
Everything isn't about them allthe time.
You have to work as a team andaccomplish things with other
people as well, so learning howto work with people, it'll help
them in the future and jobs.
If you learn that, I thinkyou'll be successful in life.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
Awesome, really, really, really good.
It's not always about you thatthat's a big one yeah, I think
accountability is another bigone.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
I think a lot of these younger generations, they
rely on their parents a lot andI think we're trying to.
Yeah, we want to win assoftball coaches, but I think,
at the end of the day, for us,we care more about like the
young ladies they become, like,helping them grow into women.
So I think, at the end of theday, for us, we care more about
like the young ladies theybecome, like, helping them grow
into women.
So I think teaching them allthese traits is what really
makes a difference as a coach.
Speaker 1 (34:23):
That's a mic drop moment right there.
Coach, you know, and I thinkthat the title coach maybe next
to mom or dad the next mostrespected title that anybody
could earn is coach.
And once you're someone's coach, you're their coach forever.
And I think you two are greatcoaches and, as a fan of conk
(34:45):
sports, I'm real happy and proudthat you guys are able to
represent and show these girlswhat it is to be a great student
athlete and, like you said,women in this world.
That's so tough.
So I'm proud of you both, Bigfans of your program.
You're welcome to come back onthe show anytime.
Speaker 2 (35:04):
Whenever y'all have us.
We appreciate you for having us.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
Thank you guys.
Y'all have a great night.
Say hi to your mom and daddy,all right.
Speaker 3 (35:11):
I will Thank you.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
Go Conks, go softball .
I'm Joy Newlish and Iappreciate you tuning in to my
podcast.
My purpose is to bring joy intomy life and the lives of others
.
If you enjoyed this episode,drop a review, share and
subscribe, because there's a lotof good stuff on tap.
You can also follow Bring Joyon YouTube and Instagram, or
check my website atjoynewlishcom.
(35:33):
Now go, bring joy to the peoplein your world.
Until next time, much love.
Thanks for tuning in to the Bring Joy podcast.
We're in season five and it'sall about baseball, Talking big
leagues to the little leagues,Yankees to the Conks and
everything in between.
I'll share my joy for the gamewith you and, whether you're a
fan of baseball or goodstorytelling, you'll be
entertained and each episodewill bring a little joy to your
day.
So sit back and relax.
Let's do this thing how wedoing softball fans.
(00:29):
We're in for a good one.
Today I got the sisters Julesand Jay Castillo.
We're going to talk softball.
The two are legends in the LadyConks softball program.
They're part of the coachingstaff and they're big fans of
softball.
So let's get into it.
Welcome to the show, girls.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Thank you for having us.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Thank you, so I want to hear the whole story about
your life in softball.
But before we get to that, Iknow that in June you and the
family went to the College WorldSeries.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
We did yes.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Yeah, let's start right there.
How did that happen?
Speaker 2 (01:04):
That trip is a trip we've been wanting to take since
as long as I can remember.
We played softball basicallyour whole lives and that was
just a destination trip we'vebeen dying to take.
And our parents actuallysurprised us one day.
We came home from work andthey're like look down, we have
a surprise.
And they just told us we weregoing to the World Series.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
That's awesome and it ended up being a historic
series, right Texas versus TexasTech, both first time in the
World Series.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
They would have been the first time for either of the
teams to win, so it was fun.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
And the attendance.
They said it was over 100,000people attended.
That was the most ever.
Over 2 million people viewedthe series, so it was definitely
historic and all the games werecompetitive yes, it was good.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
It's getting bigger and bigger every year, so for us
to be able to go to that tripwas awesome.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
What was the atmosphere like?
Speaker 3 (01:58):
it was crazy.
Every softball players dreamyeah, there were so many people
there.
Past players that have been tothe World Series were there.
It was a lot of fun.
The atmosphere was crazy.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
And will you go back again?
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Absolutely Hopefully next year.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
It's still on my bucket list, so it sounds like I
need to do it.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Yeah, this time we went to the Championship Series,
which was the last three games.
Need to do it, yeah, this time.
This time we went to thechampionship series, which was
the last three games.
But we said next time we wantto go for the whole first week,
a whole from the beginning tothe end.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
So game one, I think texas tech won right.
It was really close.
The second game same thing.
It was really close.
As coaches, would you havepitched kennedy in game three?
Probably not.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah, I think I have to begin at least I wouldn't
have started her, I would havemaybe finished her, closed her
out, but Kennedy in game three.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Probably not.
Yeah, I think I Not to begin,at least I wouldn't have started
her.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
I would have maybe finished her, closed her out,
but I wouldn't have started herjust because at that level you
have so many good hitters,they're going to adapt to it by
game three.
If they don't, I mean you'reprobably not going to play if
you haven't got a hit.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Yeah, they've seen a lot of her pitches.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
They played her in regular season, so that wasn't
four times.
To see a pitcher is a lot.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
The girl that they did bring in after her.
She did really well.
So I think if they would havestarted her and then closed with
Kennedy, they probably wouldhave taken it.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Yeah, that's what I was thinking.
Easy for us to sit back now,you know.
But I was surprised and I knowshe wanted to pitch and they've
been riding that arm the wholeseason yeah, in a pitch, so yeah
, um, that's one of the things.
So I'm I'm still a rookie whenit comes to softball.
You guys know I'm watching moreand more of it, but that's one
(03:39):
of the things that amazes me ishow the girls are able to throw
100 pitches and then go back outthere the next day and pitch.
What's the difference between asoftball pitcher and a baseball
pitcher to be able to do that?
Speaker 3 (03:52):
So they say pitching is a more natural motion than a
baseball pitcher, so they can goout and pitch as much as they
want if they feel up to it or iftheir arm's healthy.
I know, in high school I messedup my arm and throwing overhand
killed my arm.
I would go and I would stillpractice and everything I would
throw underhand like I would doa pitch and my arm felt fine.
(04:14):
So it's just a more naturalmotion.
I feel like pitching wise, soyou could throw more often, you
could throw every day, everygame, so yeah softball doesn't
have any pitching rules when itcomes to pitch counts or innings
or any of that.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
If you have one pitcher, you could pitch them
all season, every game.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
And how many pitches does a softball pitcher have?
Speaker 3 (04:38):
Quite a bit.
So you have fastball changeup,there's drop ball, curve ball,
screw ball, rise ball.
So you have a lot of differentpitches.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
You can throw.
A lot of the times you'll onlysee a pitcher with about three
good pitches.
That's what a lot of coachestell you to focus on.
If you have three good pitches,then you can be fine.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
We talked about.
Softball just continues to growin popularity, not just this
season and the historic numbersthat we already talked about,
but really over the last decade.
It just continues to grow.
And now the AUSL AthletesUnlimited Softball League is
being promoted and sponsored byMajor League Baseball.
Are you guys paying attentionto that league at all and what
(05:20):
are your thoughts about thatprogram?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
That's huge for the Major League Baseball League to
sponsor it.
I think that's a big stepforward for our sport and it's
going to be good for theseplayers.
A lot of times, these players,once they do this uh
professional softball league,they still have to get regular
jobs because they get paidnothing, so I think this is a
big step forward for them, likesalary wise.
Yeah, they're doing a lot ofdouble work.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
So this is a big step forward for them, like salary
wise.
Yeah, they're doing a lot ofdouble work, so this is like
still fun for them, but theystill have to go to work.
Being that the MLB has nowsponsored them, hopefully they
can get more deals and thiscould be their main job, because
a lot of people are starting towatch like more often and it's
getting bigger and bigger now.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
And I know that a lot of the players that are in the
AUSL just were in college, youknow.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Yeah, they had about a week, they were already
shipped off and started playing.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Like Mikayla Edenfield from FSU, she finished
her season and within the nextfew days, I think, she was
already playing.
She was already playing.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Yeah, that's why I got the Voltaire on Her and
Jesse Warren.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
I was going to say their team is stacked.
They could use a few morepitchers they're third right now
, I believe but their team isstacked.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Yeah, they have a really good roster, but they're
not putting the wins togetherright now.
Yep Got a mesh, but I waswatching the game last weekend
and Rachel Garcia, who I didn'teven really know about her until
I started watching those games.
She was hitting 77 miles perhour and that's fast.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Yeah, it is.
She can also play first, canalso play first base.
She can hit she's a.
She's a beast.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
And I think that's one of the reasons why the game
is growing to be so popular isthe athletes are really good.
I mean, their skill level isjust off the chain and, like you
talk about, the players playmultiple positions.
You know they don't justspecialize like you see in
baseball, so much the greatplayers are always on the field.
(07:30):
So if you go to a game you'regoing to see that star player.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
So I think that's part of it.
Mia Scott, she played everyposition one game.
Yeah, that is crazy, but shecame in and started pitching for
her professional team last week, the week before, and people
weren't expecting that, so itwas cool.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Yeah, that is really cool.
I love her and it was neat tosee her because she was on Texas
, right, and they ended upwinning.
I was pulling for Texas Techtoo, but I'm glad she's on the
vaults now because I can rootfor her.
So.
And then Landry Sam Landry,she's Oklahoma, yeah, so she was
on Oklahoma, so she's on theteam too.
(08:13):
So right now the AUSL has fourteams and they're not really
associated with cities oranything, but the games have
been selling out, they've beendoing a tour type of thing
around the country.
So there's four teams.
I think next year they'resupposed to add two more teams
That'll be more city-based.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Yeah, I'll try to see if there's anything close, but
it's a pretty far trip.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
There is also another professional league.
It's the Women's Fast PitchLeague.
So there's four teams in thatleague too.
So I think they're kind ofdivided right now, but hopefully
, you know, they'll combine intoone league and have all the
superstars in one place.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Yeah, cause that's what happened with basketball
also.
Right, there were already someprofessional leagues and then
the WNBA came and it takes awhile for for them to figure it
out and hopefully get it rightyeah, so that they're not split,
you know, and hopefully majorleague baseball will not only
(09:12):
put the money but really helppromote the game.
I know the games are availableon the major league baseball
network and espn, so so far it'soff to a good start.
But I think that women's sportsin general are demanding that
Women's soccer, you know, isreally getting in.
Of course, wnba is reallypopular now.
So good stuff and greatopportunity.
(09:34):
You guys as coaches and we'llget into the coaching bit here
in a little bit but as coachesnow you not only for your
players, you not only only canencourage them play at the next
level for college, but there's areal possibility that they they
can play professionally, sothat that's pretty cool, I think
, also yeah, it is.
(09:56):
It's awesome something for themto look forward to, for sure so
let's back up a little bit allthe way back to where your love
for softball started.
I imagine it's happened onKennedy Drive's, rosa Hernandez
Field.
Take me back to when softballbecame part of your lives.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
I was very little.
I was probably four years old,so I've been playing since I was
four.
So it did start over here atRosa.
When I was in first grade wemoved to Ocala for a few years
and I played in Ocala for a fewyears and then we came back and
I've been here ever since, sincefifth grade.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
I was a little late when it came to starting
softball.
I didn't start till secondgrade when we moved back.
I actually didn't want anythingto do with softball at first.
I was a gymnastics girl.
Okay, when I moved back, I justpicked it up and never looked
back.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
And what positions did you guys play in?
Who were some of your coachesin Little League?
Speaker 2 (10:56):
I started in the infield.
I played pretty much anywherein the infield except first base
and catching and pitching.
I didn't do much of Triedpitching, that hung that up
really quick.
But coaching my dad's our dad'salways been our coach for most
of our life, up until our highschool career.
And then I had other greatcoaches too Coach Jason, coach
(11:18):
Eric.
They've also been my coachessince I was about 10, I would
say that's cool.
Until I graduated, those threehave really been like my core
coaching, my core coaching group.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Yeah, my dad's been my coach for a long time, until
I got to high school.
Then I had coach Steve Wellsfor my first year there, and
then Ashley James and ClintStorr after that, yeah, the
other three years.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Yeah, and who were some of your teammates?
Speaker 3 (11:49):
I had Kendall Snow, angela Niles.
I had so many different peopleAngelica Green, raelynn Fatwa,
raelynn Mackenzie Cohen, JordanRooney.
We played with her in CityLeague the Shonix, the Shonix
Oysterhout, devin Oysterhout, alot of freshman when she was a
(12:11):
senior.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
So I played with some of those people my senior year.
I had two others with me.
I had Madison Garcia sheactually helps coach with us too
and Ashley Griminellis.
We were the senior class.
I played with Bella Perez,marina Goins, yahar Williams you
know those are three bigfreshmen that came in my senior
year and really made some noisefor the program, played with a
(12:34):
lot of good players, but thoseare just a few to name, and you
guys both earned collegescholarships.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Yes, we both went to TCC to play, and then, after our
two years at TCC, we went andjust did school at FSU and
graduated from there.
But I played in high school.
I did pitch first and third.
I really loved third base.
I went to college for pitching,though, and she went to college
(13:03):
for outfield.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
I didn't start playing outfield until actually
the end of my freshman season inhigh school, clint Storr.
I was on JV and Varsity myfreshman year and Coach Clint
Storr, he always told me atpractice he's like you need to
go to the outfield, you need togo to the outfield.
I was like I never played theoutfield before.
And then when I got moved up tovarsity someone got hurt and
they're like who plays outfield?
I was like I do and then, eversince then, I've been an
(13:28):
outfielder.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
He saw.
He saw some Talk about anathlete.
Yep, he saw it.
So what years did you allgraduate then?
Speaker 3 (13:37):
I graduated in 2016, and I was 2019.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
And so you come back to Key West and you become part
of the coaching staff workingunder Coach Jason Garcia you
already mentioned him.
Eric Snow, they've both beenpart of the program for so long
now.
We've had had a run really goodcoaches.
But coach garcia I think he'swhat on his ninth year- I think
(14:01):
this one will be 2016 2017season.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
He's been the coach yep, he, uh, he was the coach
right after I left, so probably2017 season and so how that?
Speaker 1 (14:12):
how'd that?
Speaker 3 (14:13):
So when I came back I started helping at the Little
League field and we've known himour whole lives.
So he was like you want to comeout and help with the pitchers
over here.
So that's how I kind of gotinto it and then I've been there
since.
So now we're JV coaches now.
So I do both JV and varsity.
After JV season's done, I gostay with varsity for the rest
(14:35):
of their season.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
And Jay, what's your role Are you?
Do you work with a certaingroup?
Speaker 2 (14:42):
I do a little bit of everything except pitching I let
her have that but mainly forvarsity.
I mainly work with outfielders,but for JV I'd help a little
bit of everything.
I always told Coach Jason wealways used to joke around with
each other that I was going tocome back and help coach with
him, especially since we didn'twin a state championship.
I always told him you know, I'mgoing to come back and win one
(15:04):
as a coach.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
I love that.
That was one of the questionsthat I wrote down here was I
don't know if you saw, Iinterviewed Joey Gonzalez up
from Marathon High School, who'sthe head coach there, and he
was part of the program and Iasked him the same question but
what does it mean to be analumni of the program and then
come back and coach?
(15:25):
How do you think that adds tothe quality of the program and
how do you think your playersrespond to you, knowing how deep
those roots are?
Speaker 2 (15:35):
For me.
I think it's like amazing tocome back and help coach this
program that built me, who I wasand the player I was and the
woman I am today.
You know they really I mean thepassion I have for it.
It just makes me love it evenmore and I hope I'm showing
those girls the same passion andteaching them the culture and
the pride to have, you know,cunt pride, instill that in them
(15:57):
, just carry themselves how thisprogram should be carried and
respect it.
And to see how far this programhas come is really what makes
me keep going.
We used to plan, we used tohave to line our own field
before every game and now, likewe have this amazing stadium,
you know turf, everything that'stop of the line, top notch, and
(16:17):
to see how far it came it's,it's crazy yeah, it means a lot.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
It helps them too, knowing that, like we played in
the same position as them, wewere conks, we went through the
same program as them, so ithelps we always talk about.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Yep, there were many female coaches growing up so we
talk about it too.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
They're like oh, how was it when you were here?
I'm like nothing like it is now.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
The 2025 season was really successful.
It didn't end the way we wanted, but it was really successful.
You've had almost two monthsnow since the season ended.
What are some of the highlightsfrom the season for you guys?
Speaker 3 (16:55):
For me it's probably Brenner pitching.
She had a crazy season.
I actually wrote down the statHer freshman year she came in
and struck 64 people out herfreshman year and this year she
had 127 strikeouts.
So that just goes to show thegrowth that she's had just in
(17:15):
one year pitching.
Yeah, that's, that's carriedthe team a long way.
We just got to get pastAmerican Heritage next year,
yeah yeah, that was hard endedthe.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
I was there for the conch baseball team and it was
there and then to to be back upthere and see the girls lose it
on that field.
That was tough.
What do we need to do?
What's that next level that weneed to get to?
Because this is something elseI talked about on an episode
earlier.
We're running up on these teamsthat recruit from all over
(17:49):
Florida, all over the country,all over the world for that
matter, and don't like to besour grapes about it, but it
does make it hard to compete.
So, as coaches, how do you keepthe players up and what are you
trying to get to so that we cancompete with that kind of
program?
Speaker 3 (18:05):
So, yeah, up there it's like they pick and choose
who they want, so they can pickthe best shortstop they have
pitcher, pitcher after pitcherafter pitcher.
So for us we have the limitednumber of people we choose we
can choose from.
It's just our school.
So, um, pitching is a bigfactor.
If you don't have more than two, three pitchers it's hard
(18:26):
because if one starts gettinghit, then you, if you don't have
anybody back up, you can throwin there.
It's hard.
So, like schools like that,they have a lot of pitching,
their hitters are very, verygood.
So we just have to capitalizeon hitting, working on hitting,
live hitting, if you hit, youwin ballgames.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
I feel like at the end of the season, like
postseason, our team was reallyjust starting to gel with each
other.
They were really playing foreach other at the end.
I think my goal next year is toget a little bit more team
bonding activities in thebeginning of the season, make
sure they really capitalize onthe family aspect and then so
they can go on the field andjust play for each other every
single game instead of takingall season to really gel.
(19:07):
I feel like that makes acomplete difference.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
I think coming up this year that's going to be a
lot easier to do.
The girls are really closeright now.
It's a lot of younger girls sothey've played with each other
quite a bit recently and lastyear and the years before.
I feel like they're gellingwell.
I think next year is good.
This year coming up is going tobe good, Very good for them.
We have a young team Young andvery talented yeah, be good,
(19:35):
very good for them.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
We have a young team, young and very talented.
Yeah, because we did, we didgraduate some core players, but
there was a lot of freshmen andsophomores that that played, you
know, and I know the jv team isstacked with talent too, so it
seems that the future is brightfor girls softball in key west
sure, I think that the next yearor two we'll be back to the
Final Four.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
Hopefully take it all the way you heard it here first
Time to charm.
The girls are working hard.
They're already out thereworking, so they're doing what
they're supposed to be doing.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
A lot of them are on travel teams, so they're putting
in the work.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
That was one of the things I was going to ask you is
.
We hear so much aboutyear-round sports and single
sports for athletes.
Is it the same with softball?
Are they playing during thesummer?
Do we have one program or arethey kind of scattered?
How does that work for softball?
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Well, for down here it's really hard to get numbers
to do a travel team per yearbecause a lot of them already go
to out-of-town teams and stuff.
So they all just disperse intothe different teams they're
already on.
Some of them just decide to notplay during the offseason and
they just train, train, train.
A lot of them play other sports.
(20:52):
I think it's great when they doplay other sports during school
year.
It's different muscle groups,you know.
Intact it helps in the long runfor be more flexible and all
that the girls like they do.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
they play basketball and volleyball.
We have a lot of weightlifting,weightlifting which really gets
them in shape for season.
So I do like, when they playdifferent sports during the off
season or during those differentseasons, it helps them a lot.
But going they, a lot of themgo and travel.
We have some play for, likeParkland Power Contenders and um
(21:27):
.
They've been going a lot ofdifferent places all over
Rockhold, so it's helping them alot of different places all
over Rock Gold, so it's helpingthem a lot.
Seeing live pitching all summer, keeping playing all summer.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
And there's a lot to be proud of with the Lady Conk
program Just the fact that youguys, almost not quite 10 years
ago, when you graduated, youearned college scholarships.
We have at least one of theplayers that I know is going on
and playing.
How many former lady conks areplaying college ball right now?
Speaker 3 (21:58):
so right now um Bella's playing at FIU,
scarlett's playing at Dartmouth,marina is playing at Lynn Lynn
University, dharma and Dharma'splaying at USF, and Tavin is
that just graduated she is goingto play at the University of
Fort Lauderdale.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
When do you think, or do you think that one day we'll
hear a Lady Conks name calledfor the draft for professional
softball?
Is that day going to happen?
Speaker 3 (22:29):
I think so.
I think so.
I hope so, hopefully.
Hopefully, sooner than later.
I think it's going to happen,so I hope so.
I hope so, hopefully soonerthan later.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
I think it's going to happen.
I hope so.
I know you guys will be part ofit too.
I already got the chills justthinking about it.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
Yeah, that'd be awesome.
I'd definitely try and be atalmost every game.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Yeah, I bet I thought it was cool last year.
Did this really happen that youguys had the Lady Conks were
traveling in a road game?
You got to go see Bella play atFIU and she hits the first home
run of the season.
Did that really happen?
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Yeah, it was awesome.
The girls were going crazy inthe stands.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Yeah, it was awesome.
She definitely put on for thegirls.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
That's really cool.
And, speaking of Bella andMarina going, the two of you are
teaming up with the two of themand hosting a camp next week.
I think it's July 26th.
Yes, tell me about the camp.
What?
What should the girls expectand what is the goal of a summer
camp?
Speaker 2 (23:29):
So the girls should expect to.
You know, come in and just gettaught by two really good
softball players.
I mean, we're just there tohelp them out, but the main goal
is just to keep them, bringthem down here and really show
these young girls that, likethey have a chance to, there's
an opportunity.
We have two, we have four girlsplaying college softball and
for them, to see them it, givethem a little spark, but also
(23:51):
learn from them too.
So we'll be working on uh,infield drills, outfield drills,
hitting pitching, catching soit's a little bit of everything
for them to learn.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
They've been taught a lot by good coaches wherever
they've been playing um, so it'dbe good for them to come down
and teach what they've learnedup there that's really cool.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
I loved it.
When I saw that that go out onsocial media I was like really
psyched because I thought it wascool that, um, there was a camp
earlier in the summer theOklahoma State came down and I
thought that was cool.
Did you guys go to any of thatand how'd that go?
Speaker 2 (24:27):
yeah, we went and watched.
Uh it was.
It was cool to see like how umthey're taught, how they're
teaching new ways.
I definitely picked up some newoutfieldfield drills.
That was taught differentlythan when I was growing up.
They changed it a little bit,so it's cool to see the
development of the sport.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
We were learning just as much as the girls when they
came down, so it was coollearning what they do compared
to what we do, adding stuff towhat we're going to be doing in
the season.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
I think it's a great opportunity for our girls
exposure and all that.
But you know, I got kong priderunning deep.
So when I saw that you guyswere hosting your own camp, I'm
like that's what I'm talkingabout.
So that's really cool.
And what?
What is the age range that cancome out?
Speaker 3 (25:09):
so we did seven and up.
So okay, so seven to highschool yeah that's.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
That's a wide range.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
Yeah, we're gonna break them up within their age,
their age group.
So so you'll still be in thesame age group of, like the
older girls, you're not gonna be.
We're not gonna have 16 yearolds with seven year olds.
Everyone could still learnsomething, but still be at the
speed of your age, yeah so.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
So let me ask you this what's one of the first
skills that you want to developin a 7-year-old, to get them
some fundamental skill that youwant them to learn at that age
that's still going to carry upthrough high school.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Throwing and catching Definitely throwing and
catching.
Yep, A lot of people skip thatstep and it's crazy.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
You get a lot of funky throws and awkward
catching nowadays yeah, youstart with throwing and catching
it'll help you from here on out.
That's the basics you need toknow.
That's what you need to tocapitalize on to go far in the
game.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
I hear that we have some really good pitchers over
there at rosa hernandez field.
They're not even in high schoolyet.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
Nope, they still got a few years over there.
They're waiting for them tocome up.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
The other thing that I recognized last year Shiloh's
mom, sam, actually pointed outto me is we have, like next
generation, lady Conks.
So, for example, my friendDebbie, debbie Arancibia, her
daughter plays catcher in JVright.
I think that's pretty cool thatwe have some daughters out
(26:41):
there and their moms played aswell.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
Yeah, yeah, no, it's awesome.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Bella Perez, her mom played, so we had that combo.
Yeah, there's been quite a few.
Yeah, I was about to say Samwith Shiloh.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
Sam is a big cheerleader out there, so she's
living through shiloh right nowyeah, it's funny because you
know the k crew, we go to allthe baseball games and we feel
real comfortable out at the recs.
But when you go to the backyardit's like a whole different
vibe.
It's like, okay, you know,let's just stand to the back and
and see what happens, becausesoftball moms are tough.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
Sam and Jill.
They're loud back there.
They're really in the game.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
And did Jill also play.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
She played soccer, soccer and track.
Yeah, she was very good atsoccer.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
And her kids are the ones that play multiple sports.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
Yep.
So Lily likes basketball, Macyshe plays soccer.
She loves soccer too, sothey're both playing running
sports that keep them in shape.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
And I love the fact that you talked about the kids,
the benefit to playing othersports.
I just heard Alex Rodrigueztalking about a play that he
made that he wouldn't have madeif he hadn't also played
football.
You know, it worked some othermuscle group and made him more
flexible.
In some way he was able to makethis play and I thought that
was cool to hear that.
Because everything's sospecialized right now Travel,
(28:07):
ball and all these things thatare become a business Sometimes
we lose the purpose of justcreating, creating healthy
athletes we want them to havefun too.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
So if we're just like , oh no, just softball, just
softball, and then they, theylose the love for the game, then
we don't want that what do wehave to look forward to in the
2026 season?
Speaker 1 (28:30):
we talked already about we've got a lot of the
young talent coming back.
But from any fans out therethat are listening, we said
we're going to get achampionship.
Did I hear that?
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Yep, yep, we're on the road for it.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
Soon coming.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
Ready to get back there this year?
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Yeah, it's going to be an exciting season.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
It's going to be a really good season.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
I hope that you guys will put in a good word for me
with Coach Jason and see if wecan get him to be on the show.
Maybe when it's closer to theseason we can do an episode with
the whole coaching staff.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
We'll be ready, we'll tell him he has to go.
He would like it, he would likeit.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
He's got a game face on.
He's always got that game face.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
Last time we were playing in the interview, he was
like have you done it yet?
We were like not yet.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
It's good stuff.
So one of the things I like todo to end the session is a
segment called For the Cycle,and I ask four questions and,
just like completing the cycleon a softball field, it gets
harder as it goes.
All right.
So I'm going to ask fourquestions.
The first two you can bothanswer, and then the last, the
third and fourth.
(29:43):
We'll just pick who wants toanswer which question.
First question is besides theLady Conks or the Conks, what's
your favorite team to root for?
Speaker 3 (29:53):
FSU, for sure, florida State Florida.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
State.
That's it.
How about Kyle Riley?
Speaker 3 (29:59):
winning the home run derby.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
That was awesome.
We were watching and a bunch ofNoles got drafted.
Speaking of FSU yes, they did.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
Yep, we were watching , so, yeah, that was cool.
That home run, derby hisbrother was catching, dad was
pitching, it was awesome.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
Yeah, that was really special.
If he didn't win it, I mean itwas going to ruin the whole
story because the storyline wasright there for it to happen.
What's your favorite baseballmovie?
Speaker 3 (30:29):
Sandlot, yeah, sandlot, for sure.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
Mine too.
Mine too, yeah, joey that Iinterviewed a couple weeks ago.
That was his favorite too, sothat one seems like we have the
most votes.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
Yeah, it's a classic.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
It's really good.
All right, so I got two morequestions that are harder.
One of you can answer one andthe other.
Jules, you're the oldest, soyou answer the last question.
Okay, all right.
Jules, you're the oldest, soyou answer the last question.
Okay, all right.
So the NIL and Transfer Portalare having a big impact on
(31:05):
college athletics.
So, jay, what do you think Is?
Speaker 2 (31:08):
the impact, positive or negative.
Right now, I think, since it'sso fresh, I think everyone's
seeing the positive side of it.
I think in a couple years wemight start seeing the negatives
to it.
That's because everyone's sohigh on the high horse about,
like you know, athletes finallygetting paid and everything.
But I think with money, moneycomes evil too, so I think
there's going to be a nasty sideof it as well, that we're and
(31:30):
then the transfer portal, that's.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
That's a whole other thing.
It's really hard.
You recruit a player to comeplay for you and then, if it
doesn't work out, you know youcould potentially lose half your
your lineup.
So there's that, and.
But there's also theopportunity, if you're not
getting playing time, to go toanother program.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
So yeah, that's like a texas tech.
I think they had a whole newteam, almost Florida's got a lot
of people transferring out.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
So that's, that's a interesting thing happening over
there and as a fan, you getattached to the players, right,
and so I like, I really likethis player, and then the next
season they may be on anotherteam, so it'll be interesting.
Like you said, it's it's earlyin the infancy stages, so to
(32:19):
speak.
We'll see.
We may not know the impact forfor a few more years.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
I think right now, so far it's been great.
You know athletes are, it'sit's a lot of work, it's a
full-time job.
Being a student athlete, um,you know you don't have time to
go work and all that and a lotof the times when you're in
college there's not many playerswho get a full ride.
You know, a lot of thesescholarships are about 20%.
They only cover about 20% ofyour tuition, that's it.
(32:45):
So a lot of people struggle, alot of kids struggle mentally
and stuff with that.
So I think it's good for themthat way, like getting paid just
to be able to do what they love.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
I agree, because the the demands on their time as a
college athlete as both of youknow is is really tough so, and
the colleges are definitelymaking millions and millions of
dollars off of these um athleticprograms.
So, yes, they are, yes, theyare all right, let's, let's,
let's wrap this one up.
This, this, this is a hard one.
I think you can handle it,though.
(33:20):
What what's a life lesson?
That softball has taught youthat you hope your players will
also recognize and learn fromthe game probably like teamwork
communication.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
they're going to need to learn that for jobs in the
future when they go away toschool.
Everything isn't about them allthe time.
You have to work as a team andaccomplish things with other
people as well, so learning howto work with people, it'll help
them in the future and jobs.
If you learn that, I thinkyou'll be successful in life.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
Awesome, really, really, really good.
It's not always about you thatthat's a big one yeah, I think
accountability is another bigone.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
I think a lot of these younger generations, they
rely on their parents a lot andI think we're trying to.
Yeah, we want to win assoftball coaches, but I think,
at the end of the day, for us,we care more about like the
young ladies they become, like,helping them grow into women.
So I think, at the end of theday, for us, we care more about
like the young ladies theybecome, like, helping them grow
into women.
So I think teaching them allthese traits is what really
makes a difference as a coach.
Speaker 1 (34:23):
That's a mic drop moment right there.
Coach, you know, and I thinkthat the title coach maybe next
to mom or dad the next mostrespected title that anybody
could earn is coach.
And once you're someone's coach, you're their coach forever.
And I think you two are greatcoaches and, as a fan of conk
(34:45):
sports, I'm real happy and proudthat you guys are able to
represent and show these girlswhat it is to be a great student
athlete and, like you said,women in this world.
That's so tough.
So I'm proud of you both, Bigfans of your program.
You're welcome to come back onthe show anytime.
Speaker 2 (35:04):
Whenever y'all have us.
We appreciate you for having us.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
Thank you guys.
Y'all have a great night.
Say hi to your mom and daddy,all right.
Speaker 3 (35:11):
I will Thank you.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
Go Conks, go softball .
I'm Joy Newlish and Iappreciate you tuning in to my
podcast.
My purpose is to bring joy intomy life and the lives of others
.
If you enjoyed this episode,drop a review, share and
subscribe, because there's a lotof good stuff on tap.
You can also follow Bring Joyon YouTube and Instagram, or
check my website atjoynewlishcom.
(35:33):
Now go, bring joy to the peoplein your world.
Until next time, much love.
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