Pretty Pitches

Ask any athlete or Wichita Eagle reader from the last several decades, and they'll know Bob Lutz well. After making a name for himself as a sports journalist, Bob became a sports columnist for The Eagle in the 1990's and wrote columns over some of the top sports stories from around the world, but particularly those in our own backyard. Following his storied journalism career, Bob now dedicates most of his time to what he calls his "second act," a program called League 42 that is dedicated to bringing the game of baseball to inner city kids. From the initial meeting including Bob and 4 other people, the league has grown to now serving 600 kids. The motivation behind League 42, how you can get involved, and the question everyone wants answered -- how does Bob Lutz deal with haters -- all on this episode of Pretty Pitches. Follow League 42 on Twitter @League_42, Instagram @league42ict and Facebook @League 42. You can find out more information at: https://league42.org/

We are changing it up a bit this week, and talking women in politics, but we are also talking women's sports, as this week's guest is Sedgwick County Commissioner Sarah Lopez-Lewis. After a successful career in healthcare, Sarah was inspired to run for the Sedgwick County Board of Commissioners after fighting for a safe space for her daughter in local schools. She's a fierce advocate for her kids, all kids, women and people of color, particularly those in the Hispanic community. She's also no stranger to sports, as she played soccer growing up and now cheers on her daughters, one on the soccer field, the other in the pool, and her son on the football field. How she was inspired to run for local government, her take on leading the way for the next generation and more all on this week's episode.

Girls United is a space for girls to come together and rewrite the societal norms for middle school girls and beyond. The group was started in 2018 by Jennifer Pillich -- a former basketball player and coach and an educator. She brought Girls United to Robinson Middle School last year, where girls can spend time together and build relationships with each other. The program includes events, mentorship, opportunities to connect with professionals, sports and more. This week, the Girls United girls are doing the interviewing -- check out their interview with Jen and support Girls United at www.girlsunited316.com

In his first year as the athletic director of Wichita State, Kevin Saal is making big moves, and we are here for it. From renovations and upgrades to the facilities, to game day experiences, and a massive improvement in resources for student athletes to navigate the name image likeness (NIL), Kevin Saal has proven that he is determined to improve Wichita State athletics for student athletes and fans. How he landed at WSU, his goals for the future and why women's sports are top of mind, all on this week's episode of Pretty Pitches. Check out all things WSU athletics at www.goshockers.com You can also follow Kevin Saal on Twitter @GoShockersAD

Officiating might just be the hardest position on any field, court or arena. Across the country, thousands of officials have walked away from the games they love, including hundreds in the state of Kansas alone. Many officials site poor interactions with fans as a reason for leaving, many detailing incidents of abuse. Abuse against officials has become such a problem that the Kansas House Committee of Education even drafted and proposed a bill earlier this year to make any form of verbal or physical abuse against officials a Class B misdemeanor, carrying a fine and jail time. But there are also joys involved with officiating, like being part of a team, staying close to the games you love and giving back to kids by allowing them to play the games you love. Francine Martin is working to both end abuse towards officials, while encouraging officials to lean in to the love of the game and give officiating a try. Learn more about becoming an official with KSHSAA: https://www.kshsaa.org/Public/Official/NewOfficials.cfm You can also follow KSHSAA on Instagram @kshsaachamps, Twitter @KSHSAA and Facebook at Kansas State High School Activities Association.

Veronica Alvarez always knew baseball was her game. But, in the world we live in, girls are sent to softball oftentimes before given a shot at baseball. While she had a successful career in softball, eventually her love brought her back to baseball where she is now the Coordinator of Player Development in Latin America for the Oakland A's, the manager of the Women's National Baseball Team and an integral part of the MLB Develops organization. How she charged into the world of the MLB, her advice to women on the national baseball team and why you need to change your thinking around baseball/softball, all on this week's episode.

Pi'ikea Lopes is equal parts graceful and strong (and many other things). Pi'ikea was crowned Miss Aloha Hula 2022 -- an individual hula competition during the Merrie Monarch Festival -- which led her to becoming one of the faces of the Nike N7 campaign. While training for the Miss Aloha Hula 2022 competition, Pi'ikea discovered her love for the gym, which eventually led her to her passion of powerlifting. Now, when Pi'ikea isn't practicing hula or teaching the Hawaiian language, she is in the gym. What hula and the Native Hawaiian culture means to her, how she merged powerlifting and hula and how Pi'ikea balances kumu (teacher) parents all on this episode of Pretty Pitches. Follow Pi'ikea on Instagram: @_piikealopes and @piikeafitness Learn more about the Merrie Monarch Festival on Instagram at @merriemonarchfestival and online at https://www.merriemonarch.com/ You can also watch the livestream of the Merrie Monarch Festival here: https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/merriemonarch/

Brown Girls Do Ballet is an effort to create space for brown girls in the world of dance, particularly ballet, through performances, resources and scholarships, a mentorship program and more. The program started as a photography project by TaKiyah Wallace inspired by her daughter's new love of dance. Brown Girls Do Ballet has since touched countless lives and has grown the sport of ballet immensely. You can spread their message and contribute to their mission online at https://www.browngirlsdoballet.com/ and on Instagram @browngirlsdoballet

The Wichita Junior Golf Foundation started in the 1970's with the pioneering work of Marge Page, Marilyn Linn, Lila Adamson and Velda Warden with the goal to teach kids how to play the game of golf and make golf accessible to everyone. Decades later, the program is still going strong, with hundreds of kids taking to the City of Wichita golf courses every summer. The program teaches the rules of the game and provides technical lessons, and will even provide clubs for rent to kids who need them. The program is for kids age 9 to 18, and registration runs from April 1 to May 12, but for beginners (first timers in the program), you'll want to sign up as soon as possible for the beginner program. Kids involved in the program will also receive a pass to use for free rounds of golf at all of the public courses in Wichita throughout the summer. To find out more information or to enroll your child, check out the WJGF website: https://www.wichitajuniorgolf.com/

From the court to the sand, Katie Zimmerman is following up a successful college volleyball career with a successful coaching one. Katie played volleyball at Wichita State University and made a complete 180 when she used her fifth year of eligibility to play beach volleyball at the University of South Carolina. After two successful coaching stints, she landed the assistant coach position at WSU, something her husband thinks destiny had something to do with. A look back at her career as a student athlete and the lessons she's sharing with her players now all on this episode of Pretty Pitches.

Just as Liz Willis was becoming a new mom, her life got even more complicated. Following complications towards the tail end of her pregnancy and into labor and delivery, Liz underwent a leg amputation, and doctors were baffled by her survival. After re-learning how to walk and regaining mobility, Liz turned to running to cope. Since then, Liz has run on some of the biggest stages in the world, including the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio and now multiple times at the Boston Marathon. Her incredible story and how it has changed her perspective on life all on this week's episode of Pretty Pitches Podcast. Follow Wichita Adaptive Sports on Facebook and Instagram @wichitaadaptivesport You can also contribute to Wichita Adaptive Sports here: https://www.wichitaadaptivesports.org/

No matter what changes in her life, one thing is always clear: Reagan Rust loves to play hockey. She even says she is obsessed with hockey, and it shows on the ice. Reagan played college hockey at Boston University, eventually turning professional and playing overseas. She now plays in the Premier Hockey Federation for the Metropolitan Riveters. Aside from following her hockey dreams, Reagan is dedicated to growing the sport and supporting young athletes as well as her peers. What she loves about being on the ice, how she is leading the next generation of athletes and her mission to spread mental health awareness all on this episode of Pretty Pitches. Follow Reagan on Instagram @rea.rust and follow Female Athlete Society on Instagram @femaleathletesociety Please consider supporting the following nonprofits and visiting their websites for mental health resources: https://www.hilinskishope.org/ https://www.morgansmessage.org/ https://www.katiessave.org/

Angela Buckner takes hometown hero to a new level. From setting records on the basketball court at Wichita State to running the iconic Lynette Woodard Recreation Center, Angela's passion for Wichita runs deep. Her path to becoming one of Wichita State's most prolific basketball players, why she wants to convince local talent to go to WSU and how she scored her dream job (and met a childhood hero) all on this week's episode of Pretty Pitches. You can support the Lynette Woodard Rec Center here: https://www.wichita.gov/parkandrec/Pages/default.aspx And check out the latest news and schedules for WSU athletics here: www.goshockers.com

The evolution of women's soccer is one of my favorite subjects, as you all know, and for this episode, I had the opportunity to speak with one of the biggest change makers in the world of soccer. Julianne Sitch played soccer professionally in the US, Sweden and Australia before transitioning to coaching. She coached in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), US Soccer (Under 16 Girls National Team), NCAA Division I (University of Illinois - Chicago) and NCAA Division III (University of Chicago). Earlier this year, Sitch took over the men's soccer program at the University of Chicago and led the team to an undefeated season and the university's first national title. It's the first time in history that a woman has led a men's soccer program to a national title. Her take on the team's accomplishments, the evolution of women in soccer and what she hopes the next generation takes away from this season, all on this week's episode.

The NBC World Series has a deep history in Wichita, and for the first time since 1935, the storied tournament is led by a woman. Katie Woods is a former Minor League Baseball Executive of the Year and has new ideas to bring excitement to the tournament and to the city. Just as exciting as her new role, Katie's road to get there has included opening doors for the next generation of women in baseball (and sports in general). How she found love in a career rooted in sports, her message to her kids and what you can expect at this year's NBC World Series all on this week's episode of Pretty Pitches.  Follow the NBC World Series and the Wichita Sports Commission on Instagram @nbcbaseball and @wichita_sports You can also find more information on the NBC World Series at https://nbcbaseball.com/ and the Wichita Sports Commission at https://wichitasports.com/ 

It's not a sport you hear about often, but it's gaining popularity, especially among young women. Polo is one of the oldest known team sports in the world, and is played with a ball, a mallet and (my favorite part) horses. When Lily Wakim moved back to Wichita during the Covid-19 pandemic, she found herself bored and missing her polo-playing friends. That's when she found the Fairfield Polo Club in Haysville, and she's been hooked ever since. Why she loves polo and why you should love it (and maybe even try it) all on this week's episode of Pretty Pitches. Follow Lily on Instagram at @lilywakim_ You can find the Fairfield Polo Club on Instagram (@fairfieldpoloclub), Facebook (Fairfield Polo Club) and online (www.fairfieldpoloclub.com).

In the age of the NIL (name, image & likeness), college athletes across the board are getting opportunities to earn money off the field. But with the massive hype around football and men's basketball, many women had a steeper hill to climb than their male counterparts when it came to cashing in on NIL opportunities. The Lady Shocks Squad is designed to change that. The Lady Shocks Squad is a new NIL collective just for women athletes at Wichita State University. It's one of the first women-only NIL collectives, representing top women athletes, and leaning on a wealth of experience from former women athletes at WSU. The motivation behind the group and how you can be a part of it all on this week's episode of Pretty Pitches. Plus -- tune in to see why Paige is freaking out after the Thanksgiving holiday break. You can find the Lady Shocks Squad online at https://www.ladyshockssquad.com/ and on Instagram @ladyshockssquad

Happy Thanksgiving! I have something new to be thankful for, and that's all of you! Thank you for listening and thank you to all of my amazing guests! In this week's episode -- After begging her mom for years, Sophia Digregorio burst onto the Crossfit scene at the age of 15, and in just two years she worked her way to a 29th worldwide ranking in the teenage division. Now, Sophia is continuing her career in the open division, but that's not her only focus. Her inspiration for crossfit, experiences learning the sport and her newest adventure, all on this week's episode of Pretty Pitches. Follow Sophia on Instagram @sophiaadigregorio

A recent article from USA Today showed the stark contrast between scholarships awarded for men's sports vs. women's sports, with the NCAA awarding 98 men's scholarships for headcount sports compared to 47 women's scholarships for headcount sports (and even down to 35 scholarships at some universities). The main issue -- football. Many universities award scholarships to nearly every member of a 100 person team, while many women's sports and lesser watched men's sports pay the price by accepting partial scholarships. The conversation with Paige and Aaliyah (although she leaves about four minutes in) on this week's episode of Pretty Pitches. You can find the sources for this week's episode here: https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2022/08/17/college-athletic-scholarships-ncaa-title-ix-rules/10142113002/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/evangerstmann/2019/04/24/why-gender-equity-in-college-sports-is-impossible-unless-colleges-do-something-radical/?sh=3d119039244e https://www.timesunion.com/womenatwork/article/All-In-Women-a-rarity-in-sports-leadership-15336135.php

Girls and women's wrestling is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. Within the last couple of years women's wrestling has become a sanctioned sport in junior colleges and NAIA universities. NCAA and high school interest in the sport has grown significantly in the last few years. According to the National Wrestling Coaches Association, the number of girls who wrestle in high school has grown from around 800 to over 31 thousand. Follow Tim Prescott and the Friends University wrestling teams on Instagram at @friends_wrestling and Facebook at Friends U. Wrestling. You can find their schedule online at https://www.friendsathletics.com/sport/0/29 (men's) and https://www.friendsathletics.com/sport/0/30 (women's). This week we recorded at Cocoa Dolce in downtown Wichita.

Katie McClure is an All-American soccer player from Maize. After a standout senior season at KU leading the Big 12 in goals, points and game-winning goals, and helping the Jayhawks win their first ever Big 12 Championship, Katie was drafted to play in the NWSL. Despite a career full of accomplishments, it was unclear whether Katie's name would be called at the 2019 NWSL draft, but it was and she went on to play for several different teams in her career. How she found love in soccer, the excitement from draft night and her decision to step away all on this week's episode of Pretty Pitches.

From the University of Northern Iowa soccer field to Arrowhead Stadium, Jillian Carroll has checked off countless major accomplishments, and she's just getting started it seems. Not only did she work hard for a successful athletic career, but her professional careers are even more interesting. Her experiences playing NCAA D1 soccer, cheering in front of tens of thousands of fans for the Kansas City Chiefs, and her motivation for being your girl's hype girl all on this week's episode of Pretty Pitches. You can follow Jillian on Instagram: @msjillianann

From racking up state titles and shattering records in high school, to competing on the biggest stage imaginable, Caroline Bruce McAndrew has experienced some of the highest highs and the lowest lows in her swimming career. After competing in the Olympics at just 18 years old and earning a spot in one of the most prestigious swim programs in the country at Stanford University, Caroline suffered an injury that drastically changed the trajectory of her career. The surprising start to her swim career, her proudest accomplishments and how she made it through the darkest times, all in this week's episode of Pretty Pitches.

You've listened to his "no nonsense" play-by-play for Wichita State University athletics for nearly five decades. A Wichita native and former Shocker himself, Mike Kennedy knew he found the right job for him from his very first broadcast. His path to becoming the Voice of the Shockers, his predictions for the upcoming men's basketball season, how he prepares for a game and his favorite Shocker memories all on this week's episode of Pretty Pitches.

*Warning: this episode contains conversations about suicide and mental health.* Remington Young cheered at Maize High School and Cheer Eclipse and fearlessly tackled every complicated skill, mastering each one. She ultimately landed a spot on her dream cheer team at the University of Kansas, where she also studied biology with the hopes of becoming a physician's assistant. A talented cheerleader but an even better person, Remington's friends say they most miss her "legendary hugs." Remington Young lost her battle with mental health in May 2022 at the age of 20. Remington's friends and family have created a foundation in her honor called "Love Like Remi," with the mission of helping student athletes better manage their mental health. The Love Like Remi website remembers Remi in part as follows: "It's okay to not be okay and seek help when struggles seem too much to bear. If you take anything away from Remington's story, let it be to smile often, love unconditionally, hug others tightly and know you are never alone." You can find the Love Like Remi Foundation at www.lovelikeremi.com or on social media @lovelikeremi

Jackie Stiles is one of the greatest scorers in women's NCAA basketball history, holding the NCAA career scoring record for 16 years. A first-round draft pick in the WNBA, and eventual Hall of Fame inductee, Jackie Stiles made a huge impact on the game of basketball. But her professional career was cut short due to injury, forcing Jackie to refocus and find her identity outside of playing basketball. Her message to young athletes, her proudest career achievements and the story behind Stiles 2 on 2, on this week's episode of Pretty Pitches. You can find information on basketball training, Jackie's new personal training gym and order the Jackie Stiles Story here: https://www.jackiestiles.com/ You can also follow Jackie on Instagram and Twitter: @jackiestiles10

Let's face it, navigating the world of nutrition is tough. When you factor in societal standards, diet culture, human nature and the dozens of other factors that play into our nutrition, it's no surprise that we are hyper focused on what goes into our mouths each day. This is no different for athletes who are often times torn between society and a diet that will fuel their energy needs. This week we meet with Maddi Osburn, a registered dietician nutritionist and the owner of Flexible Nutrition LLC, who focuses on sports nutrition and eating disorders. Is weight a good measurement for health, how important is limiting our calories, how to turn mac and cheese into a nutritious meal and more on this week's episode of Pretty Pitches.  You can find Maddi online at https://www.flexiblenutritionllc.com/ or via telephone at 316-361-6080 Maddi is also on Instagram: @flexiblenutritionllc Don't forget to subscribe to Pretty Pitches wherever you listen to podcasts. You can find us on Instagram and Facebook at @prettypitchespod and you can reach host Paige Feikert via e-mail at paige.feikert@gmail.com

Sydney McKinney has been focusing on getting recruited by a top university since she was just 14 years old, and all of that hard work, dedication and ambition is coming through for her now at Wichita State, where she's headed into her fifth year after finishing last season with the best batting average in the country. Even more, this season comes as Sydney recently returned from Japan where she played with Team USA. Her experience representing her country, the balance art has created in her life and how she's taking her love for true crime to the next level, all in this week's episode of JerseyGirls. You can follow Sydney on Instagram at @sydneymck00 and her art page @sydsstudioo

From backyard brawls to national television, it seems there's no fight David Rickels will ever back down from. How he learned to not get his ass kicked, transformed into the "Caveman," and why he says your kids need to take up mixed martial arts all on this week's episode of JerseyGirls.  Check out David's Gym 31Six Martial Arts on IG (@31six_martial_arts), Facebook (31Six Martial Arts and Fitness) or online at www.316gym.com You can find Evolution Fighting Championships and follow their upcoming events on Facebook and online at www.EFCfight.com You can find Rick's Car Wash at four locations: 2337 W. 31st St S, 2010 E Pawnee, 5170 S Hydraulic & 1959 S Woodlawn. 

Running has taken Raquel Rios Reed across the country to the Boston Marathon, NYC, the Olympic Trials (three times), but more importantly, running has carried her through the toughest times in her life. How the former state record holder's successes are victories for us all, where she got her love for running, tips for runners, and how running once became the proof that she's still standing, all in this week's episode of JerseyGirls.

When John and Karen Wright watched their oldest son run, they knew they were on to something. Through inspiration from his three sons, John developed Wichita Athletics, LLC, an organization teaching kids everything about track and field. Fast forward two decades, and the organization has touched hundreds of lives and continues to support athletes as young as 5 years old. His motivation to keep going, the differences between coaching girls and boys and a special two-minute warning all on this week's episode of JerseyGirls. Donate to Wichita Athletics via CashApp at: $ExchangeZone To find out more information about the Wichita Athletics, e-mail John at jwright007@gmail.com You can also follow Wichita Athletics on Facebook and Instagram at Wichita Athletics LLC.

More than 100,000 people online watch Hannah Mortimer spin a basketball and perform tricks that turn the ordinary into extraordinary, but that wasn't always the case. From juco to Wichita State University walk on to the Harlem Globetrotters, the Universe brought everything together for Hannah, and it's only getting sweeter. Her challenges as just the 17th woman to play for the Globetrotters, the advice she'd give to her past self and how she comes up with her awe-inspiring videos online all on this week's episode of JerseyGirls. Follow Hannah on Instagram at @hangothandles

Have you ever noticed just how intertwined all of your decisions and actions are? Every conversation, every interaction leads to opportunities down the line. Braxton Jones started off as a young athlete with a goal to play college football. What he didn't expect was how his decision to switch schools his senior year of high school set him up for a domino effect that took him across the country and across the world -- just maybe not the way he had originally planned. How Braxton made a career rooted in his love of the game, partied at the Dutch house at the Winter Olympics and almost got run over by Beyonce's golf cart, all on this week's episode of JerseyGirls.

Proving herself is what she does best. Join us this week as our guest Brooke Feikert discusses how she went from a late bloomer to a NCAA Division I athlete (plus lots of embarrassing stories about growing up with JerseyGirls host Paige Feikert). The lessons she learned both on and off the field while attending an HBCU and Austen's latest plea to help her find Dawn Staley all in this week's episode of JerseyGirls. In this episode, Austen gives a shoutout to an amazing food truck serving authentic Puerto Rican food in OKC called El Pilon Criollo (4809 S. Penn), you can follow them on Instagram @elpiloncriollo_okc

From the field to the courthouse, Sarah Balderas talks growing up a three-sport athlete, and how her experiences powered her into a successful career as an attorney at her own firm. How she balanced year-long sports, went from playing for her dad to coaching alongside him, the embarrassing stories of growing up with Austen and the major eye roll the title of this episode is going to earn her, all in this week's episode of JerseyGirls. Connect with Sarah's firm, Balderas Legal Group, LLC at: http://balderasimmigration.com/ and on Facebook @balderasimmigration You can follow Sarah's book review page on Instagram: @a.brunch.of.books Sarah is also a board member at Children First (https://www.children1stks.org/) and participated in League 42 (https://league42.org/). At the end of this episode we encouraged our Kansas listeners to vote "no" on August 2nd to maintain access to safe abortions in the state of Kansas. The deadline to register to vote is July 12th. You can check your voter registration at this link: https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/voterview/ You can register to vote here: https://www.kdor.ks.gov/Apps/VoterReg

From standout basketball player to climbing the ranks in the coaching world, it seemed nothing could stop Latoya Randle. That is until her son was diagnosed with a rare disease, and Latoya went from college coach to full time caretaker. At one of the toughest times in her life she turned to the one thing she always knew — basketball. How Latoya is influencing young women both on and off the court in this week's episode of JerseyGirls. Follow Latoya & her brand Pretty Girls Pound the Rock on Facebook, IG and Twitter @prettygirlsptr In this episode we discuss ways you can help Latoya's mission, you can find more information at https://www.prettygirlsptr.com/

This week Paige and Austen sit down with former sports journalist and current journalism teacher Joanna Chadwick to discuss the state of journalism, coverage of women's sports & the right way to make a PB&J. You can follow Joanna on Twitter @joannachadwick In this episode we mention that KSHSAA is celebrating 50 years of Title IX with 50 stories of women athletes, coaches, teams and officials who have made a mark on Kansas sports history. Read stories from KSHSAA's 50 for 50 campaign here: https://www.kshsaa.org/Public/TitleIX/Main.cfm

Meet Paige and Austen and listen to their inspiration for JerseyGirls.