Is there any prospects so far? I haven't seen a ball out of the
Miss John John lamer. Crushed well oh yeah
oh yeah, that was a big kicker from halftime challenge or something. They made him on the team. That's cool.
All right. floor is yours coach.
Okay. Midweek when I mean those sometimes are the absolute toughest games but I'm happy we came away with a win I thought Lilly, Lilly through outstanding um had great command of the strike zone. We threw everything at him. We threw rise, we threw curve. She had great changeup. So really happy to see the commands especially someone who hasn't had a lot of pitching time. hasn't had a lot of starts. What does that our third start, but we've had so really great to see out of her. And then offensively, you know, I see us working and that's the whole key like I've talked up here about getting on time and working different speeds and I could really see a lot of intent and us working on it today. You know, Kaylee Ling are capitalizing and I felt like every pitch that she saw on that at bat, she was getting better and on time, and that's really the thing that we have to do and recognize those things and not get caught up. In how many hits or how many runs just the process that we have to go through.
Coach another say for Taylor Pinel she's the national leader and saves this year for her to as a sophomore step into that role and just totally thrive there. How awesome has it been for you and for her to have that accolade and are like it right now for her? I mean, how crazy is that for you? It's
so great to have someone like that on staff that that embrace that role that want to be in that situation that thrive in that environment when she came up to me before the game and she said I have a new goal because her first goal was to leave the country and saves. And then just to focus on the process to give herself that opportunity. The second she said I want to break the career or the safe record and I believe it's 15. So I don't know if that can be done this year because that'd be a lot of opportunities that she would be in the same role. And you have to have the run differential obviously. But um, for someone to embrace that role. It's rare. It's really really rare to be in that she's had
rep since last year and you saw some signs out of her last year that she would might be able to step into that role. But what really changed over this past offseason that you saw her really start to grow into that role and become one of the top savers in the SEC if not the best.
Her realizing that she will go in kind of like the mindset like to have a mindset of I could pitch in every single game. I could win every single game for my team and to be ready to be called upon in those moments. So it's that continuous mindset that's given her this opportunity. So every game she's getting game ready regardless of what the score is, regardless of situation. She goes through the same exact routine from the fifth inning on and she's very, very disciplined in what her routine is and going in the bullpen and getting stretched and getting loose and then when she's called upon like she's ready to go. Did
you think like in a million years that she would miss the Dancing Queen question, because I feel like that's just it's
kind of embarrassing, right? Yeah. I said I feel like you guys didn't go or any high school or junior high school proms or dances. Like that's obviously the number one song that's played at these dances. So, but again, like they grew up during COVID They didn't have dances. I don't know but yeah, she's gotta get better with that. Save over the
two weeks ago, I can see him out to now what are some of the biggest improvements you saw
on the internet? Like you can't take things for granted. Like you can't come out here and think you're just going to win because you're Mozilla and that's the biggest thing and it's and it's realizing and it was the SIBO and it was the Northeast trip and it's the UMKC and now it's the SIUE like those players that are on those teams dream of being Mizzou tigers, so they come here with a little different edge to try to prove something that either I made a recruiting mistake or they deserve to be in our dugout. So they're going to have that extra fight and that extra energy and we have to have more than that, but we can't assume we're just going to win because we are Masoom so we have to have more intentful way through because again the game doesn't care. The game doesn't care who your
coach obviously you run with Lily martial arts me Lily wouldn't scares me to start this game just what went into that decision and what do you like seeing from her before the game to lead to that confidence?
You know, she's had she's had some really, really good bullpen sessions and she threw really well against Arkansas when she wins the game and the same thing when she went out against Tennessee and knowing that we should score runs against SIUE because they're pitching to give her a little bit of cushion and putting her in a situation that I know she can be successful that doesn't is not as much pressure as an SEC opponent. And she responded she did extremely well
in her three starts so far this year. She's registered six plus strikeouts and all three of them just what have you liked from her approach and her movement to be able to get those swings and misses or leave batters just starstruck
So Lily has been not playing competitively for two years. She was injured her senior in high schools he redshirted last year where she was here. So it's going to take a while to get back to some of that that competitiveness and games and also streetwise like you've been out for playing competitively for two years. So giving her a little bit of grace and growth to get her those opportunities. But I can tell you that the specific day in practice that she was thrown in the bullpen and she was hovering around 5961 And then we had a radar gun set up that she could see the display and I was like, Hey, give it up to 62 the next pitch she pushed a little bit harder. 62 And I'm like okay, how was 6464 next pitch two pitches later. 68 And I'm like Lily, you've been throwing 59 four pitches ago and now you're throwing 68 And it's just her understanding the force that you put into the ground to generate the power. So then now she's consistently 68 She's topped out at 72 by getting on it, and did that overnight only understanding how your body works. And for her to get that velocity and that power just shows you the potential that she has. Now she has to be able to control it and control her body working out forcefully. But that just shows you what she's able to do and how powerful she potentially can be. But she's she's really a freshman. So freshmen are going to do freshman things and have a little inconsistency here there.
Lily did talk about in what she was talking to us about how much the dugout and the players on the field helped her a lot today from what you saw. How did those two enemies helped her a lot today?
Yeah, I think having Crenshaw in the dugout also so you have your starting catcher who has a day off to be able to communicate to her pitchers from a different perspective and really give feedback in between innings which Crenshaw wouldn't be able to do if she was in the lineup. So that's extremely helpful. And then this pitching staff that we have is so unbelievably close. They feed off of each other, they provide each other feedback so having six other kids in the dugout that truly care and want to see Lily be successful, gives Lily that boost of confidence that she knows that her teammates have her back.
Coach, how many of these girls is how many these girls are in their final year eligibility right now? Five, five. So who are the five
Honnold Laird, do they do they no longer do they not? What do they not have COVID years? They were not part of the COVID? Is that okay? Your 2020 They were freshmen in 2021 Who are the five Honl Laird Gallagher Phillips Krings
so you look at those those five you have, you know, those five have great production, most of the most of them have great production this lineup but this lineup so young, a lot of them are freshman redshirt sophomore sophomores. I mean, you look at kind of that and how they're kind of fitting into those roles and having high production early. Have you seen them kind of start to come into their roles that youth of this team? And kind of lead to where you all are right now?
You know, and you're right with players like Abby hay and Stefan Yeah. It's like you can you're you're more patient with them. I'm more patient with them as a coach because again, like there's no expectations from them, like when they produce it's an added bonus. And they have so much support from their teammates, and every single at bat that they get even Walker today. And Wilson I put into his Chester even putting Chester in every single at bat that they get is preparing them for their future. So it's trying to get them as many opportunities as they can because the more at bats and the more pitching they see the better. They're going to be long run and then when they come in next year and they don't have those seniors. It's really going to be their team.
You mentioned Stefania Abra Scotto. She's coming off SEC Freshman of the Week, mostly due to her hitting accolades but you throw it behind the dish there. Obviously worked a pretty good game with Lilly there just what have you seen from her bolt defensively and offensively, especially against SIUE Yeah,
and find yours a little different than Crenshaw. Vanya was a natural catcher has caught her entire life. So she has a little different understanding of the game than a converted shortstop to be a catcher. She understands how to manipulate the ball a little bit more behind the play. She's an unbelievable receiver. And it's just giving her more repetition back there to be comfortable and not be so jumpy because she is really excited when she's out there. Sometimes she jumps up a little bit too soon. But I mean, she handled really extremely well. I think she got a lot of calls. I think there were probably some borderline calls that could have gone either way and I think she did a real good job manipulating that ball to be able to get Lily ahead and control that strike zone.
So she ideally the catcher next year and then Crenshaw booster shorters, you
know, and I never I never predetermine that. I'm always constantly going, okay, if Crenshaw goes down who's here? if Stefan your beats out Crenshaw, where does Crenshaw go if Crenshaw beats out, Stefan, yo, where's Stefan? You go. so it's like, I'm always kind of building that depth. so that we never have it down here. So it's not like if we lose a player, then all of a sudden it's a rebuilding year like I don't believe in rebuilding years. So if So find your beats out Crenshaw, I know Crenshaw is an unbelievable athlete she can go play.
We all hadn't really been pulling balls on, especially on with two strikes and two outs. Yeah. What do you think, like allowed her to square one off, especially considering the situation and the captain
pulling over the fence, you know, and something that she and I were working on yesterday and it was hitting was to feel the rhythm. Like when you're on time, what do you feel in your body, and she needs to feel that her front foots getting down as her backsides going and if it's an inside pitch, then the front foot needs to get down to her backside and get the ball out here. And I can see as she was working that that at bat that she was working that timing that allowed her to be able to handle that inside pitch.
You talked about your midfielders infielders earlier Maddy Gallagher had some very good plays at second a nice pick, play and eye spinning play just what have you seen from her defensively and her ability to do just commit especially out there in the field make sure nothing's getting
by in what's Gallagher does really well and Lear does this as well but it was exposed to a Gallagher she can read the swing so she can see based on the bat angle and she starts to lean before there's even contact based on how that bat angle is coming into the zone to give her that advantage to get into the three four hole and make an unbelievable play and and be up the middle on one of those plays because the barrel came out a little bit early on an outside pitch like those are the things you really can't teach. So that's showing me that she's really paying attention to the contact zone and is really reading what the swing is doing.
We've seen some pitchers come through here particularly as like Kelly Lynch and LSU. She actually got to hit a lot in that series and I've been kind of wondering, have you had any pitchers come through here?
Has things gone in your ear because she's been begging for an at bat. She is She she actually said you asked if she could sign up for the homerun Derby she last year she had wanted to hit and she had asked if she could work to to have an opportunity to be in the lineup. He said yeah, absolutely. So all fall long. She did individuals and she trained until it was time to run the bases and I'm like hey Krings we don't have crews to runners and college softball. And then she was like, okay, I'm good coach like I don't need to do this anymore. But the thing is like to be able to do both. Like you have to take care of your body. You have to be able to balance the time, I can still only get 20 hours regardless of how many positions you play. So obviously with cranes, the priority is pitching that we were going to take away our pitching time to work on offense and plus we had enough hitters in our lineup that we didn't really need to rely on. Like if you're gonna be a pitcher that hits you've ever been in the top five of the lineup, like you don't need to need whole pitch ready.
You talk about that base running ability. One player I don't think we've talked about all clarity Halo comes in is that pinch runner able to score from first just you set her home with absolute confidence. Just what do you think Claire has been able to provide for this team with her speed and just
the ability to mix it up. Yeah, and she's one of those that she really works at it in practice, like she knows what her role is her and Blackson as well. They know their role is they know kind of like put out like personnel can get in every single game and win the game for us. Lacson and Kanalen can get in the game every single game and win the game for us and you know if getting that extra run that that safety run late in the game is huge. You know whenever it's only to one person on I'm nervous that you have to tie in right off the bat so getting that extra run was absolutely huge. But Claire had great read there was no hesitation whatsoever. It's like as soon as that ball potentially she was scoring.
Coach you talked earlier about different players getting navies chant Chanteys came in from come forth from my after one on the at bat just wondering what
went into that decision. Oh my she needs some more baths you know in the same with a Chester and the same with Walker is like I'm trying to get some kids some more baths because I know down the stretch that we're going to need them. And also, you know when I'm evaluating hitters, I don't look at the result. I look at how do they get that results and I didn't really like my as approach and her first at bat so why not give Shawn decent opportunity and shanties has been doing
really well in practice as well. Good. It's got three and Athens this weekend. Hey, kind of going to make sure that they're prepared for that and going into that environment. I mean, what's it gonna be like for y'all and what are you looking to accomplish?
So, one, if we're not prepared at this point, then I really haven't done a very good job. The last thing I tell my team before the first game we play in February is that there isn't anything that any team can do that we're not prepared for it because the preparation happens in the fall and all during January in the early part. of February. It's now just educating them on. This is what Georgia has. They have some kids that like to bond, they have some speed, they have a lot of power. So we got to make sure that we're keeping them off balance and this is how we're going to do it. The biggest thing that they have to be prepared for because we have not played in Georgia since our seniors freshman year. And that was during COVID. So there was 30% capacity the last time we were there, and it was a loud environment with 30% capacity. So it's preparing them that it's going to be loud. They're very intense. We have to stay focused. We have to communicate we have to communicate louder and often so those types of things which will be different than playing in here or playing in
other atmosphere.
Kaley said something about that about the meeting. Everybody needed to come in and have great energy and be loud. Yeah, that absolutely because it is a very, very loud environment. It's an elevated seating similar to Tennessee but it's elevated and it's very steep. So it feels like they're right on top of the infield. They have a new facility left field but it used to be surrounded by trees. So you almost felt like you were in a in a dome like in a bubble that you were sunk in because everything else was so high on top of you. But it's loud. It's a loud environment.
They're intense. Tennessee and Georgia both came into the season ranked in that top five Tennessee kind of slumped early came back up with Georgia kind of you know, fell off a little bit. They're right on the edge of the top 10. Now what's kind of gone on for them, like when you look at their results and how they compete in the SEC, it's not as good as some of the top teams but what do they have the like show that they can defeat
really good. I mean, they have the offense they have they have tremendous power. I think they might lead the SEC and homeruns Yes. Um, so again, like when you you have a team that has that much power, they're never out of a ballgame. So they have that confidence and they're always going to play with that confidence. So also knowing that they're an extremely strong hitting team, it's let's try to get them to chase borderline pitches, because they want to hit Like that's how they know that they're gonna get themselves back in the ballgame. So let's get them to swing at some balls and some off speed stuff so they don't have an opportunity to hit it hard.
Coach you're talking about different visiting environments. But if we could shift back to here, no attendance records were sent last week and you had a bunch of students out here from the Home Run Derby. What does that say to you about the way the community is coming around the team and how does
that affect? You know, and you could feel it in the seventh inning like when everybody's standing up and applauding and they're in the moment. It's like the buzz is there like everybody knows that there's a game going on and they play a role in the success of the team and they're invested in every single swing and every single at bat. You can feel it we can feel it. Part of what we educated the team on this past weekend was let's get the crowd on our side from the first step back from the first inning and get them going because we get them going. Then it's going to carry throughout rather than waiting for them to get going because of what the results are. Let's get the energy going from the beginning and I'm excited for next week and if we're going to look ahead to Mississippi State, because there's going to be the Monday night series. It's going to be a packed environment as well. It's going to be SR weekend. And I believe we also have the cheerleaders coming out and Truman so we're going to have a little different level of atmosphere going on to find a high person. I have the cheerleaders that are gonna be the height people and they're gonna be some on the berm and there's gonna be some in the stands to get the mid going back and forth. Yes, so it's gonna be pretty cool. Good. Yes. Awesome.
