Don't Suck: Life, Family & Softball
Don’t Suck: Life, Family & Softball is a father-daughter podcast where passion meets the grind. Hosted by Ronald and Madison Smith, we dive into the highs, lows, and lessons learned from the game of softball and how they apply to life beyond the field.
From early morning workouts to late-night tournaments, and road trips—we talk about the dedication, sacrifices, and unforgettable moments that come with chasing dreams. Expect real conversations, funny stories, competitive debates, and insights into the softball journey, plus a little family banter along the way.
Whether you’re a player, parent, coach, or just love the game, Don’t Suck is here to keep it real. No excuses, no regrets, just hustle.
Don't Suck: Life, Family & Softball
Sunflower Seeds and Sacrifice: The Mama Kelli Episode
Every athlete's journey is shaped by the invisible support system standing behind them. In this special episode, we welcome our most requested guest – Mama Kelli – who pulls back the curtain on what it truly means to raise a dedicated softball player.
Kelli shares the emotional rollercoaster of watching Madison navigate both triumphs and struggles on the field, revealing that the hardest part isn't the financial investment or logistical challenges, but "watching Madison struggle or hearing negative comments about her." Yet in the same breath, she identifies the most rewarding aspect as seeing her daughter overcome those very struggles.
The conversation explores the delicate art of supporting without smothering. Kelli and Ronald have intentionally fostered Madison's independence from a young age, teaching her to advocate for herself with teachers and coaches alike. "Madison has to learn how to handle things on her own," Kelli explains, offering wisdom for parents who might be tempted to fight all their child's battles.
We dive into memorable tournaments – from expensive 10U trips that raised eyebrows to the growth moment when 14-year-old Madison pitched for an 18U team of college-bound players. Kelli candidly discusses the sacrifices made ("we no longer have a backyard"), the importance of the upcoming recruiting summer, and the life lesson she hopes Madison carries forever: "Never quit."
Whether you're a softball parent seeking guidance, a player curious about the parental perspective, or someone who appreciates authentic family dynamics, this episode offers heartfelt insights into the foundation that supports athletic dreams. Subscribe now and join our growing community spanning six countries and counting!
came up young. Glove in my hand, dirt on my cleats yeah, way before I had a fan. Late nights, cage lights perfecting my stance, got a dream in my heart I ain't leaving the chance. Softball life, every play's a test, pressure's on. Yeah, I play my best, bass is loaded. Gotta stay composed like life.
Speaker 2:One shot never fall you're listening to the don't suck live family and softball podcast with your host, ronald Come on.
Speaker 3:dude, Quit yelling at the umpire.
Speaker 2:And Madison Smith, you're embarrassing me With special guest. Mama Kelly, he can't even hear me.
Speaker 3:Week eight, we got our first special guest in the house, Mama Kelly.
Speaker 4:Hey.
Speaker 3:And we've got, obviously, Madison. Hey guys and Claudia hey y'all, and we're looking forward to kicking this week off. I got big smiles across the table. Everybody's been asking for it. We finally got her on here.
Speaker 5:She's so excited and nervous.
Speaker 3:And nervous. So before we get started, we're gonna go ahead and do the quick pitch questions.
Speaker 2:Okay, let's get into it. What's one adult task you still google every time you have to do it. Well, I'm not an adult, so y'all got this one. I'm gonna go ahead and say I gps everywhere that I go, so every, even if I know the route I'm gpsing it.
Speaker 3:I do that too I always google how I'm gonna say something like in an email. How to word something oh, that's good.
Speaker 2:Yeah, which position would you never want to play?
Speaker 5:I think I'd say shortstop just because they have to cover so much ground. I'm not fast enough for that. You used to play shortstop in eight you I when I played ball.
Speaker 3:I was a catcher so I never wanted to play in the outfield.
Speaker 2:I was terrified of a fly ball I would never want to catch same like I hated it when I did it that one time.
Speaker 5:I called one time too.
Speaker 2:NAU.
Speaker 5:And I knew it was not for me.
Speaker 2:So what's one life skill you're oddly proud of, even though it's completely useless in most situations?
Speaker 5:I don't really have a life skill, but I can wiggle my ears and I feel pretty special doing it.
Speaker 3:I don't know if I have a life skill.
Speaker 2:I think mine would have to be my reflexes, but I mean, I feel like that's pretty useful at times.
Speaker 3:The only thing I can do now that would impress you if you had to see me do it would be sling a machete. I can cut some brush with a machete. What about you, Kelly?
Speaker 4:On the side. I am like a private investigator.
Speaker 3:Yes, very much so. She sniffed out a drug dealer next door years ago, so she's pretty good at that. Hey, that might be pretty useful, though Maybe.
Speaker 2:Yeah, what's more stressful? A full count or trying to explain the infield fly rule to someone.
Speaker 3:I mean, I guess it depends on what mom's sitting next to you, because there is a mother that we've met who—. Doesn't know a single thing about the game and claudia, could you tell us what the infield infield fly rule? Not really yeah, so that could be stressful I would say infield fly rule probably like I'd rather have a full count all day, every day what's your most irrational fear?
Speaker 5:I'm always scared that, especially when I'm by myself, that there's somebody watching me Not necessarily just watching, there, always is somebody watching you Don't say that. Or like going to attack me or something, Even if they're invisible, like just a real person. I don't know. I'm scared of that.
Speaker 3:I'm terrified of heights in all aspects Flying, climbing a ladder, you name it.
Speaker 2:I would have to say I don't like holes, so trypophobia and I'm scared of the moon.
Speaker 4:I'm scared of the water if I can't see the bottom. Yeah, that's a good one.
Speaker 5:I'm also newly scared of lizards, geckos oh my gosh, Absolutely. There was one in my bed.
Speaker 4:Oh no. And she screamed and cried like a baby.
Speaker 2:That's funny. Um, what's your biggest softball pet peeve in the stands? So, like, what's something that people do in the stands that just, I guess, is a pet peeve for you um rocking in their chairs, that squeak.
Speaker 5:Oh yeah, that's a good one whenever you go back to watch your hits on game changer and all you hear is like it's so annoying dang Dang, that's true.
Speaker 3:Well, y'all heard the intro. I think my biggest pet peeve is when Kelly is arguing about the play. We've gotten better. We all sit in the outfield now.
Speaker 5:Yeah, I can't think of anything. I hate whenever I guess I shouldn't say hate, but I don't like whenever I'm pitching or hitting or whatever, just playing, and I hear that one mom that has that voice and she just doesn't stop talking the whole time.
Speaker 4:It's so annoying Like cheering talking Kind of.
Speaker 5:but she's always like you got this baby, you can do it. What?
Speaker 3:about the mom that or I don't know if it was the mom or grandmother that was yelling at you that time when you were quick pitching. She kept saying she keeps doing it you remember that?
Speaker 5:No, but it's all annoying.
Speaker 2:I hate it. Wait, I can think of one thing and it doesn't really like annoy me, it just is what it is. But like there will be like little kids like playing up underneath the bleachers and I swear I go through some sunflower seeds on top of their heads.
Speaker 3:There's a kid that might have one on their forehead, yeah, or?
Speaker 2:their head. Sorry, what's something everyone seems to love, but you don't get the hype. Taylor Swift, star Wars, pumpkin Spice, for sure Reading books. I love. Pumpkin Spice Me too I don't, I don't, I don't like it.
Speaker 5:The smell, the taste is all delicious.
Speaker 2:Yeah, what's the most creative nickname you've had on the field, and how did it start?
Speaker 5:When I was younger, in like T-ball, they used to call me Pink Lightning, because all my equipment was pink and I guess I was fast, right? Yes, you were.
Speaker 3:She was very fast back in the day.
Speaker 5:I don't know what happened. I guess I just grew up.
Speaker 2:Yeah, mine was like Ballerina. I think I played at TA. I was really young, it's like 8U. That is the end Ballerina, Because of the way that I used to throw the ball. Apparently I would hop or something. It was a long time ago. If your life had chapter titles, what would this one be called? Mine would be Comeback.
Speaker 4:Surviving Teenage Driving no.
Speaker 3:Mine would be Old and Squeaky, w driving. No, mine would be, uh, old and squeaky, waking up with something new, pain every day, something along those lines.
Speaker 5:Mine would probably be like sweet 16 or something that's cute.
Speaker 2:If you could instantly perfect any part of your game. What would it be? As in like batting, fielding or pitching?
Speaker 5:mine would probably be pitching, because that's my main focus, you know so yeah, I mean I'm, I love where you're at pitching.
Speaker 3:I mean I'd love to see you be the best pitcher, or but god, I don't, I don't stress with your pitching.
Speaker 5:Typically I want to see you swing and hit well, if I were to perfect it and make it perfect, it'd'd be pitching, but to make better, it would probably be hitting, all right.
Speaker 3:So let's bring your hitting up to where your pitching is now, and then let's perfect it.
Speaker 4:Yeah, there we go, there we go, but I feel like you're so calm in the circle, no matter what the circumstances and when you get up to the plate it's like stress.
Speaker 3:Yes, different people yeah.
Speaker 2:And that's it for our quick pitch.
Speaker 3:Well, awesome job. It's nice to have Mama Kelly here this week. I know some of y'all are excited.
Speaker 4:What's going to be my prize for this?
Speaker 3:I don't know, but we may have to bring that little beeper in here. When somebody says a bad word, you got to bleep it out.
Speaker 4:It's not me that says the bad words, it's you.
Speaker 3:It's Mama Kelly who does this. Well, look, before we get into what's important here with the stats this week, let's take a little pause for our sponsor. Today's episode of Don't Suck Life, family and Softball is brought to you by us. That's right, folks. We try getting a big-name sponsor, but apparently yelling Don't suck at a person isn't the best sales pitch.
Speaker 5:So we're sponsoring ourselves, because if we don't believe in this podcast, who will?
Speaker 2:Do you love softball, family, questionable life advice? Then don't suck is the show for you. Tune in weekly for game breakdowns, hot takes and at least one embarrassing story that madison will regret sharing and, best of all, it's completely free.
Speaker 5:That's right. You can enjoy this premium, high quality entertainment at absolutely no cost. No subscriptions and no hidden fees, just good old family fun and maybe a few sarcastic remarks don't suck life, family and softball, because life's too short for bad podcasts.
Speaker 3:Available wherever you get your podcasts. And if you don't listen, well, just know we're not mad, we're just disappointed. All right, man, week eight Got it out of the way. We had to start off with Davison. We played two games. Y'all won 15-0 and 14-0. You went one for three in the first game with a single, two for two with a double single and two RBIs.
Speaker 5:Pretty good yeah.
Speaker 3:And then we had to play Centronelle. Y'all got the win there 15-0. You were two for two with a walk, double and a single one RBI. Then we went over and seen Theodore you know Claudia's hometown Got the win 19-2. Felt pretty safe.
Speaker 5:I had Claudia sit in the stands with me. She knew what it's like to win Actually several moms on the team went to Theodore. Really.
Speaker 3:Yep, savannah's mom and Bug's mom.
Speaker 5:I did not know that, I didn't either.
Speaker 3:But at Theodore you went two for two, two doubles RBI. You almost put one out to hit one off right center fence.
Speaker 5:Close.
Speaker 3:Yep. And then you went one inning with one strikeout and no walks Pretty light week.
Speaker 5:Yeah.
Speaker 3:You know, trying to prepare, we got coming up this week, we do have Bryant, and this will be our last area game before it's all said and done. You also got East Central on Thursday.
Speaker 5:If we beat Bryant then it'll be a coin toss between us and MGM to see who hosts area, because this week MGM beat Bryant four to one yeah. And then if we, obviously if we lose to Bryant, then MGM will host.
Speaker 3:Yeah, we got to get that.
Speaker 5:Yeah, we need that win.
Speaker 3:Yep. Last year we didn't win area so we had to go to MGM.
Speaker 5:That was one of the first times we didn't win area in a long time yeah. It was a switch up of the usual, you know, yeah.
Speaker 3:But Bryant. This week they lost MGM. They also beat Blackshire and Robertsdale.
Speaker 5:It was a pretty close game against Robertsdale. I think we were watching on Game.
Speaker 3:Changer Yep. And then MGM they beat Bryant 4-1, like you said, and they lost to Satsuma, who's got a ton of talent over there. All right, Matt, looking at the stats for this week, we had a batting average of 778. You had one strikeout 0 ERA, 0 ERA and you got one strikeout as well on that one inning. So that puts your stats. This year you got 21 Ks. So, like I said last week, don't focus too much on that At this point. You've got to bring the batting average up, which you did. You brought up to a .378 this week. Era is a 2.6, and you've had 78 strikeouts. So still room for improvement and I have no doubt you're going to get there. So a pretty easy week for y'all as a team Moving in. How's it going to do us? Does our bats come out on fire on Tuesday? They need to, and hopefully we get this win and let it end in a coin match. So before we get out of here, let's let Ms Claudia kick us off.
Speaker 2:All right, let's get into our Cotner Rundown. What's it like being a softball mom and what's the hardest and most rewarding part.
Speaker 4:I think the hardest part is watching Madison struggle or hearing some people whether it's other players or parents making negative comments about her. Most rewarding part is when she does struggle and overcoming it.
Speaker 2:Nice. How do you handle the nerves during close games?
Speaker 4:Eat some sunflower seeds or get up and walk.
Speaker 3:Hey, what about remember Amy from volleyball?
Speaker 4:Yes, remember what she used to do. What she used to do, she used to punch us.
Speaker 3:She got nervous, she just punched. That was Millie Millie's mom. Yeah, that's funny.
Speaker 2:Amy, what's your game day routine like?
Speaker 4:Well, I'm always the first one up and I have to pack everything, make sandwiches.
Speaker 3:I'm here right beside her helping.
Speaker 4:Uh-huh, are you In the shower? You're coming out, the last second jumping in the truck, because I'm about to pull out the driveway and leave you.
Speaker 3:I need a fake news button on here.
Speaker 2:Do you have any lucky charms or traditions? No, I don't think so. Yeah, do you ever want to yell at the umpire and have you Never. Yeah, that's a lot.
Speaker 3:Yeah, fake, news button again.
Speaker 2:Yeah, if you could give a pep talk to all the softball moms out there, what would you say?
Speaker 4:Relax, enjoy the ride.
Speaker 2:It goes by fast, take plenty of pictures and videos yes, what's been your proudest moment watching madison grow as a player as both a player and a person.
Speaker 4:I know we've talked about this a lot, but Madison usually doesn't let things affect her If she's not getting an opportunity. She still goes to work and then, when she does get an opportunity, and watching her perform and do her job.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I agree with that.
Speaker 2:How do you balance being supportive without being too involved?
Speaker 4:I don't know. I mean, madison talks to us a lot about a lot of things and we'll give her advice on how to handle some things and we, I feel like we've stepped back to let her handle things on her own because she is growing and having talked to coaches whether it be a high school coach, a travel ball coach or a college coach- yeah, that that's.
Speaker 3:We've kind of been preaching that for Madison, kind of since she's fourth, fifth grade, Like if she got a bad grade or she got the wrong grade on something, it's hey, I'm not calling the teacher, you got to go talk to her, and we've watched a lot of growth. I think there was a time where we actually maybe went and bought her something for this when she was really young, because Madison had a issue with speaking out for herself. So when you have a kid like that, always try to push them along that way, because, matt, we really did struggle early on with Madison.
Speaker 2:And I do love that about y'all, both of y'all. Y'all are very good at balancing being supportive for Madison but not being too much, because you see, these parents, some parents are just way, way, way too involved and then your kid grows up and then they think, oh, mom's always going to handle this, dad's always going to handle this. Dad's always going to handle this Like you know, it comes to a point where they need to learn how to handle their own situations and stuff.
Speaker 3:So now, don't get wrong, we will. I will tell her what I would do in that situation, you know to the T if this was me, this is how I would handle it, Whether it be a coach a teammate, a friend, any of those things.
Speaker 2:Hey, this is how I'd handle it here. You know, I think you need to do something because if not, it's going to continue to go on, but yeah, for sure you have the conversation. Yeah, I feel like y'all both do great at that. So what's something people don't see behind the scenes of raising a dedicated athlete.
Speaker 4:I think y'all talked about this um in one of the recent episodes. Madison misses out on a lot of things, whether it be with her friends or other opportunities that's not even related to softball. That can be hard, even for me as a mom. I'm one of those people. I don't want my kids to miss out on something and if I can make it happen, I would love to.
Speaker 3:I'm going to add to that. I know this is more of a mama Kelly interview, but with me from something that's behind the scenes that people don't realize is how much work goes into when things are going right. And then also trying to speak the facts of even though you're working or even though you're doing these things, that doesn't mean you're going to have a great outcome Like failure still exists also.
Speaker 4:Yeah, and lessons and stuff. I mean I just thought about this. But Madison goes to hitting lessons and pitching lessons. Her pitching coach is two and a half hours from home. We do virtual lessons, but it's better to be in person if we can, and that takes a lot of work and when we have practice every day we can't fit in these lessons.
Speaker 3:Hey. But you know something that impressed me though Last year, when Madison was struggling, we went through a time where she went from Bryant to maybe Theodore and then St Paul's. It was like three games back to back to back and you were struggling. You started trying to direct the ball and I remember us calling our coach virtual, like I hope we can fix this, cause you do want to get in front of. You know your coach, but coach Barb and like 45 seconds said this is the issue, you're collapsing. You remember that I was like Whoa, so find me a coach you can believe and trust in you.
Speaker 5:Well, you well. It's one thing madison doesn't give you enough credit for oh man, probably packing everything up on game days. I mean, she does it all and I just sit there and get ready there's a there is something to that.
Speaker 3:I have packed the vehicle before and then been told you didn't do it right yes, because you just throw everything in.
Speaker 4:You have to organize it so you can easily get it out and then you know, put it back where it goes when it's time to go home.
Speaker 3:Well, I think the thing about being a parent is doing things that your kids never will notice until they become a parent.
Speaker 4:Absolutely.
Speaker 3:You know. I mean, how many times did I hear my parents complain about the power bill when I was a kid for leaving the light on which? I don't know if I've ever said that. Complain about the power bill when I was a kid for leaving the light on which I don't know if I've ever said that Turn the lights off? I've never said that because I don't pay the power bill. You do. But I think being a parent that is kind of like that's the reward of being a parent is not being appreciated by your kids for the things that you do.
Speaker 2:Sometimes, I agree, until you get older. And then you get older, and then you call your mom all the time. What are you doing? That's me now. Um, when did you first realize madison had serious potential in softball?
Speaker 4:um, I know this was young, but maybe ate you. We would always ask her starting in a year, do you want to take a season off? Are you sure you don't want to take a season off? And she never wanted to. Um, that's also the time when she started hitting lessons and I remember Coach Michael showing her adjustments to making her batting stance and her making them and how coachable she was, and I thought this might go somewhere.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and I remember about the same time as that I had given her first hitting lesson before a tournament, if you remember this. We went up to the park one night and I called you and said, dude, this kid, this kid, like it's first time I ever worked with her, work with her, I said she is driving the ball. I mean, you know, she just picked up the adjustments. The next day she come out and was just smoking. I thought, man, she might, she might be something one day, yeah, and and madison's always been athletic and everything she's ever picked up.
Speaker 4:She gets that for me yeah, well that will the.
Speaker 3:This might turn into a real debate with that comment, but let's show them. Kelly's position was tailback, and that meant get your tailback on the bench.
Speaker 4:Whatever?
Speaker 1:See if I pay the power bill this month.
Speaker 2:Yeah, has her softball journey changed your family dynamic at all?
Speaker 4:It hasn't changed.
Speaker 3:It has changed our family dynamic.
Speaker 4:This is all we've ever known.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you're right, that is correct, you know.
Speaker 4:I mean, she started playing tournaments when she was six.
Speaker 3:There was a guy who I remember at my old job eight years ago. He said I don't know how y'all do this. And I said you do anything for your kids. You love them. You know it's what they want to do. You'll chase all the dreams and now I see them at the ballpark.
Speaker 4:No way it was the same thing, Yep Dylan Montgomery.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, Daniel Evers, oh yeah.
Speaker 4:It's just something about it, obviously.
Speaker 3:Well, there's so many things that come from this. We've had vacations. You're always with your family. Now, unfortunately, now we are split up with two kids.
Speaker 4:Yes.
Speaker 3:You know, going to different places, but for the majority of the time we are pretty much together. But we're making some type of memory with the kids.
Speaker 2:What's the most memorable tournament or game you've ever attended?
Speaker 4:I have two. One would be Vera Florida. I know y'all have talked a lot about it but I'll be honest, it wasn't a tournament I wanted to go to because it was so far away and was going to cost so much money and I felt like it was a lot for 10U.
Speaker 3:And we'll talk on that again one day. Again, she is correct. It is a lot of money for 10U, 8U, any of those ages but it is a great experience if you turn that into a vacation. But it is a great experience if you turn that into a vacation Would you agree?
Speaker 4:Yeah, the other one would be. I think it was two summers ago. Madison's travel ball team was supposed to go to Oxford and some players were injured. The team had to drop out and we had a non-refundable Airbnb, so we were going regardless whether Madison was going to play softball or not.
Speaker 3:I started reaching out to every coach. Go on to that tournament.
Speaker 4:Yep and another team, Pine Belt Pride, actually needed a pitcher and Madison was in eighth grade, I think.
Speaker 3:Yeah, she was young.
Speaker 4:And this team was an 18U team. We didn't know a single soul on the team or the coaches.
Speaker 3:And going to college. The girls were going to college the next year.
Speaker 4:Right, yep, so I was proud of her for going out there and doing her best.
Speaker 3:I mean, she just fit in with them, you know, um, so I think there was a lot of growth that week I remember, trying to convince the coach, I was like hey look, I know she's only 14 or something like that, but my kid can dish and and I and I even told her this I said I don't know if you have a starting pitcher, if what, but she will be your pitcher. Like once you see her work, like she's been playing varsity, like she's not scared and go ahead that was also the first tournament I gave up a home run.
Speaker 5:Yep, and I was about to speak on that and so I had to work.
Speaker 3:I didn't get to go. I was watching on game changer, had the phone pulled up hopefully my boss ain't listening to fire me but she threw a drop ball outside and and I thought, heck yeah, pop up outfield. I don't even know how the girl rose it up, but got it up in the air. And then I see the umpire step out and give that little around the base. I said no way, no way, and so I actually believe it or not, I wanted that day to come so bad. I just jumped up in my office like she did it. She finally gave her up a home run, and so I said all right, kid, how do we respond? This is what I've been dying to see how do we respond? She responded by throwing another pitch that went right over the fence right after that. So you know she kept throwing strikes.
Speaker 4:It still didn't faze her, though.
Speaker 3:No, kept dishing. So that was probably one of my favorite moments. But I will say this my favorite memory or favorite tournament we've had was actually last year, this past travel ball season. Anyone who knows us or kind of knows our journey. We haven't chased colleges as far as going to present Madison in front of them. We started going to camps and stuff a little bit.
Speaker 4:Yeah.
Speaker 3:But when our tournament got canceled in Brandon or I don't know.
Speaker 4:It was Brandon, I think, and we went to Laurel.
Speaker 3:We ended up going to Laurel. Yeah, there was a couple coaches the next day after Madison pitched pretty good, who actually come out and watched her. It may not have been the highest stage or anything like that, but it was fun to say these coaches come to watch you. You know that was. It was rewarding for me as a parent.
Speaker 2:What sacrifices have you made as a family to support Madison's dream? A lot.
Speaker 4:Tournaments, equipment lessons, requirements, equipment lessons it all costs a lot of money. But backyard, oh yeah, we no longer have a backyard. I mean, I wouldn't change it, I'd do it all again I would say the same thing.
Speaker 3:Like I said, when we, like madison, come along, it's kind of been a part of our, our life, the one thing that's gotten better for us. Like I don't know how I would have learned how to communicate as well as I did without softball right to her.
Speaker 4:I know when madison little, we used to always tell her she didn't have to play softball, but she had to do something.
Speaker 3:And she could never quit.
Speaker 4:Right.
Speaker 3:And we stuck by that. Look, we've had tough years, tough seasons, tough outings, and not necessarily just performance-wise, just environment-wise, and we said, don't matter, we're still going to stay here, we don't matter, we're still going to stay here. We've had, we've had teams where we went and picked up with for the day and it was embarrassing, you know what I mean. But we're staying like we committed we're going to do this. And for her it wasn't so much. Look, you can, you can outlive any environment, at least for a season, like nothing of that's going to kill you. So stick it out, because you will. Your kid. We talked about this a little bit with Claudia on her week of. We taught her like what did? What did quitting teach you, you know, and it does. It teaches you to give up on anything else that's important to you.
Speaker 2:So how do you envision the next few years going as she starts looking at college opportunities?
Speaker 4:um, I think this summer is a big summer for her. I'm not ready for it, but it's here. I have no clue where she's going to end up, but I hope it's somewhere close to home.
Speaker 3:I'm going, no matter where she goes and, like she said, it's going to be a big summer. This is your sophomore and, you know, into your junior year, this is your opportunity for all these, you know, 27s that are in that position right now.
Speaker 2:So I just hope she stays healthy and and doesn if Madison wasn't playing softball, what sport or hobby do you think she'd crush?
Speaker 4:Well, I wish it was volleyball, because that was my sport. She's still good at it. Maybe she'll try out this this school year.
Speaker 1:Um.
Speaker 4:I guess that would be it. I don't know any hobby, unless you say go into the beach as a hobby. I agree. I think volleyball was great.
Speaker 3:I think she was also a really good basketball player. Oh yeah, that was fun. Now maybe not the best shooter. She probably could have learned it.
Speaker 4:She's aggressive.
Speaker 3:Aggressive.
Speaker 4:Which is surprising Not track.
Speaker 3:She can't run track. She can maybe be a goalie or something like that on the soccer field A goalie.
Speaker 4:I really did want her to play flag football actually this year, but there's a lot of injuries and we can't risk it, yeah a lot of injuries.
Speaker 5:I was kind of thinking about trying out for tennis. How do y'all feel being tennis parents, tennis.
Speaker 4:No, y'all need to get a pickleball team together. Pickleball.
Speaker 2:Yes, I say volleyball, go for volleyball.
Speaker 3:I think Madison should be on the fishing team.
Speaker 4:Only if it's deep sea fishing. We don't have that at Baker.
Speaker 2:Nobody wants to bass fish Describe.
Speaker 4:Madison in three words on the field and off. Oh my gosh. Well she's athletic.
Speaker 3:I'll add another one Composed.
Speaker 4:Oh yes, and she's smart. Smart. Now, who does she get?
Speaker 3:Was that three? Well, I did give one, but let's ask this. So what was the first one?
Speaker 4:Athletic Athletic.
Speaker 3:All right, who did she get that from Me? Okay, I'll disagree with that one. The next one was composed. Who did she get that from Me? I think I'm really composed.
Speaker 5:Until you're not, yeah, certain point, and then you just lose it all.
Speaker 3:Well, that's composure. I mean, you know, not every situation deserves a reaction, but when it's time I put it on there.
Speaker 5:You put it on there sometimes when it's not time to you want me to give you an example. The last one was smart and I definitely get that one from dad. Wait, was that the last one? Yeah, yeah, it was smart and that does not come from mom.
Speaker 4:I have more common sense. I don't have common sense. I'm saying I have more common sense than your dad.
Speaker 3:No comment.
Speaker 2:All right, what's the third one? Or is that three? That was three, oh, okay.
Speaker 3:So smart, athletic and composed.
Speaker 2:Okay, nice, if your family? I already know the answer to this one.
Speaker 3:If your family had a reality show about softball life, what?
Speaker 2:would it be called. Don't Suck. What's your go-to snack in the stands?
Speaker 4:Well, it depends. If I'm hungry, I might eat some beef jerky. If I'm not hungry and I'm nervous, I'm going to eat some sunflower seeds.
Speaker 3:I'm pulling out the bull peanuts. And cotton candy grapes.
Speaker 4:Ooh, we haven't had those in a long time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, when I go watch your games, madison, all I eat is sunflower seeds.
Speaker 3:Like I could be made of those things. I remember the time you ate that one bag of taco the taco ones in like three hours yeah.
Speaker 2:Be honest, have you ever embarrassed Madison at a game? I haven't.
Speaker 4:I don't know, have I.
Speaker 5:I don't believe. No, I don't think so, not that I can remember.
Speaker 4:Maybe embarrassed myself.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I'm sure we've all had embarrassing moments.
Speaker 4:What does don't suck mean to you as a mom? Okay, Well, I'll be honest. When Ronald like first started saying it to Madison out loud around other people, I was so embarrassed. I'm like shh, I don't want people to hear you say that to her.
Speaker 3:I'm stuck in my way, so I say it louder.
Speaker 4:But now it's kind of become a thing. I mean, she has it on her glove.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and like I said before, it just means I love you, like in a different way. Every family dynamic is different. We hope you adopt ours. Every family dynamic is different.
Speaker 2:We hope you adopt ours. What's one piece of life advice you hope Madison carries with her forever?
Speaker 4:Never quit. I feel like that's me and your dad, and if we're not going to give up, no matter what it is, that's how we're here.
Speaker 3:Yep and just be hungry, yep, how we're here. Yep and just be hungry, yep.
Speaker 4:So well, look, I hope y'all enjoyed the uh first and probably the final uh, was that that bad? No, I didn't think you'd ever want to come back on, but yeah, I didn't want to do this hey, it was a great week.
Speaker 3:You know we're getting ready for, uh, facing bryant. Hopefully we can get that win and end in a coin flip to see who secures area this year. Kind of disappointed to kind of leave it there, you know, losing MGM earlier and kind of a little easier week here, getting ready for spring break also. So before we go we want to say thank you to several people who've reached out. I've had many messages and personal conversations with people telling me how proud they are of Madison and how she conducts herself on here. I even had some co-workers at work just grown men tell me they tuned in, they listened, they love the advice. They're letting their kids listen to it. Their kids are excited about it. I had a co-worker tell me today that he grew up without a father. He didn't have the perspective of of having a dad and what it was like, and so all that means a lot to us. And, uh, something kind of exciting, ladies, we are now in six countries. How cool is that?
Speaker 5:yay, I don't even know anybody out the us. I guess none of us do, but you know where he does we are in dominica republic I.
Speaker 3:I have a good friend there, mr bill, and, and he wants me to come there. Not Dominican Republic, he's in Panama.
Speaker 5:Is that?
Speaker 1:by Mexico.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and he wants me to go. I'm scared to fly, so that's not happening. He won't get on a plane Mexico, Canada, United Kingdom and Dominican Republic, so that's all exciting. We're also not just Mobile, or I mean or surrounding cities. We're all over Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida. I've seen Pensacola, Tallahassee, Miami, Fort Myers you were from there, Claudia.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I lived there for a year and a half.
Speaker 3:That's cool for your friends to tune in Illinois, indiana, colorado, virginia, missouri, pennsylvania, oregon, tennessee, arizona, new Jersey, ohio, south Carolina, washington and Michigan.
Speaker 5:Might as well just start singing the United States song, because you just listed out every single state.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's kind of what it is. We hope we fill in the map soon and reach everyone. I think there's a lot to be offered here. Still, if you have that player that y'all want to reach out to us and let us highlight them, or maybe they come on here and have their opportunity to show themselves in front of a college coach, so we appreciate it. Claudia Madison, obviously, and thanks again, mama Kelly, for coming on and letting the world hear you talk. You're probably, like I said, the most requested person to be heard from.
Speaker 3:We kept this PG. We may have to do like a private members for you to come on and hear the real Kelly. This is the real me. So well, before we get out of here, ladies, y'all have anything for them, Don't?
Speaker 5:suck, there we go.