The Fearless Warrior Podcast

131: She Got Her AUSL Golden Ticket: Sydney Stewart's Mental Approach for Success

• Amanda Schaefer

Share episode

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 28:19

Sydney Stewart just made history. Jennie Finch walked onto the field at Arizona and handed Sydney her AUSL Golden Ticket, making her one of only 17 collegiate players in the country guaranteed a spot in the professional draft. When we first recorded this conversation, Sydney was a junior transfer just arriving in Tucson with something to prove. Now she is a first-team All-Big 12 and second-team All-American catcher with 40 career home runs, 150 RBI, and a professional contract on the way. Go back and listen to the mindset that built all of it.

Episode Highlights:

  • Starting 44 games as a freshman at a powerhouse D1 program
  • How she earned the trust of veteran teammates
  • The grounding routine she uses to slow the game down under pressure
  • Her failure recovery process
  • Her World Series experience and trusting her preparation
  • Real talk on the transfer portal
  • Why embracing slumps is the mindset shift that separates good hitters from great ones

Connect with Sydney:

IG: @sydneyystewart


More ways to work with Fearless Warrior

Follow us on Social Media

Kara

Good evening, everyone. We are excited for our new guest speaker tonight. We've invited Sidney Stewart to come and speak to you ladies. Uh, Sidney is going into her junior year. She played her first few years of college at the University of Washington, and she just this summer transferred to Arizona. She's going to have a new team this season, um, down south in Tucson, going from Uranium Northwest down to Tucson. So it's quite a transition. Um, I don't know if I said she plays catcher and she's already had a stellar collegiate career at UW. She started 44 games as a freshman, which is no small feat. So that's pretty awesome. And she had a really cool stat that I found. She is the third player in program history. That has, that hit three doubles in a single game against Utah. So only the third person ever to do it at the University of Washington. So that's, that's some good, consistent power hitting there, um, to get three doubles in a single game. So, um, welcome Sydney. We'll go ahead and turn the time over to you to introduce yourself to the girls.

Sydney

Yeah, thank you so much for having me. I'm super excited to talk to you guys and answer any questions that you have and just tell my story. So as she said, I'm Sydney. I'm from San Jose, California. I've played softball for about 15 years now, 16 years, which is like a long time. I feel like time's gone by so fast, but yeah, um, I spent two years at the University of Washington and I just transferred over to, um, University of Arizona and I catch, I've caught for about, um, let's see, I think I started catching when, in 12U. Played other positions as everyone does, pitcher, third base, outfield, everything. But, um, yeah, started getting more serious about catching, um, during around 12U and now I'm actually starting to work first into my, um, um, to my position. So, yeah, I'm excited for today. So.

Kara

That's awesome. Expanding into the

Sydney

other positions in the infield. Yeah. That's great. Why, why first base? Um, I think just having it's important to have more than one position just because. You know, the more you have, the more you can play and also pretty tall too. I feel like first baseman's tend to be taller and, um, just starting to mix it in, I feel like they catching and first kind of work off of each other. You're always involved, catching, you're always catching the ball first. You're pretty much making the play, um, no matter what. But, um, yeah, I think that having multiple, multiple positions is really important, um, just to have in like your, like in your arsenal, you know, Just having, yeah. Those tools.

Kara

Yeah. I think, I feel like it's less usual. Those pitchers, catchers tend to be very much specialists, so I think that's awesome that you're reaching out and, and giving yourself more options. That's great.

Sydney

Yeah, coach. I'll say though, I will say it's been, I've been learning the position, it's probably taking me like I'm just getting into it, but, um, over the summer I. Um, took reps with my dad at first, just learning the footwork, being taller, it's kind of hard, like just to get down there. But I will say ever since being here at the University of Arizona, we've been, we've been doing about like two weeks of, um, individuals before 20 hour weeks start. And I feel like with the coaching instruction, I've improved so much. And I'm just super excited just to get on the field with the team and just to play some softball.

Kara

Yeah. So you mentioned 20 hour weeks. What do you mean when you

Sydney

say that?

Kara

Yeah.

Sydney

So 20 hour weeks. Basically, it's like something with compliance where you have only a certain amount of time. So right now we're in eight hour weeks. So we're in smaller groups, individuals, we're lifting as a team together. But then once we get to drill work, softball work, it's, um, ranging around like, and you have like an hour every day with your coaching staff. So we'll usually go like 30 minutes with infield drills, and then we'll go 30 minutes hitting. So you're kind of in and out. Whereas 20 hour weeks is like full practice. You're in your full gear, pants, socks, everything. Um, the team can all get together. You still have weights. You still have all that stuff. So basically 20 hour weeks is like more in depth. Um, that's how it is during season two, like when, um, the practices are a little more rigorous. Um, so yeah, that's, that's what 20 weeks kind of,

Kara

yeah. So it's like the maximum amount of time you can be together as a team, so that it makes it even across the board all teams that's as much time as you can spend together. So that. Not just like forcing the student athletes to be on the field for eight hours a day or

Sydney

gives you gives you some time to relax and get some time off and do things other things than softball. So,

Kara

right,

Sydney

maybe a little schoolwork. Yeah, exactly.

Kara

That's awesome. Um, so you, you did a pretty impressive thing where you kind of jumped straight from high school right into that starting, starting role in a division one, a top division one school. UW is a is a perennial. I mean, a perennial powerhouse. So what was that like? What was that jump like going from high school straight into literally the big league?

Sydney

Yeah, it was, I'm not going to lie. It was very intense. I didn't know what to expect as a high schooler. Like I kind of had this idea of what college was, but based off of like my friend's experience, my old teammates experience, but I didn't really know what it. truly like what the college setting was like. Um, my, so the summer in between my senior year of high school and then freshman year of college, I actually did this program that you can go. So I went to school for a month and, um, I got to work out with some of my teammates. I got to, um, do school. Some of my classes, I got some extra credits for it. And it was kind of like a transition, um, help with the transition into college, but, um, So that really helped. But I would say that going into from my, um, from high school to college, just for me, the biggest piece was to just take in as much information as possible and just have my listening ears on. Um, I asked a lot of questions, don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions, even though you may feel like that you're like bugging your teammate or you keep reaching out to them but. Um, all my teammates were so nice and they helped me so much with just my transition and answering any questions, asking if I needed any help with things to help me moved into my dorm. Um, so yeah, I'll say asking questions really helped. And once you start getting into the flow of things, you kind of, you start getting used to it and, um, kind of get acclimated. So. Yeah. So once you start doing those things, it comes easier and easier. And then it's kind of just like day and night, like you just, you just know, that's like a part of your routine is part of your schedule and you learn a lot of things like along the way, I will say my senior year of high school, like I kind of just went with the flow, like. Um, I had practice, I had school, like I just, I was where I needed to be, but I will say going into college I didn't realize how much time management you need. Um, I was writing in my planner every day like I got to be here 15 minutes early so it's definitely a lot but you do get used to it and it's kind of just like engraved in your brain like your body. Like, I honestly felt like I just knew where to go, like, like, After class, I was like, okay, time for my treatment that I have my nutrition, then time for practice. And yeah, so it comes easy. The more you do it.

Kara

Yeah, yeah, it's like that, that not only are you trying to transition to like a higher level of your sport, but you're also transitioning to that like higher academic level and trying to, you know, And a lot of people, it's their first time living alone, you know, living away from home. And, um, so yeah, all those things kind of run into one can, can kind of throw you for a loop. Um, I'm, I'm curious to know, um, what is your background with mental skills? You know, here at Phyllis, where you teach those mental skills. Did you get any of that in high school or in your club ball, or has it been mostly in college that you've? been introduced to that.

Sydney

So growing up, um, my, so my dad played, um, he played for the Braves. He was drafted after college. He went to, um, Sonoma State or went to San Diego State that transferred to Sonoma State and got drafted. So I'll say I was pretty close with him about just like my whole softball career and growing up with softball. So he really helped me with skills, but I never really liked. to tune in on them until my freshman year of college, just because you have so many resources, whether that's from your coaches, whether that's from the school, whether that's from your teammates and the mental skills part, I did not realize how big of a role it plays into not only just like, like your, how you play as a soccer player on and on the field, but also off the field. So, um, yeah. Just having time to myself or hang out with my family. And like, um, I think it was, we had a specialist come in actually my freshman year and my sophomore year too, but kind of just describing like how these tools can help you. And they gave, they gave us like all these tools and I was kind of. overwhelmed because I'm like, okay, like I didn't know my routine yet. I didn't know which ones suited me the best. So I kind of during fall, which is kind of your time to like try things out, see what, see what works, see what doesn't work. I, I kind of tried all of them. So I think like once I started building my routine, I really liked the taking a step out and finding a focal point. So that can be like anywhere on the field. Um, so I know for like Bailey Klingler hers was the left felt. She would always step out, take a deep breath and look at the left foul pole. For me, it was stepping out and looking at my bat. So, and just taking a deep breath because the game moves like, moves so fast. And it's just going to get faster and faster and faster. So you have to take the time to slow it down yourself. So for me, um, my routine is still changing. Like, You have to find what works best for you. But, um, I'll say the main thing that I do is, um, taking a step out of the box. And looking at my bat and taking a deep breath, trying to slow down the game and know that I'm in control, because even though things seem like they're moving fast with the new clock, you got 20 seconds, I believe in between each pitch. So you want to utilize all the time that you have, because the more you're sped up, the more you're out of your process. And then, um, you're not at your best. I feel like, so yeah.

Kara

Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah. We call that grounding. Same idea. Like focal point is like. Finding something to focus on outside of what you're doing. Re centers you into what's going on. That's awesome. What, um, so catcher is like, like pitcher is a unique position in that, um, when you make a mistake, it's not, if I get another ball, it's like, I have to have this next ball. So what, what would you say for you, if you make a mistake behind the plate? Passball or whatever else. What do you do to be able to get yourself ready for that next pitch? What's your failure recovery routine that you go through?

Sydney

Um, I think, as I like mentioned before, the game moves so fast that it's almost like you don't really have time to think about the past or the ball that I didn't catch or that got past me. Sometimes it does eat at you, right? But for me, just like knowing that There's seven innings in a game and there's going to be so many other balls that you're going to catch. There's going to be so many more instances in the game where, like, you can't be focused on that one past mistake. So I think for me, like just the game doesn't really let me, it doesn't allow me to really hyper fixate on that one mistake because I got, I have my pitcher to worry about, right? I have to make sure that she's good. I have the team to worry about, like. Making sure that I'm doing my job for my team have hitting to worry about like there's two sides of the game. So for me, I the tools that I use, I try to think bigger picture, right? Like, there's so many more games in your season, right? That's just one mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. That's just one, one of them, right? Um, and yeah, I just try to focus on the different things. And I might like what I tell myself is like, Hey, you get the next one, right? Get the next one. So it's trying to move on to the next instead of being so much about the past. Yeah, that's awesome. It's

Kara

great advice. It can, um, and also so a catcher is a big time just by virtue of the position. You are in charge of a lot of things, right? You're, you're a leader. Um, you're moving people around. You're telling them what to do. How did you navigate that as a freshman coming on or running around your infield and your outfield when, you know, they're seniors and, you know. Yeah. You're a freshman. How did you, how did, what skills helped you be able to do that? Like how, how are you able to be a leader in that

Sydney

way? I think the biggest like piece was my confidence. Like, You being out on the field, you can be a totally different person than you are off the field. Like me personally, like I'm like goofy, funny, but like, I'm not someone that's like, as a catcher, you're, you have to be big. You have to be out there. Right. You have to be loud, like off the field. Like I'm very casual. I'm just, I just do me. I do Sid and, um, on the field though, you have to like, you have to channel like this alter ego almost like, um, and I will say too, just getting that instruction, like. As a freshman, I was kind of like, okay, trying to find my place on the field trying to find my place, just seeing how the team flowed and because it was mostly seniors out on the field, and I like didn't want to be overpowering because they were They're seniors and I'm a freshman, but as I got closer with them and, um, built a relationship with them and got more comfortable, like it wasn't a matter of fact of, Oh, like I'm a freshman. You're a senior. It's like, no, we're all, we're all equal. We're all the same. We have just as much of a voice as one another. And, um, I think building that trust aspect like really helped me because I was comfortable with telling my innings, like, Hey, let's time out. Let's meet in the middle. Like Well, let's slow it down or just any other like example too. But, um, yeah, I will just say like just the confidence piece and making sure that you build the trust with your, in your innings, because in your outfield too, I guess, but, um, at the end of the day, like, it doesn't matter how many fans are out there. Who's, um, who the other team is, who you're playing against. Um, just as long as you're focusing on the things you need to focus on, which is one, your teammates, putting your teammates first, and then two, the things that you need to do. In order to be successful and like doing things the right way, um, you're going to be just fine.

Kara

That's

Sydney

awesome.

Kara

Yeah. Um, what so you, you got to go to the World Series as a freshman. What was that like? What was that experience like? What did you take away from it? How was it being on that stage?

Sydney

That was, if someone asked me what is like my top memory so far in my 20 years of being alive, I'll say like going to the whole like postseason experience was one of the best experiences I've ever had my freshman year. Just going, starting from regionals when we played McNeese and we were down on the field. Seven runs or six runs and we've scored seven in the last inning. That was a crazy experience. Then going to super regionals, we beat, uh, Louisiana Lafayette. Um, it was just a crazy atmosphere. Um, our, we hosted, so it filled out and then getting to go to the world series. Like it didn't hit me until I got there. Like, I was like, Oh, like we're going to, we're going to the world series. Like, Oh my gosh. And then we got there and we're, I remember we. Had practice before we had our games and I'm out on the field and I'm looking at the stands. I'm like We're at the World Series right now. Like, not a lot of people get to say that they went to the World Series. And it was just, it was awesome. I like, it was crazy because I wasn't even nervous for some reason. I was more nervous when I Um, when we were practicing, when the stands weren't filled out, but I think our first game was against Utah and I step out there and I see all these fans and I'm like, I think just because of the experience that I had with the season and, um, Just getting used to it. Like, I wasn't really fazed because I knew that I trust in my preparation. I trust in my team's preparation. And I knew that at the end of the day, it's just a game, even though there's 15, 000 people in the stands and there's cameras on ESPN and everything, like it's on live television, like at the end of the day, it's Just the game that we've all played and it's just, yeah, just the game of softball. But yeah, that was a crazy experience just, and also like for my family too, being, being able to see my family out there to come and support me, it was just, it was awesome. And I always watch it back on YouTube because it's like clipped on YouTube and I'll watch our games back and I just like to reminisce and look back at it. And it's cool to think that like I have two more years left and that at the end of the day, that's the goal to get back to the World Series. So super excited.

Kara

That's awesome. All right. Well, we've got like 10 ish more minutes. Uh, we'll open up to the girls that are here on the call. If any of you have a question for Sydney that you'd like to ask, you're welcome to unmute if you want to, or you can type it in the chat. And we'll go ahead and ask her. Uh, some rapid fire questions. What do you want to know from Sydney?

Sydney

Can you see that? Yeah. Recruiting phone. What is your advice for recruiting phone calls? Um, I remember September 1st of my junior year being so, so, so nervous, right? Because it's the big day. Everyone's been waiting. Um, this is the anticipation, but my biggest advice is just, To be you. I know it's cliche. A lot of people say it, but at the end of the day, like coaches want to see who you are truly like you don't need to change yourself for anything. And they're already interested in you if they're calling you. Um, so I'd say just to be one, of course, be respectful because they're, um, coaches, but to, yeah, just answer any question, answer the questions that they have about you, but also, um, I would advise you to come with questions because this is your recruiting journey. Like you shouldn't rush into it. It should be, um, a thought out process. Um, I know some people make the mistake of like, it's just the hype, like, okay, like this school is reaching out to me. This school is reaching out to me. Like there's all these shiny things, but truly you should do your research, go on your visits, ask the questions because at the end of the day, this is going to be your home for the next four years. Maybe four plus years because after college, some people come back, some people will live out there or, um, yeah, live out there after college. So my, um, yeah, my advice is just to do your research, come with questions and, um, just be yourself at the end of the day. Awesome.

Kara

And Lauren asks, I play Catherine first. Any tips or advice for those positions?

Sydney

Um, see, I just advise you just to have the utmost confidence in yourself and, um, everyone's, I know people say like, get your work and get your work in, but, um, confidence comes from preparation. And I'll say like at first base last my sophomore year last year I kind of just got thrown into the position I didn't really have. Too much. Um, what's the word? Too much like experience at first. And I kind of, um, I didn't have a lot of confidence there. So I, this past summer, I told my dad, Hey, like literally hit a hundred straight balls at me with the worst hops ever. And. At first it was really hard because I just didn't know the footwork, right? But the more you do it, the more you get comfortable, um, for catching, like I said, um, just, just know that the presence that you have, like behind that plate, like you command the field, you have that role of being a leader and just take ownership of it. Like for me, catching, having confidence in my catching leads to confidence in my hitting and then confidence in my hitting leads to confidence in my catching. And it's kind of this. This cycle. So just, yeah, trust yourself and, yeah. Awesome. Yeah. And then I know there's, um, those were the two questions asked, but another piece of advice I'd say is to embrace the failure. I know that's kind of weird to say, but. Everyone has gone through slumps. Everyone knows what a slump is. Um, but you have to realize that like while you're in your slump, it might be like the worst thing you might think is the worst thing ever, but you're going to get out of it like you've been through a slump before you've gone out of it and everyone knows the feeling of getting a slump is the best feeling ever once you get it once you get that hit, it goes through and you're like, yes, I got that. Finally, the slumps broken, but I'd say embrace it because No one wants to just ride the highs, right? Because when you ride the highs Then once you hit the lows, the lows are going to feel like the worst thing ever. So try to stay consistent and just to trust your capabilities and be like, Hey, if I'm in the slump, I'm going to get out of it. I trust myself. I'm going to do the work. I trust I've gone out of a slump before and I'm going to do it again. So just try to approach it with that mindset.

Kara

Okay.

Sydney

Awesome. Uh, any other questions you got ladies? There's one more. When you strike out, what is your mindset at your next event? Um, yeah, so when you striking out, everyone does it softball softball is a game of failure, unfortunately, but I'd say when I strike out, just knowing that I'm going to get to this next one kind of the same thing with. Like we talked about catching, like, if it's a pass ball, like that's in the past, I'm onto the next, and it might feel like the worst thing ever in the moment. And you might, might just keep eating at you. But, um, like I said, like trusting in your preparation, like, Hey, I'm going to get to this next one. Normally how I think about it is like, normally in a game, you get three at bats on average, depending on the length of. The game or how many innings it goes into, it could be less. It could be more, but all you have to do is beat her ones, right? So, so you strike out your first at bat, you have two more events, right? You strike out your second bat. Hey, you got one more bat. Right. So just trying to like, think of it in a different way. It's all about perspective, kind of. So I challenge you guys to like approach it, even though in the moment it might, you might not be able to like, think about that. Try to approach it in a different way of like, Hey, okay, she got me this time. I'm getting hurt this next time.

Kara

It's awesome. So many things in there, self talk and, you know, recovering from failure. Yeah, it is crazy that we, that this game that you have. Fail so many times. Exactly. To succeed a few times. It's rough. Uh, any other questions? No? No pregame meal question? I'll go ahead and ask it for you guys, since you guys always ask that question. What, what's the, what's the pregame food? What do you like to eat

Sydney

pregame? Pregame food? Well, one, it depends on what's being like catered from the school, but for me, I just like, I don't like to eat too much because Then I like, I feel like we're running around a lot, catching gear, could be hot, could be cold, but my pregame routine is I listen to, um, it's my walk up song. I'll listen to it before the game. It's Tell Me When to Go by E 40, so. That's a part of my routine. And then I'll go through like my hitting routine of course, but that's my like off the field pregame routine.

Kara

Any other questions girls? Or I'm going to ask my last, my final question. The final question that we always like to ask, um, is if you were a time traveler, and you could travel back in time, to talk to previous Sydney, whatever that is for you, high school or junior high, 10 year old, whatever, whatever you want to travel back to, what advice would you give yourself? What advice would you give your former self?

Sydney

Um, I'd tell my former self to just embrace The time that you're in now because it's going to go by so fast and the moments that my old my little self is in right now it's times that you're going to build your foundation on whether that's your friendships, your softball skills, your position, traveling everything I'd say embrace those times I wish I could go back and re experience like my high school one of the best times. Don't get me wrong college is amazing. I love college. Being in college and experiencing life outside of softball to like just adulting, but I look back and I still keep in contact with my old friends that I played with in high school, and even in in rec ball, so I'd say. Be where your feet are at and just embrace the moments that you're in now, even though you may not want to travel somewhere on the weekend for your travel tournament. You've been there however many weekends in a row or you've been in that tournament almost every year. Um, just, yeah, just live in the moment and, um, yeah, embrace it.

Kara

Yeah, it's such good life advice. It's, it's so easy to think, oh, when this happens, then I'll be happier when this, But yeah, to live life where you are now, find joy where you are now. I think that's. Such good advice. All right, well, um, we will go ahead and let you all go. Thank you so much Sydney for joining us and thanks girls that are here for, um, for your questions and for your participation. Uh, we'll, we'll definitely be cheering you on and, and watching you do great things out of Arizona. So that's going to be super fun to be able to keep up. Thank you

Sydney

so much.

Kara

Thank you.

Contributor

Amanda Schaefer

Host