The Final Fresno State Bulldogs Softball Hour for 2025

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
On the Bulldog Sports Network from Learfield. This is the
Bulldog Softball Hour, brow to you by bud Late, Easy
to Drink, Easy to Enjoy, Temple Mountain Casino Resorts, Lucky
Days and Epic Nights, and by Pepsi official soft drink
of Fresno State Athletics. Love from the crowin Wolf tamp

(00:22):
Room in Clovis. Here's the voice of Fresno State Softball,
Matt Norvil.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
And good evening and welcome to Crowl on Walt five
twenty six Bruce Avenue here in Clovis. Thanks for joining
us at am eleven thirty. If you're listening to us
on iHeartRadio or the Bulldog app, we welcome you. And
as our final Bulldog Softball Hour, I'm Matt Norvil talking
with the head softball coach, Stacy may Johnson as the
Dogs are getting set to leave for Utah tomorrow, big

(00:51):
three game series in Utah and then they've got BYU
on Monday at Fresno State. Currently in third in the
Mountain West Conference with San Diego State just a couple
games back of Nevada and Utah State.

Speaker 3 (01:04):
So coach, we haven't talked to you here at.

Speaker 2 (01:07):
The crown Wolf for the Voodog's offall Hour in the
last couple of weeks, guys have been doing a lot
of winning. Had a tough one against Nevada. He's split
with San Diego State. How do you feel like your
team's been playing from San Jose State on.

Speaker 4 (01:18):
Well, we're battling, you know, we're fighting through some injuries
and competing. You know, I think we've got a really
tough team this year that knows how to win. They
know how to end up on the right side of
a game. Obviously, Nevada was really tough, came in and
took two from us at home, but we split down
in San Diego with them, who's also a very very
good team.

Speaker 5 (01:37):
And you know this weekend.

Speaker 4 (01:39):
Utah State, who they're currently in first place. I honestly,
I don't think they're going to finish the season there,
but it does tell you they're doing something right this year,
and they have a good club.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
Got really five teams all bunched up. When you look
at the standings, you've got obviously you San Diego State, Nevada,
Utah State, and Boise State. A lot of actions still
to be determined on where everyone finishes, who wins the conference.

Speaker 3 (01:59):
What have you seen so far?

Speaker 2 (02:00):
Obviously from those five teams that kind of separate themselves
from everyone else.

Speaker 5 (02:04):
I mean it's a dog fight.

Speaker 4 (02:06):
I think there's usually a game or two separating first
and fifth place every year.

Speaker 5 (02:11):
This is nothing new.

Speaker 4 (02:12):
That's how tightly contested this conference is. And a lot
of it is just who can outlast everybody else? You know,
who's tougher. Obviously, you got to have the talent, you
got to have the pitching, you got to have the offense.
But I mean a lot of it is just the
mental fortitude to be able to fight through these lulls.
You know, you drop a couple to Nevada at home,
and then you know, how do you respond? I mean,

(02:33):
that's that's really the question. I don't know that it's
necessarily the losses. Everybody's going to take the losses, but
can you bounce back and find a way to win
the next one.

Speaker 2 (02:41):
Your pitching staff has been a really good right spot
for you guys all season long. Right now you're doing
it without Faith Jordan, who's obviously a key component. But
say Nie has looked good, or Teg has come in
and give you some good innings. San Diego, she was outstanding.
Campbell Pooh has done a nice job as well, and
you've brought in Duncan hat times to kind of give
you something else a little different with Faith being down.

Speaker 3 (03:01):
So how do you like your pitching staff?

Speaker 4 (03:02):
We could pitch you know, Niece being at the top
of that list as a junior, she's coming to her
own and has shown stretches of dominance. You know, she's
always good, she's never bad, but there are some games
where she's just dominant, and then you know all the
pieces around her. Campbell Pooa obviously has thrown very well.
Faith Jordan when she was available, was very good, Ortega, Duncan.

(03:25):
You know, everybody's everybody's done their spots and and and
had success in them. They they pitched well as a unit.
They're supportive of each other and that's why they're so
good together.

Speaker 2 (03:35):
It's always interesting. You guys are going elevation really for
the first time this season in conference play, and it's
the pitching has been there for you guys and giving
you a chance in every single game this year. But
now when you go to elevation, it's always I feel
like you look at the offense say Okay, off, it's
you've got to pick us up as we've been picking
you up all years.

Speaker 5 (03:51):
That kind of how you see it, Well, that's what
we're anticipating.

Speaker 4 (03:54):
But to be honest with you, I was kind of
expecting the same thing at un LV because U and
LV plays like elevation and.

Speaker 5 (04:00):
That's not what happened.

Speaker 4 (04:00):
And so maybe there's a part of me that when
when we say, hey, it's gonna be high scoring game,
maybe I'm underestimating our pitching. You know, maybe they'll be
able to keep these scores down low and and it'll
be a better pitch contest than what we think. So
you know, we certainly mentally are prepared to go into
this and needing more runs to win. Certainly, the the
series with Utah State and San Diego State was another

(04:22):
one of those where Sanego State plays low scoring games,
but as soon as they went off to that school,
you know, the scores went way up. So uh, there's
certainly evidence that that's what's going to be happening. But
at the same time, hey, don't count these pitching staff out.

Speaker 2 (04:34):
Yeah, the pitch staffs outstanding. And talk to me about
that Monday game against b YU b YU traditionally has
some really good softball team and traditionally they've had a
lot of power as well. What's that going to be
like after you wrap up early, it's up a three
game series and to take the trip and.

Speaker 3 (04:48):
Take on b YU.

Speaker 5 (04:49):
Yeah, it's gonna be tough.

Speaker 4 (04:50):
They've got really good pitcher in Case and Corse, and
we'll see if they throw her after their weekend. I
believe they have UCF this weekend, so they've got a
tough series. But you know, beyond Case and Corth, beyond
a very good pitcher, they have a power hitting team
that they built their roster to hit home runs and
thin air, and they're very good at home.

Speaker 5 (05:10):
So that's going to be a great test for us.

Speaker 2 (05:12):
How did you guys come about scheduling that game, because
obviously you know you're going to be in Utah, and
then how did you guys come about it and say, hey,
let's play a really good quality opponent on the road
on that Monday.

Speaker 5 (05:21):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (05:21):
I think the Utah schools are always looking to find
out who's in town and when and then you know,
invite them down for a game. And BYU reached out
and said, hey, you know, we want to play you
guys after the Utah State series, and I said, great.

Speaker 3 (05:34):
Let's go.

Speaker 5 (05:35):
You know, and I think a lot of the schools
in that area do. That makes a lot of sense.

Speaker 4 (05:38):
And you know, when we get to get a quality
opponent like that on the schedule, on the back end
of a big series, there's a lot of value for
our squad as well.

Speaker 2 (05:47):
Let's talk about your team as a whole. We've kind
of touched on it and what you guys have been doing,
but just talk to me about a couple of individual
players in what have you liked maybe that's under the
radar we highlight all the big time. Maybe a couple
of players that you've really liked what you've seen for
them so far this season in terms of development.

Speaker 4 (06:01):
Well, how about one that we're talking to tonight, Natalie Elias.
You know, she's one of the best table setters you
know in the conference.

Speaker 5 (06:09):
And you know, Nat, I don't know that she.

Speaker 4 (06:11):
Gets all the credit because this is not necessarily in
the form of RBIs.

Speaker 5 (06:14):
It's more in the form of run scored.

Speaker 4 (06:15):
But they're always hitting with somebody on base, you know,
And and she's she's as good as anybody in the conference,
setting the table. So that's one, you know, and then
I guess the other one, Campbell Pooha has has obviously
just gotten better and better and better. Her change up
continues to improve. I feel like as the season has
gone on, she's becoming a better version of herself. And

(06:37):
you know, now at this point where we're gonna have
to rely heavily on her, you know, she's ready to
take the load.

Speaker 2 (06:42):
Yeah, those are two really good names. Are gonna chat
with Natalie Elias coming up here shortly. Talk to me
about the other young lady we're gonna be talking with
in Jamie Hicks. She had a couple of games where
she's had some big hits and big moments for you
coming in off the bench. She's obviously started some games
for you this season as well. But talk to me
about that young lady.

Speaker 4 (06:59):
Yeah, Jamie a big time power hitter. You know, she
can hit the ball as far as anybody. It's a
ton of potential at the plate, and you know you'll
see that she'll get in there and she'll just laser
beam the ball and everyone's like, yeah, you know, that's
what we see from her every day at practice. So
you know, she's she's a really nice hitter. Obviously, she's
gonna get some starts for us, She's gonna come off

(07:20):
the bench at times, but she's a weapon in our lineup.

Speaker 3 (07:22):
Yeah, she had the one I'm thinking of.

Speaker 2 (07:24):
She had a really good hit, important hit against San
Diego State that just really helped you guys continue their ally.

Speaker 5 (07:29):
Yeah, she did. I remember that.

Speaker 4 (07:31):
It's I think it was just on the right side
of second base and it was one of those laserbream
line drives, like it comes off the bat like a missile.

Speaker 3 (07:38):
Talk to me about the coaching staff.

Speaker 2 (07:39):
Obviously, Raquel Savoy is in her first season, Bobby's been
with you now for three years, and then obviously you're
pitching coach. What have they done it? And obviously every
year it's a different year. So what have been the
adjustments that you feel like that they've had to make
with a new team that you hit every single season?

Speaker 4 (07:56):
Yeah, well, I mean, Shelby, let's start there. I feel
like we need to aren't there when you know, we
graduated the Mount West pitcher of the year and I
think you know, going into this season on paper, I
don't know what we had last year, like a two nine,
five year a something like that.

Speaker 5 (08:11):
Yeah, I was step three. It is really good and
and a great pitcher.

Speaker 4 (08:13):
And Taylor Gilmore obviously Sorea returning was a big deal,
but you didn't necessarily look at it on paper and think, uh,
you know, the pitching staff is going to be better,
you know. But guess what happened. The pitching staff got better,
you know. Uh, And and you know you've graduated Mount
West pitcher of the Year, and then it's like boom,
the next you know, young athlete has developed and is

(08:34):
ready to go, and and you know, the people that
you have in house get better, the freshman come in.

Speaker 5 (08:39):
That's that's a sustainable bullpen, you know.

Speaker 4 (08:41):
And Shelby just I mean, I think it speaks to
the job that she does developing the athletes and obviously
preparing and and she's really honed her craft in you know,
our fourth year in the Mountain West.

Speaker 5 (08:52):
She knows, she knows what she's doing.

Speaker 4 (08:53):
You know, we've all obviously all learned a lot over
the last four years and what it takes to win
this conference.

Speaker 5 (08:57):
So she's been tremendous. You know.

Speaker 4 (08:59):
Rakhala's she develops an incredible athlete on defense, She's one
of the best developer of athletes that I've seen. You know,
brings a fire, brings an energy. She does a great
job with them. And then you know, Bobby just makes
him better every day however.

Speaker 5 (09:12):
He needs to. He's a positive voice.

Speaker 4 (09:14):
You know, everybody knows his His VP's really good, you know.
But he'll he'll push him too, you know, he'll he'll
jump them when he needs to. And and so I
think he's he's the guy that that looks at the situation, says, hey,
what does this athlete need right now?

Speaker 5 (09:27):
And he steps in and does it.

Speaker 4 (09:29):
You know, so obviously I don't I don't know that
I can do what I do without them.

Speaker 5 (09:32):
I have great support. You know, you don't.

Speaker 4 (09:34):
You don't put together a championship club without great assistant coaches.
So I'm grateful for all three of them.

Speaker 2 (09:38):
You know, one thing I wanted to ask you about
more so in terms of Bobby at first base. It's
kind of a position that kind of gets overlooked the
first base coach. Everyone you code the game go out,
they're just saying they congratulations all that, But how important
is the first base coach?

Speaker 5 (09:52):
Oh, it's important.

Speaker 4 (09:54):
You know a lot of those decisions, you know, to
to say, stretch a single into a double, or you know,
if the runner's reading change into the dirt. You know,
there have been a few where, you know, he does
the scouting on the opponent's catchers, and obviously he's pretty
familiar with the pitchers as well, and so sometimes, I mean,
nobody knows this, but he'll lean over Tarren's at first
to say, hey, Tarn, you know, be ready for that

(10:15):
change in the dirt. You see it, You're gone, you know,
and then boom, next pitch she goes on the change
the dirt, steals bag and you know, nobody realized he
just whispered in her ear.

Speaker 6 (10:23):
You know.

Speaker 5 (10:23):
So there's a lot of things happening behind the scene.

Speaker 4 (10:25):
Obviously, he's really vital to everything that we do, and
he does a great job over at the first base box.

Speaker 7 (10:30):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (10:30):
I can think of a couple of moments where that
actually happened and it was boom, they were gone as
soon as it was in the dirt. It was out
out I think against Nevada, just over the weekend.

Speaker 5 (10:38):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, with the.

Speaker 2 (10:40):
Jenkins, who's really good behind the plate too, and took
off stile and base yeah.

Speaker 5 (10:43):
And it was I believe it was Emma Martinez in
that run.

Speaker 2 (10:45):
Score Yeah yeah, huge, huge point Yep. We've got a
couple of student athletes to get to. Nellielis and Jamie
Hicks coming up for you.

Speaker 3 (10:52):
Next.

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Speaker 14 (14:02):
They're going to need to put the ball in play
and find some gaps in the defense.

Speaker 2 (14:04):
Alias just pops it too right field. That'll be a
base hit for Natalie. That's now six games in a
row she has had a hits and Alias stands at
first with her forty third hit.

Speaker 3 (14:15):
Of the season.

Speaker 2 (14:17):
Well, we welcome you back to Crowl and Wolf in
five twenty six Bruce Avenue Here in Clovis.

Speaker 3 (14:22):
It is the bulldog is Softball Hour.

Speaker 2 (14:24):
Thanks for listening to us on AM eleven thirty the
Bulldog app it iHeart Radio. I'm Matt Norple with a
couple of student athletes and Natalie Elias and Jamie Hicks,
and then of course the President State Softball head coach
Stacy may Johnson. Guys, thanks for joining us here today.

Speaker 5 (14:38):
Thank you for having us.

Speaker 3 (14:40):
All Right, Matt, we've obviously chatted with you last season.

Speaker 2 (14:42):
Let's start off though with Jamie because we haven't talked
to We haven't talked to Jamie yet. Just tell me
a little bit about you and why you decided to
come to president of State and what's the first couple
of years been like for you.

Speaker 14 (14:51):
Well, I'm a very interrogectic person, you know. It's been
really good here. I really loved it. Coach, Stacy's made
it so much fun. Came here because I just love
the culture and everybody and just the energy. Going to
like Presno State games, it was just like way different
than what I've seen like anywhere else.

Speaker 2 (15:07):
So yeah, energy is an interesting word coach, because she
plays with a lot of energy. I think of her
freshman year when a Denby made a nice play and
she celebrated at first, and then it just every You're
always yelling, You're always excited. It is that kind of
what you would describe.

Speaker 14 (15:23):
Yourself as, like I'm just always like up be. I
want to like make everyone around me just be like
up being, Like have so much fun because like my
favorite part just having fun in softball, So like having
all the energy just makes it so much fun.

Speaker 3 (15:34):
Does it ever wear out.

Speaker 5 (15:35):
On you sometimes?

Speaker 14 (15:36):
But like I just got to do it for the team.
I just gotta amp everybody up.

Speaker 2 (15:40):
So yeah, So what's it been like for you this season?
Obviously you've come through with some big hits. We were
talking about it before you came through San Diego is
when I was thinking of that was a very important hit.

Speaker 3 (15:50):
What's it been like overall for you?

Speaker 5 (15:51):
It's been pretty good.

Speaker 14 (15:52):
Honestly, I feel like I've been a lot more disciplined
at the plate this year. I feel like I've gotten
a lot better pitches to do better things with.

Speaker 5 (15:58):
So yeah, I think it's been way better.

Speaker 2 (16:00):
All right, Nat, we got to talk about you. You
let the team and hits last season, leading the team
and hits this season. Now the experienced junior, what's it
like being out in right field? And how's softling on
for you?

Speaker 14 (16:12):
I love being in right field. It's like my own
little corner. I feel like last season I was moving
around a little bit, but I feel subtled and right,
and I like whenever they try and test my arm
and I throw them out it first only happens a
couple of times.

Speaker 3 (16:26):
But it does happen.

Speaker 2 (16:27):
Yeah, I gotta ask a question because in the outfield
it's interesting who wears the visor and who doesn't, and
it's it's changed over the years. So, so what made
you decide? We saw you the other day, me and
Greg were talking about it. You had the shades on,
no visor.

Speaker 14 (16:40):
Yeah, so this season I actually have strown away from
the visor. I haven't really been wearing as much, and
I think the main reason is that I can't wear
my glasses with my visor because my glasses are too
big on my face, and I just decided that I'd
rather have just glasses than a visor.

Speaker 3 (16:58):
Just advisor that you got.

Speaker 2 (16:59):
You they outfield with Rabo, Yotto and Nita and you
that no one's wearing a vibe. Is that a discussion,
by the way, coach, and you just kind of like
let them do whatever they want to do.

Speaker 5 (17:08):
Yeah, well, I mean, you know, as long as they
don't you know, he's the ball in the sun, then yeah, I.

Speaker 2 (17:14):
Would imagine talk to me about these two and talk
to me a little bit about why you recruited that,
and then why you recruited Jamie.

Speaker 4 (17:19):
Yeah, so well, I mean Jamie's just big time power,
you know. And then big time arm. You know, they say, yeah,
I know, goodness I know.

Speaker 5 (17:30):
And as soon as I said that, I was like,
he's gonna remote.

Speaker 3 (17:32):
Oh yeah. They talked about it for a while.

Speaker 4 (17:34):
But we you know, we see that in pregnant, big
time big time arm, big time bat just to you know,
great physical tools. Comes from awesome softball family. All of
her sisters are really good ball players too, so you know,
that one was easy. And then and then that you know,
transfer out of cal Baptists. You know, did really really
well as a freshman down at cal Baptist. And she's

(17:55):
from Virginia, so you know, a little bit off the
beaten path from our normal recruiting trail, but she was
already here in the state, and so we had you know,
we look back and you'll remember this, we didn't have.

Speaker 5 (18:07):
A leadoff at that time. Oh he did not, and
it really hurt us.

Speaker 4 (18:10):
It really hurt us when you had Matts and you
had Demby, but you didn't know, you didn't drive in
the runs because you didn't have the Rabbits on base.
And then you know, Natalie came in and plugged that hole.
And then obviously Kailani Nita as well has has kind
of given us a couple of table setters. So you know,
both these guys were the easy decisions.

Speaker 2 (18:27):
Yeah, that's a good point, because yeah, that was definitely
you had a lot of missed opportunities to have anyone
on base.

Speaker 3 (18:32):
Yep, all right, Nat, talk to me about West Coast.
What do you like about the West Coast?

Speaker 14 (18:36):
It was someone asked me this why I moved off
the East Coast. I don't know I love it here.
I feel like there's so many more days you can
play ball versus like back back in the in the
East Coast, it's rainy, it's freezing, it's indoors all winter
because there's snow and there's all the elements. Here, it's

(18:58):
like maybe a practice every now and then because the
field's funded, but you can still get hitting in. Like,
I feel like the weather is definitely the best part,
even though it gets.

Speaker 5 (19:10):
Really hot here in the summer.

Speaker 14 (19:12):
I mean, at least they're getting ta so yeah, I
don't know, I love it. I like that it's only
especially Fresno, Like we're so close to everything, Like we're
an hour from the yeah, and we're like three hours
from the beach, so like you can spend a weekend
at the beach if you wanted to, or just like

(19:33):
go for a day trip, which I really enjoy.

Speaker 2 (19:35):
But yeah, what about you growing up because you grew
up obviously in California.

Speaker 14 (19:41):
I've always loved it in California. Like Nat said, we
have the best weather, so you always know what you're
gonna get here.

Speaker 5 (19:47):
And I've been at La.

Speaker 14 (19:49):
I actually was born there, so I was born in
La and I moved to the Bay and it's like
just the weather. It's just like it's so good, like
all the time it's sunny, and I just love it here.
All the girls here are really cool, like you just
know what you're getting here.

Speaker 2 (20:01):
So, yeah, guys, talk to me a little bit about family,
and obviously I've met your family, I've seen your family,
So what's it like for you guys able to at
times play in front of family.

Speaker 14 (20:13):
It's great because my family's all from California, so I
feel like they make it to a lot of games,
and I feel like very fortunate that they're always here.

Speaker 5 (20:20):
So yeah, that's cool for me.

Speaker 14 (20:22):
It's definitely a privilege. Last season, my parents were able
to get out a lot, and this season it's not
been as much. But they're actually coming this weekend. They're
flying Utah and my aunt and uncle are coming to
our game against BYU on Monday, so I'll see them
and I just I really enjoy it. It's like a
treat for me. My girlfriend's always at every one of

(20:43):
my games.

Speaker 3 (20:43):
Whenever we're home, she's there.

Speaker 14 (20:45):
You see her in right right field, which is definitely
a privilege. I feel like my freshman year was a
little bit of a struggle and last year just not
having people there because you know, everybody goes to their
family after the games.

Speaker 5 (20:57):
But I don't know, I just love it.

Speaker 14 (20:58):
I also feel like other people's families will come like
say hi to me or say something to me like
and that just I feel like it brings us together
and it just feels like I have extra support outside
of my own family.

Speaker 2 (21:09):
Yeah, you guys are more experienced softball players on the team,
so your voice carries a little bit more weight. How
much do you take into account that, hey, I'm a junior.
Now you get freshman and sophomore that might look up
to you too.

Speaker 14 (21:20):
I've definitely had to step into that role this year.
I feel like me as a person, it's kind of
hard for me to be a leader, but I'm definitely like, oh,
I need to step into that role.

Speaker 5 (21:28):
And it's been pretty good so far.

Speaker 14 (21:30):
Like I love telling the freshmen like things that they
could work on and things they could get better at,
and they also tell me things too, so it's kind
of like a back and forth the way.

Speaker 5 (21:37):
That it goes. Yeah, it's been pretty cool.

Speaker 14 (21:39):
Yeah, I definitely feel like at the beginning, like when
we first got back in the fall, I was kind
of wrapping my head around the fact that I was
a d I am an upperclassman now, so I kind
of have to step into that like leadership role.

Speaker 5 (21:54):
I've enjoyed it.

Speaker 14 (21:54):
I feel like I'm the type of person to be
like the quiet leader, like lead by example kind of thing.
So I might not get on somebody, but like I'll
talk to them and I'll I try my best to
build those relationships with relationships with people to where it's
like if I come up to you and I tell
you something, it's out of love. Every time it's not.

(22:14):
I'm not just trying to get on you, like I
want you to be better. And that's where it's coming from.

Speaker 2 (22:19):
The junior class, coach, that's going to be Obviously, every
class is a special class, but the junior class for
you's got to be.

Speaker 3 (22:24):
A special class for you.

Speaker 2 (22:25):
Really your first recruiting class, and you've got some pretty
good juniors.

Speaker 5 (22:29):
Yeah, we really do.

Speaker 8 (22:31):
You know.

Speaker 5 (22:32):
It's interesting.

Speaker 4 (22:32):
I was I was talking to try Flowers, who's the
head coach down at LMU, and she she had a
nice run at Seasun before she went to LMU, and
I asked her, I said, you know, tell me what
was what was your path? How did you guys, you know,
get really good at Seasun And she said, you know,
my first year there, I recruited a really important class

(22:52):
and they all got on the field, you know, early,
right away, because you know, they weren't it wasn't a
great program at that time, and so there were spots
up for grabs. And she said, we got really good
when they became juniors. And I mean, I can't help
but look at this crew and say, man, there's really
some similarities there where we got some really good young

(23:14):
talented but we didn't have mat Her freshman year, unfortunately,
But we had some really good young talented players as
freshmen and they got some time, they got a lot,
and then by the time theyir upper class and they're
really good, you know, and then all of a sudden,
you know, you're poised to not just win, but win
at a high level, win a championship. And so I
think that's what we're seeing in our program right now.

Speaker 2 (23:35):
That's a really good point too, because they're able to
grow with the team and they've been through you guys
have been through.

Speaker 3 (23:39):
The struggle a little bit. I remember your freshman year
and now where you are.

Speaker 2 (23:42):
Now where you guys got a shot at a conference
title and a lot of things look forward to that.
You guys have come a long way. We'll take another break.
When we come back, we'll talk a little academics with
the student athletes. This is the Bulldog Softball Hour where
Crawling Wolf five twenty six, Bruce Avenue.

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It's bulldog Softball from Deerfield.

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Speaker 2 (27:01):
That's gonna be chopped. This will be a tough play.
Hicks the fires what arm? My goodness?

Speaker 12 (27:07):
Okay, Hicks, did you see her unload that?

Speaker 3 (27:10):
Greg? Wow, that was wild. And that's the.

Speaker 2 (27:15):
Play we were talking about, which you brought up Coach
Stacy May Johnson. We're at the Bulldog Softball Hour here
Colnwoll five twenty six, Bruce Avenue here in Clovis.

Speaker 3 (27:24):
I'm at Orvil.

Speaker 2 (27:25):
We've got the head softball coach Stacy May Johnson and
Natalie Elias and you just heard Jamie Hicks in the
arm we were talking about and they don't play the
cliff long enough where Greg says he doesn't he hasn't
seen a ball thrown harder from third to first, and
I'd have to agree. We've been doing games at Margie
Wright Diamond for us together for about seven years now.

Speaker 3 (27:43):
And we haven't seen one as hard as that.

Speaker 2 (27:46):
And you had a speeds through that you had you
had to do it, because when it happened, I was like, there's.

Speaker 3 (27:50):
No way, and then she unloaded.

Speaker 5 (27:51):
My goodness.

Speaker 2 (27:53):
All right, we gotta get down to academics. So it's
been fun and games talking some sports, but let's talk
some academics. What did you guys made year? How'd you
come about to it? And what are you trying to
do when you're all done?

Speaker 3 (28:03):
Go ahead?

Speaker 13 (28:04):
Ding?

Speaker 14 (28:04):
So I'm a psychology major. I actually wanted to major
like kind of do the teaching route, so I went
into that and I was like, I don't think it's
my cup of tea, So I decided to move to psychology.
I just really like how the brain works, like, which
is really interesting to me. And all my psychology classes
have been like so much fun, so interesting, Like I'm
always like learning something new and something cool that I

(28:24):
get to tell people every single day.

Speaker 5 (28:26):
So yeah, what.

Speaker 3 (28:27):
Are you trying to do with the psychology? Like, do
you want to be a counselor?

Speaker 2 (28:30):
Because I've got three sisters that are psychology really yeah,
and two of our counselors.

Speaker 3 (28:34):
And one of them is like working on a prison.

Speaker 14 (28:37):
I think I want to counsel like little kids kind
of go to like elementary or like a middle school level.

Speaker 2 (28:41):
So yeah, okay, what about your at Okay?

Speaker 14 (28:44):
I am a business administration major with a finance option.
Basically I'm a finance major, and I came about that.
I was originally coming to college. I was a marketing
made because I wanted to do marketing. I really thought
it was my thing. And then I saw that marketing

(29:06):
was going to or social media marketing, and I decided
that I don't want media marketing, so I switched to
international international business.

Speaker 5 (29:18):
And I was like, Okay.

Speaker 14 (29:20):
I want to be able to travel and work and
be in all these different places. And then I thought, well,
what job could I get with an international international business degree?
Like just international business? So I started to stressed out
a little bit, and then I decided, now I like money,
and I am really interested in economics and like all

(29:42):
that sort of stuff. And I decided in the fall
of this year to switch to finance, and I've honestly,
I've really enjoyed it. I don't feel like I've had
any classes that have been super hard, but my classes
have become more interesting to me and I'm really excited
about them. Like I'm taking an international finance class right
now that I'm really into, and I'm taking a business

(30:04):
forecasting class which seems to be similar with what I
want to do. Because I right out of college. I
want to be a financial analyst, which kind of I
think working for a firm. At the firm level, it's
kind of understanding where their money's coming from and where
they can get make more money from certain projects versus
other projects, and kind of.

Speaker 5 (30:25):
That sort of thing.

Speaker 2 (30:27):
Seems like you got your life to put together on that.
It also seems a little stressful dealing with all that.

Speaker 3 (30:32):
Kind of money. A little bit, just a little tell
you guys a little bit about school.

Speaker 2 (30:36):
What's been the best class you've had so far, Jamie,
And what's been the toughest class you've have?

Speaker 14 (30:41):
So my best class and my toughest class go one
in one. It's my developmental class, and it's really like
my it's like my favorite, Like I love learning about it.
But it's also tough because it's one of my like
ones where I'm like, Okay, I actually have to put
the work in. I you know, have to study all
that kind of stuff. But I really love my developmental class.
It's the class where you learn about the different stages
of life. So it goes from childhood to middle childhood,

(31:05):
to adolescence, to adulthood and then to seniorhood. So I
just love learning about those different stages and how the
brain works in each different stage, and it's been like
really cool to like know like, oh, I'm in this stage.
Oh this is what the people go through at my stage,
and like seeing like my my mom and dad are
going through too, Like I'm like, oh, that's why they
do that kind of stuff. But yeah, that's definitely my

(31:26):
duvumental class.

Speaker 2 (31:27):
Yeah, for sure, judging coach, No, all right, man, what
about you?

Speaker 3 (31:33):
What's been the best class in the hardest class you've
had so far?

Speaker 14 (31:38):
I think my best class and my hardest class, like
Jamie said, it goes hand in hand. For me, it's
my investments class. I'm in it right now. I definitely
think it's a harder class because there's a lot of concepts.
It's very concept heavy, but you're using your applying it
to like everything, so like we'll do math as well,

(31:58):
and I'm I'm not bad at I can pick it up,
but I just have to keep doing it.

Speaker 5 (32:04):
And I really I.

Speaker 14 (32:05):
Enjoy it because investments is like definitely something I'm interested
in and like how people should spend their money. And
since it's a class, it's like at the firm level,
it's not at the personal level. But I've really enjoyed it.
I feel like it's hard because, like I said, it's
very concept heavy, so I have to make sure I
understand all the concepts to be able to apply them.

Speaker 5 (32:26):
But I've really enjoyed it.

Speaker 2 (32:28):
Is there any homework that you guys are ever doing
that you could actually go up and ask a coach
to help and they can help you.

Speaker 14 (32:35):
Maybe my developmental class, I'll say that we had a
quiz where it was asking about early adulthood and adulthood.
So if I did want to ask a question to
Coach Dacy, I know why you do this, but yeah,
probably I would say, like my quizzes that.

Speaker 3 (32:51):
What about you?

Speaker 2 (32:52):
You can you ask a coach Bobby? Could you go
to coach Bobby and be like, hey, explain this for me?

Speaker 5 (32:57):
Oh, I don't know.

Speaker 14 (32:58):
I mean I I be able to ask Coach Rock about.

Speaker 5 (33:03):
Maybe I don't know.

Speaker 14 (33:06):
I think we've read similar books about money, so mate,
no clue.

Speaker 2 (33:12):
Coach you ever walked by and obviously with your team,
you guys are very academic oriented, but see some of
the stuff and.

Speaker 3 (33:17):
You're just like, hey, I'm glad it's not me.

Speaker 4 (33:20):
Yeah, one hundred percent. I mean, when I think about
them being in school right now, and I'm like, you know,
I put my time in. I was in school for
a long time, and we're glad.

Speaker 5 (33:30):
To be done.

Speaker 2 (33:32):
For you guys, what's been the toughest adjustment. Obviously, you're
in it now in two years, so you got used
to it, But when you first came to school your
freshman year, what was the toughest adjustment in terms of
sports and school and to get everything situated.

Speaker 14 (33:43):
I'll definitely say I feel like every student athlete says
that time management always the time management because you have
so much stuff going on throughout the day.

Speaker 5 (33:50):
You know, you have to wake up.

Speaker 14 (33:51):
You have weights, you have practice, and then you also
have to go to like you have tutoring or anything,
and then you go to bread or go to home,
and then you have to make dinner and all that stuff,
and you have to find a way to fit like
studying and doing your test and your homework all in that.
So I feel like definitely time management was like the
number one thing for me. Like, once I got better
of that over the years, it's just been kind of
easy going throughout.

Speaker 2 (34:12):
So do you see like the freshmen coming in and
kind of go oh I was there.

Speaker 14 (34:16):
Yeah, definitely, they talk about it, but like it's it's
it's easy for us to like guide them through it
and like help them through it.

Speaker 3 (34:22):
So that's good.

Speaker 14 (34:23):
What about you, Oh, my freshman year, I think the
biggest struggle that I had was finding time to eat.
I had a very I come out to this, I
had a very tight schedule, so it was it was
actually pretty hard to find time to eat. But adjusting
to that living in my apartment last year when I
lived by myself, I think that was definitely an adjustment period,

(34:45):
Like I have to cook every meal for myself, Like
I don't really have swipes like that. So I think
that and also like study hall is definitely a big
thing your freshman year. You like you have to go
do study hall, and whether it's like eight hours week
or whatever, it is for everyone. I think, like Jamie said,
it's time management, just making sure you're prioritizing the right things.

Speaker 2 (35:09):
I would imagine coach, that's something that you obviously talk
to the athletes and maybe the first team meeting in
the fall and say, hey, here's what's it's.

Speaker 3 (35:16):
Going to go down. Is what you can kind of expect.

Speaker 4 (35:19):
Yeah, I mean we early in the fall we kind
of try to hit everything from a lot of fronts,
you know, whether it be you know, academics or you know,
diet and just kind of they're athletes twenty four hours
a day, you know, And that's the thing is they
step away from the field.

Speaker 5 (35:34):
They may not be playing softball, but the.

Speaker 4 (35:36):
Thing is that the decisions they make academically, the decisions
they make in terms of their sleep and their nutrition
and socially, all of those things impact their performance both
on the field and in the classroom. And so, you know,
we start the fall off try to obviously do some
educational pieces and try to lay a foundation a culture
where you know, we're going to be great twenty four
hours a day.

Speaker 2 (35:58):
Do you guys feel comfortable Obviously you get along with
your coaches. You say, it's like a family atmosphere on
the team. Do you feel comfortable that if something's going
on to get maybe a coach a shout and just
see get like check up on you and something like that.

Speaker 5 (36:08):
Yeah, of course.

Speaker 14 (36:09):
I feel like if I'm ever going through anything or
I'm having problems, I feel like I could reach out
to coach Stacy and she always has like things that we, oh,
we could do this, like this will help you.

Speaker 5 (36:18):
Oh, I could guide you towards this place, this will
help you.

Speaker 14 (36:21):
So I feel like it's definitely open, like you never
like have to worry about any of that stuff.

Speaker 5 (36:26):
Oh yeah, definitely.

Speaker 14 (36:27):
I definitely feel like I could go out to my
coaches if I'm struggling anything, Like if I was struggling
with something personally and I just talked to them about it,
like I'll share, I'll.

Speaker 5 (36:36):
Share this story.

Speaker 14 (36:38):
I remember my last fall, not this past fall, the
first fall I was here, I was struggling. I didn't
realize it, but I was. I was really hard on myself,
and I think that reflected from my freshman year and
what the experiences that I had there. And I remember
one practice after practice, I was really really upset and

(37:01):
I go up to coach Stacy and she says, are
you okay? And I just start crying and I just
talked to her, and I mean, I ended up feeling
better after And it was one of the pivotal points
when I was there. When I was here, but I
was like, Okay, I can really I can talk to
these coaches about anything, like I can go to them
when I need anything.

Speaker 3 (37:19):
Yeah, that's very important, I would imagine.

Speaker 5 (37:21):
Right, yeah, And I mean and the assistant coaches too.

Speaker 4 (37:24):
You know, sometimes it's it's harder to talk to the
gallup the top, you know, this stant coach, and they're
a little you're younger than I am, maybe a bit
more relatable too. And and so you got to give
them a lot of credit because I think the student
athletes feel very comfortable talking to them as well.

Speaker 2 (37:41):
Let's switch it up again from academics, let's talk a
little bit about the volleyball going on. I saw you
guys playing. Oh my gosh, full disclosure, I was. I
told Sarayan Cammel poo with this last time. So we
were somewhere last year, I don't remember what, road trip,
and a guy came up to me from the other
school and he said.

Speaker 3 (37:58):
Hey, I think they're the worst hacky sex. Oh, you
guys have now switched to volleyballs. How's that going.

Speaker 14 (38:04):
I think volleyball is definitely our capetite, way better than
Hackey sack. I think that's why we made the change,
because you know, we're struggling a little bit, but volleyball
has been like so much fun before the game, is like,
it's just a great way to get loose and have
fun with the team before And Lauren's actually the one
that brought us to volleyball, so we're like, thank you, Lauren,

(38:25):
but like, yeah, it's been a lot of fun, Like
it's a great way to do stuff before the game,
get your mind's off stuff. So oh yeah, I have
a funny story in high school speaking of volleyball. In
high school, I tried out for a volleyball team.

Speaker 5 (38:38):
I don't know if it was my changer here because
I was like, I want to try it. It looks fun.
I want to do it.

Speaker 14 (38:43):
And then I ended up making the B team and
I was like I don't want to do it, but no,
I love volleyball.

Speaker 5 (38:49):
I think it's so fun.

Speaker 14 (38:51):
I love watching like the beach volleyball, like Olympics stuff
like that. I love watching that. But I love it
on the team. You see me diving out there.

Speaker 3 (38:58):
I don't know, I.

Speaker 5 (39:01):
Love it.

Speaker 3 (39:02):
It's a lot different than Hackey sex.

Speaker 5 (39:04):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (39:04):
Sure, we're gonna take a break. We'll come back and
wrap things up with our student athletes. It's the Bulldog
Softball Hour at Crolin Wolf five twenty six Bruce Avenue.

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Speaker 2 (42:17):
So here's a two hitter and with Sarah first pace swinging.
That's to the gap in right center and that is
caught by Elias. Natalie comes flying in, dives and makes
the play. And that's out number two the outfield for
President State making some plays here tonight. And that's another
good one made that's tied by Natalie.

Speaker 3 (42:39):
Natalie.

Speaker 2 (42:39):
Elia is one of the student athletes we're talking too,
along with Jamie Hicks as well, both of them juniors
for President State SOFTBLAAD coach Stacy A.

Speaker 3 (42:46):
Johnson.

Speaker 2 (42:47):
We are at the prol and Wolf five, twenty six
Bruce Avenue in Clovis. It's the Bulldog Softball Hour. I'm
Matt Norble. Thanks for joining us here this evening, wrapping
up our Bulldog Softball Hour. A reminder for you a
couple of weeks so we will have two more coaches
shows with the baseball team. Paul Leffler will have we
be out here April twenty third and May seventh as

(43:07):
they wrap up their coaches shows as well. All right, guys,
we talked softball, We've talked academics, free time.

Speaker 3 (43:16):
Obviously you need some of that, and you get some
of that.

Speaker 2 (43:18):
So then what do you do to relax and maybe
get away from everything.

Speaker 14 (43:22):
Well, for me, it's kind of funny. I love playing
video games. I've always on my PS five playing video games.
Anytime I have any time of break, I'm done with homework,
done with softball.

Speaker 5 (43:32):
That's the one thing I go on.

Speaker 14 (43:34):
And it's kind of funny because my favorite game is
actually a game that's a baseball game. So I kind
of get like, yeah, it's kind of.

Speaker 3 (43:40):
This the show.

Speaker 5 (43:42):
Yes, the show.

Speaker 14 (43:42):
It's like, oh my gosh, it's my favorite game. Like
I just I can sit there and play for like
hours and just like it's fun for me because it's
like kind of my same sport. So it's like I
know what's happening. But that's definitely the way, like I
just relax and just like you know, vibe by myself.

Speaker 5 (43:56):
That's how I get away from softball.

Speaker 2 (43:58):
So it's getting away of playing video games. On fact,
I play video games and that's my getaway.

Speaker 3 (44:04):
It really is that.

Speaker 14 (44:07):
My getaway. I enjoy reading. I read educational books, like
I just finished The Psychology of Money. I don't know
if you guys have heard of that. Would definitely recommend it.
It's a very good book.

Speaker 5 (44:21):
But I also read like romances because I'm just a girl.

Speaker 14 (44:26):
Yeah, I'll like I watch YouTube or my girlfriend and
I have been ripping through Grace Anatomy, but definitely just
watching something to decompress a little bit and a little
bit of baking here and there.

Speaker 5 (44:42):
I'll make some bread.

Speaker 3 (44:43):
Okay. Great is a pretty popular show.

Speaker 2 (44:46):
Yeah, I know, very popular, very popular When you talk
about reading, is Sarah J.

Speaker 3 (44:51):
Moss is you one that you read or.

Speaker 5 (44:53):
Who you actually?

Speaker 14 (44:55):
I honestly, I just read whatever I like. I pick up,
like if I'm at Noble Abound a bookstore, like I'll
pick up a book and I'll read it a little bit.
I'll be like, oh I really like this, or like
right now, I'm just reading books that were gifted to
me for Christmas, So like I'm reading through whatever.

Speaker 5 (45:12):
But anybody got me?

Speaker 2 (45:13):
And yeah, how important for you guys? Though I talked
to every student athlete about this. Obviously mental health is important.
There's a lot of stresses in life. You know, you
got academics, you got athletics, you got us broadcasters talking
about you got fans being like, hey do this your
own family? And so how much is mental health important
to you? Especially obviously you have psychology madea.

Speaker 14 (45:32):
Yes, it's very important, Like we do talk about that
in psychology. How important it is, especially like sports psychology,
because a lot of athletes are really really tough on
themselves and it takes a really bad, like mental toll
on their mental health. And we kind of think about
you like separating yourself from your sport, like separate yourself,
like you are not who you are just because of

(45:52):
your sports, Like you just need to separate the two factors.
And I feel like once you do that, you like
know that, like you are worthy as a person, like
because of oh I did bad that one.

Speaker 5 (46:01):
Day, Like I'm a bad person.

Speaker 14 (46:03):
No, Like if you have to separate that and like, yeah,
that's definitely what we talk about. I think mental health
is very very important. I think if you are not
in the right place, it can be really hard to
play your best. And I think that when you are

(46:24):
in a healthy culture and just have a healthy mindset
going into like sports or academics or like life in general,
I feel like that's the best way you'll thrive because
you'll let go of all the expectations you put on
yourself and you'll just be able to like play, or
you'll be able to succeed because you're not holding yourself
back because of what you're saying to yourself in your head.

Speaker 3 (46:47):
That's well said to a coach.

Speaker 2 (46:48):
I know we talk about it every week, but you
do a great job with your team about kind of
separating between softball and the person.

Speaker 4 (46:55):
Yeah, definitely, And I think that's a battle that every
athlete faces I think I face it as a coach too.

Speaker 5 (47:02):
Is to know that, like, you know, you go for
four doesn't mean you're the worst. You go four four,
it doesn't mean you're the best.

Speaker 4 (47:08):
It's that because our identity is is definitely separate from
what we do on that field. You know, to me,
I think it's more about how you play the game. Uh,
then that tells you a lot more about who the
person is how they play the game. You know, how
do we go about our success, how do we go
about our failure? Those are those are much better indicators
and and should be more closely tied to our identity

(47:29):
than our performance.

Speaker 5 (47:30):
But you know, it's a hard battle to walk.

Speaker 4 (47:32):
I mean because obviously these are competitive, high level athletes.
They care a lot about their performance on the field,
and it is hard to fail.

Speaker 5 (47:40):
But obviously, you know, we as.

Speaker 4 (47:42):
Coaches, we want to just provide a landing ground for
for that failure or that success whatever it is that
day to know that you know, hey, you didn't get
a job the job done today, but I mean you're okay,
We're okay, and we're going to get back on the
horse and we're going to get the job done tomorrow
and and and just have a supportive.

Speaker 2 (47:59):
And vironment yeah, how hard you Jamie touched on it.
But really, as an athlete is separating yourself from that.
It is kind of tough because a lot of times
you'll get fans that they won't see Jamie the first
and they'll see Jamie the softball player and.

Speaker 3 (48:12):
Natalie they won't see it.

Speaker 2 (48:13):
But you got to remember with your team and everyone
else around you, that's close knit.

Speaker 3 (48:17):
It doesn't matter what other people see. It's how you
see yourself.

Speaker 5 (48:19):
No, yeah, and we've we've spent a lot of time
on that.

Speaker 4 (48:22):
You know, we're we're not interested in you know, what's
happening on social media. You know, we don't need that love.
You know, it's it's it's nice and everything, but we
don't need that. What we need is our pack of dogs,
you know. That's That's what matters, is what's happening internally
with our group, and that's what we're focused on.

Speaker 2 (48:36):
Let's wrap things up with the fans. We talked about
the fans. They show out to Margie write dim and
you guys hear them. You guys travel obviously you'll be
in Utah and no one draws like you guys draw
a residento State, No I even close. They also are
very demanding good times. But they love you guys, they
really do. You got a great base. You had the
alumni day on Saturday with Nevada and they were very
happy to come back. What's it like playing in front

(48:56):
of them?

Speaker 14 (48:57):
It's definitely different. It's definitely. I just love like the
support that they always have for us. You know that
when you go out there and play, you're always gonna know, oh,
we have all these people supporting us, especially with alumni.
It's very cool to see them come back and come
touch to their roots and whatever and go around and
talk to us.

Speaker 5 (49:12):
So yeah, I definitely think it's really really cool when
they come to them. Oh yeah, I love all the fans.

Speaker 14 (49:17):
I feel like it's definitely like at our football games
where it's intimidating because we have so many people. Like
if you're going somewhere and there's a lot of fans,
you're like, WHOA, Like they must be good because everybody's
coming to watch them.

Speaker 5 (49:29):
So I know that's how they feel.

Speaker 14 (49:31):
Our beautiful stadium and they see all these people, they're
like intimidated.

Speaker 5 (49:36):
But now I love it.

Speaker 14 (49:36):
I love all the fans and especially all like the
little girls that come.

Speaker 3 (49:40):
I'm gonna say, all the little girls.

Speaker 2 (49:42):
Hey, you had a lot of the man, I don't
know how many teams you had. You had so many
teams they couldn't bring them all in the dugout, but
they had them all in the field.

Speaker 3 (49:50):
What's that like? Playing in front of all those young ladies.

Speaker 5 (49:52):
It's definitely very special.

Speaker 14 (49:54):
I didn't get to do that a lot when I
was little, like go to the really big like college
softball games, So like having them be there and like
playing in front of them, I definitely feel like it's
just really really cool, Like it's a really cool experience
for not only us, but for them.

Speaker 7 (50:08):
Yeah.

Speaker 14 (50:08):
So yeah, I enjoy it because I think it kind
of reminds me like this is who I'm playing for,
Like the little me that didn't even think that she
was going to get across the country, you know. But
I think I think it's really special. And I think
we try, like as a team to make an impact
on these girls and like interact with them and like
sign and whatever and do all the things just so

(50:28):
that they know, like just because we're up here doesn't
mean you know, I don't.

Speaker 5 (50:33):
Know what I'm trying to say.

Speaker 3 (50:34):
I know what you're trying to say.

Speaker 14 (50:35):
Now, just because we're here, it doesn't mean we can't
talk to you like you're just as important, Like of course,
we want to interact with you like you're special, just
as special as we are.

Speaker 5 (50:43):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (50:44):
Oh, they love you, guys.

Speaker 2 (50:45):
I'd tell coaches all the time because I always go
to concession stands before I start broadcasting, and man, oh man,
are they excited. They go want to watch the bullpen
warm up and then they're just all over them and
they get excited.

Speaker 3 (50:55):
Going on the field and after the game.

Speaker 2 (50:58):
You have no idea the impact. Well, guys, thanks for
spending some time with us. The best of luck this
weekend against Utah State and YU on Onday.

Speaker 14 (51:06):
Thank you.

Speaker 2 (51:07):
That's Natalie Elias and Jamie Hicks. We're going to take
our final break chat with head coach Stacy may Johnson.
It is the Bulldog Softball Hour at Corona. Well, this
is Bulldog Softball from their field.

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Speaker 2 (54:20):
As the right handed hitter, the starting center fielder that's
chopped right to Ray over a third high throw, Hicks
went up and got it and then stepped on the bag.
Good athleticism from Hicks as Ray had that one through
a just a touch high and Hicks went up and
got it, and that's out. Number two Jamie Hicks and

(54:42):
Natalie Elias. We just wrapped up with them, a couple
of student athletes. They will be a traveling and be
a big part of what head coach Dacy A. Johnson
does This weekend against Utah State an important three game
series as the Dogs that knocking on the door of
first place. They've got Utah State and Nevada who are
tied for first dogs right behind them in tied with
San Diego State, so a lot to play for for

(55:02):
the Dog's chance at a conference title and better seating
for the conference tournament. As we welcoming back to Crolnwolf
five twenty six, Bruce Avenue here in Clovis, Thanks for
joining us on AM eleven thirty on the Bulldog Gap
or iHeartRadio as well. I'm Matt Norvile as we wrap
things up our final Bulldog Softball Hour. For about the
last five minute or so, coach big weekend series. But

(55:23):
overall coming up, You've got Utah State, then you've got
New Mexico, which will be the final home series. But
it's a long way before you're done playing softball for
the year, and then you've got your finale against Colorado
State and conference before heading to San Diego for the
conference tournament. But just talk to me about really the
last month or so of the season that's remaining.

Speaker 3 (55:43):
Well, we've just got to.

Speaker 5 (55:44):
Stay the course.

Speaker 4 (55:46):
You know, We've got a good team and we got
to go down to Utah and we have to win.

Speaker 5 (55:50):
We had to win that series, you know, no question
about it.

Speaker 4 (55:53):
We're contenders, but you know, ultimately we've got to be
able to.

Speaker 5 (55:57):
Win on the road, not just at home.

Speaker 4 (56:00):
So this will be a great opportunity for us to separate,
you know, not only obviously the wins are going to
help us. But that's the thing about playing the team
above you in Utah State that's currently tied for first place,
is you know, we win our games, but then we
knock them down. This thing days, you know, it goes
both ways. So these games are really important. I know,
I'm really excited, really confident.

Speaker 7 (56:21):
I was.

Speaker 5 (56:21):
I thought, you know, we I thought we looked good swinging.

Speaker 4 (56:24):
The bats this week, which was nice, and I want
to take that into Utah.

Speaker 2 (56:29):
Talk to me about next week a little bit. Obviously
the final home series against New Mexico, but more so
just Senior Day.

Speaker 3 (56:35):
You're going to be saying goodbye to some folks.

Speaker 2 (56:37):
Obviously not goodbye because he's got a lot of time left,
but it's going to be the final time they play
at Margie Right Diamond. That's going to be an emotional day.
I would imagine it's going to be happening one week
from Saturday.

Speaker 5 (56:48):
Yeah, it's always an emotional day.

Speaker 4 (56:51):
You know, it's always a tough day to play your
last game at Margie Right you know, and our seniors
have obviously given a lot to this program over the
course of their time, and so it's it's awesome to
be able to have the opportunity to honor them, to
have our fans appreciate them for everything that they've given
and they've contributed, and so we're excited for that game.

Speaker 2 (57:13):
Taran are going got to talk about her because she
was the player when you walked in, she was a freshman,
your first year went four years through. Is that going
to be a little bit tougher for you because she's
been with you the whole ride.

Speaker 4 (57:24):
I mean, it's it's she said it the other day,
She's like, I just can't believe how fast it went
and I and I thought to myself, yeah, I mean, yeah,
it's it's gone really fast. No, Terren's Terren's definitely special.
And obviously she's she's been with us through the whole thing,
you know, which for you know, the fans that don't remember,
and what we walked into four years ago was was ugly.

Speaker 5 (57:46):
I mean it just was. It was really ugly on
a lot of fronts.

Speaker 4 (57:48):
And so to go from there to where we are
competing for a championship, you know, and and to do
it with Tarren is really special.

Speaker 3 (57:57):
I got you a couple of minutes left.

Speaker 2 (57:58):
Coach, you got Utah State this week, and we touched
on you got BYU, We mentioned in New Mexico and
then Colorado State. But you're finishing up with a couple
of non conference games. How important was it for you
to add some games on the schedule because you have
that last week off before the conference tournament.

Speaker 4 (58:13):
Yeah, we've got that bye the last week, and it
was just hard to schedule that weekend. And I think
the other thing too, is I man, we were looking at, well,
we could try to find somebody on the weekend, but
it almost gets a little bit too close to the
tournament in terms of you know, fatigue and stress on
the pitchers. And so the Wednesday midweek gives us a
good solid week of rest, you know, going into the tournament,

(58:37):
so keeps us fresh enough that we don't have like
a ten day break. But then on the other hand,
it gives us enough of a break that we're going
to be the most rested team at the tournament.

Speaker 5 (58:47):
So I like those you games. And by the way
they are playing.

Speaker 2 (58:51):
Well, Yeah, they.

Speaker 4 (58:53):
Beat Oregon at Oregon if I'm not mistaken, and they
took two from Oregon State, So watch out those are
good games for us.

Speaker 2 (59:00):
Yeah, they're playing much better than they were earlier in
the season when we saw them at our tournament. There's
no doubt about that. So well, coach, that's gonna wrap
up our Bulldog Softball Hour.

Speaker 3 (59:09):
Thanks.

Speaker 2 (59:09):
I say this ever to you every year, but thanks
for the time that you give us and coming out
here and taking an hour out of your schedule to
talk a little bit about your program.

Speaker 3 (59:17):
Hey, thanks for having me Noll problem. We'll see you
down the road.

Speaker 2 (59:20):
Of course, Presno State is back in action at Utah State.
That is going to be a Friday Saturday Sunday series
and they'll be on the road at BYU our next broadcast,
as we will not make the trip for that one
will be our home game and next Thursday against New
Mexico at six o'clock, our pregame at five forty five.
They'll play Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with Easter being that Sunday,

(59:42):
so it's going to be one of those rare Thursday
Friday Saturdays. So come on out to Margie Wright timon
for a very good Fresno State softball team that's competing
for a conference title. That's going to wrap up the
Bulldog Softball Hour A reminder for you, We've got baseball
April twenty third and May seven with Paul Leffler and
ko Jovi. So slinging out to Cronwoll five twenty six

(01:00:04):
Spruce Avenue here in Clovis. So, I'm Matt Normal, saying,
so long you've been listening to Bulldog Softball from Deerfield.

Speaker 1 (01:00:16):
You've been listening to the Bulldog Softball Hour, brought to
you by bud Light, Easy to Drink, Easy to Enjoy,
Table Mountain Casino Resort, Lucky Days and Epic Nights, and
by Pepsi, official soft Drink of Fresno State Athletics