Out of Left Field

17/08/2026

Every young pitcher wants to know the secret. Hope Trautwein-Valdespino’s answer has two parts.

One: dive into the hard parts of the game. Not around them — into them. That’s where you grow the most, and the mental tools you build there set you up for life, not just softball.

Two: command the field. You’re the only person on it with the ball, and your team looks to you every single pitch. The greats — Monica Abbott, Jennie Finch, Rachel Garcia, NiJaree Canady — all have that presence in common.

Full episode is live on YouTube and anywhere you get your podcasts — link in bio.

This episode is presented by Solaro | Performance Eyewear 🕶️

13/08/2026

Hope Trautwein-Valdespino gets stopped in the grocery store in Kansas City. Not for an autograph — just to say thank you for being here.

That’s the era of softball the ThePSLOfficial Pitcher of the Year is helping build with the The KC Diamonds

And she treats every bit of it as a duty — because she was once the Little Leaguer getting waved onto the field at Dell Diamond, and somebody gave that moment to her first.

We talked about faith, family, the bullpens her husband catches (his thumb will never be the same), the Oklahoma program that changed her life when she was ready to walk away, and what she still tells young pitchers: dive into the hard parts. That’s where you grow.

Full episode presented by Solaro | Performance Eyewear is live on YouTube and anywhere you get your podcasts — link in bio.

13/08/2026

Some records get broken. This one might be untouchable.

On April 11, 2021, Hope Trautwein-Valdespino faced 21 batters and struck out every single one — the first perfect game in NCAA Division I history where no ball ever touched the field. Ask her about it and she'll tell you, with a completely straight face: "It really wasn't me."

We sat down in Kansas City to talk about the game that made history, the Oklahoma program that changed her life when she was ready to hang up her cleats, bullpens with her husband (his thumb has seen things), and what it's like when strangers thank you in the grocery store for bringing pro softball to their city.

Full episode presented by Solaro Shades is live on YouTube and anywhere you get your podcasts —

On April 11, 2021, Hope Trautwein-Valdespino did something no one i...

12/08/2026

Sierra Sacco wears No. 12 as a pro to remind herself to play for the little girl she used to be🥹

If your number serves as a reminder, Triple Crown Jewelry is the best way to keep it close

12/08/2026

The All-Star Cup doesn’t have its reigning champion this year. That doesn’t change what Kayla Kowalik built there — or how perfectly she explains what makes it special.

Her rookie year, the format scared her off. Then she gave it a chance, and the fear flipped into her favorite question in softball: who do I want to learn from this week?

New pitchers, new catchers, new connections she never would have made — the thing that intimidated her became the thing she loves most about it.

Nobody’s articulated the athlete experience of the Cup better. And nobody set the bar higher — 1,590 points, a .486 average, and the 2025 title.

Full episode presented by Triple Crown Jewelry is live on YouTube and anywhere you get your podcasts — link in bio.

11/08/2026

Kayla Kowalik owns Kentucky’s record book — all-time leader in hits, triples, runs, and total bases. Ask about her legacy, and none of that comes up.

“I would hope it was one that was energetic and happy... I hope anyone who ever watched me play knew how much I loved that state. I bled blue.”

And her advice for every recruit trying to pick a school: don’t chase the logo. Find the place that will grow you, invest in you, and care about you as a person. That’s what she found in Lexington — and she says it’s why she’s the player she is now.

Full episode presented by Triple Crown Jewelry is live on YouTube and anywhere you get your podcasts — link in bio.

10/08/2026

Comparison is human. Every athlete feels it — teammates, opponents, social media, all of it. Even the best in the world.

Kayla Kowalik grew up with the ultimate comparison built in: a twin sister in the same sport. Her way through it became the foundation of everything she’s done since: recenter on who you are. You have your skills. There’s space for you to do your thing.

“You’re going to go farther being you than you are trying to be somebody else.”

Full episode presented by Triple Crown Jewelry is live on YouTube and anywhere you get your podcasts — link in bio.

06/08/2026

Kayla Kowalik and her twin sister Gabbie shared everything growing up — a room, a closet, teammates, a sport. Then it came time to be different people, and that turned out to be the hardest and best thing that ever happened to her.

While Gabbie hit home runs, Kayla was so overmatched as a righty that she started over from the left side of the plate — sitting in a cage learning to swing again from scratch. "I'm just a slapper and a catcher," she remembers thinking. That slapper became Kentucky's all-time leader in hits, triples, runs, and total bases, a First Team All-American, and the reigning All-Star Cup champion.

Her message for every athlete who's ever compared themselves to someone else: you're going to go farther being you than trying to be somebody else.

Full episode presented by Triple Crown Jewelry is live on YouTube and anywhere you get your podcasts:

This episode was recorded in Durham during All-Star Cup weekend, be...

05/08/2026

This one hits a little different.

Jersey numbers often hold the memories of people we love and allow us to keep a small piece of them with us while we compete.

Jessica Warren thank you for sharing your story with us. We’re so happy to be a small part of you being able to remember your dad.

If you wear a number that honors someone you love, Triple Crown Jewelry is the sweetest way to wear it.

05/08/2026

When you stop learning, you die.

It’s a saying from Carley Hoover’s coach in Japan, and it might be the best answer to “how long will you play?” we’ve ever heard.

Not until a certain age. Not until the body gives out. Until there’s nothing left to figure out.

The best careers aren’t fueled by trophies — they’re fueled by curiosity. A new grip. A new pitch. A new lesson every single day.

The moment you think you’ve got it all figured out is the moment it starts slipping.

Episode presented by Triple Crown Jewelry is live on YouTube and anywhere you get your podcasts — link in bio.