In this episode of Catching You, Lacie Ham sits down with her longtime friend and former teammate, Des Rivera, to talk about the ups, downs, and turning points of her softball journey.
Lacie and Des go back to their 14U Batbusters days, catching bullpens, building friendships, and grinding through some of the toughest tournaments. Des shares how leaving Batbusters for Athletics Mercado completely changed her path, leading to new opportunities, a surge in recruiting attention, and eventually her commitment to Oregon State.
But the road wasn’t smooth. From the impact of COVID on recruiting, to the challenges of transferring mid-year, Des opens up about what it really takes to find the right fit at the college level. Now at the University of Iowa, she’s embracing a new chapter, new teammates, and a fresh perspective on what it means to play at the highest level.
This conversation dives deep into:
- The reality of leaving one travel ball family to join another.
- How recruiting looks different depending on your team and exposure.
- The mental side of transferring mid-season and sitting out an entire year.
- What it feels like to experience both the highs (OKC!) and the lows (slumps) in one season.
- Why perspective and gratitude can completely change your approach to the game.
If you’re a young athlete navigating recruiting—or a parent watching your kid go through it—you’ll take away real insights from Des’s story.
Subscribe for more father-daughter conversations, player stories, and honest talk about the game we love.
A couple of years ago, as a family, we created family core values. One of them is, "We face challenges with optimism while displaying a growth mindset." We wanted to tell our story so others, who relate, can navigate through these challenges better. Contributing to our Podcast will show we're on the right track and we're making a difference to those who have similar stories. Buy Us A Coffee
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