Latest / CBN Sports 1-ON-1 / Ep. 5 Alabama Softball Audrey Vandagriff
Transcript
- Will Dawson: Welcome to CBN Sports One-on-One, where you'll hear exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in sports right here on the CBN Sports Podcast Network. I'm your host, Will Dawson. If you're like most of us and you love sports, but you are just tired of the dark side of sports culture, you're tired of me-focused athletes, or even organizations that bow to an unbiblical belief system. We think you're gonna love this podcast. There's no yelling, no sensationalism, just great conversations with athletes and coaches who recognize that their purpose is bigger than their sport. This week our guest is Alabama Softball's Spark Plug outfielder, Audrey Vandergriff. The NCAA tournament is already underway and Alabama is the number one overall seed. It's been a special season for the Tide down in Tuscaloosa this season. They've really been the best overall team all season long. And Audrey set some records her freshman season, including stealing five bases in a game. She was a preseason All American this year and is an integral part of that Alabama team that has been, like I said, just been the best team in the nation all season long. Audrey comes from a family of athletes and a family that prioritizes their faith in Christ. Let's jump right in. So you come from an athletic family, and I have heard Somebody say recently that you might be the most talented of all of them. Well, if I am, then that's saying a lot because ⁓ my brother and sister are one heck of athletes and even better people, but ⁓ I'm just fortunate enough to be a part of this family and a part of ⁓ what God has in store for our family. When you were growing up, you were playing sports all the time, your siblings were playing sports all the time. How how much of a priority was church? You know, that's honestly a question we get a lot. when we were in rec sports, you know, church was we were at church on Sundays, but it kind of came into play whenever Brock started ⁓ travel baseball, about ten you, twelve you. ⁓ we would all travel as a family to tournaments and church like was missed. And ⁓ when I started travel sports, my sister started travel sports, you know, church We we were not on church at church on Sundays, but the thing as I got older was how do I implement ⁓ what I miss on Sunday into my life? How do I, you know, still continue a ⁓ path or a a great walk with God ⁓ in my weekly basis. And yes, I did go to a Christian school, but you know, it's not it's not anything like your personal walk with the Lord. And ⁓ honestly our biggest challenges were like the people we played with, they were not did not have the same beliefs beliefs as us. So I know we're ⁓ we're in college now, my brother and sister are about to be finished, but we had to implement God's, you know, glory in our day-to-day conversations with our travel ball friends because we were the only light that they may or may not have seen. And ⁓ my parents kind of made that known to us. They expressed that towards us and you know it it got easier, but I would say there are some challenges. I love all the people I played with, but I also am very thankful that I was on that platform with people where I was kind of on a lone island with myself and what I believe in. Was there a moment in your childhood that you gave your life to Jesus? I actually remember very ⁓ not vaguely, but ⁓ you know, we went to church every Sunday, you know, God was implemented in into my life as soon as I could hardly remember. I always wanted to take the Lord's Supper with Brock and Anna, ⁓ because ⁓ my parents would get them out of big out of ⁓ the little community groups, bring them into big church to take communion and I was like Why can I not take it with them? Like I just thought it was so cool, but I also was, you know, third, fourth grade. I didn't really know what it what it meant. And my dad was like, you know, Audrey, that's like that's kind of for believers. You have to accept Jesus into your heart. And like it's not just something you say, but it's something you feel, like inside you. And so I was like, Okay. And so I became like more curious and I was like, what does this mean? ⁓ all these things and it was actually the summer before we moved to Athens. We were in ⁓ we lived in Sharpsburg, Georgia, right outside Noonan. I was laying in my bed and I remember having a conversation with my dad and that night I accepted the Lord into my heart. And ⁓ I want to say like a week or two after I got baptized and like it was very life changing. ⁓ but I also was still at a young age, you know, I was fourth grade, fifth grade. And so I have still had to continue to, you know, every single day is a walk of faith. I have I'm super thankful for that day, but I will say I have had some life-changing ev events where I'm like, you know, that was all God. As a multi-sport athlete in high school, did you find it hard to live out your faith and still be this competitive person that was trying to be the best that you could be? Yes, sir. So funny you say that, ⁓ I actually really struggled with it. So middle school I ⁓ was playing softball. Some of the girls, you know, I kind of got frustrated with, ⁓ may have lost my temper a little bit, but it honestly wasn't until freshman year, ⁓ and track. ⁓ track is honestly a sport that hasn't n hasn't only made me better. softball but it has completely changed my life because of the people that I was surrounded with and just kind of the work ethic it takes to succeed in track because you're solely on your own. When that gun goes off you're running with yourself and you win it's on you. You lose it's on you. And ⁓ my freshman year, ⁓ my freshman Bible teacher, his name's Coach Kilgore, ⁓ he said, you know, Audrey, you have just like phenomenal ability to play sports and ⁓ your athleticism is unmatched, but this year I really, really want to teach you how to be a servant leader. And he was like, you are a leader, but right now it you're not the leader God has called you to be, and I want I wanna help you reach that full potential. So I was kind of confused. I kinda felt like he was kinda slapping me in the face, like, what do you mean I'm not, you know a leader anyways. And so that whole that whole spring I was growing to be in love with track because I kept winning, I kept having success. But then I had this other person guiding me, like, ⁓ I took this step the wrong way and he's, you know, kind of keeping me online. And I had four years with him and it was honestly the most life changing experience. ⁓ I saw myself grow in ways that I honestly never thought I could grow. I realized that like sometimes you think of leaders and you look at some leaders and just the stereotypical thing, they're kind of bossy. They may be the best player, but they, you know, may talk down on other people. That's kind of the stereotypical thing you sometimes think of leaders and I was and he wanted to be like, Hey, no, that's not what leadership is about. Leadership is about serving others and ⁓ I don't remember exactly where it is in the Bible. I wanna say it's in Matthew, but I remember like reading it one night and it was God s God is the ultimate leader, but he served others. And that kind of just kinda hit me in the face and I was like, Wow. My whole thing of what I thought leadership was is is not according to Jesus. And ⁓ ever since then my life has been completely flipped upside down and I do believe Jesus has called me to be a leader and I'm so thankful for you know mentors like my track coach to guide me in that direction and guide me to be the leader I am today. As you're as you're progressing through athletics in high school, you have to start realizing at some point that you stand out, that you are you are the top or one of the best players on your team, if not the best player on your team. ⁓ when did that become apparent to you, especially in softball? I'd probably say my freshman year in softball, high school ball, there was a senior, and as I grew up, she's she was in Bronx grade, so four years older than me. I always thought she was the best softball player I've ever seen. And I never really got to play with her until my freshman year. And so she was a shortstop, she hit left-handed, just absolute baller. ⁓ my dad would stop. ⁓ football practice, the whole football team would line up ⁓ in the outfield and watch me hit. And if I hit a home run, practice was over. If I bunted, walked, anything but a home run, you know, they're putting their helmets back on, they're going back to practice. That's lot of pressure. Exactly. So ⁓ you know, I squared a bunt. I'm getting booed up there my by my brother and all his friends. I'm like, man, what are y'all doing up there? Anyway, so ⁓ Over time I started having a lot of success in schoolball. And ⁓ a lot of the boys would go up to that senior who's really good at softball and be like, you know, Audrey, you know, she's pretty good. And I was like, No, I'm not. Like, she's the best softball player I've ever seen. And ⁓ ever since that year, ⁓ you know, a few people would come up to me and be like, you know, Audrey you have a bright future. But It takes people telling you that, but also you have to believe it yourself. And ⁓ I continued to ⁓ you know, excel, excel, excel, excel. And ⁓ in s travel sports I continued to have a a little bit of success. And ⁓ I think that year was kind of my breakthrough year that, hey, I think I'm gonna be okay. And so you ultimately you were recruited by several schools. Yes, sir. ⁓ you settled on Alabama and did your faith play a role in choosing to come to Alabama? Honestly, my biggest thing was I wanted to play in the SEC and I wanted to I wanted to play somewhere where softball, there was a softball legacy, but it wasn't everything. I wouldn't say my faith had a big role in where I chose because I knew no matter where I chose little to no people would believe what I believed in. And I th I mean that's the sad truth. Like I'm not trying to I'm not trying to, you know, belittle anyone by all means. But I knew that it was going to be a change. And I had seen it in Travel Ball. I knew I was o one of the few who believed in what I believed. But also I knew no matter what school it it's not gonna be perfect. And it it is going to be hard. I am going to have to find a friend group ⁓ that's best for me. But it also just went down to Brock was at Georgia. I considered Georgia for a little bit, but I had always been in his footsteps and I was like, I want to go make a name for my for my own self. And honestly like I would I wouldn't change my journey for the world. ⁓ I truly believe God put me at this place for a reason and it it honestly showed last year why he put me here. And I'm just super grateful for that. You set some records. You have done some amazing things in your freshman year. And I know that you're excited to get started for your sophomore season. But take me through that game against the best pitcher in the nation. ⁓ tell me about that moment when you hit the home run off of Sam Landry in Oklahoma. So I was actually thinking about it this morning. ⁓ I it was honestly the nervous, the most nervous I have ever been. ⁓ it was the ⁓ Top of the eighth, top of the eighth, Caitlin Riley was pitching. I was in left field. If a ball was hit to me, I don't know what would have happened. But I was sitting out there in left field. I was like, God, I am so nervous. I was like, Lord, please just take my anxieties away from me. Like, whatever your will is for me, please be my strength right now because I am so nervous. ⁓ and I just prayed it over and over and over again. And, you know, I would say it one time, I'd feel a little better. I'd say it another time, I'd feel a little better, but you know, I'm still like, ⁓ And so I, you know, ran back into into the dugout after three outs, put put my helmet on, put everything on. And as soon as they were like, Audrey Vandegriff called me out, I stepped into the box. I just took a deep breath. And as soon as I let As soon as I let that deep breath out, I was calm. I was like, I I've never experienced anything like it. Like I've never been so some people may be like, how were you that calm in that, you know, environment? But ⁓ I'll I stepped in the box, I said, Lord be my strength. And by golly, it wasn't the first pitch. And I I really couldn't believe it. I really could not believe it. ⁓ gosh, it feels like a fever dream, but I Truly believe that was kind of my first big experience where God really used me to glorify his name because I don't know how many people were watching that game, but ⁓ in that interview that was solely for him, solely solely for his power, his glory, his name, and I'm just super grateful for that opportunity. And it continues, I'm sure, to open doors for you. ⁓ what what does your relationship with Christ mean to you? Honestly. ⁓ my whole life I've kind of not wrestled, but I've been longing to understand what God's purpose in my life is. And although sports is ⁓ not who I am, it's just, you know, what I do, I do believe Christ has placed this environment, placed this opportunity around me to glorify his name. And it honestly I life, God has been a part of my life because I I grew up in a Christian household. Fifth grade, I went to a Christian school ⁓ all the way through twelfth grade. So it's always been around around ⁓ my life, but at some point it had to change for me. I couldn't just go to Bible class every single day to have a relationship with Christ. I had to do extra, I had to grow in ways that my Bible teacher couldn't teach me. And It just like my faith to me just means that I I can't put it into words, but like I every opportunity I get to share with someone on my team, ⁓ in my travel ball career, you know, anytime I get the chance, I want his presence to be known in me. And like honestly, my biggest prayer, like every single morning, every single night is Lord, let others see you through me. Like that like I don't even want them to see me as Audrey. I just want them to be like, you know, Audrey Vandergriff, gosh, I just see God through her. Like it honestly just brings tears to my eyes. But ⁓ we had like affirmation letters and ⁓ at the end of the spring and ⁓ softball and I read the first five. And ⁓ my whole prayer ⁓ that year had been ⁓ God let others see see you through me and I pulled out the first five. They said, ⁓ Audrey, ⁓ you shine God's light like I've never seen before. And ⁓ I didn't eat like I was just like, wow, you know, and ⁓ I feel like my first year in college was the first time I really got to see how powerful and how great God is because Like I said, it's all I knew until I was on my own. And I'm just, gosh, I'm just worlds thankful for that. So yeah. You know, something Audrey mentioned in the interview was her decision to go play ball in an environment that she knew wasn't going to be overtly Christian. The world does need mature believers in every context in the world. Jesus calls us to be salt and light and tells us that we can't have a light and hide it under a basket. Audrey has let her light shine at Alabama. And we hope that you'll follow along with us here at CBN Sports as we travel to Oklahoma City to cover the Women's College World Series. Hopefully, we'll see Audrey and the tide there. Well, if you enjoyed this podcast, we ask that you please share it with a friend, a family member, even a coworker. Our goal is to reach the world with the gospel through sports. See you next week.