Natasha Watley's Blog

As 2010 leaves us and I start to reflect on this past year I leave my thoughts in amazement.  2010 was such a memorable year for me and couldn’t have come at a more perfect time in my softball career.  Just when I was thinking my career was winding down I was blessed with the opportunity to compete for Team USA, NPF (USSSA Pride), & the Japan Softball League.  Just when I started to doubt my capability to give this game everything that I have, the game proved me wrong and paid me back. Being part of the 2010 World Championship with Team USA, winning the NPF championship and winning the championship in the Japan softball league I still feel inspired and even more passionate about trying to build and grow this game on every level. This game continues to fulfill me yet I still have the urge to continue to fulfill my duty and responsibility to my teammates, my colleagues, our game and future softballers!

As we move into 2011, I will be taking a leave of absence from the USA team with hopes to extend the “softball life” of a ball player in our sport. Due to the schedule overlap, unfortunately I won’t be able to do both in 2011, but I would hope to be considered for USA 2012. I have chose this year to help the pro league. This has been one of the hardest decisions I have had to make to date.  It is always an honor to be considered to continue to represent my country.  There is no greater privilege for a softball player to wear the red white and blue! Yet I’m in a crossroad in my career that I feel I will fulfill my duties the best, to this sport, by trying to sustain a professional avenue within our sport.  With that said, I’m excited for the opportunity this gives for other players to wear USA across their chest and continue to help expand our game internationally.   I’m also excited for the bright future the NPF holds.  It is my hope in the next years to come that there are several avenues and opportunities for players to pursue beyond college whether it be on the national team or in the pro league!

God willing, I hope to return to the USA team at some point.  Until then you can find me working hard to build up our pro league(NPF) with the USSSA Pride .  Thank you all for your continued support! It will take the entire softball community to keep our sport thriving in the years to come. I challenge all of us to do our part and support softball on every level and stage!

Natasha

It has been way too long since I last wrote, but I wanted to catch everyone up on my CRAZY-FUN summer! After returning home from my first half of the season in Japan, I literally had 1 week off then hit the ground running, very fast that is! I was lucky enough to touch back home in time to see my Bruins win the Women’s College World Series!! It was such a treat to see the Bru-wins back at the top!!!

Shortly after attending WCWS I started my National Professional Fastpitch (NPF) season with the Florida USSSA Pride.  So I packed my bags and made the move to HOT Orlando, for the summer.  I absolutely loved my time playing for the Pride! Going into the summer I was a little worried that it was going to be too much on my plate, but so happy about my decsion to play. Not to mention winning a Championship can always help!!! So proud of my teammates and coaches!! Truly was an amazing experience!

My Dad, my Aunt, My Grandmother & Me at NPF Championships-Sulphur,LA

To add to my busy softball schedule this summer, I once again was so honored to play for the RED, WHITE & BLUE! This summer was a success because the USA team brought home the gold medal from both World Championships & the US World Cup. The World Championships were held in Caracas, Venezuela.  I roomed with Jennie Finch one last time before her retirement, as usual we spent the majority of time laughing! So much fun! Then Team USA finished the summer with The US World cup, which we hots in Oklahoma City. My parents were able to make both trips(Venezuela & Oklahoma), so nice having my #1 fan club!!

My parents and I after the "Pink Out" game-Oklahoma City, OK

In the middle of competing for USSSA Pride and Team USA, I was able to make it out to MLB All-Star festivities in Anahiem, Ca. Jennie (Finch) and I went to represent our NPF teams and Team USA and played in the Celebrity Slow pitch game. I had the time of my life! I was surrounded by MLB hall of Famers who I have looked up to growing up.

Ricky Henderson & me

Bo Jackson & me

Another highlight to the summer was attending the RBI world series in Palm Beach,Fl. So exciting getting the chance to speak with the girls and see them off before they went to “war”. Congrats to the LA RBI team on winning the RBI World Series!!

Not only was this summer a hectic one, it was a special one for me because I had the chance to share the field with one of my great friends, for the last time.  As most of you know, this was Jennie Finch’s last time playing, she will definatley go down as one of the most talented, competitive athletes in our sport. I have been so honored being Jennie’s teammate and will miss her terribly!! She is truly an amazing person, good teammate and best of all a GREAT friend!!

Jennie & I at All-Star Game-Anaheim,Ca

Overall busy summer, but I’m simply living dream! Never in a million years would I think that this would be my job. So blessed!

Now I’m back in Japan, finishing the second half to the season. We are off to a good start.  There are many blogs to follow to keep you all updated!

Natasha #29

OK so I apologize, but things have been real busy here! So I haven’t had much time to write. Time has
flown by since I last wrote. This is our last week here! Excited to come home, but have some unfinished
business to take care of here first. Our final tournament is this weekend! We are the #1 seed going into the
tournament and the 1st game we face the #2 seed, “Ueno’s team” also known as Renesus. Ueno is the
Japanese pitcher the USA team faced in the Gold medal game at the Olympics. She is very popular here in
Japan, and a really good pitcher, so you know you are going to get a good game when you face her. So we
have 2 games, maybe 3 games to win the tournament. If we win the first game we automatically move into
the championship game the next day. So send your good vibes towards Japan for us please!!!!
When I last wrote we were on our way to the Japan tournament, something completely separate from the
league games. We ended up loosing in the championship game vs. Renesus team (”Ueno’s team”). We
played 5 games in 3 days, so I was pretty much drained in every way possible afterwards. So again please
accept my apology for not updating=). After we resumed playing league games, our team bounced right
back, (beating Renesus the first weekend back) moving into 1st place and never looked back since! So
hopefully we continue this right into this weekend!

Ok so enough softball……since I last wrote Monica and I have done A LOT of traveling/sightseeing on our
off days. This also explains why we have been so busy. We were able to travel to Osaka, to shop, sightsee,
and relax, but mainly to see BEYONCE!!!!!! So all of you know my obsession with Beyonce, so it was a
real treat to see her on the other side of the world in Japan. It was such an experience seeing her in Japan,
1st of all the fact that the entire audience didn’t really know a lick of English but was still captivated by her
was amusing to me. I on the other hand knew EVERY word, to EVERY song, and I’m sure I was more
entertainment for the people sitting behind us than Beyonce..lol! This was truly the closes I’ve ever been to
her, we were in the floor seats and when she made her way down the center stage that went through the
middle of the audience, we were able to push our way through and be right by the stage. In fact, I believe
Beyonce and I had a moment. I was THAT girl with her hands in the air, knowing all the words and ummm
crying…lol!!!! Beyonce saw me (since I towered over everyone else) she stopped, looked and then smiled at
me (or the person behind me)!!! lol!! Oh yes, by the way, Osaka was a nice city too! Monica and I did a lot
of shopping!!

My mom also visited last week for our last week of league games along with my good friend Jessica. It was
great to have a chance to share them with my team. I was glad that my Mom was able to see how I have
been living for the past 6 months. My team enjoyed them and showed My Mom and Jessica a great time.
Showed them a great meal of Shabu Shabu! After we played My Mom, Jessica, Monica and I were able to
leave the team and spend a couple days in Tokyo. We tore up the city by shopping in Roppongi, Harajuku,
and Shibuya!

Below are some more pictures, but that is pretty much the update. Keep your fingers crossed and I will
update on how we do after finals this weekend!
Go Toyota!!!

Hello All!!
As most of you know I’m back in Japan. I have been back for almost two weeks now and already the time
has flown by and feels like we have been here for a month. Not sure if that’s a good thing or bad thing. But
nonetheless I have been having a blast. It was great to be reunited with all the girls on the team, and get
back on the field with them, after a long summer away. The season is split into 2 halfs, so we are in the
same season. Before we left for the summer we were in a 3-way tie for 1st place. And after our first weekend of league play we are still in a 3 way tie!!!
Our team had a great weekend, winning 2 games in DRAMATIC fashion. Our first game we came from
behind to beat a team (that beat us last half) 8-3! Our second game went 9 innings!! we ending up winning
4-1!!! So keep wishing us luck!! Next up is another big weekend against Toyota Shoikki, which is where
my old USA teammate Jenny Topping and current USA teammate Katie Burkhart play for!
Also upon our return, the girls threw us a welcome back park where we ate yakitori, which is chicken on a
stick!!! Oishi!!that means delicious!!! Also our coach took us out to eat to Yakiniku, which is also
delicious!
When I was home I tried to describe to a few people how we pray to the field everyday. Basically they all
line up on the foul line, and thank the softball gods for the opportunity to play, then we bow to the field,
then it’s time to play! Wo do this EVERYDAY!!! It’s something that I have grown to appreciate to get to
pause time and be thankful for everything. I think one of the things I admire the most about the Japanese
culture is that they are ssoooo appreciative of everything!!!!
That’s it for now!!! Hope everyone enjoyed their Holiday weekend! Wish us luck!!
Go Toyota!!!
Natasha

Hello Everyone!!
I hope all is going well at home. Things are moving along here in Japan! Since I last wrote so much has
happened in a span of a week. As I write we are on a 7 hour bus ride…yes I said 7 hours… very
loooonnggg!!!!! We are on our way to a big tournament that is held every year. There are teams from the
lower division, higher division and some college teams. It is a single elimination tournament, so we have
some big games coming up!
In the last week, we had a loss in one of our league games and now we are in 3rd place. Before the loss, we
were in a 3-way tie for 1st, we lost to one of the teams that was in the 3-way tie with us. So now there is a
2-way tie for 1st place, and we move to 3rd place. The loss in my mind was good for us because it kept
things in perspective, and keeps us working hard! We will have to face the same team hopefully this
weekend in the tournament and maybe at the league championships. We definatley have our work cut out
for us between our tournament this weekend and the rest of league.
Now to some fun stuff…so this past week we had a break in between our last league games and the
tournament. So we were able to have some days off and sometime for fun!!
One evening 2 of our teammates took Monica and I into Nagoya for a nice steak dinner at Outback!!!
Awesome!!! It was definitley needed to get away and have a FAMILIAR meal! Then we finished a perfect
meal with a trip to Starbucks, I couldn’t have asked for a better evening. It was our teammates first time to
Outback, so it was neat to show them what we eat!

This past weekend we had the longest 48 hours! We did more in two days than we have done the entire time
we have been here. On Saturday, we had an early morning because we had a doubleheader practice game.
Then after the game our whole team went to team toyotas Rugby game. Which was an experience for
Monica and I because we had never been, or seen a rugby game played. I have no idea how the rules work,
even after watching the game, but I do know Toyota won!! (interesting sport) Then as soon as we returned
home from the rugby game, we decided to take an adventure to Nagoya since we had Sunday off. We
decided to figure out the train system to Nagoya since every time we have been it has been by car and then
we planned on spending the night there so that we could wake up and spend the day in Nagoya. So you all
know how I feel about adventure, if you remember our bike ride story, so this time I let Monica do all of
figuring out of how the train system worked. She did great! She knew better than to let me lead, because last
time I led, I led us to a 2 hour bike ride!
Upon our arrival to Nagoya safely and easily, we wanted to experience the night life! So by this time we
were already exhausted but figure “you only live once”. It wasn’t long before we decided we had seen
enough and went back to the hotel to get some rest. The next day after we woke up in Nagoya, we had the chance to experience a Japanese professional baseball game at the Nagoya dome. Luckily, I have a friend
that plays for the Yokohoma Bay stars, that left tickets for us. It was the Nagoya Dragons vs. Yokohoma
Bay Stars. That game was definitley a different experience! Japanese fans are much quieter compared to
american fans. They were so calm the entire game. I’m used to rowdy fans yelling and screaming the entire
game. All in all we had the busiest 48 hours, but had a great time! They had cheerleaders at a baseball game…crazy!!!
That’s the update here in Japan. Please wish us luck this next weekend in our tournament! talk to you all
soon. Go Toyota!!!
Natasha

Ohiyo..Good Morning!
Man this trip flew by! We already return home tomorrow!
Today is the gold medal game versus Japan. Yesterday was a long day. We had a doubleheader vs Chinese
Taipei and Japan. We won both games with scores of 9-2 (vs. Taipei) and 6-1 (vs. Japan). With the playoff
rounds we are match to meet Japan again, so today should be a great game. We always have a great match
up between Japan.
We have been having a great time here. Jennie (Finch) is my roommate, so it’s been fun hanging out with
her. We are easily entertained, so we are constantly laughing at something!!!
Hope all is well at home. Wishing our other halves good luck in Venezuela at the Pan-American qualifier!!!
We miss them mucho!!!!
Go USA
#29