Out of Left Field

AUSL catcher and former Florida State standout Michaela Edenfield sits down for one of the most honest conversations Abby Alonzo has had on Out of Left Field. We dive into topics athletes rarely feel safe talking about publicly: • confidence vs. insecurity • bullying and identity • balancing femininity (makeup, beauty) and elite performance • mental health, emotional regulation, vulnerability • th...

Former Tennessee Lady Vol Payton Gottshall pulls back the curtain on what professional softball actually looks like: bouncing between leagues and countries (Mexico, Netherlands, Taiwan), 60-hour travel days, and why Mexico’s fan culture is unmatched. We also dive into the AUSL x ESPN/ABC deal and what city-based teams mean for players and fans in 2026. Plus: how the transfer from Bowling Green to...

UCLA national champion, Team USA alum, and entrepreneur Paige Halstead joins Out of Left Field to talk about her journey from winning a natty at UCLA to building her own lane in softball — as a broadcaster, creator, and business owner. Paige opens up about how she helped design gear for All-Star Catching, the company redefining equipment for female athletes, and why she and her fiancé started Prep...

Tennessee Softball star Karlyn Pickens — the two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year, Team USA athlete, and owner of the fastest pitch in college softball (79.4 MPH) — joins Abby Alonzo on Out of Left Field to talk about breaking records, leadership, NIL, and finding her “why.” Recorded inside Tennessee’s Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, Karlyn opens up about growing up in North Carolina, choosing the Lady Vol...

Team Canada catcher Natalie Wideman joins Abby Alonzo for a powerful, unfiltered conversation on Out of Left Field. A 14-year veteran, Olympic medalist, and founder of Unedited Self Co, Natalie opens up about: -The early days of chasing an Olympic dream -Overcoming fear and self-doubt as a female athlete -Building her brand and community through vulnerability -The growth of women’s softball and ML...

In this deep-dive interview, Abby Alonzo sits down with Ali Newland (former LSU outfielder, current AUSL player and Nationals Home Run Derby X team member) to talk about her path, mindset, and experiences. What's covered: • How MLB's Home Run Derby X works — setup, format, MLB’s backing, and how Ali got selected • Her time on the Nationals team — her teammates, collaboration, and what made that sq...

Sierra Sacco has one of the most remarkable journeys in softball. In this exclusive Out of Left Field interview, Sierra opens up about her path from Louisiana Tech to Mississippi State, why she chose to bet on herself in the transfer portal, and how that decision shaped her career. Sacco reflects on her two perfect defensive seasons at Mississippi State, her relentless work ethic, and how she beca...

Sam Landry has quickly become one of the most recognizable names in AUSL softball — and for good reason. In this exclusive Out of Left Field interview, Sam opens up about her journey on and off the field. She shares how pitching with glasses has become part of her brand, the way she connects with fans through social media, and why being a role model for the next generation of softball players mean...