• last year
Ella Parker and Karlie Keeney Love's Field Opening Weekend (2-27-24)
Transcript
00:00 >> We'll go ahead with questions.
00:02 Start with Ava.
00:03 >> Yeah, Ella, let's start off with you.
00:06 Going last weekend, what did that mean to not only go back close to home and
00:11 play in that tournament, but to have the kind of success that you've had?
00:16 And what do you feel like has been the key to being able to be that successful
00:20 early with this team?
00:22 >> Last weekend was just a dream, being able to play in front of my family,
00:26 being able to see all the girls I've grown up with was amazing.
00:30 But what really has helped me playing wise is just looking up to all these
00:35 older girls on this team, they've really stepped up in their captain role and
00:40 really allowed us to transfer in really easily, which is really nice.
00:45 >> And for both of y'all, what's the most exciting part of
00:50 getting to move to Westfield this weekend?
00:55 >> I think it's just the fact that it's so unprecedented in the sports history.
01:00 We're getting to be the first to do something.
01:02 And I know as I walked on Love's field, I just felt extremely blessed with
01:07 the history of players that have been here and
01:10 to be on the first team that gets to play there is super special.
01:12 So I'm grateful for that.
01:13 >> Just so thankful for this opportunity and I know it's been a long time coming,
01:18 but it's really surreal to just see it all happen.
01:24 >> Jenny and then Eric.
01:26 >> To both of you, Patty's not usually super emotional, but
01:30 in here she had to kind of stop herself a couple times as she talked about moving
01:34 to Love's and just all that it means for the program and for her.
01:39 Have you sensed her at all being more emotional?
01:42 How has she sort of approached this?
01:44 >> I think she's just told us be grateful for it and
01:49 to recognize the history and the importance of this moment.
01:53 Starting over at Reeves Park, I know she mentions that a lot and
01:55 just the transitions that had to be made.
01:58 And so I think it's just being grateful and
02:01 understanding this isn't always where the program has been.
02:03 So yeah.
02:06 >> Yeah, she's just like, just take it all in.
02:08 This is very, what she said, unprecedented.
02:11 And be thankful for all the opportunities that we're given.
02:14 >> Can you guys talk about what stands out to you from your first time over there?
02:20 If it was a single thing or something somebody said,
02:23 anything that sort of stands out to you guys as you got that first look?
02:27 >> Just the amount of stands, the chairs that were in the stadium.
02:32 I've never been able to play in that sort of situation,
02:35 which is gonna be insane to play in.
02:37 But it just shows that the sport is growing in a really good way.
02:42 >> Yeah, I would second that.
02:44 That's definitely what I noticed first.
02:46 And just to see that many seats and be able to imagine all of the fans and
02:50 people that supported and donated for that to come true is really cool.
02:55 Thank you.
02:56 >> And when you were recruited here, how much did they tell you about this stadium?
03:00 How early were they saying, hey, we're gonna build a new stadium?
03:02 Or hey, this is where we're at.
03:03 What was that those conversations like during the recruiting process?
03:06 >> I remember it was always like in the works and just talking it out.
03:10 And they were like, yeah, sometime soon it'll happen.
03:13 But being able to finally be here and see it all happen is just so insane.
03:19 It's like it's finally sitting in.
03:21 >> Last week we had a funny conversation about
03:24 Patty's first phone call to Riley during the recruiting process.
03:28 What do you guys remember about the first phone call you received to her
03:31 during our recruiting?
03:33 Did you believe it was her?
03:34 I guess last week they didn't believe it was her.
03:36 What was it like, that process, that first phone call with Patty?
03:40 >> I have to agree with Riley because it's Coach Gasso.
03:44 It's so much history behind her name.
03:47 And it was kind of shocking to see.
03:50 I kind of had to take a little bit of a reality check, I'm not gonna lie.
03:54 But it was really, really cool.
03:56 >> Yeah, I would say the same.
04:00 I was actually on my way home from somewhere, I can't remember where,
04:04 with my mom and I was like, get out of the car.
04:06 We pulled over to a gas station and she got out and went in.
04:10 And I locked the car door because she came back and was like, where are you going?
04:14 Go away, go away.
04:15 But I would just kind of say the same thing, it was surreal.
04:19 It was like, this is Coach Gasso, seven national champions.
04:22 So just an honor to be called.
04:24 >> Thanks, guys.
04:26 >> Bob and then Charlie, a couple for you.
04:29 Just one, the change in your mindset, not having to be the workhorse.
04:32 And what this weekend's gonna be like having your former team here?
04:36 >> Yeah, super awesome to have a whole staff and
04:40 to be able to rely on other people.
04:42 Not that I couldn't before, but just to be able to fully trust in the depth of it and
04:47 not have to be mentally ready all the time is super awesome.
04:51 And I love every pitcher here, but it's super cool to have that.
04:56 And I'm just really excited.
04:58 I think it's a perfect weekend, the new Love Stadium and getting to see everyone.
05:02 And I have great memories from Liberty, so
05:04 I think it'll just be a special weekend for me.
05:06 >> Carly, we're so much in the bubble here.
05:10 We've known since the announcement of the stadium that pathway.
05:14 For you guys that weren't in Norman,
05:16 is this something that made ways across locker rooms and in college?
05:19 Like, hey, do you see what Oklahoma's doing?
05:20 Is that something you're aware of before even Coach Gasso called on the recruitment
05:24 and that kind of thing?
05:25 >> Yeah, so actually, we had talked about whenever I was at Liberty,
05:29 Coach Richardson had come up to me and was like, hey, what do you think about
05:33 going to play in the first tournament that OU is hosting at their new field?
05:39 And so we had already kinda agreed and planned to come play here before.
05:42 So it was definitely news and other programs.
05:45 And just like, wow, this is really cool, look where the sport is growing.
05:49 >> And then for Ella, a lot with Mary Nutter or the first time at Hall of Fame
05:54 with new pieces, it's a conversation of what are the veterans telling you about
05:57 how to handle the atmosphere, things like that.
06:00 Have the veterans had any advice knowing that being surrounded is not new, but
06:05 it's a new stadium, new environment.
06:07 No one has experienced what's gonna happen this weekend.
06:10 >> I think all of us are just like going and play our game.
06:12 The outside part, trying not to let that affect us.
06:17 But obviously, it's gonna be a different environment, but
06:20 just really sticking to our plan and our game.
06:23 >> Holden and then James.
06:26 >> I'm just wondering if you all have talked about who's gonna get the first
06:32 home run, strikeout, things like that.
06:34 Like the competition aspect between yourselves to do the first at the stadium?
06:38 >> I don't feel like we've really had too much talk about that,
06:43 cuz I think it kinda goes back to what Ella's saying.
06:45 Is we're not really worrying about the new feel or things like that, but
06:49 just kinda sticking to what we do and how we play.
06:52 >> Yeah, I agree with that.
06:55 It'll come when it comes.
06:57 It'll happen.
06:58 >> Hopefully first day.
07:00 >> [LAUGH] >> Carly, you had the broken finger.
07:06 So how tough was that to come back from?
07:09 When you get a chance, you seem so calm at the plate.
07:12 I've never really seen you hit much, but you seem so calm.
07:15 I'm curious, are you really that calm inside when you're in there?
07:18 Carly?
07:20 >> Yeah, it was actually a really big challenge.
07:21 This is the first major injury I've ever had.
07:25 So just that aspect alone was challenging.
07:27 But I've had great people around me from day one, the doctors,
07:32 surgeons, all of the medical staff.
07:34 Mara, R-A-T, is wonderful.
07:38 She's helped me every day just with mentality, physically.
07:41 And so it was tough, but with great people around you, it's easy.
07:46 And so I think once I was healed, it was like, all right, let's go.
07:50 No more worry about the pinkies.
07:51 >> Was it painful the first time you threw?
07:57 >> Well, I actually threw the day I broke it, so yes.
07:59 [LAUGH]
08:00 But no, we started out really slow and did a progression, so it didn't hurt.
08:05 >> I do my best to just keep all the outside voices shut off, and
08:13 I really focus on my breathing, and that's what helps me stay calm.
08:17 Cuz if I start to lose track of that, that's when I start to get all ramped up.
08:23 So just really focusing on my breathing is what's helped me stay calm and
08:26 no matter what situation it is at the plate.
08:28 >> You know yourself better than anybody.
08:30 Has everything been kinda normal for you at the plate as it looks?
08:33 >> I'd say yeah, just sticking to my plan, just attacking and
08:41 keeping up with my breath is what's helped me, and that's my go-to plan.
08:46 >> Last one for you, Lai.
08:48 >> Curly, I think.
08:49 Patty blamed herself for your pinky injury when she explained it to us.
08:54 What do you remember about the sequence where that happened?
08:56 And then for yourself, getting here, did taking a step back or
09:00 having being forced to help at all in any of your other pieces of your transition?
09:05 >> Yeah, so she had said right before we did our drill,
09:11 pitch like even pitchers I want you diving like full effort.
09:14 And so honestly when it happened when I dove, I didn't even think about my finger.
09:20 I had scratched up my face a little bit, so I was like, god, and
09:23 I had dirt all over my mouth, it was gross.
09:25 And then I looked down and I was like, Mara, does this look right to you?
09:31 Like I think something's wrong.
09:33 Yeah, that's not good.
09:34 So that's kinda what I remember about that, but I wouldn't change it.
09:38 I think it gave me a whole new perspective.
09:41 I've never really been able to sit back and view things differently.
09:46 I've always been kind of go, go, always the one pitching.
09:49 And so being able to sit back and look at other pitchers' bullpens,
09:53 hear what Coach Rocha was saying to them, and looking at different statistics and
09:57 things like that, and being able to kinda decipher things from a Coach Rocha
10:01 point of view really helped me in understanding the game more.
10:04 So I think that was really valuable for me and kinda helped me transition into this
10:09 new phase and the more information I have here, how to digest that.
10:13 [BLANK_AUDIO]