College Softball News

7 Innings with Amanda Scarborough at Women’s College World Series

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma  –  Women’s College Softball fans will have a new way to see the National Championship Series between Florida State and Washington. For the first time, ESPN will offer a second screen viewing option on ESPN3. Along with the traditional broadcast of Beth Mowins, Michele Smith, Jessica Mendoza, and Holly Rowe on ESPN, fans can go to ESPN3 to see an alternate version with Adam Amin, Amanda Scarborough, Laura Rutledge and Kayla Braud. ESPN is calling this new broadcast, ” 7 Innings Live,”  as the crew will be intereacting with the fans to and provide analysis during the game.

I had a chance to catch up with Scarborough before the first game of the National Championship Series to discuss some topics including her rise from being a former All-American pitcher at Texas A&M, to now becoming one of the major faces on TV for softball fans, and comparing broadcasting at the WCWS to participating as a player.

Eric Lopez (ELO): Your thoughts on the National Championship matchup?

Amanda Scarborough: These are the two teams playing with the most energy, fight, and togetherness. They’re both playing their best ball of the season at the right time and it’s so interesting to me they took two different “routes” to get here: Washington staying in the winner’s bracket and FSU fighting off elimination every game through the loser’s bracket.

ELO: What is the key for Washington and Florida State to come out on top and win a national title?

Scarborough: The key for Washington is to keep playing the same defense. I can’t recall another team at the WCWS who has played better defense than what I’ve seen Washington show this year. Also, with the way that FSU is swinging the bats coming into the Finals, it’s going to be important to keep them in the ballpark and slow them down on offense. Washington has the defense and pitching to do so. For FSU, it will be key for them to continue to have confidence at the plate deep in to the game. Because of that Washington defense I just mentioned, it can be a rally killer for an offense like we saw against Oklahoma. What’s made FSU’s at bats so special is that they just don’t give up. If they aren’t scoring runs or getting to the pitcher, they persist and find a way.

ELO: Your thoughts on Oklahoma’s three-peat run coming to an end?

Scarborough:  Oklahoma had a very strong season. They played all year like a team that was poised and ready to three-peat…..until they got here. To me, they didn’t look themselves. I didn’t see them play like they felt pressure on them throughout the year until they got here and I think it’s possible it hit them once it got down to 8 teams here in OKC. It’s always sad to see senior classes graduate, especially one like the Sooners had…one of the best senior classes to go through their program.

ELO: Your thoughts on how the Women’s College World Series is now compared to when you were here as a player at A&M?

Scarborough: Everything about the WCWS is more. Consistently more people in the stands through all of the sessions. More cameras with ESPN. More media all around. More energy buzzing through the stadium. And then on the field, there’s more scouting the other teams which has led to more teams knowing about how to attack an individual hitter or how to approach a pitcher….and because of that, it’s caused our sport to grow with our hitters, pitchers, and the defense getting even better. Hard to think it hasn’t been THAT long since I was out there, but our sport has grown in so many different ways at a rapid rate!

Amanda Scarborough with Adam Amin and Laura Rutledge (Photo courtesy of ESPN)

ELO: Describe being at the Women’s College World Series as a broadcaster compared to being a participant as a player?

Scarborough: The big moments feel the same to me…as a broadcaster and as a player. Of course, as a player on the field, they’re going to feel a tad more intense because you’re wearing the uniform, but I love how has a broadcaster or as a player, you FEEL the big moments of the game here. The difference in being the broadcaster vs. the player is I truly get to enjoy every game of the week with no added pressure of winning or losing or a season coming to an end. As a player, it’s one of the biggest things that’s on your mind especially as a senior…not only are you wanting to win games to get closer to a national championship, but you also don’t want your season & career to end with your teammates. Up in the booth here, we feel the sadness for the player’s season coming to an end, but it’s NOTHING like the real emotions you feel on that field when reality hits that your season is over.”

ELO: You worked with Adam Amin and Laura Rutledge at the WCWS and have worked with, Beth Mowins, Michele Smith, and Jessica Mendoza over the years. What is it like working with them individually and what have you learned from them?

Scarborough: With Beth and Adam, I never stop laughing. With Michele and Jess, I never stop learning. And with Laura and Holly, I never stop listening. I love the combination this group brings of unique personalities and strengths that both as a broadcaster I am able to learn from, and also as a former player/softball coach I am able to learn more about the game. In all regards, I never stop learning and soaking in as much as I can about broadcasting this sport!

ELO: You have become one of the faces of college softball in television and the media like a Kirk Herbstreit is to college football. You have even taken photos and signed autographs this week with fans who are fans of yours. What is it like to know that so many people go to you for your opinions on the sport and any topic that involves the sport or what happens during the game on the field?

Scarborough:I understand my influence continues to grow, and I don’t ever want to take it for granted. Because I’ve learned over time that people care to hear my opinion, I strive to work hard to educate myself on teams or coaching philosophies or certain players so that I can bring facts and information for the viewers and softball fans to learn from.”

One thing is for sure as I talked to fans this week at the stadium. Scarborough’s work as a color commentator has helped grow the popularity of the sport with her work on the Softball telecasts.

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