Ford, No. 1 seed A&M ready to host Bryan-College Station Regional

Texas A&M softball will begin the 2025 NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 national seed, hosting Liberty, Marist and Saint Francis in the Bryan-College Station Regional. Head coach Trisha Ford joined TexAgs Live on Wednesday to preview the weekend.

Key notes from Trisha Ford interview

• It was a great weekend and week in Georgia. We wish we had played, but the weather was really bad. It is what it is.
   
• We were originally scheduled to play the SEC Championship game at 5 p.m., but we got pushed to 1 p.m. because it was our best window. Red pockets get popping up, and it didn't stop raining from 12 p.m. on, and I didn't know if we would've been able to get out if we waited much longer. Patty Gasso and I got together and looked at the field. Player safety came into play, and we decided it was best for everybody involved to unfortunately not play the SEC Championship game.
   
• We actually talk a lot about not letting up and not taking your foot off the gas. South Carolina and Texas have the ability to put up crooked numbers, and we learned that last year. It was imperative for us to keep going and not let up, and that was my idea of fun. Emiley Kennedy threw two games for us and got us two wins. I'm not sure you could've asked for anything better.
   
• Beating Texas was huge. We had to sit on what happened last year, and I was interested to see how it looked. I told Jeff Harger that it was one of the best offensive performances I've ever been a part of. It was impressive.
   
• We have plenty of things we can pick on. I'm wired to find something to improve. I want to absolutely dominate in everything I do. When kids leave our program, I hope that's a trait they take with them. You get to come out and be the best version of yourself. That is something that will help them in life.
   
• Kelsey Mathis is a player who got her first collegiate start vs. Tennessee and was lights out. She hasn't had a bad at-bat. She works herself into deep counts, and you see that mentality with KK Dement, Frankie Vrazel and Sydney Lessentine. We want kids who want to chase greatness, even when it's really hard.
   
• We took on this season knowing that it was going to be really tough, and we took some bumps early on. We had a heartbreak vs. Oklahoma State, and we split with Texas Tech. We figured out how to have a lead and keep a lead. This team is confident and comfortable. They know they can help their teammates be successful. It's not about any one individual. It's about helping Texas A&M softball be successful.
   
• It wasn't in my plan to have Kennedy throw the entire game vs. Texas, but she needs to get used to throwing in back-to-back games vs. high-level competition. She's going to have to go until she can't go anymore. When we put up runs, it felt like a great opportunity for her to finish a game.
   
• There is a lot that keeps me up right now. I don't want us to overlook our opponents this weekend. We're going to see some thumbers. Everybody is going to be scrappy. Our practice on Monday wasn't at the intensity level that I wanted it to be at, so we had a conversation about it. We're keeping our nose down and working and working and working. There are things that go through my head. Making sure we can play catch. Making sure our footwork is good. It's all the little things I want tuned up.
   
• The health standpoint has been huge for us. We've had some bang-ups. Sidne Peters threw live this week. Our girls were not excited to see her 2,200 rpm, but her speed and velo looked really good. I'm excited, and if we can use her this weekend, we will.
   
• This week is like a pre-conference weekend, so you have to prep for three teams. I prepped for Saint Francis on Monday. I will prep for Liberty and Marist. That will all be done by the end of the day on Thursday, which could be 1 a.m. On Friday, I will spend all day making sure everything is tidied up for Saint Francis.
   
• Amari Harper has been critical for us. She has played second, right field and first base. Our program might not have getting much recognition nationally, but we had multiple kids hit .800 in the SEC Tournament this weekend. Dement's OPS was well above 1.000. Top to bottom, our team puts together weekends. That makes us so hard to beat. When you get through Mya Perez and Mac Barbara, here comes Dement, Harper and Allie Enright. It's a nightmare, and it has been huge for us.
   
• Kennedy Powell hit a slap home run. Who does that?
   
• You have veteran leadership. Jazmine Hill came into our program last year, and she set that standard. Having Koko Wooley and Kennedy stay for all four years was huge. Enright has been integral to us for three years. We have enough seniors and juniors, and we have some freshmen who have stepped up this year.
   
• What I'm most excited for is the 12th Man because they deserve this. They have put in so much work and supported us through thick and thin. When I took over this program, this is what I envisioned every single year, and that's what I want. We want to put together the best product because we want to serve the 12th Man and Texas A&M. I'm excited. It's going to be rowdy, and I'm excited to get some wins.
   
• I want to see focus, execution, and one of the things the team is hearing from me is, "Just because you can doesn't mean you should." You're going to face arms that look different, and just because you can swing at that pitch doesn't mean you should. Pitching-wise, it's about executing and utilising all quadrants.