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
Dugout Wisdom: Beyond D1 or Bust
What happens when your "dream" D1 offer doesn't actually feel right? Emily Mizelle's softball journey reveals a truth many athletes need to hear: sometimes the path everyone expects you to take isn't the one your heart needs.
From her early days in teal and pink cupcake socks to becoming a record-breaking high school standout at Baker, Emily was on the traditional elite softball trajectory. She received the coveted D1 offer, signed on the dotted line, and should have been celebrating. Instead, her body literally rejected the decision—breaking out in stress-induced hives on her official visit. Despite external pressure pushing her forward, Emily made the courageous choice to walk away and attend Jones College, a Mississippi JUCO.
The result? Two transformative years of softball where she thrived both athletically (becoming an All-American with 20+ home runs) and personally. "JUCOs invest in you more personally," Emily explains. "I know all my professors, all my professors know me." Most importantly, she found joy in the game again while discovering her path toward dental hygiene.
Emily's story carries powerful wisdom beyond softball metrics. When asked what her teammates would say about her, she responded: "I genuinely think they would tell you that I would run through a brick wall for them." Her mentorship of younger players, including host Madison when she was pulled up to varsity as a seventh-grader, demonstrates the leadership that transcends statistics.
Whether you're a young athlete feeling pressured about college decisions, a parent supporting a softball player, or simply someone facing difficult choices, Emily's journey reminds us that following your authentic path—even when it defies expectations—leads to the most meaningful success. As she puts it: "If you can walk away and say you gave everything, if you can walk away and regret nothing, that's when you know it's okay."
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.
Speaker 2:You're listening to the don't suck live family and softball podcast with your host, ronald put your kids in public school everything's free and madison smith don't forget, it's ten dollars at the gate tonight episode nine it's me ron.
Speaker 3:I've got madison and claudia hey guys, hey y'all and we going to cover two weeks this week, week nine and ten Mad was at Spring Break.
Speaker 4:Mexico Beach.
Speaker 3:Yep and we had the area tournament today. We just finished. Can't wait to tell you all the results there. And we have our very first real special guest, not counting Mama Kelly. She lives here. It's going to maybe get a little emotional, because not only does this talented player mean the world to us, it is a full softball dream, a full circle. She was a big part of Madison's story and now she's here to tell her own, Miss Emily Mizell.
Speaker 1:Hey guys.
Speaker 3:I mean, we knew this was going to be our first podcast guest from the get-go. And then Emily come out and told us from the very first episode oh my God, I love this, I've got to get on board and we're like, well good, because we were about to call you so.
Speaker 4:Madison, how about you tell us a little bit about what Emily means to you? Well, when I was in seventh grade, I got asked to go play with the varsity team in Bob Jones and I was so nervous as any little middle schooler would be I don't know if I even practiced with the team before we went.
Speaker 3:No, because it was a Tuesday, y'all left Thursday.
Speaker 4:Yeah, somehow we were at practice and Emily asked me a question. She was like hey, didn't I talk to your dad before? I was like, probably because he talks to everybody, and it was at some travel ball tournament my dad started running his mouth talking to everybody, like he always does, and ended up talking to Emily and after we kind of like had that short conversation, she like took me under her what is called wing.
Speaker 3:Yeah, took me under her wing, her mama wing. Emily was a mama. Yeah, her what it's called wing.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I took me under her wing, yeah, and she was like a big sister to me and she taught me a lot and she taught me how to leave a tip at the restaurant, crack a barrel she taught me too. I didn't know it, but she did teach me double your taxes is what she told us yeah, and if emily wasn't there, my seventh grade year I I would not have felt very great about me getting pulled up, and luckily she's not here with us tonight, but we also have Miss Bell.
Speaker 4:Yeah, and she was another one. She took me under her wing too.
Speaker 3:So she might join us here in the future. Well, look, before we kick off with Emily, I do want to give a little bit of stats that she did at Baker and at Jones. That's where she's currently at. At Baker, she was a three-time All-County, three-time All-State, four-time Alabama Coastal Terrific. What is that exactly?
Speaker 1:So basically, before season starts, you get 20. They select 20 girls that are like you're supposed to watch, basically from literally Fairhope down to Mobile.
Speaker 3:Yeah, the whole coast, okay cool. And then you beat the Baker home run record with 21 your junior year. You didn't get th too much in your senior year, probably, huh.
Speaker 1:No, my stats dropped a lot. My senior year.
Speaker 3:That's how it usually works. You played in the North-South All-Star game and you were a three-time Kianas Player of the Week. That's pretty cool. Matt actually just got our very first one. We'll talk about a little bit of that soon. So then now you're at Jones, you're in your last season. Yeah, you were the freshman NFC player, all-american player, a sophomore two-time conference player of the week. You just had another one.
Speaker 2:Yep.
Speaker 3:And the NFCA All-Tournament team and you've got a ton of home runs already.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm currently sitting at 20. Yeah, 20 home runs.
Speaker 3:I wonder how many college teams have girls sitting at 20 home runs in their four and five holes right now? Probably not a lot.
Speaker 1:Our two hole has 25 and I'm sitting at 20 right now.
Speaker 3:Wow, wow, that's interesting. Well, look, we're so thankful to have you and it's going to be an awesome episode. What we do, emily, before we get get started, we usually do a quick pitch questions, so miss claudia is gonna kick us off with that all right, what would be your walk-up song right now?
Speaker 1:well, I didn't have one at baker, but now that I'm at jones I'm sitting with uh. Welcome to the show by cody johnson absolute banger. Had it for two years now.
Speaker 4:Mine hasn't changed since last time, so probably still unwritten. I mean, we don't have All Hopsong for Baker and we didn't have one for Travel Ball, so since I don't have to choose one, it would probably be unwritten Nice Mine would be.
Speaker 3:The Show Goes On. I'm going to change mine from last week. I'm going to change it from what I thought earlier. I'm actually going to go with Red Clay Strays whatever song that they'll let me use as my intro real soon. Please reach back out to me. I'm not begging, but I am kind of begging.
Speaker 2:He's begging. Are you going to?
Speaker 1:their show in July. I want to go, Wait what.
Speaker 2:They play at the Wharf Fourth of July weekend. I've been looking at tickets.
Speaker 4:We won't be here. We're going to Colorado.
Speaker 3:I'll be here Fourth of July. I'll be here.
Speaker 4:You can't go without me.
Speaker 2:What is your favorite go-to dugout snack?
Speaker 1:Our snack box is filled with Rice Krispies.
Speaker 3:Hang on, y'all have a snack box in the dugout.
Speaker 1:Absolutely.
Speaker 3:Is that?
Speaker 1:normal Every college that I know of.
Speaker 3:I want every college to be an email of what snack. That would be the reason I would choose what school to go to.
Speaker 1:Yeah snack box. They do a full Walmart run before the week starts.
Speaker 3:We got do you get to pick what you want? Could you be like, hey, I want some Gcrustables. Hey can I?
Speaker 1:get a ribeye, that's nice.
Speaker 4:We started making a candy salad thing in a jar. Candy's not the best for you, but I mean during the game, whatever.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you need a little bit of sugar for sure, depending on the game.
Speaker 4:Yeah, but I would say crunchy grapes we have, like who got the crunchiest grape? Competitions in the dugout, Not during the game, but I'm going cotton candy, grapes, grapes, everybody loves grapes, it's just refreshing.
Speaker 2:It's very refreshing If you could play any position besides your own. What would it be?
Speaker 4:Catcher.
Speaker 2:I'd also have to go with catcher.
Speaker 3:I feel like I'd be a great catcher, and y'all already know this but being the greatest catcher that sits at the table, I would probably be a right fielder I want to take after Madison.
Speaker 4:He wants to be like me and me.
Speaker 2:I forgot Miss Theodore's with us. Good buff guts, all right. Who is a celebrity and or athlete you would want to take batting practice with?
Speaker 1:I've always loved Bailey Hentville from Alabama. She just seems like a great person.
Speaker 4:Well, I've never been the one to like care about celebrities or anything, so I'd probably just say go hit with emily, yeah oh, um.
Speaker 2:Since we said celebrity, I'd have to go with ian somerhalder, because he's from vampire diaries.
Speaker 3:Yes, I'd strike that kid out.
Speaker 2:Kid he's a grown adult. He's not a kid. He's a grown man, he's hot. He's definitely older than you.
Speaker 3:I'd strike that old. Look, pick me.
Speaker 2:Choose me.
Speaker 3:Love me, y'all want to learn something about hitting. Come get me. I'm going with Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs.
Speaker 2:Don't know what that is, but you got it.
Speaker 1:I do. That's good. That's a good one, all right. Most embarrassing softball moment oh man, eighth grade year, you know, pulled up to varsity, couldn't do it in the DP spot because some girl had an injury, dope for a ball on the line against Fairhope in a tournament, she got an in-the-park home run. I remember he came and walked all the way to right field yelling at me.
Speaker 3:When she says he came, we're talking about the great.
Speaker 1:Tony Scarborough, you're going to be our next person we attack.
Speaker 4:I feel like I have a lot of embarrassing moments, but maybe I just think they're embarrassing. One I would say was maybe two years ago. We were playing in a travel ball tournament and it was, I guess it was a finish the batter kind of game, and of course I was the last batter and the pitcher hits me in the head. And so in my head I'm thinking do I take my base or do I go back to the dugout? Because either way, it don't matter, the game's over. And so I kind of just stood there and looked around like a lost little duck, like what do I do? Somebody tell me? I think I walked like halfway to the first base and then turned around, went back yeah, I would have to say um, we were getting warmed up for Bryant.
Speaker 2:We were at Bryant and I played outfield, so coach was hitting us balls and I was the last one. Nobody yelled fence. So when he hit the ball he hit it over the fence and I ran slapping to the fence and my foot got stuck in the fence and then it held off the game for like 15 minutes. It was pretty embarrassing because everybody knew it was me.
Speaker 3:Yeah, they knew it was Miss Theodore, the greatest outfitter of all time.
Speaker 2:I'm telling you I was really good.
Speaker 1:All right, favorite movie of all time. I would definitely have to say Sweet Home.
Speaker 4:Alabama. I don't really listen to movies. I mean, I don't really watch movies and usually if I do, I don't really remember them and think of them as my favorite, so I just watch shows. I don't really have a favorite movie. I like Tangled from Disney and Ariel. I love Ariel, is that?
Speaker 1:what it's called Ariel, I feel like it's like the Little Mermaid yeah.
Speaker 2:If you had $1,000 to buy anything right now that you wanted, what would it be?
Speaker 1:I would definitely go Cody Johnson concert tickets.
Speaker 3:Hey, is he hot? Do y'all? I don't even know if I know. I think I know who this guy is.
Speaker 4:I don't remember.
Speaker 3:He's got the cowboy hat, don't he have like a little bit of mullet?
Speaker 4:No, he don't have hair, he's like a strawberry blonde.
Speaker 1:He actually might be a redhead actually.
Speaker 4:He don't have a lot of hair. If he does have hair, I like him.
Speaker 3:I don't think I know who it is now.
Speaker 4:No.
Speaker 3:Uh, you don't want to show me.
Speaker 4:Yeah.
Speaker 3:All right, here Blonde.
Speaker 1:I'm going to give you. What do you think his songs?
Speaker 3:are Like what do you think?
Speaker 4:Cody Johnson have.
Speaker 1:Oh my god, I might have to leave.
Speaker 3:That's crazy I mean, you know, I'm more of a rap music guy, dang let me see.
Speaker 1:Let me see the picture. Homie is hot man. No, he's ugly, I'd strike him out, you know I have to sport on tickets?
Speaker 3:yeah, for sure. What's like? What number? One song was he got uh human yeah, I don't know, that is for sure, uh I'm just learning to be human.
Speaker 4:That song, yes, or I'm still learning, yeah, maybe. Well, y'all had a good idea earlier about putting some money in for the podcast.
Speaker 3:That's where I do all my money.
Speaker 4:So we can get a not as rank set up.
Speaker 3:We got that ghetto background. Everything about us right now is ghetto. We're looking for a place to shoot like a little studio. And look, season two, we got merchandise coming at you, we got logos, we got trademarks getting done. Look, we're probably the biggest thing at the ballpark near you.
Speaker 4:Make some flyers. I was thinking like at Westmobile we could get those, you know, for a yard sale or whatever, and they make signs and they stick them up. We need to do that.
Speaker 3:Hey, and whoever's listening? Croatia, our numbers are taking off there.
Speaker 4:Shoot me an email.
Speaker 3:You're getting free gear, man. I don't know who it is, but they're a country.
Speaker 4:Yeah when.
Speaker 3:In England they love us.
Speaker 4:England's not a country, I mean England is a country we're going to cut that.
Speaker 2:No. What is a hobby you have besides softball?
Speaker 4:I love going to the beach. Anytime I get the chance, I want to go to the beach, go in the water, tan whatever, Just the beach.
Speaker 1:I love fishing, like inshore, offshore, like just give me a rod and leave me be.
Speaker 3:And we're going fishing with her.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we're going fishing with her. Yeah, we're going fishing. We're actually going on the river tomorrow.
Speaker 3:Going fishing.
Speaker 2:Mine would be disc golf. Yeah, I mean, I play disc golf too and then gaming.
Speaker 4:I forgot that we play disc golf because we haven't played in a while.
Speaker 2:It's been so long. We need to get back out there.
Speaker 4:What is your favorite ice cream flavor? I love Moose Tracks ice cream, like all the fudge stuff in it, and also mint chocolate chip where it's got little pieces of the thing, the briars black, the black box tub carton, whatever is the best mint brand. Why are you laughing? I'm being dead serious. I want these people to like be by me.
Speaker 1:I have to get really specific here we're going to go Marble, slab Creamery, red Velvet. Red Velvet's my favorite dessert of all time, Cake everything.
Speaker 2:Okay, Okay, I'd have to say Sherbert the green, orange and pink together.
Speaker 3:That's healthy.
Speaker 2:Is it?
Speaker 4:Yeah, because it's got fruit in it. No, yeah, because it's got fruit in it. The fruit balances out all the sugar. Honestly, emily's right, it's not confirmed, but I think we might be right, it's got to be better. But just think like if it has something healthy in it, just cancel it with the sugar Healthy it's like you're eating nothing. It's a balance, exactly.
Speaker 2:So I can eat it every night.
Speaker 3:I want the strawberry vanilla chocolate. Neapolitan that and I want strawberry at the bottom of the cone, all right.
Speaker 2:If you got to choose your name, what would it be, and why?
Speaker 3:I would choose Ronald.
Speaker 2:No, you have to choose a different one. That doesn't count.
Speaker 3:I don't think this kid listens, but he tells me he does. I'm going, jules.
Speaker 4:Like jewelry, jules, jules, yeah.
Speaker 3:Jules like jewelry. Jules, jules, yeah, jules.
Speaker 4:How do you spell it?
Speaker 3:J-U-L-Z. With a Z really. I think it actually might be Lil Jules, yeah, the rapper. He could be. Hey, yeah, that's a good name.
Speaker 2:That's a good name, lil Jules.
Speaker 1:I think I'm going to go like. Kaylee I think I look like Kaylee my, so like a K name might fit me.
Speaker 4:I think Ella, like the name Ella is really cute. I don't know if I could see it on myself which I've never thought myself could be any other name than Madison, and I've talked to other people too and when you're like, if you didn't know me, what would my name be? And it's like Madison, you look like a Madison.
Speaker 2:I could see your name being Morgan, yeah. Really you look like a Morgan yeah.
Speaker 3:And if you were Ella, you could play that Rihanna song as your walk-up song.
Speaker 1:Ella, ella, ella Ella.
Speaker 2:Hey, hey, hey, all right, I think mine would be Jordan, I could see it. Yeah, what do you think then?
Speaker 3:Claudia.
Speaker 2:Well, yeah, that's my name now, but what would you think?
Speaker 3:The great Claudia III. Okay.
Speaker 4:You don't ever hear girls being named. The thirds, like you know, like Queen Elizabeth is like the fifth or whatever. Yeah, she's like that's what her name was but I'm saying it's always dudes that are like the first second third yeah, but Queen Claudia the 15th okay from 1402 oh, we'll take it Okay, and that's it for our quick pitch.
Speaker 3:Alright Emily.
Speaker 4:My name's Madison.
Speaker 3:I know your name. I'm talking to Emily. She's my guest Every week. We like to talk Madison stats. This week we'll cover two weeks. She also, believe it or not, she won her first Kianos. Player of the Week, yay.
Speaker 1:I don't know what it was Congratulations. It wasn't know what it was.
Speaker 3:Congratulations. It wasn't a bad, it was a good week of softball. You hit like a seven something, 700. Yeah, I remember and I don't remember the actual things, but congratulations to you.
Speaker 4:Thank you.
Speaker 3:My co-host is just two away from catching Emily, you know.
Speaker 4:Yeah, did, but it was a very. It was not what I was expecting.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I was not expecting what I seen either. We sang a song.
Speaker 4:Yeah, america, the Beautiful America, the.
Speaker 3:Beautiful or something it was interesting.
Speaker 1:The people who put it on are so sweet though they're like your biggest fans. Yeah, I'm telling you, they're awesome, yeah.
Speaker 3:They're genuine. And then I had the hamburger steak. Uh yeah, I had country fried chicken.
Speaker 4:it was delicious. I love. Judy's is my favorite place to eat and I ate it. Before. What day was that? The day we played brian, I think, and I ate that, and I think my nerves were already high because we were playing brian and I have a really nervous stomach. I felt awful during the game. No, yeah, and it was like all that fried food. I didn't even think about it. I'm sitting here like I want country fried chicken, I want fried okra and I want french fries and it comes out and I'm like we have a game today. I don't think this is a good idea. So, yeah, didn't settle too well.
Speaker 3:So that was cool. So let's cover week nine first which was a big area game.
Speaker 4:If we didn't win that game, MGM got to host.
Speaker 3:And if we won.
Speaker 4:we flipped the coin, Flipped the coin.
Speaker 3:Y'all won 6-1. You were 1-2 with RBI, single hit by pitch. Good for you. Then y'all played and we did the coin flip you want to tell them what happened.
Speaker 4:So MGM team was there and their head coach was there and our athletic director was there.
Speaker 3:So they asked they were cheering for somebody I don't think it was Baker that night.
Speaker 4:No, it wasn't yeah. And they asked if we wanted to do the coin toss tonight and not do it the next day, and we agreed and it was like, okay, that's fine. So they went out on the field and our athletic director's out there and he flips the coin I don't know who it was and it lands on us, and so we're all excited and cheering. Well, then everybody gets quiet and they're still looking at the coin. We're like what's going on? They decided that the coin toss wasn't good enough because it only like spun around one time or whatever. So, of course, our luck, they flip it again and MGM wins you know how stupid you look.
Speaker 3:Cheer like, yeah, we won. And then it's like but you lost yeah.
Speaker 4:So, and unfortunately MGM got to host area.
Speaker 3:But they got it. I mean, you know you don't have to flip a coin if you beat them.
Speaker 4:Yeah, that's the way I look at it.
Speaker 3:So y'all got the win. Good for y'all play East Central. Y'all played them twice this year. Second time Y'all have lost both games, but they've been very close games. You were over two. You also got walked. You pitched six innings with five earned runs.
Speaker 4:Yeah, they it was. We were doing good until about inning three or four.
Speaker 3:I think it was fourth inning. Fourth inning.
Speaker 4:Yeah or five, I don't remember, and they just started hitting. Started hitting.
Speaker 3:And yeah, which, I wasn't pitching bad, they were just hitting. Yeah, they were hitting. I mean, it was solid Six strikeouts in that game for you. And then the stats for the week. We'll just keep going your total stats up to that point you had a 372 batting average. Your ERA is at 2.8.
Speaker 4:Kind of high, but it's from that East Central game.
Speaker 3:And Emily listen to this. Mad has never been a strikeout pitcher. Right now she's sitting at 84 Ks that week. What For the year? Yeah? Oh, my God, and she really hasn't thrown a ton of innings for that amount.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I'm not really sure how many.
Speaker 3:So not a bad week, I mean, and again y'all get the tie area there. So then, going into week 10, which we just finished up, tonight we played in the tournament with MGM, so Friday we played Bryant with a walk-off on them.
Speaker 4:We beat them 12-2. Yes, Nola hit a walk-off home run. It was a crash and we talked about this on the podcast. Would you rather have a walk-off home run or a game-saving catch? And I was thinking about it the whole time. I wanted to be like Nola, we talked about this before Like you got the walk-off home run. We were talking about it, but I don't know if she'd understand. Yeah.
Speaker 3:So good job there. You did pitch one inning. You had zero earned runs and one strikeout. And then y'all played MGM. Y'all beat them 1-7. You were 0-1. You went two innings in that game, no earned runs. Then y'all come back today, the longest game we've ever played in the history of softball.
Speaker 4:The game was scheduled for two o'clock. We started at two and we didn't get done until around what, six, six, 30.
Speaker 3:Yeah, six, 30., yeah, and we had, we had thunder the distance. They finally caught it for no reason. Then they go sit around for 30 minutes and they come back. It starts raining and then it got too hard and it was. It just kept going and going and going. It was terrible. So we played only five innings and it took us four and a half hours.
Speaker 4:Insane.
Speaker 3:We um. We beat them 14 to it was another we, you know, we, we run, ruled them.
Speaker 3:You were one for two, with a single, a sack, two RBIs and hit by pitch. You went one inning with zero earned runs. So good for you and your batting average. Sitting here, your total stats, where you're at 374. You're 14 points above what you want to be for this season, so congratulations, ain't that right? Yeah, 360. Your ERA is 2.6, so pretty dang good era with 85ks. And again, you haven't thrown many innings. I mean you, you know this was a, not a day you thrown. I think to me you were better placed in the right field to this weekend than anywhere else yeah because you made some awesome plays out there thank you
Speaker 4:really good and I don't know if you mentioned it, but that means we were area champs and now we're going to regionals in a few weeks.
Speaker 3:Yep first, or ticket, and I don't know who we'll face, but either Fairhope or Daphne. Yep, we've got to win two. Just win your first two and you're good. Then you can punch a ticket your first time going to state.
Speaker 4:That'd be great.
Speaker 3:And then I don't know if we mentioned this yet, but Emily Mizell, player of the Week this week, huh.
Speaker 1:Yep.
Speaker 3:And you had a batting average of 545, 6 for 11, with three home runs and nine RBIs. Yes, if that doesn't sound like a kid I want on my team.
Speaker 1:I don't know what else would be yeah, it was a good week you know a lot of wins, you know. But I'm kind of sitting four hole right now liking it. You know can't complain much.
Speaker 3:Well, that does it. We're going to get started here with our interview and really looking forward to this. So, Miss Claudia, how about you go ahead and kick us off this week?
Speaker 2:All right, Emily, let's start at the beginning. When did you fall in love with softball and what made it your sport?
Speaker 1:So I think I started playing at a pretty young age. I think maybe five, six, probably around that age, can't really remember. I always did a bunch of different things, like I cheered for a while, I danced for a while. But with softball I'm gonna be so honest with you the cupcake socks I vividly remember I was on a team called the Shortcakes Sims Park is where I started playing ball at and we were the Shortcakes and I remember having these knee-high teal and pink cupcake socks and I just loved playing with the dandelions in the outfield and so I stuck to it and then at 8U I started taking it a little bit more seriously, started figuring out how to hit, you know, and that's when I just had fun, like generally just had fun.
Speaker 3:Hey, with that you said like 8U. You know you started taking it like more seriously. What was probably your first softball lesson, like how old were you? Or like what was it 6U, 8u, 10u, like what? What do you?
Speaker 1:think I think probably 8U. It wasn't like a serious lesson, but it was kind of like a one-on-one, like hey, let's try to get more consistent with an actual swing, Because you know, when you're that young, you kind of just swing your bat whenever, and the bat is kind of heavy too with learning. So I think I had a one-on-one in 8U, but it wasn't nothing crazy. We're not talking about like-.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I was just interested. We're kind of getting ready to cover something about travel ball and stuff in the future and just curious to kind of have people's takes on that.
Speaker 1:Now, my mom didn't pay $100 for a lesson. It was just like oh, let's just try to figure out how to swing a bat in a circle.
Speaker 2:Yeah, what was your early playing experience like before high school? Any mentors or memories that stand out?
Speaker 1:So I started playing travel ball about 10 U going in a fast pitch, which I think is pretty decent. But we're not talking about serious recruitment travel ball. We're just talking about these Daphne and Gulfport tournaments. Ty Evans was my first coach that really made an impact on me. My family and their family are really close to this day. He's just a good coach. A good coach can go a long way and he just poured so much into us it stuck and you know, like I said, we still have that friendship to today.
Speaker 2:What was it like stepping into that varsity role at such a young age?
Speaker 1:So I wasn't always a Baker honeybee. I did start off at Sims Middle, my seventh grade year, but we did move into Baker's District.
Speaker 3:And who coached then For Sims?
Speaker 1:So for Sims Barkley was my coach, Okay.
Speaker 3:Yeah, starting off.
Speaker 2:We've got her coming up real soon too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, she was my first middle school coach and then I moved into Baker's District and I got pulled up my eighth grade year. You know I was terrified. I was generally terrified, you. You know these girls are so much older than me and everything and I just remember going to my first tournament and I literally sat there quiet. I don't think I spoke to anybody and the first time he told me to go hit I was like shaking in my knees like I can't even tell you what I did. My first event.
Speaker 4:Like it's actually terrifying, yeah whenever I got asked, or like when I played and I did my first event, like it's actually terrifying, yeah. Whenever I got asked, or like when I played, and I remember our first tournament at Bob Jones, my like my parents didn't come, so it was just like me and this team. I didn't know like hardly anybody's names and I remember there's a video back to like what Emily means to me, but there's a video of me throwing my first strike. It was the first game and you can hear Emily like, yeah, madison.
Speaker 3:I probably was in your face. One thing that I really love about Emily and I don't know if we have a question that really tackles this but your energy at third base to me, if I'm a pitcher, I would have probably been scared to death being in that moment, but hearing that kind of leader behind me and you've always led that way since the time we've known you, you know, I remember our first our uh, y'all's mother mothers worked together, yes, right.
Speaker 3:So we kind of knew who emily was through that and and, and your mom, april, she would. Oh, we're gonna be here too. So we made our way one night to come watch you play, and it was actually at daffodil, and you may remember this, it was at the old?
Speaker 2:I think I do.
Speaker 3:The old, was it Altron?
Speaker 1:or something, Altron yeah yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3:And we were just finished up.
Speaker 4:Was it when her ankles hurt?
Speaker 3:I don't know. I remember this. You were playing against a team who knew you and they were dumb enough to throw to you. Yeah, and it was bases loaded and and all I've ever heard is this girl can hit. But then it was like she had the moment. I walk in she don't know me, but I'm like whoa and it was right center field.
Speaker 4:I still remember all of that Wait, but I think it was the same thing, because I don't know if it was. Your ankles hurt, but something on you was like hurt.
Speaker 3:You were hurt Like you had to play.
Speaker 4:It was like a tie ball game or something and my hit it over.
Speaker 3:she wouldn't have to run on the bases and you hit it over, yeah so, and there's been, there was many moments like that kind of leading in to us getting to know emily before we ever met you. So, uh, one we were at after we kind of got to know you. I remember being in guff shores, yeah, or orange beach area, and they, you hit a home run, that and it was. This was a showcase and this is. This is really bad sportsmanship too. It was a showcase. It really, you know, it doesn't nobody. When you're 17, 18 years old, it doesn't matter if you go home with a trophy or a ring or it shouldn't be the concern.
Speaker 3:They walked you your second third at bat. They put you right on base. So disgusted with that. I'm like you were mad too, and the coach is like it's a nod to you. I'm like, no, this is that's not a nod to her. This is our opportunity.
Speaker 1:Like yeah, it just it just takes away from the opportunity of me, Because the whole point of those tournaments is to show what you can do. Show you off. I have coaches sitting in the stands watching and they see me walk twice. What are they going to do? Get up and leave.
Speaker 3:Or Emily comes up and she lays down a sacrifice bunt, this game doesn't matter. Let this kid show her ability. I know that got a little bit off topic, but that's kind of the story of how we we kind of knew emily before we ever met.
Speaker 2:Travel ball is a small world for sure. Yeah it is. Can you talk about that transition period when madison moved up in seventh grade? What was it like having a younger teammate on varsity?
Speaker 1:so I had a, a older person take me under their wing. Uh, jill robinson, I got pulled up her junior year she took me under her wing, she drove me to games. She made sure like I knew what was going on. You know, because like nobody wants to text the seventh grader- yeah nobody wants to text them what's going on.
Speaker 1:She took me in so I definitely like I knew how she felt 100% and I was like the last thing I want her to do is feel like she's not welcomed, because when you're uncomfortable it's really hard to play. Well, when you're uncomfortable and you don't really know what's going on, I just wanted to be the person to make sure she like felt like she had a say and she felt like her role mattered, because to me, everybody's role on a team matters. So if I could just help her like feel welcomed and, you know, just comfortable in any way.
Speaker 3:That was my goal. Yeah, and you know, we kind of talked about just a second ago, but your energy at third base, every back in the day when we go anywhere with you or other teams, they, when they seen you over there like I, can still hear that at time, it's I, I don't know, it gives me chills. When I watched the video the other day and y'all get the, the uh, the, the pleasure of watching this soon too. But and it is that and it's you though, madison throwing a strike, yeah, and hearing your voice like that a baby. And then the second pitch she throws strike, no noise, and I thought it to me it was that okay, now do your job, like it was, like I'm cheering for you, I'm in your corner, but now it's your responsibility. Good, I don't know, it's just something. When I watch that video, it just I got chills now talking about it.
Speaker 2:So what's your most unforgettable high school game or moment?
Speaker 1:oh it's gotta. I mean, going to state's always fun, you know that's always a definitely memorable time, whatever. So my eighth grade year going to state, it was unforgettable. We were playing three games a day trying to make it. We did lose out. We were, I think we lost out in final four to that, but also my 21st home run. You know like I wanted to at least make up my impact somewhere while I was at Baker, because so many people MGM, I was sitting at 20 and they were all like you know one more and you break the record and I was like, oh my God. So I was nervous, whatever Ended up hitting it. That tournament and just the energy from my teammates and the support I have like I would never forget that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's awesome. How did the team dynamic shift as you became one of the veterans?
Speaker 1:so I'd always been an underclassman basically and all this upperclassmen's in front of me like were pretty top dogs, like I had a bunch of really good athletes in front of me and stuff. Well, junior year rolls around and I still had a very big group of seniors ahead of me and but year it definitely I just try to be more of like a lead by example and I'm a big vocal person, like I think noise on the field is like 100% a big impact. So I kind of just try to make sure, like you always heard me and even if you didn't know what was going on, like you're going to hear me, I guess not so much as a leader, but I was dragging everybody with me. You know, like let's get this done, let's get this job done. I don't know, we had a. We had a good group my senior year. We had a bunch of good people.
Speaker 3:So and going back to hearing your voice, it used to make people crazy, like in the, in the dugouts. Like you were the teammate to me, like you say, like I don't know, maybe lead him carrying on with me. No, you are a leader. It is like in your blood, is in your bones. I've even heard you speak out about things that aren't favorable, like favorable to to even your friends, like I've heard you stand up to that thing. So don't take being a leader out of this Cause. That is exactly what you are.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I just, you know, I'm always like I'm going to be my teammates biggest advocate for sure, Like no matter what it is. So you know cause I want to be remembered as somebody who, like, isn't just good on the field, Like I want to. I want you to say I'm a good person, you know. And if I'm not stepping away, like with you saying that, then I.
Speaker 2:It's just, it's not like you need to be a good teammate first. Yeah, 100%, I totally agree. How did you stay motivated during the grind of high school ball, especially with the pressure of?
Speaker 1:recruiting, oh, recruiting. So you know, recruiting is very me, me, me, me, me, like. I will say that until I'm blue in the face, like you gotta like selfishness, like, because everybody wants to get seen, everybody wants to get like noticed, whatever. So you know, alabama has the rule you can't play travel ball when you're in playing in school season. So I do remember, like as soon as we ended state and playoffs, that next week I was out of town. The summer, before my junior year I think I was home a total of three weeks out of the summer and the grind sucks. But at the end of the day, like that's what I wanted and I don't regret it by any means. But the shift between travel and high school is just the team. The team aspect's a little different, but the grind I mean you just got to find that routine. I found the good routine with my hitting coach, tommy Hearn, and everything, because I was on a travel team.
Speaker 3:We didn't practice, we literally yeah, yeah, and I think that's pretty common as you get older.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:I love practice. I think teams should practice For sure. I love travel ball more than I like school ball. Now, if I lived in a small community where the community wrapped around softball but baker is not a small community I mean we've got a lot of teams in mobile county. I mean you and I'm talking like mobile, the city, you got like davison's, murphy's, you know these school, they you're not going to get as big as a following as, say, like MGM.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:You know we were there today and they have they're going to have 10 times of fans that we do anywhere, anytime we play, and they used to come to like causing middle school's volleyball like just a regular volleyball game and it would be, at our home. We'd have 12 parents in the stands and they'd have 49 people per player Like that's what the community is. But travel ball, madison. We did touch this a little bit To me. School ball doesn't mean as much to me anymore, unfortunately.
Speaker 1:Now I'm going to kind of I guess I would say counter that.
Speaker 3:Love to hear it.
Speaker 1:So school ball to me meant so much more. In travel ball you're not playing for anything. I mean you're just there trying to get seen In high school. You're chasing a blue map.
Speaker 3:But that's to me where I feel like Baker loses that to where it had the community around it. Had we been in a district where we had the community around us, it would change that way. I mean, you go to Bryant right now, that entire fence is full of sponsors. When you come to Baker, you don't have that because there's so nothing says that Baker is your high school.
Speaker 3:As if you go to Irvington or Grand Bay, it's Bryant is your high school. That's what I mean. That's why I say that I think softball at school is very important. Unfortunately, at Baker I don't think it is.
Speaker 1:See, it's just like to me. It's just like you're playing for something bigger than yourself.
Speaker 3:And that should be the way that you look at it. And when we talk to our college recruiting coach, that's kind of what they tell us People. They want to see you play for your community.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:I just wish, personally, there was more community. I mean, I've tried, I've tried to get people at those games and it is sad when you go to a Bryant or Baker or MGM game and you see just tons of people who don't even play softball or have a kid or anything like that. They're there supporting the community. So that was more of my take on that. And you're right. Travel ball, especially as you get older, you're not playing for nothing.
Speaker 2:No.
Speaker 3:You are out there to go play. If you're a pitcher, you're going to pitch two innings, two innings, two innings two innings. When the weekend's done, you drive away and then you don't talk to your teammates for two weeks.
Speaker 1:Nope, and you get maybe what two at-bats if that.
Speaker 3:Yeah, in a game.
Speaker 1:In a game. If you do, good, great. If you don't, well, there goes my opportunity.
Speaker 3:You know, like it's just, this is her year, we have to be at these places. But I also think travel ball is a little bit of a scam too. You know we're paying a ton of money to go to these games. I mean, hear me this. I have to pay all this money to be on a team. My team's got to go pay $750 to be at this tournament, and then I've got to get hit with a $30 charge at the gate to get in there for me, my wife and one kid who's eight years old, who's going to probably spend more time throwing rocks at a wall than watching her sister play ball. But they're eating this stuff up. Look, we know the truth of this too. You go to these places where they're going to have college camps or college coaches. You may not see those college coaches.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, if you have those 8 am games, you might as well. Unless they really really want to see you probably not going to see anybody.
Speaker 3:And then, depending on how big these tournaments are, like you go to like somewhere like Colorado five locations certain fields that don't have nobody there at all. So connections about who you know softball is a very I don't know. I'm sure baseball is that way too, but it it is a. You have to do a lot of promoting for yourself and you know, send these emails and stay in busy.
Speaker 2:So let's talk about that D1 offer. What went into your decision to walk away from it?
Speaker 1:So my recruiting was pretty slow for the most part. I really didn't have any like a bunch of people knocking on my door, but I did know what I wanted. I knew like I wanted somewhere that could give me a good bit of money, you know, because at the end of the day you're getting your school paid for and everything. So my my Summer of my senior year I got an offer from a pretty big D1 program.
Speaker 3:Was that your very first offer? Was it from them, or did you have multiples before that?
Speaker 1:No, I had other offers before that.
Speaker 3:And what age was that coming into?
Speaker 1:I had some JUCOs coming in about sophomore year, like summer after sophomore year, and then I had some the rules, man, the rules are crazy with the whole September 1st for your junior year and stuff had some NAIs come in, had some D2s and everything but to me at that time, mind you, I was very immature. I was immature, I was young. You know, D1 or bust, To me it was.
Speaker 3:So it's funny how you say like you're immature because what I think about you like yesterday we talked to you on the phone you said, mr Ron, say like you're immature because what I think about you, like like yesterday we talked to you on the phone you said, mr ron, and I do appreciate this right there. But but sometimes when I talk to you, I talk to you kind of like I mean you're up here with me, it might, because you're so much more mature than you know how like the age things are, and so but yeah, I mean, do you want to bust?
Speaker 1:I mean that was my mindset, because I honestly think that's what was pushed on me, like coming from the area I was from and that like the community I was in and the players that you played with yeah, the players I played with.
Speaker 1:It's just like that's what you should do. You should go d1 with the. You know numbers and stuff I had, and so it was kind of forced in a way. But I got that d1 offer. I was excited. I was so excited. I was like this is gonna be awesome. Four I had no idea what I wanted to do, not a clue. I didn't know what I wanted to major in. All I knew is I was going to play D1 softball.
Speaker 3:So you're going to go tie yourself down to four years?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:You know, even obviously they're not just giving everybody full scholarships. So you're going to go inherit all this debt for a job right now that you don't I mean you don't know.
Speaker 1:No idea, yep. So I had that offer, I signed, went on my official visit. You know, signed that dotted line sure did. And then, let's see, probably March of my senior year, I was praying about it a lot. I was praying about it. I was like really heavy on my heart. I broke out in halves on my official visit to the D1 college. I literally had halves from head to toe. I had to go to a dermatologist and he said it was stress halves. I was so stressed, my body was like rejecting it, like my body was telling me, like this is not what I want. And so kept happening, signing rolls around, hives again all over my chest and I'm like what's going on? Like ignored it, whatever. But I just realized, like because it was literally between this D1 school and Jones, because ever since I stepped on Jones campus, like I knew this is amazing community, amazing people, everything like that. So it was literally between them two. And then I was like D one or bust. You know, this is what I'm supposed to do.
Speaker 3:So I'm going to cover just a little bit on this. I hope you don't mind me covering a little bit more. But I remember me and Madison. It was right at the beginning of the season and when she had come up, you know, practicing with y'all from middle know, and we are emily's biggest fan. So it's like I'm behind my jersey, I'm buying this, and she's like yeah, yeah, I said whoa, something ain't right. I mean, madison, you remember this conversation.
Speaker 1:I said was it january, like right when practice started? Yeah, this is not.
Speaker 3:This isn't oh, I was in my senior year and I remember telling emily then hey, look, you don. You don't have to do this, dude, go where you want to, because you were Even at the time you were nervous about it and it broke my heart Because here's what she told me. She said really, mr Ronald, I'm just ready to get my life started, I'm ready for softball to be done. I'm like what? It's your senior year, you were signing for a D1 college. I've always practiced and preached to Madison hey, let's look at JUCOs first, because you can go figure things out and guess what? You can also play ball.
Speaker 4:Oh, for sure.
Speaker 3:Here we are. We're talking about your stats just a few minutes ago and I ain't got them in front of me again, but you've played two years of good softball. Yeah, you may not have done that if you would have went to South Alabama.
Speaker 1:I even missed half my scenes in my freshman year because of an injury. Like I literally didn't start playing until March and I still got equal playing time on the field. I didn't have to redshirt, which is something that is unheard of at some D1 colleges.
Speaker 3:I just look at the decision like from there. To me that was a maturity. And you said it perfect. You said you know you were praying about it like crazy. And so when I say you broke out in hives, I think that might be your sign to say hey, maybe you should rethink this.
Speaker 1:People would ask me like hey, emily, aren't you so excited?
Speaker 1:And I'd be like yeah, that's what it was for us that night I was like I can't even hide it anymore, like this just is not going to be good for me, you know, because that Jones literally had such a big pull on my heart. I can literally remember to this day how I like went about it. I literally was in math class, no history class. Belle was sitting right behind me. I said Belle, I can't like I got to go talk to Coach T. I was like I got to got to figure this out and I go to her office or her classroom and I'm like I don't want to play anymore.
Speaker 1:She's like what she was like are you okay? And I was bawling my eyes out, gave her the whole rundown. She was like, well, that's okay. She's like that's completely okay. But you did sign a contract. And I was like, oh yeah, you're right. So I had to even figure out if I could get out of that contract first, of that contract first. But at the end of the day, like I do not regret my decision at all.
Speaker 3:Good for you.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:And this ain't to tell someone out there who's got D1 dreams don't do it. But at least look at the warning signs there. Yeah, you know, if you're going into this more stressed and don't do something just because you feel like you have to do that, and that's where I was at.
Speaker 3:I know a guy who went to Spring Hill College. I want to say he ran into like $180,000 worth of scholarship or with debt. Yeah, because they were giving him the opportunity to play baseball. He was going to be a teacher, that's what he went to school for. He will never make $180,000 in a year to figure out that debt. He's not a teacher today just to play baseball and he never had a chance and I don't mean that no disrespectful way. He never had a chance of going to the other place with that.
Speaker 1:I mean, and I I love that I could have a D1 offer, Like that's pat yourself on the back.
Speaker 3:If you have those cuts like that is awesome. Pat yourself on the back for any offer.
Speaker 1:No, 100%, Any like. If anybody wants you, that is amazing. You know how good it feels to just have somebody say, hey, I want you on my team, Like that is amazing. But you know, I was proud of myself but I was like, just because I have it doesn't mean I have to take it.
Speaker 3:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:And like I did feel a lot of pressure from like outside people Like this is what you need to do, this is what you should do, and I definitely shouldn't have let that cloud my judgment as much as it did.
Speaker 3:Imagine somebody on the outside telling you what you need to do.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but like I said, I was young, I had no idea. It's a hard decision, even as a senior in high school.
Speaker 3:I still remember the place I was sitting when I when I got a text message from somebody. It was a screenshot of your Twitter. It was a screenshot of Jones college Twitter posts. It says welcome in Lee Emily Mizell. Yeah, and I remember sitting at my desk at the Ingalls and the biggest smile, because then I felt comfortable.
Speaker 4:Yeah.
Speaker 3:You know, I've seen kids who have these big scholarships too, where they're going D1. And again, this ain't on everybody. But then their senior year their numbers are terrible Because they feel like there's just so much pressure on them. I don't know. I'm so thankful today that you made that decision, because you've gotten two years of solid softball.
Speaker 1:Amazing, amazing opportunity.
Speaker 3:Honestly now speaking, do you think you would have had the same opportunities today at South, or do you think you would have hit the field much or no?
Speaker 1:No, I mean because most D1 colleges you're just a number to them. If you don't give them numbers, you're not going to see the field much. And I do have people who have gone to d1 colleges and have been redshirted before the season even started, like that's just taking the opportunity right out of their hands and you know, like it's not even about playing. To me it's just like what I've liked my time there, just off the field too. You know like, is that the life I wanted?
Speaker 2:yeah, what do you think more girls should understand about jucos and the path that they can offer?
Speaker 1:okay, um, so I do go to a mississippi juco. Mississippi jucos are on a little bit of a tighter leash, so we can hold 23 on our roster, but we can only have five out-of-st. So I'm pretty lucky, you know, for to be chosen for that out of state spot, because they do save those spots. You know like cause you can only have five of them.
Speaker 3:I mean probably for mostly pitchers or catchers, or something.
Speaker 1:Yep, pitchers, catchers are like two big ones that they save it for. So Mississippi, I think I played for the hardest conference in the country, like my conference that we play for is so hard. I think half of our conference is ranked nationally at least I think I could be wrong on that right now. But JUCO, first of all, you're going to school for way cheaper than what you're going to go for at a four-year 100%. Second, of all, the people, the people are so invested. Like you were talking about community earlier in high school, the community at Jones is insane. The fans are packed every single game. We have this group of old men. They're the cutest people ever. Every single home game they're there 45 minutes before the game starts and they stay until the last person comes off the field. That community, they just love it so much. I think JUCOs get a little bit of pass by because they're like whatever.
Speaker 3:Or that's my second option.
Speaker 1:Yeah, exactly, I can say truthfully I was the same way. Jucos just invest in you. Yeah, exactly, and I can. I can say truthfully, like I was the same way. You know JUCOs just invest in you more personally. Like they invest in you more, um, you're going to have that close knit. The classes are so much like more personable. I know all of my professors, all my professors know me. Um, it gives you time to figure out what you want to do. I had no idea I went in as a physical therapy major. Now'm a dental hygiene major.
Speaker 1:Like it gave me time to figure out what I wanted and not have to be tied down to four years and be forced to play if you don't want to yeah so if you're definitely on the fence, like juco is definitely a very big thing to look at how different was college ball from high school and what was the biggest adjustment for you? So college to high school or high school to college, sorry, so I can say honestly in college there is no top dog, there is nobody on the field. That is just completely like the standout.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Like everybody can do everything and everybody can take your spot 100%, and you know it's a lot of respect in that aspect. You have to be able to put the work in every single day. We're not cruising by, like if you miss one rep, guess what? The person coming after you is taking five more. It's a completely different mindset. But also back to what I was saying earlier, you're playing for something so much bigger than yourself. I mean, right now we're about to start playoffs Next weekend. We're grateful enough to host this year regionals.
Speaker 3:Is it kind of like we are? You get to host it because you won the conference. Yeah, so one and two in conference hosts.
Speaker 1:We were two in conference, so one will host their. I think it's odd. Yeah, one will host odd numbers. We'll host even numbers and play it out to go to nationals. But you just think of like the community pouring into you, like it's so much bigger than yourself, and like playing for Jones. It is amazing seeing people's reactions when you get to wear that shirt, like just the the expectations and standards that come with putting that on your chest is just something I can never like, even describe what was the culture like at Jones?
Speaker 2:How did it shape you on and off the field?
Speaker 1:So at Jones, that's a, that's a big name in the JUCO world, especially in Mississippi. Juco, I mean, you're talking about over 20 plus, like all Americans. You're talking about like, just all these amazing people that have came through and, um, you, you know, at jones the culture is really personable. 100, you know, um, people definitely respect you a lot when you get to wear that, that uh name across your chest. Um, it's not just about, like, who you are on the field, it's about who you are off the field and I feel like that speaks a lot about a school. 100%.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and going back to the last question, high school to college, kind of break it down a little bit In college ball. Are they putting you all on weight programs or food or things that they want you all to eat? In that aspect, Do they do any of this?
Speaker 1:I know Jones doesn't personally. We do lift weights. We go three times a week. We have a strength and conditioning coach for sure um three times a week in the off season, twice a week during in season which is to me is important too, to work out during season yes, because you're losing muscle yes but you also need to somewhat maintain it. You know it's normal to lose it.
Speaker 3:That's why we work so hard in the off season to build it I I've seen Madison come out of school ball and really struggle in long lessons and stuff. Oh yeah, endurance for sure, that's another big thing. Got to stay in the gym.
Speaker 1:Yeah, eating. We have protein and stuff in the snack room. We're definitely pushed on creatine and protein and stuff like that, but eating is really up to us.
Speaker 3:But we're all smart enough to know, like, what our bodies can and can't handle. I'm sure you got teammates who, hey, this is what.
Speaker 1:I, yeah, for sure. I mean we're, we're grown. Come on now Like we know what we need to eat, what we don't need to eat, and that's another thing. With our coach, they respect us and our and everything. But weights is a pretty big thing in the college world 100%.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and then my other question to that would be you know, in high school ball you kind of no different than college, but you spend all this time with your teammates. You're in hotels, things like that. Is there anything different between college and high school as far as the team bonding and camaraderie? Do you all do anything special in college, or is it just a natural thing on the field?
Speaker 1:Well, college, or is it just natural thing on the field?
Speaker 3:well, we do live together, uh, yeah, all day, every day. It's actually pretty awesome saying that the other day, or last night at the game, she said that the good thing is she can, because she's a homebody. She can walk right outside a room to her, the left, and she's with another team oh, yeah, for sure, that's good. Yeah, so we're all each other's best are y'all forced to do things together too? In any way, no, no but we choose to because I mean that those are my best friends.
Speaker 1:100. We literally cry together, bleed together, like we literally were willing to put our bodies on the line for each other. You know, like high school, you're not. You're not living together. Like I can tell you everything about my roommates and I I actually two of my roommates right now.
Speaker 1:I grew up playing travel ball with them, uh li Evans and Michaela Baumgartner. You know we've been thick as thieves since 14 of you, I think, 12 of you maybe even, but we're not forced to do anything. But I mean, when your coaches recruit great people, you want to be together. You know amazing people for sure.
Speaker 3:That's kind of the things I always wonder about. Just someone who didn't go to college and play ball or any sport was you know. Are they giving y'all kind of workout regimens or and of course they are, but like what to eat are? They weighing y'all like?
Speaker 1:I always kind of wonder that and just curious out of curiosity yeah, I guess what girls they really don't want to push, like the body assessments and stuff. I do know schools that do body assessments for sure, that tell you how much fat you have and stuff on you. I don't think it's a bad thing. No, it's definitely not.
Speaker 3:I mean not somebody sitting there going you're fat. You know, as a girl I wouldn't hear that. But now I will tell you. On a high school ball field as a kid I have heard a coach call someone fat, and it just was what it was. I mean, as boys we take that.
Speaker 1:I would never of get to do whatever, not whatever we want by any means. But I mean we kind of just hang out together. The bus rides and stuff are awesome, uh, like staying together and everything. It's usually about three girls to a room, you know, but it's usually paired up pretty well and I called you on a bus ride one time.
Speaker 3:You're one of your biggest bus rides.
Speaker 1:You're going to play mississippi state your first oh my gosh, my first game of the fall, my freshman year. I'm already like nervous as I'll get out and I see ronald smith is calling you and I was headed to mississippi state.
Speaker 3:I'm like it's time to talk yeah I thought and look the thing was. I mean I knew she'd be nervous. I didn't realize she'd be madison in seventh grade, because she was like I was like y'all, she's like I think so I think I was about to puke everywhere.
Speaker 1:Mississippi state is my first college debut. Come on now, like how more nerve-wracking is that we also went and played alabama later that fall. I did not get to participate because I had tour malay room uh, actually right after mississippi state the following week. But even being there in the dugout, I'm like I should not be in this dugout.
Speaker 3:There's no way, yeah, and I would disagree. I think you deserve to be there.
Speaker 1:Oh, thank you, but we actually did pretty good. Jane Zollier lead off home run against Alabama Dang Crazy, she did awesome that game. I remember that for sure.
Speaker 3:She's a stud.
Speaker 1:Oh my.
Speaker 3:God, I love her.
Speaker 4:She hit a bomb off me. Where were we at? Well?
Speaker 3:so I have to say this, and I hope this encourages her to come on. I did talk to her the other day. She'd be awesome to have on here. I know she, you know she's at the same wits you are, yeah here, you are.
Speaker 3:You're kind of doodling down to your last, you know, season of Juco. Madison kind of had her number. You know she didn't one way or the other. When you see a kid like Jayden Sawyer step on the plate, I don't care if she hits a double, you're pretty happy that she didn't kill you because the kid is so strong.
Speaker 1:She's so powerful.
Speaker 4:But you know, madison, did I remember early on.
Speaker 3:I'm so, yeah, it's over. But Madison had struck her out one time and this is not a stab at her, because everybody strikes out but she struck her out on a curveball that she kind of got underneath.
Speaker 4:That was in high school. That was in high school.
Speaker 3:That's what I'm saying. Well, obviously you haven't made it to college.
Speaker 4:No, like high school ball. Yes.
Speaker 3:The other one was in travel, a curveball that she got underneath and threw it up and Madison's like oh, I didn't know I could do that, and so she threw her another one. Her very last time seeing her were at Pearl River. She threw her one.
Speaker 4:I think it went like over the scoreboard or something, I think it went 900 feet.
Speaker 3:But I remember when she came off the game I said hey, I just let you know, the cops are on the way and she's like for what I and she's like for what I said that was child abuse. That's what she just did to her.
Speaker 1:Well, you know she holds the Jones single season record 20-9. Oh, I think I saw that. Wow, congratulations.
Speaker 3:And you know, not to toot her horn because she ain't here. Maybe this will encourage her to come on, but she had, two no-no's this past week, so congratulations to you yeah.
Speaker 2:Really, I hope you do great time. I'll put in a good word I'm not begging all right kind of begging.
Speaker 1:He's begging what has been your proudest moment in college softball proudest moment college softball so far as being able to find such a great school to play at. Personally, like that is a huge. Not everybody gets to do that. Getting to find such a great program to play for is amazing. But like, personally, like about like myself, um, so my freshman year I did have an injury. I tore my labrum so I was out until March. Um, I had surgery in November, had recovery and all that, and so I didn't. So you have to in college, you have to play so many games to get out of the gray area to be able to be considered like. Oh, you played Like you know, like, and I was in the gray area until our last game at Nationals, like that's how much season I missed. And so I didn't get all tournament team, I didn't get all conference, I didn't get all region. So I was like you know what that's all region? So I was like you know what? That's all right, I said because you know, I got to go to nationals my freshman year.
Speaker 1:Not many people can say that. Well, I'm sitting on my couch this summer and my coach FaceTimes me and she's like hey. I was like hey, how's it going? She's like just want to congratulate you. And I was like, uh, for what she was like? Oh, you got an All-American kid. And I was like, oh my gosh, I don't know if y'all know what All-American is or anything. No, tell us. So NFCA All-American. I got it in high school, my junior year, but in college too, it's all the kids in the country, and out of all the JUCO kids in the country, I was picked to be an All-American and I just like that's like a really big deal and everything. Jaden was one also.
Speaker 3:So how many kids do you think there are in the whole?
Speaker 1:you probably know the answer oh heck, I don't know Pretty good number, though I mean it's pretty up there, I don't, there's a first team and second team. I got a second team, which I mean who?
Speaker 4:cares, it's fun.
Speaker 1:I did miss half the season so I kind of gave myself some grace there. But we had three All-Americans last year. It was awesome. We average at least three a year. It's awesome, but that was probably a pretty big moment.
Speaker 3:Is there certain numbers they're looking for in that? Not really.
Speaker 1:No, not really. I had 15 home runs last year, so I don't even know if it had to do with home runs or anything. I can't really remember my average, but I mean, heck, Jaden had 29 home runs. She got it. And then we had a pitcher who also got it. She was a PO.
Speaker 3:She started the season off strong last year. Who Jaden, yeah for sure. I mean she was crushing. I want to say she had like one weekend or one game.
Speaker 1:She had like two or three home runs in a game or something and she was pitching like great, like lights out. I can't remember all the stats, but it that kid's had a great, oh great, great career at jones, for sure. But that was definitely a big moment because I didn't expect it, you know like, because I was just trying to, you know, play, that's all I wanted to do just play.
Speaker 2:You've been a big sister figure to younger players like madison. What does that mean to you now, looking back?
Speaker 1:looking back now, I just hope I gave them something like good to pass along from myself, like I hope I never want somebody to go back and be like, well, emily Mazzel was mean and rude and da da da. I want them to at least be able to share that like I was kind and everything, cause, like kindness goes a long way. I believe you can be a good teammate in a bad person, or you can be a good person in a bad teammate, and I just want to like I just hope they can see the support I give them and they can want to support others as much as I support them, cause at the end of the day, it's not about the numbers.
Speaker 3:And to say something about that. I remember your dad. Last year or your senior year, there was a play at a plate, and what I'm going to say here, you were raised this way, also because there was a play at a plate that was aggressive, it was your play, and a score, whatever the case, was Some type of collision there. And he was like did you see this? Why some type of of collision there? And he was like did you see this? Why did she do? Why did she go so strong? But you didn't. It was, it was a clean, it was all like fair. I do you remember this at all? What?
Speaker 3:game was it I want to say it was against, like sat sumer or someone I can't quite remember, but it was a. It was just you know those plays at home sometimes, but but it was like him. He's like oh, you, you got, you can't go in like that, you, you know. But when you're raised by someone who's like, oh, you can't go in like that, but when you're raised by someone who's also telling you have to be a good teammate or a good person, I will never intentionally hurt somebody. No.
Speaker 1:Never in a million years In college things get fast, things get pretty like the speed of the game is just fast and I've had some sweep tags that have been a little rough and every single time I'll look at that player and be like I'm sorry, like are you okay? Because it's like I would never intentionally hurt somebody. But in the moment of the game, like I mean it's the environment it happens. You know like it's a hard game.
Speaker 3:If you can't handle getting hurt in softball, there's a tough tag. You should not be playing.
Speaker 1:And I think most kids at that the stage know that by now. Yeah, and like at home, you know sometimes when that ball's coming in and that catcher steps like there's no telling because you're already coming in. I can guarantee you I probably did not do that on purpose.
Speaker 3:I know you didn't, but I remember hearing him say this like because his head was like oh you like why he didn't expect me to do that. Yeah but it was like I'm like bro, it was so last, it was a last second play like that's, but hearing that is because it's how you are today. That's why you are, because that's that you were raised to be a good person. You know not to hurt someone and there's not. Look, there's people out there who look for ways to hurt people too.
Speaker 3:You know, and look, I'm gonna call it like it is. It just happened two weeks ago.
Speaker 1:Uh ago Stagner, oh, gabby Stagner, they were playing Marshall. Catcher steps over.
Speaker 3:And what happened she? Just broke the home run record have we talked about this already on here. I don't think so. Maybe we did. She just broke the record.
Speaker 1:She got around the bases quick.
Speaker 3:It wasn't like she walked around the bases. She got around the bases quick. When she got to home plate, they were very excited, as they should be. Yeah, she just broke the home run record A D1 home run record. Yeah.
Speaker 4:At.
Speaker 3:South Alabama.
Speaker 4:They picked her up or whatever. They picked her up, carried her back.
Speaker 3:Yeah, she's cheering, Nothing crazy. I will say this, coming from a baseball background maybe I did get a little upset, but I'm going to hit her in the hip.
Speaker 1:Softball celebrations are nothing compared to baseball.
Speaker 3:Never.
Speaker 1:I will tell you that firsthand Baseball players are big-headed for sure, compared to softball players. We go about our business and we celebrate.
Speaker 3:That's all we do. And it wasn't big. It was not a big deal, but they called a time before and look, maybe I'll get canceled for this. I've always wanted to get canceled for something, but it canceled for something. But they caught a time when she come back over the plate. They ended up when they caught time. They come back first. Pitch catcher sets up inside. They hit her in the head, got a concussion. Yeah, I mean shame on you.
Speaker 1:Her senior day was supposed to be the next day too. Yeah, shame on you, she couldn't play in her senior day.
Speaker 3:That's crazy.
Speaker 1:You know, look, and I'm all for a very long time you never like, it's never that deep, but like for a catcher to, because you know normal person watching the video, they're probably like, oh, like maybe she just missed her spot. But if, as a softball player watching the video, you can clearly see the signs, in the flash.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean she come. There was no chance, she wasn't trying to do that, so just terrible sportsmanship throw it in her foot, don't even hit her.
Speaker 1:Don't hit her. Simple as that.
Speaker 3:I'm fine with getting hit. Hit her in the thigh and move on.
Speaker 1:Madison, do not hit anybody.
Speaker 3:If you're a pitcher and you can't control hitting somebody in the thigh, then you should not be pitching Off topic.
Speaker 2:I agree with you for sure If you could give one message to the younger girls coming up behind it's not as always as bad as it seems.
Speaker 1:Yeah, 100% Like the in the moment. It's not always as bad as it seems and at the end of the day, if you can walk away and say you gave every single thing, if you can walk away and regret nothing, that's when you know like it's okay. You know like I had a game a couple weeks ago. It was a tough loss it really was, but I walked away from the game knowing I put in everything like I had, so I was okay. You know it's it sucks, but it's all right and it's never as bad as it seems.
Speaker 3:We talked about this a couple weeks ago, about quitting, like if you quit something and they're like just get through the moment.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, with claudia, it was claudia's episode. Yep, that's me. So you're just a few weeks away from hanging up the cleats. How are you feeling about it?
Speaker 3:or are we not gonna hang them up?
Speaker 1:um, funny question. So you know, took the juco route and everything loved it ever since, absolutely in love with the opportunity I've gotten in the like career I've had. Um, but I will say I did tell myself I was not gonna bang on doors like I did in high school. I was not gonna beg and plead for people to want me. You know, like I, just you know it's why. Why do I want to beg people to? You know, look at me and stuff like that. So I, you know it's why. Why do I want to beg people to? You know, look at me and stuff like that. So I, you know I've talked to some schools and everything.
Speaker 1:But with my career I'm doing dental hygiene. You know you can't really go to a four year for that. It's kind of like a clinical thing and I could continue my degree in, like health science or kinesiology or whatever. But I'm kind of playing it by ear just seeing what comes my way. I've got some visits coming up. Uh, hanging up my cleats, I'm gonna have to get drug off that field at Jones College. I'm telling y'all, like it's not that I am not ready to hang up the cleats, it's that I'm not ready to leave Jones, like it's not about. Like softball has been so good to me, but I do think there's a time where, like you know, you got to move on. Unfortunately, you know we don't get the opportunities that baseball gets to make millions to play the game we love.
Speaker 3:That's why we started a podcast.
Speaker 4:To make the millions that way.
Speaker 1:Ugh, major League Softball? Ugh, I would love, but you know, I'm kind of on the fence right now. I've still got some time, you know because? But with that new rule right now, it has thrown some kinks in what's the new rule? So the new rule is I could be wrong, but it's along the lines of like, ncaa schools can have 25 on the roster full rides, but that's it. So now, instead of breaking up scholarships between people, it's a full ride, which is awesome, but 25, is it? No walk-ons, no, nothing.
Speaker 3:The new rules, all the NIL deals, all the stuff like that to me is ruining college altogether.
Speaker 1:Well, nil, just like, look at these big softball players going to small schools because they get millions of dollars, like that's great and all, but like it's like the game, like you're forgetting about the game.
Speaker 3:It's not always about money but I'd love for softball to be about money. I really well, I mean that in the way I wish y'all can make money. Oh, you are the top of your class as far as softball goes or your sports. I'd love to know that y'all can make a career doing that. Yeah, and you can't.
Speaker 1:No, because at this point we're just trying to get our school paid for, really. But I've got some stuff coming up, but it's not even about hanging up the cleats, it's about leaving the people I'm with right now. That's really going to be the sad part for me. Hopefully we're going to get a good run, you know, and we're going to have a good playoff season.
Speaker 2:So what's next for you after softball? Any career goals, coaching or ways you want to stay connected to the game?
Speaker 1:So I would love to coach. I've always thought about it, but I didn't want to be a teacher. Like teaching is definitely not for me, not in a classroom. Anyways, I would love to coach, I would love to be able to be a part of an older group, definitely even if it's like a travel ball team or something.
Speaker 3:I definitely think a great mentor to a travel ball team as far as maybe helping with people's recruiting processes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I've always been open to that, for sure, because I think I do have a pretty unique recruiting experience.
Speaker 3:Hey, Gary, this is your opportunity. Man, I got your Jersey over there in the corner behind us. It would be a great opportunity. I mean, you know you have someone here with experience or anybody I joke with Gary, but anyone who why would you not want that person like on your staff?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean I would love to coach, for sure. But career wise, I'm going to do dental hygiene. I've always been interested in the career and everything, and going to Juco has allowed me to pursue that career, for sure. I'm planning on doing an apprenticeship where they pay for me to go to dental hygiene school and everything. Dental hygiene school is hard, it's hard to get into. There's about three schools in our area so it's very competitive, oh for sure. So you've got like the pearl river one, huntsville and pensacola state, and they expect they accept about 20 people a year. That's it. Yeah, so you wouldn't like be a dentist?
Speaker 4:no, no, I'm gonna clean your teeth like basically like the one that cleans your teeth.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, that's nasty I always wanted to be in the medical field but nursing was a little too responsible for me. I don't want to. You know a little scary, but dental hygiene definitely for sure. It's hard to get into and stuff. So I'm kind of hoping I get the apprenticeship like road to go on. You know, get paid for it. It's expensive too.
Speaker 2:I will say, just talking about your character tonight and hearing like stories from madison and ronald um, you're probably the best person to clean somebody's teeth like you're not gonna be judgmental, you know well, I'm also scared, like I'm a yapper, like I talk a lot, yeah, and I'm scared I'm gonna be like hands in their mouth and they can't talk back and I'm like oh my god, I'm sorry.
Speaker 2:I will say Dr Acker, I'm going to shout her out. She's the best dentist ever. But the hygienists that work there and stuff, they'll talk to me and stuff and I enjoy it.
Speaker 3:I love.
Speaker 2:when they talk to me, it gets my mind off of what they're doing in my mouth.
Speaker 3:Oh, for sure.
Speaker 2:Or we go uh-huh, uh-huh, yeah, Uh-huh. That's how it goes.
Speaker 1:I wanted a career where I could have good hours and stuff, like like, if my kid's going to play travel ball, I don't want to have to worry about being on night shifts or anything. You know. Like it gives me an opportunity. Most dentist offices are eight to five, monday through Thursday, you know, and I, I like that, like I'm okay with that, I'm okay with not being a workaholic, you know, and it gives me the opportunity.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1:What do you think softball has taught you that that you'll carry for life Everything, everything, ever, um, all my morals, all my back, like the backbone I have today is from softball. I don't think I'd be the person I am today without softball, for sure. But if you were to ask high school me, it would like I would definitely say it would what it had taught me to be like more competitive and have a good work ethic. College me like be a good person, be the type of person that somebody is going to smile when they talk about you. Like that's what softball has taught me. And that you know, like it's okay to not always think about the numbers and what's in the moment. For sure, all right.
Speaker 2:So looking back at the whole ride from 6U to JUCO to now, what are you most proud of?
Speaker 1:I'm definitely most proud of the fact that I can step away knowing that, like, I enjoyed myself, like I can step away knowing that, that, like, I'm happy with the type of like, like impact I made and I can like genuinely say that like I enjoyed every single bit of it, because my mom literally would ask me every single year do you still want to play? I'm like exactly what they asked me. Yes, ma'am, I sure do you know, and my mom always gave me that out.
Speaker 3:You know, my parents never played like competitive well, you said it one time you carry the family. I remember you telling them. Oh for sure.
Speaker 1:I'm the athletic one in the family. Come on y'all. My parents always gave me an out. I respected that a lot. Looking back at it, I can genuinely say I enjoyed every year. I have made so many friendships that I'm going to take with me forever. Who can not be proud of that? You know Absolutely. I would never know Madison if it wasn't for softball.
Speaker 3:Oh my gosh, Something else too. You talked just a minute ago about people talking about you and smiling Like that's the kind of person you've accomplished. That I mean we, every time we bring you up, we smile.
Speaker 2:I will say this when I first started coming around, madison and Ronald, they had brought you up Like I had known about you for so long, actually, since I first met them. I even watched the video that you created.
Speaker 3:We're going to let you all watch that video.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we want to hear y'all's take now watching the old one, but everything that I've heard about you is so good.
Speaker 1:That that means a lot to me because, like I said, this year has definitely shown me like it's not about what you did on the field, it's about the like, the impact, like off the field. I actually had a conversation with the coach last week Most thoughtful question I've ever been asked by a college coach. She said if I was to call one of your teammates right now, what would they tell me about you? Like, like madison, what would you say if a college coach asked you that?
Speaker 3:about yourself, about yeah I have no clue.
Speaker 1:Like if a college coach called one of your teammates and said, like, like, what type of person is madison? Like what would they say? That's a hard question yeah I know and I, like I just told her, I said I don't think they'd say anything about what I am on the field. I said I generally think they would tell you that like I would run through a brick wall for them 100. But I was like mind blown.
Speaker 3:It took me like 10 minutes to answer the question I was like, oh my god, sorry, you really just threw me off guard kids y'all think about that question like prepare for like an interview.
Speaker 1:Oh for sure, that's a, that's a great question oh, she had so many good personal questions and, like I know, she's a great coach because of just the questions she asked, oh for, sure good for you.
Speaker 3:I won't let you tell who it was. I'd love to know, because that yeah, yeah hey, can I ask you look, I'm sorry, before we even get off all this, we're getting close. Were most of the college coaches, like you did, talk to going to it? Were they personable or was it not like that, like your experience of recruiting? And not asking for like name dropping, I'm just asking in general.
Speaker 1:I had a college coach tell me you run fast for a big girl one time at a camp in front of everybody. Yeah, I mean it just depends who you're talking to honestly. I mean it just depends who you're talking to honestly.
Speaker 3:I mean some have been personal, some have been like you know, imagine being the idiot who said that, yeah, and then here you are. I mean, you saw it earlier, it's a small community. Yeah, for sure Everybody knows who you are. I know who you are and I've warned people of who these people are.
Speaker 1:This is a girl's image you're talking about, for sure. And then, like I've been, I've had some coaches throw visits in my face Like, oh, you're going to go on a visit there? Uh, yeah, I am, do you? Do you? Are you threatened, are you scared? Like I mean, some people can really make you rethink a lot, for sure, cause it definitely did for me. I was, I, I was very picky on the recruiting process, for sure.
Speaker 3:Well, you're, you're very mature. Oh, thank you, you were very like, because I the same reason you broke out in Hobbs, like you were constantly thinking, hey, is this right for me?
Speaker 3:I feel like every decision you make in life is probably that because I, because I remember high school girls. I say high school girls, high schoolers going out to parties like that. I'm not saying you never did it, but I remember you saying, hey, I'm not doing that, come to vaping. I'm not doing that, no, I want to play softball. I love that about you. There's not a better role model out there in the sport for us.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much. But yeah, definitely certain schools. I would go to games and watch them play and like see how they acted during a game setting Cause that'll tell you a lot about a team and every visit I ever went on I've asked to watch a practice.
Speaker 3:And you know I have said that to coaches before and parents if your travel ball team is acting, your coaches on travel team are acting any different than what a college coach is acting. You're playing for the wrong team.
Speaker 1:For sure.
Speaker 3:You know it was Patrick Murphy throwing clipboards at his players and cussing his players out on the field. I'm not. I don't know what happens behind the dugout, I can't speak to that. But if you're doing that on the ball field, you are not portraying what college is like.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, I would ask, I would go watch them play for sure and see how the team, how they let the team act and how the like the type of people he recruits and then or not he, but just people in general. And then I would literally, if he asked me to come, if the coach asked me to come on visit, I said can I watch practice? Cause you can only hide so much at a practice.
Speaker 3:Absolutely. And seeing the way kids walk around and stuff like cause, if you're, if the kids aren't happy with you, yeah, they might go out there and hustle and all that, but you'll see the way they kind of walk away for sure, and like if they tell you, no, you can't watch a practice, what type of red flag says, does that like?
Speaker 1:yeah, if I mean because I would literally ask, I wouldn't be scared, because if I'm going to come play for you, I want to know how you practice.
Speaker 4:I've never heard like somebody uh watch, like ask to watch practice.
Speaker 1:But I was really picky, like yeah, it's probably was bad, but no it seems smart yeah. Well, it's I'm. If I'm going to live here and do this every single day, I want to know what I'm getting into. You know yeah.
Speaker 3:I should ask.
Speaker 2:Very smart.
Speaker 3:We should hired at a new job. And they get there. They're like what do y'all do, bro? You let them talk you into this job.
Speaker 2:All right. So if you had to sum up your softball career in one word or phrase, what would it be and why?
Speaker 1:Long. No, I'm just kidding. Impactful.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:My softball career has definitely been impactful on me, not even on other people, on me myself. I'm the person I am today because of softball. Every team, every coach, every teammate. I could tell you every single teammate I've had right now. I could list out every single one of their names, from what 10U to college right now. Impactful on myself Like the backbone I have today is because of softball. The morals I have today are because of softball. Like there's no telling how I would act if I didn't have this sport in my life.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and I've kind of tooted your horn the whole time. Everything about you has been impactful to me personally, and then kind of watching Madison look up to you and Bell also. At that time it meant so much. And one thing we used to kind of echo because there are bad teammates at times too I used to tell Madison hey, whatever they made you feel like you'd be better to your next teammate.
Speaker 3:We've preached that teammates at times too. I used to tell Madison hey, whatever they made you feel like you'd be better to your next teammate. You know we've we've preached that to her and you know you kind of hope your kid is what you portrayed to us, so very thankful for that. Before we do get out of here, I want you to watch a video. I made this two years ago.
Speaker 4:I'm going to cry.
Speaker 4:It took me, I made it in months and Miley Cyrus don't sue me, but I'm going to cut some of it out because she probably will. I remember whenever you were making it and you would show me little snippets of it and literally I would hear the first second of the video and I would start bawling my eyes out. I, we were. It was after practice one day, I think, and we were just talking to maybe it was our coaches. We were talking and somebody mentioned that it was like our last games are coming up with. Emily Started crying.
Speaker 3:Yeah, balling right there. I remember, like Aerie, I remember, you know, getting to regionals. I remember you having an injury on the ball field and we were, like you know, belle's career ended on a ball field.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:And so then your very last game, your tournament, ends at regionals where they injury that. We're like. What is going on? She just let out the biggest scream. I'll never forget it.
Speaker 1:My teammate right now, Jaden Zollier, hits a hard ground ball that pops up on the line. I jump up and get it and I come down on a complete 360 on my ankle, on the base, 100%. And I wasn't even crying because it hurt. I was crying because I knew I was done. No more Baker softball. I was literally done.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I remember you actually that was like the thing in the dugout. You were saying like, tell me it's not over. Yeah, Tell me it's not over.
Speaker 1:I wanted to go play that last game.
Speaker 3:Tell me what it means to y'all today after watching it.
Speaker 1:I haven't watched it in two years. Tap on this one, me and Bill are best friends.
Speaker 2:You want to be shy, Baker.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that was the strike. Oh my God, the first strike. I thought I was going to puke. Oh my god, the first strike. I thought I was gonna puke, oh.
Speaker 4:Bill oh my gosh, I'm so white, aww.
Speaker 1:I respect her for making that decision. I understand, I miss her.
Speaker 4:How long has it been since y'all seen each other?
Speaker 1:I bawled my eyes out that day. Oh, that was in wetumpka.
Speaker 4:Yeah, there's the you oh, yes, I cried at mexican it was the year before you, it was your junior year, and I just bawled I've never seen my team started.
Speaker 1:Oh, my pitching days. I love that tournament. That was my favorite tournament, the Alex Wilcox tournament. We didn't go to it. Somebody asked me why are you crying? I don't know. Probably it's the last time I'm going to play at Baker ever. Yeah, my eyes are.
Speaker 2:We had a bunch of people on the team oh my god oh, that picture is hanging up in my room actually.
Speaker 1:I couldn't walk and it's really ugly. I literally couldn't walk and it's really ugly. I literally couldn't walk. The lights kept going out that night Remember when that game literally took five Evers.
Speaker 3:That was me, that was Shelby.
Speaker 4:Oh look, we ran into each other every single time, oh that's a cute picture that feels like forever ago. It was my dirt. Do you still have it?
Speaker 1:Yes, in my room I have one from Drones down too. Oh, that's such a Ew.
Speaker 3:That was a post, that was a text I got.
Speaker 4:Best post ever. Yeah, oh yeah. And then it rewinds.
Speaker 1:He's kind of an editing god, oh, that was so precious.
Speaker 3:So they just got a watch video. We made what two years ago now?
Speaker 4:Yeah, well, three.
Speaker 3:Madison, you're staying in the same place. You are now with the first picture there.
Speaker 4:Yes, your mom and you were so happy and just sat there back, proud, proud. Yeah, you can see in the picture my smile goes from eye to eye.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so it was awesome and it's been a heck of a journey and and you know I hate that maybe softball might come to an end here, but I mean, we're always going to be great supporters of you oh, the friendships I've made in softball will go with me through life.
Speaker 1:It doesn't end just because softball ends.
Speaker 4:And it shouldn't be that way Whenever you become a dentist, whatever it's called teeth cleaner, I'm going to hey, if any college coaches are listening to her, she's not that stupid.
Speaker 3:I'm going to stop.
Speaker 4:I'm going to make a. However you do it, I'm going to sign up at your dentist office An appointment. You're going to make an appointment.
Speaker 2:Is that how it works? Have you been to the dentist ever?
Speaker 4:My mom does this stuff. I can see right now, but I thought you have a dentist that you quote unquote, sign up with.
Speaker 3:Well, I can see right now Madison goes, she gives her insurance card, she looks at her tickets. It's like your total is like $250 or whatever for the visit. And then she's like am I supposed to tip twice my taxes?
Speaker 1:here. I'll never forget. She was literally at Cracker Barrel, shaking Like Emily. I don't know what to do.
Speaker 3:Just give it to me. That is Madison. She worries about the dumbest things sometimes.
Speaker 1:I was the same way though.
Speaker 4:It's kind of reasonable, though I feel bad if the server gets no tips.
Speaker 1:I mean. But you can look at me and Jill's friendships. She took me in when I was an eighth grader and now we're still friends to this day. We're going on like six years, seven years, I think.
Speaker 3:Maybe I can convince Jill to come on the podcast.
Speaker 1:She's got a lot to say. I'm sure I love her. She's had a great career, oh for sure.
Speaker 3:So but but, emily, it was a pleasure having you, and you officially hold the first episode With a guest, so Well, I hope y'all enjoyed it.
Speaker 1:You know, thank y'all for having me. I am so glad I got to come on. As soon as I saw the first episode I was like I have got to Get on this, not even on to talk, just see what y'all are about, see what y'all are doing. I'll listen to it my whole way drive to Jones and my whole way back. I put on y'all's podcast.
Speaker 3:I really do think it's great and I've heard a lot of great things from people coming in. We've got a lot of big things planned in the future. I've told you a few coaches and other'll get when we get our new logos. We're in trademark right now. When all that comes out, it's going to be amazing and you know it's been a great opportunity for Madison. It's been a great opportunity for us Like we're. You know we're getting covered.
Speaker 4:We have something like hearing people say oh my gosh, listen to your podcast and I heard to talk about this like you actually care, like oh, yeah, you want to hear what we have to say and it, it like makes you feel good.
Speaker 3:It's like wow, like, well, you know, I said earlier like there's somebody in croatia that loves us right now yeah and you know there's 11 countries currently and softball's not you know when y'all so such a small community, to think about somebody in a different country actually tuning in and listening for one or two episodes. And then the other day I seen somebody and just one night I woke up in the morning and we had like seven listens in Los Angeles, california, who was this? I only had eight episodes, so you sat there all night and listened to all these episodes. So it was kind of impactful to me. And then when I start talking about bringing people on like you and and you know, coaches, we got coach Barkley that's going to come on and we really want to talk with coach Scarborough, hopefully in the future. What do these people have to offer?
Speaker 3:I mean, you know Scarborough's been coaching for 50 years yeah you know, and somebody told me the other day, he's like I met a guy who he coached in baseball and it's like somebody's grandfather, you know, and he's been around this game and like what can somebody hear?
Speaker 3:And then you come in the day and you talk about. You know, I've always told Madison hey, d1 is not it, it doesn't have to be it. Not that it's not it, it doesn't have to be that. And it may be for something, who knows, madison may go play D1 somewhere. But I'll be proud of you if you go. Juco too, I want you to play ball. You know, and hearing your story, like you said, you may not have played. You know two years of softball that you just played and you had two amazing years of softball.
Speaker 1:And, who knows, I might go D one from Jones. You know that's not totally out of the picture at all, but I just hope like people don't think I'm just like blowing smoke, like I'm definitely talking like from experience and like just the the big impacts for me and and it's everybody's story is different. You know it might not be what I've said or anything, but I just I find it so people like genuinely like like to hear what y'all have to say, cause it's real.
Speaker 3:Like there's no faking here. You've been part of the podcast. Look, I'll tell y'all the first 12 minutes. We we didn't press record. I we didn't press record. I don't know if it was a mistake I made.
Speaker 2:It was definitely a mistake you made.
Speaker 3:Well, you know, and we have a little bit of a different setup here, like I said, we do have a ghetto studio right now. We've got blankets hanging up and sheets. It's not, but we're doing what we can with what we have, and that's something that I've always preached to Madison Just go do something when this whole podcast conversation come up. She was sitting right here at the dinner table. I said hey, you want to do a podcast about what? About your softball? What are you going to call it? What do I tell you all the time? Don't suck Like. You know, that's our life. And so then it come on here and said hey, we're not hiding nothing. You know, madison, she kind of started the season she want to have 18 strikeouts when she already had 13. And we were six weeks behind that, which that told me a lot about Matt. And so it's been a real podcast and there's no lies here.
Speaker 1:Well, you're living it every day, it's not like y'all are just going through the motions.
Speaker 3:I mean, Madison plays softball every day and people you're bringing on have experience in softball every day.
Speaker 1:And I want real honest, oh, absolutely.
Speaker 3:Because you are going to fail more than you ever succeeded this game.
Speaker 1:If I had somebody's opinion like mine when I was in high school, I probably would have thought so differently.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:A hundred percent, cause you can tell a lot by somebody's real world experience.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's been a great and I again talking about the podcast, where we're headed to is is where we're headed to is, so big and we're so excited to get there and again, thank you for being the first guest.
Speaker 1:Official guest thank y'all for having me.
Speaker 3:I've enjoyed it so much and so, ladies, I like to end this every time with one thing y'all have anything for them don't suck.