Natalia Hill, Nebraska Softball: October 21st, 12:00pm
00:00Coming at you live from the teammates mentoring studio.It's time to go one-on-one with DP.A 93-7-the-ticket and the ticketfm.com.Sponsored by the downtown Lincoln Foundation.Here is your host, Derek Pearson.Oh, yeah.It's just the base.If you just slap bass like that, can't miss.
00:31Can't miss.12.3 in the city that is Lincoln America.We thank you for hanging out with us.Oh, it's Wednesday.I got a, I got a boom.I got to get a boom in, Bach.402, 464, 5, 6,85,started Hamins X-Lyne.
00:49You want to be a part of what we're doing.Going to turn it up, Bach.Let him feel it.We are the midday seasoning for the lunch, bro.Boom, let's get it.Bach, most important question of the day,kind, sir.How the heck are you?
01:10Oh, I'm doing great.going left and right NBA opened yesterday unfortunately my Celtics lost but it's a longseason you came in all jerseyed up you were all excited and they did you dirty they did yousaltings Celtics did you dirty brough that is that is difficult um it is simple in the spacehold on let me get my i'm trying to promote our special guest today uh here on one-on-one uh it has been ajourney, a trek, trying to get this young lady in the building.Trying to get her in the building.And I said, listen, of all of the young ladies from Nebraska softball, the person that I wanted
02:00to get to do a show with us is this young lady.And our guest joins us from the friendly, friendly neighborhood confines of Los AngelesSouth.She's an L.A. girl, Natalia Hill.How are you?I'm good. How are you?It's good, right?So L.A. Girl finds her way to Lincoln, Nebraska.
02:22There are several stories and questions that I must ask.Yes.Okay.Why Nebraska?When having choices, you know, all the Los Angeles newswriters selects you as a player of the year.Several times top of the tier.Options everywhere.siblings choose what Arizona State, Texas A&M.
02:46Yeah.You choose Nebraska.Tell me why.I think the obvious reason everybody knows the Nebraska fan base,but not only that, I just wanted to play for an experience coaching staff.Everybody knows how wise Coach Ravelle is and how wise Coach Chippel was.She did retire, but I'm still playing for Coach Miller, Coach Ravelle, and now Coach Fromm,So that's just a wonderful experience.
03:13So I would just say I wanted to play for a really wise program.And not only that, but Nebraska fans, there's nothing truly like it.You're going to have to tell me how it's going from going from teammate Jordy to coach ball.How's that going to work for you?I think there's not much of a difference just because when she was a player, she was already such of a leader.And she already had those coaching aspects to her.So it's really not much different besides calling her coach from.I mean, obviously there is a more serious connection.
03:45But at the end of the day, she was always a coach while she was a player.So we're used to it.There's lots.I'll apologize to folks in advance because there's zero chance I can get and ask the young lady all the questions that I want to ask her in the course of 20, 20 minutes and now 18 minutes.But here's the thing, because I promise to get her out of here.At 1225, Coach Ravel, no need to call or text and yell.My baby got practiced today.I'm going to take care of it.
04:12So I appreciate.Thank you, Coach Ravel, for letting her stop by and play.Tell me the story.When did the love of softball?Where does it come from?Yeah, so like you mentioned, my sister, she played for ASUand then went to the Texas A&M Aggie.So I grew up around the field watching her play.
04:31And I started T-ball when I was around four,and I've been playing ever since.And I was just born to be a competitor.I mean, I compete with my siblings.and when I get on that field, I just like to compete.My dad plays sports.My uncle was in the NFL, so it's just in our blood to have that competitive edge to us.So I played softball.
04:50It's the only really sport that I took serious, and I ended up here in college.Talk to me about the family athletes.You just mentioned a couple.My dad played baseball all the way so he got up to high school.My sister, I think she was an SEC All-American when she went to A&M,and she had some good accolades at ASU.My uncle went to U of A and then he got drafted to the Steelers.He got sick and unfortunately passed away,
05:17but he was with the Steelers for like two or three seasons.So it's always been in the Hill bloodline to be in some type of sport.Was softball the only sport?Would you play basketball?No.No.I mean, I played basketball in middle school,but everybody plays every sport in middle school.
05:34Yeah, I played basketball in middle school.I ran track.I did volleyball, but softball stuck towards me the most because, I mean, I can run fast in softball.I can throw people out in softball.So, yeah.Bach, kind sir, a couple things in play.Let's set the appropriate stage.Bach, if you would please, kind sir.
05:59And launches that one, deep left field at the wall.Oh, what to grab.Has the home run and keeps this.Getting a beat for UCLA.Keep him in the ballpark, Nebraska,climbs away by Natalia Hill.The three two, once again.This one line into left field.
06:22Laying out is Nat Hill, and she makes the grab.Rivals the catch that we saw him Stevensonearlier on a dive, and I argue that that one is better.One's swinging a line drive over to Natalia Hill.Who makes a spectacular diving catch?What a play by the Huskers left fielder.She's known for her defense and she showed it right there.I mean, are you kidding me, Natalia Hill?
06:52Are you kidding me?That's so, listen, as a former college outfielder, I can tell you,and I was explaining to some folks a couple of weeks ago,I got more joy from taking away than I do.So as you listen to that, do you get the goosebumps?Yeah, I just brought a smile to my face, just listening to the sound again.It brings back so many happy memories, so many smiles.Is that the persona?
07:28Is that your job?Is your job the defensive?Yeah, so the last past two years, I was flex,which means I only played defense.This year, I'm leaning more into playing both sides of the game.But my freshman and sophomore year, my main job was to be,the best defender there was on the field.And I didn't really look at the other side of the game,
07:51like, oh, why am I not doing this?Rather, I just focused.I got my job role and I focused on that.And I made sure that if I was going to be a flex,that I was going to be the best flex on the field.So, yeah, my job was to be the best defensive player.And I put in that work.Yeah, my college coach would say that flex was hitting me ninth.
08:10Yeah.It was like, no, no, no, no, go catch some fly balls, but bro.We're not doing that.Talk to me about Coach Rovel and what makes her special.I mean, she's legendary and she's Mount Rushmore.Yeah.Talk to me about the things that make her coach Rhonda Roevel.Yeah, like I mentioned before, I just think she has so much wisdom within her coaching.
08:37And some people might have different tactics.of coaching, like whether it's a new style or old style, but I feel like Coach Ravel kind of is a mixof both, and she really wants the best for her players, and she really helps us in a sense ofwherever your competition level is at, she builds you as a player from there and helps you growonly from there. And I just think my favorite thing about Coach Ravel is that she, I don't want tosay like she's like a grandma, but she's like a mother, like a mother to me, yeah. And just likethat motherly love that you can get while also getting that stern talking to. And she, I don't want to say,to as a coach, it's a good mix of both.
09:12How important is the trust that she's making decisions that's best for you,short-term and long-term?Yeah, I think I 100% trust in Coach Ravel.I might not be 100% sure in her decisions in that moment,but I know that in the long run,she, like he said, she's the best in the gameand that I should trust in her decisions.And just from her past and even her present
09:36and what she's going to do in the future,I know that whatever she's doing is,to work in the long run and it's the best for the game.Talk to me about this, this, this epic run that last season was.It, listen, you played at a level that I don't, I can't say that it surprised fans.I don't know if it surprised you as, as a roster.I'll ask you that question.Did it surprise you or was it expected?
10:02It was expected.I mean, it's expected from the first day of practice even in preseason.So it wasn't a surprise at all.I mean, that was our goal.And we reached our goal.Obviously, everybody's goals to win the championship.But to even make it to Oklahoma City,it was a joy that I hope people can experience one day.
10:19It's amazing.How do you regroup from that, rebrand, redirect, relocate?What's the plan going forward as you head to February?Yeah, so there are a couple of returns that we have.I think we have a handful, maybe more than that.But we know what it took to get there.So, I don't know what it took.if you guys know, but we have around seven new freshmen, if I'm not mistaken, and it's just
10:44giving our wisdom and our experience into those freshmen because they've never played a collegegame in their life, and the returners have played a college game at Oklahoma City. So it's reallyjust sharing our experience and what we know into the freshmen because we obviously can make itto Oklahoma City with this team. So just letting the freshman know the way that we were taught byour seniors last year because that was a big role. Our seniors from last year, we were. We'reseniors from last year's team did a great job in leading the way for us.So us returners just try to lead the way for the freshman.What's the difference between Big Ten softball and playing in high school, playing in California?
11:21Yeah.California, I mean, it's way bigger state than Nebraska.So you're getting all kinds of talent from towns you've never heard of.And I wouldn't say there's much of a difference.I mean, obviously from high school to college, the competition level is insane.we face Carlin Pickens, I don't know how many times.And also just the age difference and things like that.But I think the biggest thing between high school and college is just that the mentality-wise
11:50of it, you're playing in high school you might be the best on your team.But then when you come to college, you're playing full of a team of everybody who's the bestof their team.So just making sure that you're staying up to part on your mental side and that you're stillable to compete mentally as well as you are physically.I think it's more difficult than it was in high school.school because in high school, I mean, everybody makes a team in high school.So it's just like just trying not to give up on yourself in college.
12:17And remembering where you came from is probably the hardest thing.Natalia Hill of Nebraska softball, big 10 champions.And here's the thing that there's a pride thing that happens.It happens to Coach Ravel.And it just happened with you.They're just saying Big 10 softball champion Nebraska court hoskers.your eyes go straight to the skyand your smile becomes brighter.
12:42Try to share that with listeners.What does that feel like to know thatyou're always going to be a chance for?I mean, it's crazy.I didn't wear the shirt on purpose,but this was our big 10 shirt.Yeah.It's really, truly a joy.
12:57I mean, last year's team,we weren't really focused on the wins, you know.So we were focused on building connectionand joy with each other.And once you experience true joy with the team,you don't really worry about the outcome.So, yeah, us being labeled champions for, I don't know, a long time, it's fun.But I think what I truly remember is the team that I became a champion with.
13:19So that's what I'm going to remember in my long run.Yeah, it was fun.And just doing that.I don't think we did a dog pile, but we did a huddle.And now it was.It was pretty close.Yeah.It was a mix in between.
13:32And then I got to pour the gatorade or the water on Cutchmanville.So that, that was fun.But yeah.And what did she say?about that. She usually doesn't mind whenever we win. So as long as we win, she'll take some gatorade to the hair.Okay. So a lot of the big conversation for football this past weekend about players dancing during the game.Yeah. I'm not sure volleyball is probably the top of it that have fun while they play.Softball's not far behind. Yeah. Y'all get it in. Yeah. From the cheers and from the dugout and the way y'all celebrate each other, how necessary is it? How important is it to the players to have that connection? And then,
14:08to have that level of fun.Yeah, so softball, we do do some chance or some beats or some, sometimes some dances.If we're dancing, then our performance better be A1.But softball is a sport where you fail seven out of ten times.I think my math is right, but I think it's 70%.And when you're in a sport where you fail most of the time, you need that support.You need that connection.So if I'm up to that and I hear my team cheering me on doing cheers with my name and it,
14:37then I know that they have my back and it makes it that much easier to execute for my team.So just in a game of failure, it's so important to have a strong connection and know that if I fall,my teammates will pick me up no matter who it is.If in the upcoming season, a dance off dance battle takes place, what is the likelihood that you are out front?A hundred percent.100%. I think we had a rain delay last year and it was me and Samantha Blan up thereand Emerson Cope. Yeah. I'm a dancer. Shocker. This is my surprise face. Yeah, I'm a dancer.No, listen, I told Natalia the story privately that we've had other softball players who want to do shows.
15:30but when I reached out to her a year ago, easily to say, okay, you must do a show.You're the right personality profile for what we do and a couple of reasons why.And I said, personality, one year, an outfielder, I identified.You're a defensive first outfielder.Okay, personality first outfielder.Okay, bet, bet.Bach, I took her back to the office and on my wall is my college jersey.What number is it?
15:5727.We shared the number.I kept going. You do not understand. And she's a dancer.So all the boxes being checked.This is, listen, the university, from the text line,man says this, he's singing.You know the words, Delta Dawn. What's that flower you got on?What are your thoughts when that becomes the song?
16:19How much did that mean to the team?Yeah, if I'm being honest, we listen to the song probably more than 30 times.I'm not too sure of the words. I just know the Delta Dawn.And I don't know the words after that.But when the song came on,it automatically brings up memories from last year's team.I mean, you hear the first two lyrics,and it just brings you back to the bus to OKC riding up to the field
16:43or Coach Rovell singing on the bus,because we do have some karaoke sometimes,and that would be her song.But it just brings back that 2026, 2025 team,just brings a smile to my face.So that will definitely be that team's song.Where do you just mentioned karaoke?Where do you do karaoke together?
17:02On our bus rides.So if we're riding to Iowa,usually like the newbies will have to pick a song,put headphones on.You can't hear the song or we can hear the song,but the people listening can't hear the song.So we'll do karaoke.Okay.
17:16So here's the public offer.I'm going to offer this space out here.Going to get your professional karaoke machineand the screens and everything.We'll close the door.We're only going to invite the team.team. We're going to get our new chubs to feed, feed everybody, and you come in, you havesoftball karaoke. You'll be the host. Okay, I can make that happen. You'll be the host. We're
17:38going to make it. Yeah. What's your go-to song? Um, I think I sang love by Kees Chacul. That was mygo-to. Can't go wrong with that one. Okay. That's fair. Who's the best singer on team?I don't think we have singers on the team. I don't think we have. I don't think. I don't think wehave singers. No, that's not. That's not, you know, we're better, better.We have dancers. We don't have singers.Better in the way. Bill and Bitter at the text on and asked the question, did you get rings for winning the big 10?We did not. We got hats and shirts, but actually, no, we did get a ring. There's too many awards.I can't remember, but.
18:19You got Bach. Did you hear this? They are so blingy. She doesn't remember all the bling.Yeah, no. I think we. We didn't. We.Yeah, we have one big ring.And I think it was for Big Ten champions.It was, yeah.Okay.And I don't know if you guys saw on social media, but it's really nice, right?It's nice?
18:37Yeah.So how many pictures did you take with the trophy, with the Big Ten trophy?Ah, I probably took like five.And then we came from the airport.I don't know if you guys seen it online, but all of our fan base was at the airport when we won.Great turnout.Yeah, I took pictures with them, too, at the airport with the fans, too.so it was a nice experience and I had to take pictures to send to my mom so did they come to big
19:0210s or no no they didn't oh i went out so i was i was the only media i was the only mediacollege park uh watching you guys win the title and i have to tell you so the young ladythe story was jordy but i think the biggest personality on last year's teamhappened to be your freshman backup pitcher, starting pitcher.Sat next to her down the bullpen on purpose.I want to sit down at the end away from kind of everybody,and she's sitting there on the bucket.And it was a one-woman comedy show for 90 minutes.
19:43Please tell folks about that, young lady.Your teammate is brilliant.Yeah, Alexis Jensen.I mean, we live together.She's my roommate, so I got a comedian 24-7,but she definitely has a personality like,no other and I think that plays into her pitching. I mean, I don't know if you guys seen her infamousway that she does. You got it. Yeah, but I think her swagger really plays into how good of a
20:05pitcher that she is and I'm not saying that she doesn't fit in, but I think her standing out withher funny personality that she has really makes her a standout pitcher. Obviously, besidesthat spin that she creates, but she's definitely funny. She's a character to be around. She is hilarious.I wanted to just turn my phone on and record her, but I said that would berude but I literally sat there for 90 minutes for all three days and just howled and laughed herat how good of a time she had yeah she I don't think I've ever seen her down she's always even ifshe's not pitching she's paying attention to the game she's making somebody laugh so it'sit's going to be a great thing listen I promise to get you out here by by 1225 so we're going to do
20:50that we're going to absolutely invite you back and then the formal offer publicly yesyou should have your own show.You should have your own show.And Alexis can be guest number two.You need the parents first.Yeah.And then to get in there,but we'll talk about that.
21:06Of course.What's the final message?What do you give the folks a message to look forward to this year's softball team?Yeah,I think that everybody thinks that because we had a lot of seniors graduate,that we're going to be missing some pieces.But I can tell you that this team is going to exceed all expectations.and we're here to go above all standards that have been set for us,
21:29and it's going to be an exciting season.It's going to be great, and you, the fan base is there,and the listeners are cheering for you.Thank you so much.She is Natalia Hill.We'll take our first break one-on-one coming up here on the ticket.Watch live on Facebook, YouTube, or Twitch.You're listening to one-on-one with DP on 937 The Ticket and the Ticketfm.com.
21:54Thank you.
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