GOAT Training

When I planned for this surgery…I PLANNED.
👉 I planned my home for comfort and ease.
👉 I planned my job for a smooth transition while I was out—and for returning to full-time work.
👉 I planned my coaching so every one of my athletes had direction, goals, and a plan heading into season.

Everything in my life was prepared for this surgery.
I was ready 💪 Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. In every way possible.

And because of that…I haven't had one panic moment. Not one "freak out." Not one moment of feeling completely overwhelmed.

Because: Plans eliminate panic 🎯

The day I came home from surgery and had to go down the steps on crutches? Already practiced it. Daily. Before surgery ever happened.

People talk all the time about mental toughness. But real mental toughness is usually built long before the hard moment arrives. It's built in preparation. In discipline. In uncomfortable reps. In thinking ahead. In controlling what you CAN control before life tests you on it.

And honestly?

This recovery has reinforced something I teach my pitchers constantly: Athletes panic when they don't know what to do next.

✨️ Preparation creates confidence.
✨️ Preparation creates calm.
✨️ Preparation creates trust in yourself.

That applies in sports. And it applies in life too.

This surgery has been one of the hardest physical things I've ever done [and I've done some hard stuff!!]

But mentally? I was ready.

Because confidence isn't built when the challenge arrives. Confidence is built beforehand.

The circumstances changed. The mission didn't 🖤

🐐

One thing I’m incredibly proud of during this season of recovery:

My pitchers are still improving.
And thriving.

Before surgery, I created specific plans for every single athlete I work with.
Specific goals.
Specific things we needed to accomplish before season started.

We worked physical adjustments.
Mental situations.
Batter situations.
Game situations.

We worked through pressure.
Failure.
Frustration.
Adjustments.

They were pushed outside of their comfort zones.
Pushed to think more.
Learn something new.
Compete harder.
Problem solve faster.
Trust themselves more.

Every single one of them was prepared heading into season.

And now?

Even while I recover…
They’re continuing to grow.

Not because I’m right next to them and able to physically demonstrate every movement right now…

But because they’ve learned how to work when I’m not.

That is the goal.

Lessons alone do not build pitchers.

Work between lessons does.

A lesson gives an athlete information.
Correction.
Direction.
A plan.

But growth happens in the reps they do when no one is watching.

When there is no coach beside them.
No one correcting every movement.
No one telling them what to fix.

Just them—
their work ethic,
their discipline,
and their ability to problem solve.

Because struggles are part of pitching.
Every pitcher has them.

The difference is:
we’ve worked on how to move THROUGH those moments instead of falling apart inside them.

Because if an athlete only performs well when a coach is standing next to her…

She doesn’t truly own it yet.

My goal is not to create pitchers who need me every step of the way.

My goal is to teach them well enough that they can go execute without me.

That’s why my athletes have notebooks.
That’s why they learn the WHY.
That’s why they’re taught to think.

Because independent athletes become dangerous athletes.

And the pitchers willing to put in the work between lessons?

Those are the ones who separate themselves. 🐐🥎

Proud of my GOAT kids.
Keep working.
Keep growing.
Keep proving it.

One thing I talk about constantly with my athletes:

Mindset doesn’t only matter when things are going well.

Anybody can feel confident when they’re healthy.
Anybody can stay positive when life feels easy.
Anybody can believe in themselves when everything is working.

The real test is what happens when things get hard.

Over the last couple weeks, I’ve been navigating a tough recovery process after major surgery — and honestly, it’s reminded me a lot of what I try to teach pitchers every day:

Control what you can control.
Don’t panic.
Take the next step.
Trust the process.
Keep showing up.

No athlete — or person — gets through life without adversity. The goal isn’t avoiding hard things. The goal is learning how to respond to them.

This recovery is tough…but I’m tougher 🐐

And I hope my athletes see that mental strength isn’t just something we talk about inside the cages. It’s something we live.

One step at a time 🤍

This is what it looks like. 🐐🥎
No shortcuts. No excuses. Just work—over and over again.
Proud of you, Lily. This didn’t just happen…you built it 💙🔥

🎖️𝗧𝗢𝗠𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞🎖️

Lily Merolillo twirled a complete-game gem to guide Softball to an upset over Westminster!

Mason Suss fired six shutout innings in a win over Westminster!

🔗https://thielathletics.com/awards.aspx?aow=970

| Presidents' Athletic Conference

YAAAAAY LEAH!!! 🐐🔥

THIS is what happens when an athlete keeps showing up…
every single week
even when it’s hard
even when progress feels slow
even when no one else sees the work being put in.

Leah just kept working.

She stayed consistent.
She stayed committed.
She trusted the process.

And now?
She’s up for YSNs 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 😤

Not because someone gave it to her…
but because 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗶𝘁.

Go vote for her ⬇️
www.ysnlive.com/big-dogs

That’s a GOAT kid right there 🐐🥎🔥

🚨ONLY ONE SESSION LEFT IN OUR SOFTBALL FOUNDATIONS CLINIC SERIES🚨

🩷 Sunday, April 19
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Ages 6–8

If you have a young athlete ready to build confidence, learn proper fundamentals, and get quality reps in a supportive environment—this is the last opportunity to join this clinic series! 🥎🐐

📋 Complete the Google Form to sign up:
https://forms.gle/zTRVfWWqyfaJHW4w8

Train With Purpose. Compete With Confidence.