Latest / Voices of the Albemarle / Ep. 13: Play Ball! Edenton Steamers' Lauren Baker

Transcript

Ep. 13: Play Ball! Edenton Steamers' Lauren Baker · Voices of the Albemarle

0:14
SPEAKER_00: Hello and welcome to Voices of the Albemarle.
0:16
SPEAKER_00: For those of you joining us for the first time, I'm your host, Izzy Kelly Goss, and this is your co-host, David Price.
0:22
SPEAKER_02: I am here.
0:22
SPEAKER_00: He is always here.
0:24
SPEAKER_00: And today, as David said at the end of our last episode, we're going to play ball.
0:29
SPEAKER_00: Metaphorically speaking, literally speaking, we are joined today by Edenton Steamers General Manager, Lauren Baker.
0:36
SPEAKER_00: Hey, thanks for having me, guys.
0:37
SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much for joining us.
0:39
SPEAKER_00: Yes, so exciting.
0:41
SPEAKER_00: I grew up going to the Steamers Games.
0:43
SPEAKER_00: My mom actually found out that you were going to be joining me today and told me to tell you hello.
0:49
SPEAKER_00: She's very excited.
0:49
SPEAKER_00: She's a huge steamer stammer game.
0:51
SPEAKER_00: Awesome, awesome.
0:52
SPEAKER_00: So many people in this area, I feel like, grew up going to the games.
0:55
SPEAKER_00: So I'm really excited to sit down with you today and talk about baseball.
0:59
SPEAKER_00: I'm excited as well.
1:00
SPEAKER_00: You were announced as general manager in 2024.
1:04
SPEAKER_00: Done a little research and you were a softball player.
1:07
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
1:07
SPEAKER_00: Female athlete two times at Lawrence Academy in Edenton.
1:12
SPEAKER_00: Yep.
1:13
SPEAKER_00: Yes, ma'am.
1:13
SPEAKER_00: And then you played college softball for D2 and D1 schools.
1:17
SPEAKER_00: I want to hear about your love for softball and baseball, how that ended up landing you the position of general manager.
1:24
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so it's kind of funny how the overall story.
1:27
SPEAKER_01: I always say, you know, sometimes it's better who you know, not what you know, and a lot of aspects within the business world.
1:32
SPEAKER_01: But um, as far as my career goes, obviously I played um, I was a multi-sport athlete in high school.
1:37
SPEAKER_01: So I played basketball and softball.
1:39
SPEAKER_01: Um, I scored a thousand points in basketball.
1:42
SPEAKER_01: I was, you know, conference player.
1:43
SPEAKER_02: That must have been a long game.
1:45
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, throughout my four years, you know.
1:48
SPEAKER_01: So um a thousand in one game.
1:50
SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah, that would be some crazy play, you know, historical.
1:53
SPEAKER_01: You think you'd be in the WNBA right now.
1:55
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
1:55
SPEAKER_01: Oh, for sure.
1:56
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
1:56
SPEAKER_01: Softball would not have been my avenue.
1:57
SPEAKER_01: But um, but yeah, so I ended up playing softball um in college.
2:02
SPEAKER_01: And like I said, you know, in high school, I was conference player of the year and tournament MVP for four straight years throughout high school.
2:07
SPEAKER_01: So I just always knew that softball was kind of more my avenue of things.
2:11
SPEAKER_01: Um, and so I went to college, I played, um, you know, was an all-American my senior year, was able to be um for female athlete of the year at the school that I was at.
2:20
SPEAKER_01: So I was like super cool.
2:21
SPEAKER_01: Um I had to overcome a lot of injuries along the way.
2:24
SPEAKER_01: Um, it's another story for another time.
2:26
SPEAKER_01: But um, I've had 10 surgeries in my life.
2:28
SPEAKER_01: So yeah.
2:29
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so actually I wrote a book when I was younger.
2:32
SPEAKER_01: Um, so that's a whole nother maybe podcast for another time.
2:35
SPEAKER_01: But uh please.
2:36
SPEAKER_02: But yeah, so the title was not how not to get injured.
2:39
SPEAKER_01: Exactly.
2:39
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it was not not not that one.
2:42
SPEAKER_01: Um, that's a different book.
2:43
SPEAKER_01: But uh yeah, so um overcame a lot, had a lot of adversity, but I always knew that the sports world was kind of where I wanted to be at and what I wanted to do.
2:51
SPEAKER_01: Um, so I got my degree in sport management and business, and then I got my master's in organizational leadership.
2:57
SPEAKER_01: I coached for a year in college, thinking that was what I wanted to do.
3:00
SPEAKER_01: Um, just realized, you know, at the end of the day, there was felt like there was something else that I needed to put forth my effort and energy into.
3:08
SPEAKER_01: And it was actually kind of interesting that summer, I just something told me, you know, just volunteer with the steamers, and that's what I did.
3:15
SPEAKER_01: And I just volunteered, got some opportunities to see if I liked it.
3:19
SPEAKER_01: I really enjoyed it.
3:19
SPEAKER_01: It didn't feel like, you know, a job.
3:21
SPEAKER_01: And I've always heard if you know, if you love what you do, you don't have to really work a day in your life.
3:26
SPEAKER_01: And so uh the job actually became available um when the general manager left, and I didn't even realize they were interviewing me when they were interviewing me for the job.
3:35
SPEAKER_01: So that's kind of the joke, is like I got the job without even realizing it was a full-fledged interview at the time.
3:41
SPEAKER_01: Um, but but yeah, I mean, I'm truly blessed to have been able to get that job, especially at the age of 23 at that time.
3:47
SPEAKER_01: And so um to be the first female general manager in the league um and um of the team at the time, it was it was super cool um getting that opportunity.
3:56
SPEAKER_01: And you know, like I said, all my past experiences within sports kind of led up to that opportunity as well.
4:02
SPEAKER_00: So how old are you now?
4:03
SPEAKER_00: Are you I'm 24?
4:04
SPEAKER_01: So I'll be 25 this summer.
4:06
SPEAKER_00: But yeah, I'm I'm 25, so that's why I was asking.
4:08
SPEAKER_00: Okay, yeah.
4:09
unknown: Yes.
4:10
SPEAKER_00: Um, you said that you're the first female general manager in the league.
4:14
SPEAKER_00: In the league, yeah.
4:14
SPEAKER_00: Wow, in the league.
4:15
SPEAKER_00: See, I didn't realize that.
4:16
SPEAKER_00: I thought it was just for the steamers.
4:18
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, no.
4:18
SPEAKER_01: So the league that we're in now, um, yeah, so they had announced that last year for like the Women's Day um or whatever, National Women's Day.
4:27
SPEAKER_01: And so yeah, it was kind of cool.
4:28
SPEAKER_01: I didn't realize it either.
4:29
SPEAKER_01: Um so they did a full article on me then.
4:31
SPEAKER_01: Um, and I think it's cool too, like I said, seeing females now branching out, getting more opportunities in the sports world versus what it used to be like.
4:40
SPEAKER_01: And so I think for me, this the funny thing is throughout college, my professors would always tell me, and like the guys that I was in class with, they would say, like, you know, you know more about baseball, like any sport than most guys do.
4:53
SPEAKER_01: And like I laugh about it and joke about it.
4:55
SPEAKER_01: I grew up with an older brother who kind of you know kept me in sports and stuff.
4:59
SPEAKER_01: And it just it just goes to show too.
5:02
SPEAKER_01: I mean, it doesn't matter if you're a guy or a girl.
5:04
SPEAKER_01: I mean, you can kind of learn the same things and do the same jobs um as they do.
5:09
SPEAKER_01: So it's been a fun journey, and like I said, I'm super excited for what's to come um in the future as well.
5:14
SPEAKER_02: So Laura, I want to ask you something.
5:16
SPEAKER_02: I'm a guy, don't have to ask you that.
5:18
SPEAKER_02: I just want to let you know that.
5:20
SPEAKER_02: Um now the question I have is um it may sound weird.
5:27
SPEAKER_02: Do you view yourself as a woman managing a men's team?
5:33
SPEAKER_02: Or do you view yourself a woman managing a baseball team?
5:38
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I just say a woman managing a baseball team.
5:40
SPEAKER_02: Like I really don't think of when I go to work or just really it doesn't have to be a men's team, I guess.
5:45
SPEAKER_01: You know, but yeah, just day to day, I don't I don't think of me as like anything different, I guess.
5:50
SPEAKER_02: Are there any w women players in the league?
5:52
SPEAKER_02: No.
5:53
SPEAKER_01: Okay, yeah, it's just just male baseball.
5:55
SPEAKER_01: Um like I said, it's college age, so um, you know, eight eighteen to twenty-three usually are their ages.
6:03
SPEAKER_01: Um, but yeah, um, I don't really see myself any differently, you know.
6:06
SPEAKER_01: I just try not to think of it.
6:08
SPEAKER_01: I just was given the same opportunities um and made the most of each opportunity that I was given.
6:13
SPEAKER_00: So which I feel like that's a really important perspective.
6:16
SPEAKER_00: You're opening doors at being the first in the league, that's gotta be like, even though you don't feel any different, which I think is a really important perspective.
6:24
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
6:25
SPEAKER_01: I would say too, like, you know, with it thinking of females in positions like that, uh, like I said, you know, there's more now, but I will never forget when I first took the job, um, it just goes to show there's some Karen's in the world.
6:37
SPEAKER_01: And um, I had posted something on social media about I can't remember exactly what it was, but it was something maybe with me in it or whatever.
6:46
SPEAKER_01: And an older gentleman had commented about basically like get back in the kitchen kind of thing.
6:51
SPEAKER_01: And you know, like those stereotypes are definitely, you know, better now than what they used to be, but there's still, you know, some things that kind of people have their thoughts on.
7:01
SPEAKER_01: But overall, like I said, with where we're at in 2026, the people that have, you know, complimented me on the job that I've done, like I said, no one I don't feel like around me, like they see the work that I put into, they don't look at me any differently or think that I can't do something just because I am a female.
7:18
SPEAKER_01: So um, yeah, I definitely think, you know, they joke too because I was able to get a lot accomplished last year as far as projects.
7:25
SPEAKER_01: And the people before me were like, man, we've been working on that for years, and they would never let us do it.
7:29
SPEAKER_01: And I joke, I'm like, all they needed was a female to get them to do it.
7:33
SPEAKER_01: But um, exactly.
7:35
SPEAKER_02: So you pull it out when you need it.
7:38
SPEAKER_01: So um, but yeah, it's super cool to be able to, like I said, you know, run the run the organization in a way um that you know brings the community together in such a in such a positive light.
7:48
SPEAKER_00: And I think something that really sets you up there and makes you really qualified is you are a very talented player.
7:56
SPEAKER_00: You've you have to have some pretty high standards when it comes to putting together a team because at Columbia International University in South Carolina, you are listed as in the top 10 all time for home runs, hits, triples, some other things that I didn't really understand what they meant because I don't really know baseball that well.
8:16
SPEAKER_00: But what do you look for when you guys are putting together a team?
8:19
SPEAKER_00: You did do some research.
8:20
SPEAKER_00: I did, I did.
8:21
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
8:22
SPEAKER_01: Um, yeah, no, so when we put together a team, it's you know, obviously we want to make sure we put together the best talented group, but the Eaton Steamers are so community involved that we also want to make sure that we get good people as well.
8:34
SPEAKER_01: So we kind of make sure um, you know, we put the guys who have the good stats, who have the good numbers, but also what what does our coach say about them?
8:42
SPEAKER_01: Are they a good teammate?
8:43
SPEAKER_01: Are they, you know, are they personable?
8:45
SPEAKER_01: Are they gonna listen?
8:46
SPEAKER_01: Um, are they coachable type things?
8:48
SPEAKER_01: And so um, and the cool thing about us is since we've been around for so long, we started in '98.
8:54
SPEAKER_01: So for us, you know, being around for almost 30 years now, we get a good amount of guys from the people that we've previously had because those people have gone on to coaching college.
9:04
SPEAKER_01: They've gone on, we've had, you know, over a hundred guys in the minors, we've had over 20 guys that made it to the pros.
9:10
SPEAKER_01: So we being able to have those connections and then like the involvement within the community of Edenton, you know, the guys want to keep coming back.
9:18
SPEAKER_01: And so we get a lot of um super talented guys because of it.
9:23
SPEAKER_01: And like I said, it is difficult at the end of the day because it's hard to know are they gonna perform when they get here?
9:28
SPEAKER_01: Are they are they gonna be exactly what we need?
9:31
SPEAKER_01: But it's one of those things that me as well as the coach, we kind of communicate daily about um, you know, what we think these certain guys are, what our needs are gonna be.
9:40
SPEAKER_01: Um, we try and keep around 20 to 22 pitchers, um, and then around 18 position players.
9:46
SPEAKER_01: And so 40 is the max.
9:48
SPEAKER_01: And so uh that's what we're at right now.
9:50
SPEAKER_01: And so it's kind of hard to tell.
9:52
SPEAKER_01: You never know with injuries and stuff like that.
9:53
SPEAKER_01: But when looking at um guys, we talked, like I said, we talked to their coaches um and also too with social media, we can tell a lot too the type of guy that they are, and um, so we kind of just keep in touch with them and you know, see how well that not only are they on the field, but as people and if they can communicate effectively too.
10:11
SPEAKER_01: So it definitely makes a difference in you know how they act when they get here and knowing and seeing too just how the community is involved that you know their overall talks on the field and how they are in the dugout makes a difference to the kids because these kids are watching them every day.
10:26
SPEAKER_01: Right.
10:26
SPEAKER_01: So we want to make sure that they set good role models for the kids.
10:29
SPEAKER_02: So these are college uh players.
10:32
SPEAKER_01: Yep, yep.
10:32
SPEAKER_02: Uh where do they stay when they're when they when they're they're not from Edenton, they're from who know elsewhere, right?
10:38
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
10:39
SPEAKER_02: So do you you get families to to put them up, right?
10:41
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
10:42
SPEAKER_01: So we have um host families that um they basically are people in the community that open up their homes that have extra rooms or extra space that allows them, you know, to be able um to, you know, give the guys a place to stay that they feel comfortable with, um place to sleep, shower, eat, you know, do what they want.
11:01
SPEAKER_01: We actually are super blessed.
11:03
SPEAKER_01: We have a lot of host families that keep continuing to come each year because they just have such a great experience.
11:08
SPEAKER_01: Um, and then from there, we also have um some new ones too, but honestly, keeping track of all the host families, we have a few that keep two or three.
11:18
SPEAKER_01: Um so when you have 40 guys, you know, that's a lot of people you got to find houses for.
11:22
SPEAKER_01: So it does get a little stressful at times, but the community always finds a way to come together.
11:27
SPEAKER_01: Um, and so with that, it's kind of how we, you know, get the overall team um a spot.
11:33
SPEAKER_01: And each year, you know, we make sure the host families are applicable to a safe space too.
11:39
SPEAKER_01: Um, we want to make sure the guys have a good experience just as well as the host families have a good experience um towards the guys too.
11:45
SPEAKER_01: So you're from Edenton.
11:48
SPEAKER_00: Around the area.
11:49
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, around the area.
11:50
SPEAKER_00: You went to Lawrence, you you actually, when you were announced as the journal manager, you were still getting your masters from Chawan University and you were the assistant softball coach there at the time.
12:01
SPEAKER_00: So you were already kind of well-versed in what the community was like, but you had branched out.
12:06
SPEAKER_00: You went to Columbia International University in South Carolina, so you've been other places.
12:11
SPEAKER_00: What kind of made you gravitate back towards northeastern North Carolina?
12:15
SPEAKER_01: Oh, that's a funny, funny story because I never say never.
12:19
SPEAKER_01: I said I would never come back home.
12:21
SPEAKER_01: Oh, absolutely.
12:22
SPEAKER_01: I made that very known.
12:23
SPEAKER_01: Um, and then, you know, God just had a different way.
12:27
SPEAKER_01: Um He had a different plan.
12:29
SPEAKER_01: So I always hear, you know, make your plans, but God, God's gonna laugh at him too, because at the end of the day, you know, he has his own story um for us.
12:38
SPEAKER_01: But yeah, that's kind of how it all panned out.
12:41
SPEAKER_01: When I went to college, I really had every intention to, you know, move somewhere bigger, do some something else.
12:47
SPEAKER_01: And then when I was getting my master's online, um, like you said, I was able to realize coaching just wasn't what I wanted to do.
12:54
SPEAKER_01: And even from there, I thought about leaving.
12:56
SPEAKER_01: And I had applied to a numerous amount of jobs and the the steamer's job, like I said, it's about who you know, because I was able to volunteer that summer without knowing that that job would become available the following season.
13:08
SPEAKER_01: So it was super cool how it all kind of worked out.
13:11
SPEAKER_01: Um, and so now I live in Eagington and I truly love the community and love being involved.
13:15
SPEAKER_01: Eagington is a special place.
13:17
SPEAKER_01: Um, so it is super cool to be around uh a community that not only is supportive of the team, but also the organization as a whole and supports me.
13:26
SPEAKER_01: And so, you know, we try and give back to them as well in a lot of ways.
13:30
SPEAKER_01: Um, so I would say that's kind of how it all panned out to where I ended up where I am today.
13:36
SPEAKER_02: Eden to Edenton is is neat because the the kind of town that it is, and and you said that the the the the town does love the team and they're they're they're loyal to the team.
13:48
SPEAKER_02: You've also got a great field.
13:50
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
13:51
SPEAKER_02: It's a really Hicks field is cool and it's traditional, it's it's old school, but that's cool.
13:56
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
13:56
SPEAKER_02: The reason I'm saying it is because I've had the the the fortunate, I've been very fortunate, and gone two seasons to the Cape Cad baseball league.
14:05
SPEAKER_02: Now college level uh different because it's Cape Cad.
14:10
SPEAKER_02: But the setting there for the field is really cool and it's like picnics.
14:14
SPEAKER_02: You just you just walk up the the to the field and you're you're sitting in the outfield and and and you get to watch the game and you're there's people are living just right across the street.
14:24
SPEAKER_02: Some fields are a little bit more industrial, and and that's life.
14:28
SPEAKER_02: But you've got something very close to that, and that's that's what I really think is so neat about the steamers.
14:34
SPEAKER_02: You've got the community, you got the field.
14:37
SPEAKER_02: Um, it does really kind of help pull keep things together, doesn't it?
14:42
SPEAKER_01: For sure, yeah.
14:42
SPEAKER_01: So Historic Hicks Field obviously is one of the main historic landmarks, um, and it's been there for almost a hundred years now.
14:49
SPEAKER_01: Um, but that's definitely one of the main things that we get fans in.
14:54
SPEAKER_01: It was kind of interesting when I was talking to a family last year.
14:57
SPEAKER_01: They actually had nobody connected to the team or anything.
14:59
SPEAKER_01: They were from Charlotte and they just wanted to see the field.
15:02
SPEAKER_01: So it was kind of cool.
15:03
SPEAKER_01: We had, I mean, and I'm sure there's other people like that that come to games that want to just, you know, be able to experience it.
15:09
SPEAKER_01: And because it is a historic field and it's you know, we have the wooden grandstand.
15:14
SPEAKER_01: There's a lot of wood there, a lot of wood everywhere, but then we have you know the old timey um scoreboard where we manually put the you know the outs, the I grew up in Chicago with Wrigley Field.
15:23
SPEAKER_02: That's nothing.
15:24
SPEAKER_02: Come on.
15:24
SPEAKER_01: I was in Chicago this last weekend, maybe so yeah.
15:27
SPEAKER_01: So super cool how we you know keep it very old timey, you know, true baseball feel.
15:32
SPEAKER_01: It's not over, you know, technology or anything, but um, you know, the guys love it.
15:38
SPEAKER_01: I think, like I said, the community is a big selling point for the players, but also the field itself, it's the feel you get when you play on that field.
15:46
SPEAKER_01: And like you said, it feels like a big stage, a big stadium.
15:49
SPEAKER_01: Uh so we can actually hold 1,500 fans and typically like you know, July 3rd game for July 4th, we have the fire fireworks, and we we always are either at selling point or sell out for that game.
16:03
SPEAKER_01: Uh, and so it's super cool um how much you know the fans rally around us and are able just to come to those games just because whether it's because of the field or just you know, wanting to support the team, but the field is definitely too a selling point as well.
16:18
SPEAKER_00: I definitely I agree with that wholeheartedly.
16:20
SPEAKER_00: Like I said, I grew up going to the games, it was like a big family activity.
16:23
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we lived in Elizabeth City, but we would drive the 40 minutes to go there because it's such a fun experience.
16:29
SPEAKER_00: It definitely gives that classic baseball feel.
16:33
SPEAKER_00: Um, and I do think it's it's a really fun thing for a lot of families in the area.
16:38
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
16:38
SPEAKER_01: So we try and make sure, like that's kind of our main thing.
16:41
SPEAKER_01: And that's why we've been actually five dollars for so long for fans.
16:45
SPEAKER_01: This year we had to go up, sadly, just because of how much expenses everything is.
16:49
SPEAKER_01: So we're up to seven, but still we're cheaper than high school.
16:51
SPEAKER_01: Still only seven.
16:52
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, we're cheaper than high school games.
16:54
SPEAKER_01: And so um, our main goal truly is just to get people into the game because we want to make sure like the fans and the families are able to get a good night of entertainment at a relatively inexpensive price.
17:06
SPEAKER_01: Um, and so at the end of the day, that is our main goal is you know, to make the fans happy, to make the families happy, to bring the kids in.
17:12
SPEAKER_01: And what was so cool is um, you know, we like you said, it's a family experience, but we do the in-between innings games where we get the kids involved.
17:20
SPEAKER_01: And the kids love that.
17:22
SPEAKER_01: Um, always wanted to sign up and you know, it feels like a minor league almost type feel.
17:27
SPEAKER_01: And so between that and all the extra amenities around the ballpark, we truly have a special um place, you know, for fans and families to come um and for their kids as well.
17:37
SPEAKER_01: So their kids, what was kind of cool to me within that first year is we have a kids' club, um, which allows kids to be able to join for free because of we have sponsors who pay for it.
17:48
SPEAKER_01: Um, and they get a free shirt, four free tickets, um, and then discounts to the kids camp.
17:54
SPEAKER_01: And, you know, it's super easy.
17:55
SPEAKER_01: All you gotta do is just fill it out and it's free.
17:58
SPEAKER_01: And last year we had over 700 kids.
18:01
SPEAKER_01: I didn't even know there were that many kids around the area.
18:03
SPEAKER_01: Um, and so it was like that come to the games.
18:06
SPEAKER_01: Um, so it was super cool, like being able to see the you know, the amount of kids that not only come to the games but sign up for this, you know, and get to experience the all the extra perks that come with it.
18:17
SPEAKER_00: So and that's getting ready to start again soon.
18:20
SPEAKER_00: Your first game is May 27th.
18:23
SPEAKER_00: I'm assuming you guys are going to be doing that again this year.
18:26
SPEAKER_00: Yes.
18:26
SPEAKER_00: What are you most excited for this year for the team?
18:29
SPEAKER_00: Oh, that's a loaded question.
18:31
SPEAKER_01: Everything, yeah, everything.
18:32
SPEAKER_01: No, I think overall our team last year we finished 32 and 10, had a really good season.
18:38
SPEAKER_01: Um, I think this year we'll be better than we were last year.
18:41
SPEAKER_01: I'm I'm really excited looking at our guys, I think we're super talented um all around.
18:46
SPEAKER_01: So for me, like on the field wise, I think we have a really good product.
18:50
SPEAKER_01: Um, outside of the field, we have the box suite that we added last year.
18:54
SPEAKER_01: So I'm looking forward to being able to promote that and um, you know, sell that more.
18:59
SPEAKER_01: That pretty much is it allows fans for you know, if you have a group event or birthday party, um any type of thing that goes on, you can rent out that space.
19:07
SPEAKER_01: It's up to 20 people and it gives you a different view of the ball game.
19:11
SPEAKER_01: Um, and so it's super cool.
19:12
SPEAKER_01: And so that's kind of one of the things that I'm more excited about because we didn't get that, you know, fully done until um not it was right before halfway last year.
19:21
SPEAKER_01: So this year will be a full year of having that done and you know, being able, like I said, to experience the game in a different way.
19:27
SPEAKER_01: We're constantly adding new ideas and new thoughts.
19:30
SPEAKER_01: And we started the Rocky Hawk Nats last year, which was our alter ego, and that sold really well to the fans because it's so funny for those, you know, that live around the area, they know how bad in the summertime the gnats are.
19:43
SPEAKER_01: And um, so we like jokingly, especially in Rocky Hawk, and so that was kind of like a joke, and then it just kind of you know came to us.
19:51
SPEAKER_01: We were like, what if we, you know, did our alter ego once a week, the Rocky Hawk Nats, and the fans just loved it.
19:57
SPEAKER_01: Um, and so it's super cool being able to, you know, the overall community in the county from Eatington to Rocky Hawk and the different um areas um promoting those things.
20:07
SPEAKER_01: It's it's definitely um done well.
20:09
SPEAKER_01: So I think those are the things that I'm most excited about is you know, at the end of the day, we want to put a good product on the field to make the fans happy, but we also want to make sure they want to keep coming back each game.
20:18
SPEAKER_01: And so making it each night a different experience for the fans to allow them that opportunity to enjoy themselves and, you know, like I said, have a fun, cheap entertainment night.
20:28
SPEAKER_00: So the River City Skipper started playing here in Elizabeth City in 2023, which is great for Elizabeth City.
20:36
SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna say go skippers and go steamers.
20:38
SPEAKER_00: I'm maintaining objective journalism, unbiased.
20:42
SPEAKER_00: But um, I know by the time you came on, they were already in like their second season.
20:47
SPEAKER_00: Uh but I am kind of curious to know personally if having another team, because uh this is the closest team to you guys.
20:54
SPEAKER_00: I think I actually literally Google mapped it just to make sure that was correct.
20:58
SPEAKER_00: And all of the other teams you guys are playing this season are at least an hour away.
21:01
SPEAKER_00: Yes, correct.
21:02
SPEAKER_00: So I'm curious to know if having another team that's closer to you guys has an effect.
21:07
SPEAKER_00: Like, are you guys kind of like hanging out?
21:10
SPEAKER_00: Is it a good way for you guys to keep up a healthy rivalry?
21:14
SPEAKER_00: I mean, maybe there's no impact at all, but I'm just kind of curious.
21:17
SPEAKER_01: I think it's um definitely helped as far as, you know, like you said, a healthy rivalry in that sense.
21:22
SPEAKER_01: I was um good friends with the previous um guy who was running the team, and what we ended up deciding to do is that July 3rd game that we always get a lot of fans to kind of make it each year against them.
21:33
SPEAKER_01: So that way, you know, the fans from Elizabeth City can also come to Eatington, and it's a big experience for everybody.
21:39
SPEAKER_01: Um, and so for us and them, um, like they've like I said, the last few years they've they've done well, they put a good product on the field, knock on wood, they have not beat us yet, but it has been a good rivalry in the sense of we played close games.
21:55
SPEAKER_01: Um, and so um, like I said, it's super nice having close, close teams like.
22:00
SPEAKER_01: That and obviously it's only 30 minutes away.
22:03
SPEAKER_01: So, you know, we still get our fans from Elizabeth City that come to the games, and um, I don't think it really, you know, affects either one of our overall experiences, and so it is kind of a healthy rivalry that allows us to be able to work together and you know partner together on different ideas and different things.
22:21
SPEAKER_02: Let me ask you about the baseball part about this.
22:23
SPEAKER_02: Um I don't when I was growing up, I don't I grew up again in the Chicago area, we didn't really have college leagues.
22:31
SPEAKER_02: All I knew there was minor leagues for the for the for the pros.
22:34
SPEAKER_02: Um and then there was semi-pro leagues.
22:37
SPEAKER_02: Your particular league has really grown.
22:41
SPEAKER_02: Has have college leagues across the country grown?
22:46
SPEAKER_01: I would say yes as time has gone on.
22:48
SPEAKER_01: Um, I mean it's kind of interesting in the just in the last few years.
22:51
SPEAKER_01: I mean, I'm only 24, but in the last few years, they've actually started softball college summer experiences.
22:56
SPEAKER_01: And like, you know, that wasn't even there when I was there, and like I just graduated.
23:01
SPEAKER_01: So um in that sense, even in in both aspects, baseball, softball, the whole sports world, there's been a lot of growth as far as adding uh new teams, new experiences as in in the college realm during the regular um, you know, university calendar year.
23:18
SPEAKER_01: They got flag football now, they have esports, um, you know, a bunch of other things.
23:22
SPEAKER_01: So that's the same for us, you know, they're adding a lot more opportunities, a lot more teams um around everywhere.
23:28
SPEAKER_01: Um, and so for us, obviously, we were in the CPL for 20 years, and that was a great experience.
23:34
SPEAKER_01: And so we ended up um changing over to this league a few years ago.
23:38
SPEAKER_01: And so from that, um, we were able to, you know, just be able to partner with a bunch of, like I said, these other teams.
23:45
SPEAKER_01: But now, since our league is so big, we're almost up to 30, 30 teams.
23:49
SPEAKER_01: So um it's kind of allows you when you win the overall league, it's kind of like, okay, well, you know, one of 30, like we're actually, you know, winning a big, big prestigious thing.
23:59
SPEAKER_01: But um our league overall, yes, it's expanded um amazingly over the last few years.
24:05
SPEAKER_01: Um, each each little counties or each little town seems to be getting a new team.
24:10
SPEAKER_01: So um I don't know how big we're gonna end up expanding to, but I think it's a great thing, you know, to give different guys opportunities from different areas and different schools.
24:18
SPEAKER_02: So hasn't softball for women also really expanded?
24:23
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's what, yeah.
24:24
SPEAKER_01: So yeah, it's that was what was kind of yeah, crazy too, is softball as a whole is kind of overall for the World Series and for the D1 World Series that's in Oklahoma City, that's super I mean, that sells out before it even really even hits the market.
24:39
SPEAKER_01: It's crazy.
24:40
SPEAKER_02: I don't think I at one again, this is going back a few years.
24:43
SPEAKER_02: I don't ever remember really wanting to watch, and that maybe that was bias, maybe there's just ignorance, whatever.
24:51
SPEAKER_02: But now when I'll talk about that later on his fire.
24:55
SPEAKER_02: I'd some of the competitive stuff I'm seeing is cool.
24:58
SPEAKER_02: It's just really cool to see see young people like that get so excited about what they're doing when they make a great catch and they make a great hit.
25:06
SPEAKER_02: It's just amazing.
25:08
SPEAKER_02: That being said, nobody but nobody should be able to throw a ball.
25:11
SPEAKER_02: Pitchers should be able to throw a ball that fast, underhanded, ever.
25:15
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's amazing.
25:16
SPEAKER_01: It really is amazing how far.
25:18
SPEAKER_01: I mean, I'm not gonna say technology, but like in a way, technology, because it's allowed us to be able to, you know, tweak little things, to be able to learn little things that work that doesn't work.
25:28
SPEAKER_01: Um, and so it's just crazy too, even from 20 years ago, how far everything has come in the sports world and especially women's sports.
25:37
SPEAKER_01: I mean, people are thriving, what wanting to watch that, wanting to enjoy that softball, like I said, has grown so much that it allows, you know, there's so many kids that are now wanting to play that want to get to that level.
25:48
SPEAKER_01: And it's super cool seeing those games sell out.
25:51
SPEAKER_01: Um, I that's one of my goals is to be able to go to the World Series, but uh with obviously with my schedule now, it's kind of we'll have to be put on the back burner.
26:00
SPEAKER_01: But um, but yeah, I mean, they sell out.
26:01
SPEAKER_01: It's huge stadiums that um I mean, 20 years ago you probably wouldn't even be able to get a thousand people to.
26:08
SPEAKER_01: So um overall, like I said, in the sports world, it's it's amazing to see not only females thriving, um, but just thriving in sports, but as well as you know, managerial positions, kind of like what I'm doing.
26:21
SPEAKER_01: Um, it's just everything's expanded, and I think it's super cool the direction in which that's going.
26:27
SPEAKER_00: So that's happening with the like the WNBA as well.
26:30
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, a lot more.
26:30
SPEAKER_00: I've seen a lot of people joke online about how they're gonna start calling the MBA the MNBA, since everybody calls it the WMBA.
26:37
SPEAKER_00: But um kind of touching on what we're talking about and then also like what you said earlier, there are plenty of steamers that have gone on to they played for like I I I looked at it on the website, the White Sox, the Mets, the Giants.
26:51
SPEAKER_00: There's a lot of that.
26:53
SPEAKER_00: Um what are your hopes for the future?
26:56
SPEAKER_00: Do you think we can expect to see you being the manager of an MLB team in the future?
27:00
SPEAKER_00: Or are you really enjoying where you're at?
27:02
SPEAKER_00: Just I just want to know where we can we can expect to see you.
27:06
SPEAKER_01: Um, I'm definitely enjoying where I'm at right now in life.
27:09
SPEAKER_01: Um and and enjoying the job that I have as far as you're young.
27:13
SPEAKER_01: You have time.
27:14
SPEAKER_01: Well, yeah.
27:14
SPEAKER_01: But I would say, you know, everybody has dreams and aspirations.
27:17
SPEAKER_01: I don't know, it's something that I've been thinking about um as far as future goes, we'll see what the future holds.
27:24
SPEAKER_01: I really I can't say that I have anything specific in mind.
27:27
SPEAKER_01: Obviously, you know, there's always pros and cons to any job and to any sports thing you get into, because if you get to that big, big MBA, NFL, MLB, any type of professional job, you're gonna have to have sacrifices of, you know, other things.
27:43
SPEAKER_01: And so, um, but yeah, it would be cool definitely one day to be able to say that, you know, I did this and I made it somewhere else.
27:51
SPEAKER_01: But we'll see what the future holds.
27:53
SPEAKER_01: I'm enjoying what I'm doing now.
27:54
SPEAKER_00: So what I'm hearing is when you are the general manager of the Yankees in 15 years, you're still gonna come back.
28:00
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I'll come back into a podcast on the podcast.
28:02
SPEAKER_02: What I heard is that she I think she could be a very good politician.
28:06
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, well, that you know, you gotta play, you gotta play that a little bit.
28:08
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
28:09
SPEAKER_01: Play the field, pun intended.
28:11
SPEAKER_01: No, but yeah, I like I said, it this job truly I it doesn't feel like work because it's really, I mean, there's a lot of little things that people don't realize goes into this job, like a lot of little things that um it's kind of funny.
28:24
SPEAKER_01: When I took the job, everybody was like, Well, what do you do the other nine months?
28:27
SPEAKER_01: And I'm like, it is a year-round job, you know, like it takes a lot to put what the product that we put on the field, on the field.
28:35
SPEAKER_01: And so um I think it's super cool, you know.
28:38
SPEAKER_01: It was actually kind of funny.
28:39
SPEAKER_01: I have a board um of 20 people that's kind of over me and that we meet once a month, and they help volunteer throughout the summer.
28:46
SPEAKER_01: And uh one of my board members was actually in the office uh last week, and a lot of people had came in.
28:52
SPEAKER_01: I was doing a bunch of different things, and they were there for probably an hour or so, and they looked at me and they were like, I had no idea what you really did.
29:00
SPEAKER_01: And I was like, Yeah, like there's a lot, you know, that goes into it, and it's super fun though.
29:05
SPEAKER_01: Like, I'm a people person, so I love meeting new people.
29:08
SPEAKER_01: I love building those relationships, talking to new people, and you know, learning about their you know backgrounds and stuff.
29:15
SPEAKER_01: And so that's kind of one of the main things I enjoy about this job is people in the community I get to meet because of it.
29:22
SPEAKER_01: And then, you know, throughout the summer, um being able, you know, especially those big nights that we have almost a thousand fans, like being able to look out and see, like, you know, we did this, like we were able to put this product out here that allows fans to want to come more.
29:35
SPEAKER_01: And so yeah, I just I really do love what I do and it it doesn't feel like work.
29:40
SPEAKER_01: So the fun parts, you know, coming up soon.
29:42
SPEAKER_01: And so I'm I'm super excited and pumped for for not only what's like I said, what's gonna be on the field, but you know, the overall experience of the fans as well.
29:50
SPEAKER_00: So I think we're excited too, don't you, David?
29:53
SPEAKER_00: I better be at some games.
29:54
SPEAKER_00: Hey, I'm sure, yeah, I'm sure I will, especially with my mom.
29:58
SPEAKER_00: Um, if she sees you, yes, please just ignore her.
30:02
SPEAKER_00: No, don't don't that's not that's not funny, mom.
30:04
SPEAKER_00: I love you.
30:05
SPEAKER_00: Um, no, but but I definitely can't wait to see what this season has instead of.
30:10
SPEAKER_00: I'm excited, yeah.
30:11
SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much for joining us.
30:13
SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
30:14
SPEAKER_00: Thank y'all.
30:15
SPEAKER_00: Um, wow, I can't believe you're the first woman in the whole league.
30:18
SPEAKER_00: I came into this preparing for you to be the first in in just for the steamers 30-year history.
30:23
SPEAKER_00: So this is amazing.
30:24
SPEAKER_00: It's an honor to speak with you.
30:26
SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
30:26
SPEAKER_00: And thank you so much.
30:28
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I'll come back in 20 years.
30:29
SPEAKER_00: We'll see what's up.
30:30
SPEAKER_00: Thank goodness.
30:30
SPEAKER_00: I'm so excited.
30:31
SPEAKER_00: 20 year reunion.
30:32
SPEAKER_02: That means we gotta be here in 20 years.
30:34
SPEAKER_00: Yes, yes.
30:36
SPEAKER_00: And we will be, even if it's just a reunion, right, David?
30:39
SPEAKER_02: Right, absolutely.
30:40
SPEAKER_00: Well, thank you so much to all of our listeners.
30:43
SPEAKER_00: Um, don't forget to check out the Edenton Steamers as they kick off their season on May 27th.
30:49
SPEAKER_00: And stay tuned for another episode coming here soon.
30:54
SPEAKER_02: Read the daily advance and the yes, this will be in print.
30:57
SPEAKER_00: In case anybody is not aware, these are in print and it's super fun to read.
31:02
SPEAKER_00: We love to read.
31:03
SPEAKER_00: So thank you so much for all of our listeners and to Lauren one more time, and everybody go play ball.