Wonder if weather will allow for everything to get in?
Patty Gasso
Response to first loss?
Good. Before we even started the season, I prefaced it by saying we are going to lose games. It's a learning experience. It's amazing. When we lose, everything starts to open up and all the things that we get away with are now brought to everybody's attention. They do it themselves. They talk about how to get better and how we need to change and so forth. Some good things came from it. I'm anxious. There's a different kind of energy. And there's just that lingering pressure that is on. There's -sometimes - the overwhelming amount of people that want autographs and are there. It gets smothering. That's no excuse. But it's just constantly on your guard and that's something that we have to get used to. Our practices have been good, our adjustments have been good, our energy has been very good. We walked away knowing exactly what we needed to do these last two days, which we did. I'm anxious to see it play out again. We came back and we worked specifically on some things offensively, with our swing and with our timing.
Jocelyn Erickson?
She's a good hitter. She can change the game. She definitely has a good, strong lefty swing and has a good feel for the ball and things like that. As we get further on and elite pitching, she's going to see it look a little bit different. A lot of our hitters felt that against Baylor. But we also felt it in the first week. In the first weekend, we faced some good pitching. The schedule is tough. I'm just telling you don't you dare look at your numbers. There's nothing to look at there. Because you can't even compare our schedule to what it was last year. Things are just different. The road is different and the grind is different and the learning curve has got to be fast. That's what we're trying to do.
More Jocelyn?
Her size and her strength and the fact that she was capable of being a good catcher, she could play first ... she has a really good arm. And she played on a good travel ball team that I knew that she was going to get better with. All of those things. I knew that she would find a place eventually. I wasn't sure she would be ready for this level of pitching but she's proved me wrong thus far.
Jordy?
I thought it was good. I thought it was just a little more settled, a little more Jordy-like. I think everybody is looking for like a dominant, where’s Jordy? Any freshman that has a great year, they go into their sophomore year, and it’s different. Who knows what they’re thinking? Are they trying to match it? Jocelyn Alo. Some of my greatest players have gone through trying to find themselves their sophomore season. Jordy is making really good progress. I thought she threw really well. Threw well enough against Baylor for a win. It was just that one untimely hit that cleared the bases for them. I think she’s on the right path.
Nicole May strategery?
Physically, she feels good. I know her knee was nagging her a bit last year. She looks so much healthy, confident and in control We were going to throw Nicole. I really wanted – this is my way of thinking. I know we’re going to see Baylor three more times. Let us try to get Jordy on the mound and let her continue to work on things. Not like, oh gosh, what if we lose? I’m going in there expecting to win. Right now, I think Jordy needs more innings to fine tune some things more than anybody else. Nicole May is still in the driver seat and doing really well. Everything about her is confident, and I know she’ll get the job done. You’ll see Nicole May a lot this weekend.
This tournament will allow to see progress b/c it’ll test ya?
It’s the journey, the process. We could end up losing two or three times this weekend, and we’re still going to be OK. We play over 60 games. I don’t want them to feel that kind of pressure. I want them to learn how to play free and confident and not be worried about the outcomes. Because that’s the problem because that’s when the problems come in when you’re afraid. Oh my gosh, they’re up by four and it’s already the fourth inning, oh my goodness. Just continue to stay on track with how we do things. That’s what’s important is that we don’t change what we’re doing because what we’re doing is usually good enough. So there’s no panic. We don’t 'have to' until we get down to the very end, and if you don’t then you’re going home. It’s just staying with that mindset that we have. Just staying calm and continuing to grow and improve and listen and learn.
Kinzie Hansen returning?
She is, yeah. I think you’ll see her this weekend a bit. Not catching every game, but you’ll see her in a uniform and likely on the field.
A lot of players have spent time at shortstop. Is there something about players that play shortstop that you like?
“I do. Natural leaders. To me, a shortstop — I could put Grace Lyons at third, at second, at first, any place in the outfield. Likely not on the mound, but could probably catch. So to me, shortstops stand out. You’ve got to have a strong arm. Gotta have good range. And if you have all of that, you can pretty much play any position. It’s interesting because about every position that you look at — even Jayda Coleman was a shortstop — but Brito, I think even Torres was a shortstop. Shortstops, to me, can do just about anything.”
Swiss army type of player that you find there that has the mental and physical abilities?
Yea, I just believe you have to be a leader. I don’t think of Grace Lyons as very vocal vocal, but her play gets her instant respect and I think that’s what the shortstop position — there’s three positions — catcher, shortstop, centerfield — but shortstops are really the captain and the leader of the infield, for the most part. They’re just always pretty elite athletes.”
Even if you had someone you knew would be your shortstop, do you still go after players that have spent time at shortstop?
When they get here, they don’t necessarily like it. But I never promise anything. ‘You will be our starting shortstop.’ Because I can’t guarantee anything. You know what? When they get to college, they just want to play. They don’t care where they play. They just want to get in the lineup.
Jayda Coleman’s a good example of someone — the question kept (coming), ‘Are you gonna give me a chance?’ And you put her next to Grace Lyons, and she goes like, ‘I’ll try centerfield.’ Then she’s able to rob home runs and it’s like the greatest position of all time. So they get to recognize at college level what they have to be, and what you have to be to play short in college. You have to be pretty elite. And if you’re not, the ball usually finds you pretty easily. I have a lot of people up for it next year.
Is this weekend another test for players still adjusting to playing at this program?
It’s a little bit of both, it’s definitely going to be a test, because we’ve got really good competition. We’re going to have to play well, pitch well and hit well, but they understand that there’s a lot of growth that needs to happen. This program might seem like it has a lot of returners, which it does, but there were some pretty significant players that we lost and I think one that was just so in charge as a leader was Lindsey Elam. I don’t know if you can build or make natural leaders. It’s kind of a committee of athletes this year that are trying to help in that place and we’re feeling that out, but Grace Lyons is the one we depend on.
We all understand that this is a journey. It’s just a journey and it’s so much different than it was last year — I’ll tell you that already. But this team is good. Are they out hitting 100 home runs right now? No. But we’ve been in positions where they understand — we’re facing drop-ball pitchers, the fences are further, the wind is coming in — It’s not about the home runs, it’s about finding ways to string things together and learn from it.
We’re not looking at last year, it’s so much different, it really is. In many ways it could be better, but it’s still just learning the system offensively, JT’s style, my style. We’ve played against each other, that’s one thing. Now we’re in one dugout and it’s just different and they’re just trying to understand it, learn it, all of that. I’m not sitting in front of you worried at all. I’m more than anything, very excited about the future and the direction we’re headed.”
Having UCLA, Utah in the field?
Yeah, they’re tough. They’re tough. Utah’s very good. Good pitching. An average hitting coach there. That might be a problem for them. (Laughs) I’m kidding. I’m kidding.
Fullerton just beat Tennessee. I mean, there’s good competition up and down, and what I’m really going to sit back and pay attention to is the camaraderie and the fight of our team. Against Baylor, it was kind of a ho-hum kind of attitude that is just unlike us. I’m glad we got to see what that looked like, but we’ve had some powwows, this team has figured some things out, they’re ready to go into Palm Springs with a new approach. Just a little more feisty. They use the words like emptying the gas tank out there and just letting it all flow and go. So that’s what I’m anxious to see.
Brito?
She’s gritty. I really have been impressed with her in the fall and in the spring thus far where she is just really excelling at a craft. She has really turned into a smart hitter. Understands what she wants to swing at. Timely hitter. Clutch hitter. And now she’s locking it in in the middle of the lineup. A good example of what extra work in the indoor looks like. She puts in the time, and it’s paying off.
Hannah Coor OK?
No, she is not, so I might as well … She is going to take a medical. She has some back issues that is going to cause surgery. She’s been in constant pain, and it’s hard to watch an athlete in that space. So first of March, that will happen, and we’re not expecting her to be back. I mean, she could potentially towards the end of the season, but I would rather save that year for her.
Patty Gasso
Response to first loss?
Good. Before we even started the season, I prefaced it by saying we are going to lose games. It's a learning experience. It's amazing. When we lose, everything starts to open up and all the things that we get away with are now brought to everybody's attention. They do it themselves. They talk about how to get better and how we need to change and so forth. Some good things came from it. I'm anxious. There's a different kind of energy. And there's just that lingering pressure that is on. There's -sometimes - the overwhelming amount of people that want autographs and are there. It gets smothering. That's no excuse. But it's just constantly on your guard and that's something that we have to get used to. Our practices have been good, our adjustments have been good, our energy has been very good. We walked away knowing exactly what we needed to do these last two days, which we did. I'm anxious to see it play out again. We came back and we worked specifically on some things offensively, with our swing and with our timing.
Jocelyn Erickson?
She's a good hitter. She can change the game. She definitely has a good, strong lefty swing and has a good feel for the ball and things like that. As we get further on and elite pitching, she's going to see it look a little bit different. A lot of our hitters felt that against Baylor. But we also felt it in the first week. In the first weekend, we faced some good pitching. The schedule is tough. I'm just telling you don't you dare look at your numbers. There's nothing to look at there. Because you can't even compare our schedule to what it was last year. Things are just different. The road is different and the grind is different and the learning curve has got to be fast. That's what we're trying to do.
More Jocelyn?
Her size and her strength and the fact that she was capable of being a good catcher, she could play first ... she has a really good arm. And she played on a good travel ball team that I knew that she was going to get better with. All of those things. I knew that she would find a place eventually. I wasn't sure she would be ready for this level of pitching but she's proved me wrong thus far.
Jordy?
I thought it was good. I thought it was just a little more settled, a little more Jordy-like. I think everybody is looking for like a dominant, where’s Jordy? Any freshman that has a great year, they go into their sophomore year, and it’s different. Who knows what they’re thinking? Are they trying to match it? Jocelyn Alo. Some of my greatest players have gone through trying to find themselves their sophomore season. Jordy is making really good progress. I thought she threw really well. Threw well enough against Baylor for a win. It was just that one untimely hit that cleared the bases for them. I think she’s on the right path.
Nicole May strategery?
Physically, she feels good. I know her knee was nagging her a bit last year. She looks so much healthy, confident and in control We were going to throw Nicole. I really wanted – this is my way of thinking. I know we’re going to see Baylor three more times. Let us try to get Jordy on the mound and let her continue to work on things. Not like, oh gosh, what if we lose? I’m going in there expecting to win. Right now, I think Jordy needs more innings to fine tune some things more than anybody else. Nicole May is still in the driver seat and doing really well. Everything about her is confident, and I know she’ll get the job done. You’ll see Nicole May a lot this weekend.
This tournament will allow to see progress b/c it’ll test ya?
It’s the journey, the process. We could end up losing two or three times this weekend, and we’re still going to be OK. We play over 60 games. I don’t want them to feel that kind of pressure. I want them to learn how to play free and confident and not be worried about the outcomes. Because that’s the problem because that’s when the problems come in when you’re afraid. Oh my gosh, they’re up by four and it’s already the fourth inning, oh my goodness. Just continue to stay on track with how we do things. That’s what’s important is that we don’t change what we’re doing because what we’re doing is usually good enough. So there’s no panic. We don’t 'have to' until we get down to the very end, and if you don’t then you’re going home. It’s just staying with that mindset that we have. Just staying calm and continuing to grow and improve and listen and learn.
Kinzie Hansen returning?
She is, yeah. I think you’ll see her this weekend a bit. Not catching every game, but you’ll see her in a uniform and likely on the field.
A lot of players have spent time at shortstop. Is there something about players that play shortstop that you like?
“I do. Natural leaders. To me, a shortstop — I could put Grace Lyons at third, at second, at first, any place in the outfield. Likely not on the mound, but could probably catch. So to me, shortstops stand out. You’ve got to have a strong arm. Gotta have good range. And if you have all of that, you can pretty much play any position. It’s interesting because about every position that you look at — even Jayda Coleman was a shortstop — but Brito, I think even Torres was a shortstop. Shortstops, to me, can do just about anything.”
Swiss army type of player that you find there that has the mental and physical abilities?
Yea, I just believe you have to be a leader. I don’t think of Grace Lyons as very vocal vocal, but her play gets her instant respect and I think that’s what the shortstop position — there’s three positions — catcher, shortstop, centerfield — but shortstops are really the captain and the leader of the infield, for the most part. They’re just always pretty elite athletes.”
Even if you had someone you knew would be your shortstop, do you still go after players that have spent time at shortstop?
When they get here, they don’t necessarily like it. But I never promise anything. ‘You will be our starting shortstop.’ Because I can’t guarantee anything. You know what? When they get to college, they just want to play. They don’t care where they play. They just want to get in the lineup.
Jayda Coleman’s a good example of someone — the question kept (coming), ‘Are you gonna give me a chance?’ And you put her next to Grace Lyons, and she goes like, ‘I’ll try centerfield.’ Then she’s able to rob home runs and it’s like the greatest position of all time. So they get to recognize at college level what they have to be, and what you have to be to play short in college. You have to be pretty elite. And if you’re not, the ball usually finds you pretty easily. I have a lot of people up for it next year.
Is this weekend another test for players still adjusting to playing at this program?
It’s a little bit of both, it’s definitely going to be a test, because we’ve got really good competition. We’re going to have to play well, pitch well and hit well, but they understand that there’s a lot of growth that needs to happen. This program might seem like it has a lot of returners, which it does, but there were some pretty significant players that we lost and I think one that was just so in charge as a leader was Lindsey Elam. I don’t know if you can build or make natural leaders. It’s kind of a committee of athletes this year that are trying to help in that place and we’re feeling that out, but Grace Lyons is the one we depend on.
We all understand that this is a journey. It’s just a journey and it’s so much different than it was last year — I’ll tell you that already. But this team is good. Are they out hitting 100 home runs right now? No. But we’ve been in positions where they understand — we’re facing drop-ball pitchers, the fences are further, the wind is coming in — It’s not about the home runs, it’s about finding ways to string things together and learn from it.
We’re not looking at last year, it’s so much different, it really is. In many ways it could be better, but it’s still just learning the system offensively, JT’s style, my style. We’ve played against each other, that’s one thing. Now we’re in one dugout and it’s just different and they’re just trying to understand it, learn it, all of that. I’m not sitting in front of you worried at all. I’m more than anything, very excited about the future and the direction we’re headed.”
Having UCLA, Utah in the field?
Yeah, they’re tough. They’re tough. Utah’s very good. Good pitching. An average hitting coach there. That might be a problem for them. (Laughs) I’m kidding. I’m kidding.
Fullerton just beat Tennessee. I mean, there’s good competition up and down, and what I’m really going to sit back and pay attention to is the camaraderie and the fight of our team. Against Baylor, it was kind of a ho-hum kind of attitude that is just unlike us. I’m glad we got to see what that looked like, but we’ve had some powwows, this team has figured some things out, they’re ready to go into Palm Springs with a new approach. Just a little more feisty. They use the words like emptying the gas tank out there and just letting it all flow and go. So that’s what I’m anxious to see.
Brito?
She’s gritty. I really have been impressed with her in the fall and in the spring thus far where she is just really excelling at a craft. She has really turned into a smart hitter. Understands what she wants to swing at. Timely hitter. Clutch hitter. And now she’s locking it in in the middle of the lineup. A good example of what extra work in the indoor looks like. She puts in the time, and it’s paying off.
Hannah Coor OK?
No, she is not, so I might as well … She is going to take a medical. She has some back issues that is going to cause surgery. She’s been in constant pain, and it’s hard to watch an athlete in that space. So first of March, that will happen, and we’re not expecting her to be back. I mean, she could potentially towards the end of the season, but I would rather save that year for her.
