PLAYING THE BEST OF THE BEST

Champions' TriBUne Archive

By: Lou Gilbert

Champions' TriBUne is a special feature through Baylor Athletics that gives you the student-athlete's perspective and the chance for them to share their own story. Lou Gilbert, a rising senior outfielder from Kansas City, Mo., earned All-Big 12 and all-region honors last season when she hit .327 with five homers, 20 RBI and 35 runs scored for Baylor softball. This summer, she went 2-for-3 from the leadoff position for Team Alliance in a 4-1 win over Team USA, its first loss on American soil in 13 years. Team USA lost to Japan in the Tokyo Olympic finals to earn the silver medal:

The opportunity to be selected to play for Team Alliance has been one of the greatest opportunities of my softball career. Receiving notice that I was going to play against Team USA to prepare them for the upcoming Olympic games made me feel like I was contributing to their goal of bringing the Olympic softball gold medal back to the United States.

Team Alliance was created after a division was identified in our sport. Alliance found a way to unite the sport at all levels, from the grass-root-level teams to the National Team. Team Alliance was able to work with every governing or sanctioning body (USA Softball, Triple Crown, USSSA) to create a league structure for teams to play within their region to create a lot of possibilities for competition. Alliance continues to show the success and depth of our sport. Being able to connect all levels has created a model that they hope to continue to grow.

Team USA reached out to the founders of Team Alliance and asked them to put together a team to help prepare them for the upcoming Olympics. While on Team Alliance, I got to play a four-game series against Team USA in mid-June in Midland, Texas. Team Alliance gave me the opportunity to play on what I would consider to be a college all-star team against the best of the best. Team Alliance went 1-3 in the series, winning the fourth game (4-1) and handing Team USA its first loss on American soil since 2008. The feeling of beating the National Team was unlike anything I've ever felt before. Seeing that my teammates and I could accomplish this feat showed me the talent pool in our sport and the promising future we have in growing the game. This series helped me remember why I love the game of softball and how far our sport has come. I remember going to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City as a 14-year-old and watching some of these same women compete. Now, being able to share the dirt playing against them, was a surreal experience. When I walked on the diamond, I couldn't believe that I was only a few yards away from Cat Osterman, Monica Abbott, Kelsey Stewart and a list of all-time greats that goes on and on.

Lou Gilbert

I remember going over the scouting reports from my fellow teammates who had played against these women multiple times. We were here to win and to do everything in our power to give the Olympic team the best possible competition in preparation for the Olympic games.

Some people only get to see their heroes on TV, I got to meet mine in person and get a firsthand look into their lives as Olympic athletes and strong women. Not only are they crazy talented, but they were warm, sincere and more than willing to take a few minutes to talk and interact with us in the short time we were together.

Lou Gilbert

It made me realize what my parents had always told me growing up was absolutely true – when you work really hard, not only do you get luckier, but sometimes great opportunities come your way. Watching how these girls prepared physically and mentally for our sport gave me a better understanding of their dedication and extra motivation to do my part in growing our sport for the next generation in the same way that these women did it for me.

The Olympians extended an offer for my Alliance teammates and I to join them for a Bible study one of the mornings before we played. We went around and listened to each other's stories and journeys of faith. Hearing about the faith they have in God and how they allowed him to keep them strong through an extra year (since the Olympics got moved back because of COVID), of pushing their bodies to the maximum refreshed my spirit and once again gave all the glory to God. These women are using their platform as Olympic team members to fulfill the great commission of God by spreading his word around the world.

Lou Gilbert

This actually wasn't my first experience playing against Team USA. Before the 2020 softball season was shut down because of COVID-19, my Baylor teammates and I got to play an exhibition game against Team USA in our opening tournament in Clearwater, Fla., as a part of their "Stand Beside Her" tour. Baylor was the first team in the series of exhibition games to score a run against them. The experience of playing Team USA in Florida was a great moment that I wanted to savor forever. During my second opportunity playing them, I wanted to be my very best and stand out to them as a promising up-and-coming player of the sport.

Lou Gilbert

After the success and rigorous competition of playing Team USA, USSSA Pride reached out to Team Alliance and asked for them to put together another team. We were able to play three exhibition games against the USSSA Pride in Kansas City, Mo., which happens to be my hometown. Playing against one of the premier professional teams of our sport was another great experience that has not only helped shape my craft and abilities, but introduced me to even more of the softball community. Meeting other current and former collegiate athletes has been one of my favorite parts of being a part of Team Alliance.

My hope is that my experiences this summer give me an edge this coming season with Baylor softball. Playing against the best of the best is the only way to become the best. Seeing firsthand what it takes to be one of the very best players of the sport is nothing short of motivating.

Lou Gilbert

Previous Champions' TriBUne Features:
Women's Track & Field - Aaliyah Miller (May 27, 2021)
Equestrian - Madaline Callaway (May 20, 2021)
Acrobatics & Tumbling - DayAndrea Thompson (May 13, 2021)
Men's Tennis - Constantin Frantzen (May 6, 2021)
Softball - Sidney Holman-Mansell (April 8, 2021)
Women's Golf - Gurleen Kaur (March 25, 2021)
Baseball - Andy Thomas (March 4, 2021)
Men's Tennis - Charlie Broom (Feb. 11, 2021)
Volleyball - Marieke van der Mark (Dec. 3, 2020)
Football - Raleigh Texada (Nov. 12, 2020)
Men's Cross Country - Ryan Hodge (Oct. 29, 2020)
Women's Cross Country - Sarah Antrich (Oct. 15, 2020)
Volleyball - Hannah Sedwick (Oct. 1, 2020)
Soccer - Maddie Algya (Sept. 10, 2020)
Men's Basketball - Freddie Gillespie (March 26, 2020)
Women's Track & Field - Tuesdi Tidwell (March 20, 2020)
Women's Basketball - Moon Ursin (March 5, 2020)
Men's Track & Field - Cole Hardan (Feb. 27, 2020)
Volleyball - Shelly Stafford (Jan. 30, 2020)
Men's Golf - Mike McGraw (Jan. 3, 2020)
Volleyball - Yossiana Pressley (Dec. 5, 2019)
Baseball - Nick Loftin (Nov. 21, 2019)
Men's Cross Country - Ryan Day (Nov. 1, 2019)
Women's Cross Country - Lindsay Walton (Oct. 15, 2019)
Men's Basketball - Obim Okeke (Oct. 1, 2019)
Volleyball - Gia Milana (Sept. 17, 2019)
Soccer - Raegan Padgett (Sept. 5, 2019)
Football - Sam Tecklenburg (Aug. 29, 2019)
Men's Golf - Cooper Dossey (July 11, 2019)
Baseball - Richard Cunningham (June 27, 2019)
Men's Tennis - Jimmy Bendeck (June 14, 2019)
Baseball - Shea Langeliers (May 30, 2019)
Women's Track & Field - Kiana Horton (May 22, 2019)
Men's Golf - Garrett May (May 9, 2019)
Women's Golf - Maria Vesga (May 2, 2019)
Acrobatics & Tumbling - Camryn Bryant (April 25, 2019)
Equestrian - Shannon Hogue (April 16, 2019)
Women's Tennis - Angelina Shakhraichuk (April 9, 2019)
Women's Basketball - Lauren Cox (March 22, 2019)
Men's Track & Field - Wil London (March 7, 2019)
Men's Basketball - Jake Lindsey (March 4, 2019)
Softball - Nicky Dawson (Feb. 21, 2019)
Baseball - Josh Bissonette (Feb. 14, 2019)
Men's Tennis - Will Little (Jan. 31, 2019)
Men's Basketball - King McClure (Jan. 17, 2019)
Women's Basketball - Chloe Jackson (Jan. 3, 2019)
Football - Blake Blackmar (Dec. 13, 2018)
Volleyball - Braya Hunt (Nov. 29, 2018)
Soccer - Jackie Crowther (Nov. 16, 2018)
Women's Cross Country - Alison Andrews-Paul (Nov. 8, 2018)
Football - Ira Lewis (Nov. 6, 2018)

PLAYING THE BEST OF THE BEST

Players Mentioned

Lou Gilbert

Shea Langeliers

Will Little

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PLAYING THE BEST OF THE BEST

Players Mentioned

Lou Gilbert

Shea Langeliers

Will Little

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