In The Batter's Box w/ Georgia Tech's Head Coach Aileen Morales

Aileen Morales- Georgia Tech Head Coach BIO7th season at GTInducted into Georgia Tech HOF in 2020Previous head coach at Radford, Young HarrisWhat does it mean to be coaching at your Alma Mater? 27.8% -- Percentage of Georgia Tech softball games that Head Coach Aileen Morales has either played (program record - 265) or coached (300) in: 565 of 2,031 all time games. Was an assistant at GT 2010-2013Signed the #7 recruit class for 2024SchedulingOpened the season with 2 games vs AlabamaClearwater TournamentStanford, LSU, Minnesota, Northwestern (canceled OSU, Tennessee)Couldn’t get a W, but scored 32 runs!What have you learned about the team so far this season having faced that level of competition and even in general throughout the first 3 weeks?Offensive powerIn clearwater --- Stanford (7 runs), LSU (8 runs), Minnesota (11 runs), Northwestern (6 runs) (canceled OSU, Tennessee)Offense across the country is ELITE right now, why do you think that is?DATA!! Visibility!!GT PowerJust this week--17 HRs (8 dif players) .498 OB%, Opponent ERA >10Overall 34 HR’s, .442 OB%,  .365 team BA, Opponent ERA >7… #1 in the country!!New coaching staffErin Dixon- pitching from UNCWHunter Bunch - hittingKelsey Bennett- recent grad from VTDevon BolandAny surprises from any athlete so far this year? Exceeding expectations!Mallorie Black-- is this offensive output a surprise to you?ACC pow.476, 7HR,18RBI, In 1st 3 season, hit 10 HR’s total--has already tied her HR total from last year in just 17 gamesBlake NelemanHas been a workhorse for this program, including this year she has thrown 528 innings -- what has she meant to this team?Has some more help around her this year, not just her and Chandler Dennis7 different pitchers have seen workHow has NIL/Transfer Portal effect you and your coaching? Biggest challenges/adaptionsBig Green Egg?!?! Coach NIL deal ;)Thank you Coach Morales for joining us on Up the Coast with Alex & Britt!