NFL
By: Jeffrey Newholm
Every athlete loves their walk-up song. When they march to the plate, a tune of choice elevates adrenaline, getting the batter in the correct success mindset.
However, does a successful sound sate? If a sport provides grand slam success with every match, will athletes with unlimited potential go mad with unbalanced brain chemicals? Would fans, like jaded prisoners in the failed utopia matrix, rebel, figuring spectacular athleticism is a computer-generated fraud?
Heck no!
In the final weekend of the 2025 Athletes Unlimited softball cup, four captains selected a quarto of immensely talented rosters seeking, check that. Sixty athletes built on an already unparalleled volume of athletic excellence. However, only one fastballer could win the cup, based on an innovative point system awarding technical excellence.
The AUSL (Athletes Unlimited Softball League) began 2025 with the first four-team regular season in its history. The Cup followed with matches in Holly Springs, North Carolina, and jamming Rosemont, Illinois. An awe-struck, intrigued fanbase cheered louder (and louder!) in the land of Lincoln over Labor Day weekend. The stadium’s talented host ensured that spectators received an expected ballpark experience. T-shirt tosses, youth games, and (for once!) delicious concessions guaranteed a twin bill that any MLB game could only envy. Thankfully, with backing from those Major Leagues, the AUSL has the financial resources necessary for a young women’s league.
However, what about the field’s product? Only the best. Viewers on ESPN may have seen women having fun while competing with friends. Those willing to make the journey to Chicago’s best suburb, however, noticed the more intense side of fastball. The four teams played with highly professional and purely competitive focus. And as planes flew overhead from nearby O’Hare, even that impressive aviation could not compare with the sterling catches, mighty swings, and speedy baserunning of America’s 60 best players.
When the infield dust returned to the diamond on Sunday afternoon, University of Kentucky alum Kayla Kowalik earned the cup. And this before putting on her catcher’s gear for the last game! Per theausl.com and ESPN’s final broadcast, Kowalik’s twin sister, Gabbie, needed a catcher growing up. Needless to say (but worth repeating anyway), the Kowalik twins’ familial passion led to glory for both sisters. Gabbie finished her Saint Louis University career as the Billiken’s all-time run scorer. As if this family ascendence were not enough, Kayla’s experience from her half of the battery produced further Kowalik triumph.
As ESPN relayed, Kayla wanted the number 100 growing up.Seems reasonable from Team NBS Media! Unfortunately, coaches told Kayla that jerseys do not work with three digits. She settled for #99, a number that the catcher continued to wear through a ball player’s career that a certain Yankee can only fainty aspire towards.
As fans gradually exited the Rosemont ballpark while fourteeninnings led to a final out on Saturday, Team NBS observed that skeptics towards US professional softball (not that there was legitimate doubt anyway) were inarguably in line for a quick exit at O’Hare. Further, as Athletes Unlimited commissioner Kim Ng announced Sunday, the AUSL will expand to six franchises next year, with each club boasting a home site.
With the city of roses as a backdrop and host, and sixty joyous athletes leaving as life’s winners, the security team at O’Hare had another item to ban.
The X accounts of finger-pointers with three other digits directed, properly, back at their notion that softball could never share entertainment value with hardball on the north, south, or any baseball side.
