Bleav in Softball

The season 5 finale is here! Jenna looks back and highlights the greatest hits from the Safe or Out segment, where each guest gives their hot takes on all things softball - from bat flips and conference realignments, to rules, looks, culture, terminology, strategy, and more. Plus, she breaks down the 2024 softball year in review and shares the final Foul Tip of the Week.

00:00:00-00:18:32 Intro/Covering Our Bases

00:18:32-01:09:12 Safe or Out Highlights

01:09:12-01:14:18 Foul Tip of the Week/Outro

Twitter: @BleavInSoftball

Instagram: @bleavinsoftball

Jenna is joined by Alliance Fastpitch CEO, Players Collxctive co-founder, Texas A&M alum, WCWS runner up, 3X Big 12 champion, and retired NPF pro, Dr. Jami Lobpries! They talk about making an impact from the youth level to pro, her career evolution from player to executive, innovation and entrepreneurship, collaborating to move the game forward, reflecting on this year, the “team” aspect of sports, why being an aunt is one of their favorite roles, and more.

00:00:00-00:09:47 Intro/Covering Our Bases

00:09:47-01:06:04 Interview

01:06:04-01:10:41 Foul Tip of the Week/Outro

Twitter: @BleavInSoftball

Instagram: @bleavinsoftball

Jenna is joined by Athletes Unlimited pro, Team USA veteran, 4X All American outfielder at Florida, her D1 Softball podcast co-host, and fellow 805 native, Amanda Lorenz! They talk about working together this spring, being an AU captain and winning silver at the World Cup this summer, what she learned in her formative years with the Gators and the Batbusters, launching her signature glove, who and what inspires her, LA 2028 goals, being a hype woman, dog mom to Blue, and more.

00:00:00-00:09:56 Intro/Covering Our Bases

00:09:56-01:00:12 Interview

01:00:12-01:03:35 Foul Tip of the Week/Outro

Twitter: @BleavInSoftball

Instagram: @bleavinsoftball

Jenna is joined by 2X Olympic medalist, USA Softball and Arizona Hall of Famer, 3X All American, Honda Award Winner and NCAA national champion, NPF Pitcher of the Year with the Chicago Bandits, and current MLB ambassador - called “the face of softball” by Time Magazine, Jennie Finch! They talk about her Olympic experience and insight, college and pro, collaborating with (and striking out) baseball players, the responsibility of being a role model, her family, and more.

00:00:00-00:09:24 Intro/Covering Our Bases

00:09:24-01:03:32 Interview

01:03:32-01:06:50 Foul Tip of the Week/Outro

Twitter: @BleavInSoftball

Instagram: @bleavinsoftball

Jenna is joined by Athletes Unlimited pro, #1 pick in the AU college draft, 3X All American, 2X AAC POY, 2022 Division I batting champion, Wichita State alum and record holder, and current Marshall assistant coach, Sydney McKinney! They talk about hosting AUX at the Shockers’ Wilkins Stadium, the “mid-major” experience, playing and coaching at the same time, competing with and against her boss Morgan Zerkle, AUSL, Little League Softball, her dogs, and more.

00:00:00-00:10:13 Intro/Covering Our Bases

00:10:13-00:53:54 Interview

00:53:54-00:56:32 Foul Tip of the Week/Outro

Twitter: @BleavInSoftball

Instagram: @bleavinsoftball

It’s the 150th episode! To celebrate, Jenna is joined by current OKC Spark pro, 2019 All American and Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, 3X All Big Ten player, Minnesota alum, and North Florida pitching coach, Amber Fiser! They talk about playing in the softball Mecca, competing in 3 different pro leagues (AFP, Athletes Unlimited, and WPF), taking the Gophers to their first ever WCWS, B1G softball, representing the Midwest, how coaching makes her a better player, gaining new perspectives, basically a masterclass in her pitching philosophy, and more.

00:00:00-00:09:35 Intro/Covering Our Bases

00:09:35-01:05:51 Interview

01:05:51-01:08:17 Foul Tip of the Week/Outro

Twitter: @BleavInSoftball

Instagram: @bleavinsoftball

Jenna is joined by 30-year collegiate coach, 6X Big West champion with 7 NCAA appearances at Cal State Fullerton, 5X Big West Coach of the Year, former longtime head coach at Mt SAC, and Oklahoma alum, Kelly Ford! They talk about everything - the 2024 season, her retirement, Titan program history, Judi Garman, remembering beloved alum Taylor Dockins, playing and coaching at both the junior college and Division I levels, the legacy she’s leaving, and more.

00:00:00-00:09:56 Intro/Covering Our Bases

00:09:56-01:09:11 Interview

01:09:11-01:13:14 Foul Tip of the Week/Outro

Twitter: @BleavInSoftball

Instagram: @bleavinsoftball

Jenna is joined by Texas A&M alum, incoming grad transfer at San Diego State, current Duck Town Quack in the Golden Bay Collegiate League (GBCL), and two-way player, Grace Uribe! They talk about her college softball experience, graduating as an Aggie in College Station, the transfer portal, the recruiting process then and now, how summer ball helped her fall back in love with the game, her future with the Aztecs, grad school and career aspirations, and more.

00:00:00-00:14:30 Intro/Covering Our Bases

00:14:30-01:05:11 Interview

01:05:11-01:09:41 Foul Tip of the Week/Outro

Twitter: @BleavInSoftball

Instagram: @bleavinsoftball

Jenna is joined by new Duke grad, All American pitcher, ACC champion, Pitcher of the Year, and tournament MVP, and professional rookie with the Texas Smoke, Jala Wright! They talk about taking the Blue Devils to their first ever WCWS, how Coach Marissa Young has influenced her, the rise of ACC softball, her transfer experience, her professional debut, being unapologetically herself, embodying “Slayla”, realizing dreams, mental preparation, her family, and more.

00:00:00-00:10:52 Intro/Covering Our Bases

00:10:52-01:01:38 Interview

01:01:38-01:05:56 Foul Tip of the Week

Twitter: @BleavInSoftball

Instagram: @bleavinsoftball

Jenna is joined by former UCLA catcher, NCAA national champion, gear designer, mentor, and USA and Athletes Unlimited alum, Paige Halstead! They talk about covering the WCWS with D1Softball in OKC, winning with the Bruins in 2019, her battery relationship with Rachel Garcia, creating her own line of PHX catching gear with All Star, playing pro with AU and internationally with Team USA, giving lessons, why she wants to help girls reach their potential, and more.

00:00:00-00:12:04 Intro/Covering Our Bases

00:12:04-01:03:59 Interview

01:03:59-01:08:40 Foul Tip of the Week/Outro

Twitter: @BleavInSoftball

Instagram: @bleavinsoftball