College softball is growing faster than ever — but what does it actually take to play at the next level? In this episode of Out of Left Field, Abby sits down with Southeastern Louisiana assistant softball coach Matt Uhle to break down what college coaches actually look for in recruits, how mid-major programs are competing with Power 5 schools, and why the growth of softball is creating more opportunities than ever. Coach Uhle has spent decades around the game and shares real insight into recruiting, player development, team culture, and what separates athletes who make it to the college level. If you're a softball player, parent, or fan trying to understand college recruiting, this episode is packed with real advice from inside Division 1 softball. Topics Covered: • How to get recruited to play college softball
• What college softball coaches look for in players
• Why mid-major softball programs are rising
• How softball is growing through ESPN exposure and pro leagues
• The importance of team culture in college softball
• Recruiting advice for youth softball players
• How athletes stand out to college coaches
• Life lessons learned through softball About Out of Left Field: Out of Left Field is a softball podcast focused on growing the game through real conversations with players, coaches, and leaders shaping the future of softball. Subscribe for weekly softball interviews, college softball insights, and stories from across the game. Follow Out of Left Field: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olfmedia
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@outofleftfieldmedia Follow Abby: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abigailalonzo
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Welcome back to Out of Left Field ⚡🥎 In this episode, Abby Alonzo sits down with Sam Fischer, Manager of Softball Operations for the AUSL, former professional player, Athletes Unlimited history maker, and one of the voices helping shape the future of professional softball. Sam shares her journey from a mid-major standout to professional softball, hitting the first home run in Athletes Unlimited history, and transitioning from player to front office leadership. This conversation dives into what it really takes to build a sustainable pro softball league and why the AUSL represents a new era for the sport. We also talk about:
• Sam Fischer’s pro softball journey (NPF, AU, international play)
• The growth of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL)
• Working with Kim Ng and building a player-first league
• The reality of early pro softball salaries vs today
• Transitioning from athlete identity into a career
• How social media is changing softball exposure
• Advice for athletes after their playing career ends
• Growing the game and the future of women’s sports If you care about the future of softball, women’s sports, or what it really takes to build a professional league, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Subscribe for more athlete interviews, softball stories, and conversations growing the game. 🎙️ Out of Left Field Podcast
Hosted by Abby Alonzo Follow Out of Left Field:
Instagram: @abbigailalonzo
TikTok: @abbyalonz0
Follow Sam Fischer:
TikTok: @samfischer52 #Softball #AUSL #AthletesUnlimited #WomensSports #ProSoftball

Sahvanna Jaquish joins Out of Left Field to break down her incredible softball journey from LSU superstar to professional softball veteran, Team USA gold medalist, and AUSL champion. In this episode, Jaquish shares what it takes to succeed at the highest levels of softball, the mindset that helped her become one of the most decorated hitters in LSU history, and how the professional softball landscape has evolved from NPF to Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL). She also discusses:
• What LSU softball taught her about competing at an elite level
• The transition from college softball to professional softball
• Playing for Team USA and winning gold medals
• How pro softball is growing with AUSL and MLB investment
• The mentality required for longevity in professional sports
• Why loving the game is what keeps athletes going
• Advice for young softball players trying to reach the next level Jaquish also tells behind-the-scenes LSU stories, talks about winning the AUSL inaugural championship, and explains why softball’s future is brighter than ever. If you love college softball, pro softball, LSU softball, or want to learn what it takes to build a career in sports, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more softball interviews, athlete stories, and conversations growing the game.

Sami Williams has one of the most unique stories in professional softball. From playing at Iowa State to competing in Athletes Unlimited, the WPF, and now the AUSL with the Chicago Bandits, Sami’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, networking, and betting on yourself. Off the field, she’s also a senior software engineer with the Chicago Cubs, balancing a career in Major League Baseball while continuing to pursue her professional softball dream. In this episode of Out of Left Field, Sami Williams joins Abby Alonzo to talk about:
• Her journey through pro softball leagues (AU, WPF, AUSL)
• Working in Major League Baseball as a software engineer
• Overcoming injuries and setbacks
• How networking helped extend her career
• Advice for young softball players chasing big dreams
• What it means to play pro softball in Chicago Out of Left Field is a softball podcast focused on the stories behind the athletes, the business of softball, and growing the game. Make sure to subscribe for more interviews with top softball players, coaches, and leaders in women’s sports. #Softball #AUSL #AthletesUnlimited #ChicagoBandits #WomensSports #CollegeSoftball #ProSoftball

SEC softball conference play is officially here, and opening weekend features multiple ranked matchups and major storylines across the conference. In this episode of Out of Left Field, Abby Alonzo breaks down the biggest series of the weekend, including No. 1 Tennessee vs No. 16 LSU, Georgia vs Arkansas, and Texas vs South Carolina, while also looking at undefeated Alabama entering SEC play, Florida opening conference action against Missouri, and Mississippi State building momentum behind Raelin Goold’s complete-game shutout. Key topics in this episode:

• Tennessee softball pitching dominance led by Karlyn Pickens
• LSU trying to challenge the No. 1 team in the country
• Arkansas emerging as a Women’s College World Series contender
• Texas riding a 17-game winning streak
• Alabama entering SEC play undefeated
• Florida looking to build momentum in the SEC standings
• Mississippi State’s strong pitching performance from Raelin Goold

SEC softball is widely considered the deepest conference in the sport, and opening weekend will give us our first real look at the national championship contenders. Subscribe to Out of Left Field for interviews with the biggest players in softball and weekly breakdowns of the biggest storylines in the sport.

Emma Lemley — Virginia Tech softball legend and AUSL Golden Ticket history maker — joins Out of Left Field for a deep dive into her journey from Forest, Virginia to professional softball. In this full interview, Emma Lemley opens up about her time at Virginia Tech, becoming the first player to receive an AUSL college Golden Ticket, navigating pressure at the highest level of college softball, and transitioning into professional softball with Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL). We break down: • Emma Lemley’s Virginia Tech softball career and legacy
• The behind-the-scenes story of her AUSL Golden Ticket moment
• Playing for the Blaze and entering pro softball
• The illegal pitch controversy and handling social media criticism
• Overcoming the yips as a college pitcher
• Mental health in college softball and professional sports
• Mindfulness routines, breath work, and athlete mindset training
• Competing under pressure on ESPN and national stages
• Growing the game of women’s sports and pro softball
• Finding your “why” as an athlete Emma Lemley’s story is one of resilience, self-awareness, and evolution — from learning pitching alongside her dad to becoming one of the faces of the next era of professional softball. If you’re a softball player, coach, parent, or fan of Virginia Tech softball, AUSL, or women’s sports growth, this episode is packed with insight into what it really takes to succeed at the elite level. Subscribe for more in-depth interviews with AUSL athletes, college softball stars, and leaders shaping the future of women’s professional sports. #EmmaLemley #VirginiaTechSoftball #AUSL #ProSoftball #CollegeSoftball #AthletesUnlimited #SoftballPodcast #WomenInSports #Pitching #MentalHealthInSports

Taryne Mowatt-McKinney has done it all in college softball. In this episode of Out of Left Field, Abby Alonzo sits down with 2x Women’s College World Series champion and Arizona softball legend Taryne Mowatt-McKinney to talk about her journey from dominant pitcher to Division I pitching coach and AUSL coach. Mowatt-McKinney won back-to-back Women’s College World Series titles with Arizona (2006, 2007), holds WCWS pitching records for wins and strikeouts, and was named the 2007 Honda Award winner for softball. She went on to play professionally in the NPF before transitioning into coaching — including stops at Cal Baptist and now Mississippi State softball. Now, she’s headed to the AUSL this summer with the Chicago Bandits, coaching elite professional pitchers like Taylor McQuillin, Lexi Kilfoyle, and Kat Sandercock. In this conversation, we dive into: • Winning the Women’s College World Series at Arizona
• Playing behind Olympic pitcher Alicia Hollowell
• The reality of failure in softball and pitching development
• Coaching her own sister at Cal Baptist
• Balancing identity outside of sports
• Raising a son around elite women athletes
• Mississippi State softball pitching staff development
• What excites her most about coaching in the AUSL
• The growth of professional softball and viewership records This episode is about more than wins and records — it’s about development, identity, leadership, and growing the game of softball at every level. If you love college softball, the Women’s College World Series, the AUSL, Mississippi State softball, Arizona softball history, or pitching development — this one is for you. 🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with elite softball players, coaches, and leaders in the game. Follow Out of Left Field:
Instagram: @OLFMedia
Host: Abby Alonzo #Softball #CollegeSoftball #WCWS #AUSL #MississippiStateSoftball #ArizonaSoftball

LSU Softball pitcher Jayden Heavener made history in her college debut — throwing a PERFECT GAME with 13 strikeouts in her first appearance in the circle for the Tigers. In this episode of Out of Left Field, host Abby Alonzo sits down with the Pace, Florida native and former Gatorade Player of the Year to talk about:
• Throwing a perfect game in her LSU debut
• The mindset behind competing at the highest level of college softball
• Learning from teammates like Sydney Berzon
• Competing in the SEC as a freshman
• Staying confident while being completely different from other pitchers
• What young softball players need to hear about failure
• The sacrifices her parents made to get her here

Jayden opens up about leadership, family, mental toughness, and what it means to wear LSU across her chest. From Pace High School to Tiger Park, this is the story behind one of the most exciting young arms in NCAA softball. If you're a softball player, pitcher, parent, or LSU fan — this one is for you. 

Make sure to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more LSU Softball interviews, SEC coverage, and in-depth conversations from Out of Left Field.
#LSUSoftball #JaydenHeavener #CollegeSoftball #NCAASoftball #SECSoftball #SoftballPitcher #LSUTigers #SoftballInterview #WomensSports #OutOfLeftField

Tori Edwards is one of the most decorated players in college softball and an asset for LSU Softball. The 2025 SEC Freshman of the Year joins host Abby Alonzo to talk about her journey to Baton Rouge, the pressure and pride that come with wearing purple and gold, and the personal growth that’s shaped her both on and off the field. From confidence and mindset to team chemistry and expectations for the upcoming season, Tori gives an honest look at what it’s really like inside an elite SEC program. This conversation goes beyond box scores and highlight reels — it’s about identity, trust, preparation, and embracing your role within a championship culture. In this episode, we talk about: Tori Edwards’ path to LSU Softball What playing in the SEC truly demands Confidence, consistency, and growth as an athlete The culture inside LSU softball Expectations and goals for the season ahead Life beyond the field and staying grounded 🎧 New episodes of Out of Left Field drop weekly, featuring college and pro softball players, coaches, and voices growing the game. 👉 Subscribe for more softball interviews, behind-the-scenes conversations, and stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

Today on Out of Left Field, Abby Alonzo sits down with Savanna Collins — one of the leading storytellers and on-camera reporters covering the AUSL (Athletes Unlimited Softball League). This episode is a must-watch if you love pro softball, care about growing women’s sports, or want a real look at what it takes to build a career in sports media. Savanna shares her journey from being a coach’s kid in Florida, to discovering broadcasting as a teenager, to covering pro softball with the Pride in the NPF, and eventually “banging down the door” to work for Athletes Unlimited — where she’s now entering her sixth season and has seen the league evolve into what AUSL is becoming. We also get into what’s happening behind the scenes of softball’s growth: why having the right people in the room matters, the impact of names like Jennie Finch, Lisa Fernandez, Kat Osterman, Natasha Watley, and why commissioner Kim Ng has been a true game-changer — plus how the MLB partnership is shifting what’s possible for the sport. Savanna breaks down the craft too: how she prepares, why trust with athletes is everything, how stories get built (sometimes from two-hour coffee shop conversations), and what she’s learned from failures — including why she’s stepping into play-by-play now and encouraging more women to do the same. 🔥 Topics include: How Savanna got started in sports broadcasting Why she chose softball and why she stayed AU ➝ AUSL: what’s different and what’s driving the momentum Kim Ng’s leadership and the power of legitimacy Trust, vulnerability, and telling athletes’ stories the right way Practical advice for women breaking into sports media The personalities in pro softball and why women’s sports hits different What she wants to see in AUSL Year 2 (2026): packed city crowds + real community roots 📍Follow Savanna: @savvyco 📰 Read AUSL features: AUSL.com #AUSL #Softball #AthletesUnlimited #WomensSports #SportsMedia #OutOfLeftField #AbbyAlonzo