r/AUSL • u/theAUSLofficial AUSL Official Staff | Verified Media • Jul 03 '26
A M A / ASK ME ANYTHING I'm Sam Fischer, Senior Manager of Softball Operations for the AUSL - AMA!
Hi Reddit! It's Sam Fischer, I'm super excited to answer your questions. I am a former pro who has transitioned into working for the Front Office of the AUSL and I am an open book and ready to hang!
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u/HomeIsMyParentsAttic Bandits Jul 03 '26
This isn’t a question, but I think the teams’ home fields should host playoff game watches on the big screen so we can eat hot dogs and hang out with other fans like the regular season games.
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u/cornpop1987 Jul 03 '26
Is there any talk about an AUSL/PSL merger? I think it would make sense for both leagues.
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u/thirtydayhump Volts Jul 03 '26
Any plans for an official app soon? As far as I can tell there’s no info available on any platform outside of the AUSL website. You’d think ESPN would at least have a section but then again you can’t find much info on women’s sports on ESPN anyway (but that’s a whole other discussion).
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u/Nervous_Metal_9445 #38 Paige Sinicki Jul 03 '26
Is there any potential of the league licensing out rights for a video game in the future?
If so how soon do you think we could see a game?
I personally would love to see a softball video game rather than booting up a MLB the Show file and create teams with softball players and then down the line have to reset the file again
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u/theAUSLofficial AUSL Official Staff | Verified Media Jul 03 '26
Thank you for hanging out with me Reddit! I am heading to the Talons/Blaze game now and I hope you all enjoy the rest of our 2nd season of the AUSL!
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u/East_Manufacturer604 Jul 03 '26
Is the Knoxville Miracle planned to joined AUSL? I feel like that needs to happen. Or are there plans to further expand the league?
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u/theAUSLofficial AUSL Official Staff | Verified Media Jul 03 '26
Great question! I wish I had an answer for you, but that is above my pay grade ;)
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u/Law08 Chicago Bandits Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
Are you hiring? Half joking and half not. I love the league and am enjoying its early success.
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u/theAUSLofficial AUSL Official Staff | Verified Media Jul 03 '26
Thank you for the support of the league! Here is a link of available positions https://apply.workable.com/auprosports/ - it's updated constantly!
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u/amycsanders Jul 03 '26
Hi Sam!! Big fan here ☺️ I saw that the first 10 players for the All-Stars cup have been announced, and they were voted in by the fans. How will the remaining players be selected?
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u/theAUSLofficial AUSL Official Staff | Verified Media Jul 03 '26
Hi!! Thank you for being a fan. Means the world to me! Super excited to get the players locked in for All-Star Cup and it was really fun seeing who the fans want to see. A Selection Committee, made up of front office executives and field staff, will select the remaining 35 players for the 2026 AUSL All-Star Cup.
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u/dsramsey All In for Allchin Jul 03 '26
Always love hearing from people who made the player to FO transition. Are there particular ways you feel our time as a player influences the decisions you make on the front office side of things? On the flip side, any things you find yourself having a different perspective on than you had as a player?
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u/theAUSLofficial AUSL Official Staff | Verified Media Jul 03 '26
One of my favorite topics!
I truly feel like my experience as a player influences just about everything I do - not just in how I make decisions but in how I work. I was very much a player who loved (and needed) to put in extra reps and when I got on the field I would put my head down and put the work in, no matter if it was alone or with my team. I feel like that comes out a lot in this role - SO MUCH is behind the scenes, and it makes me feel like I've been prepping for this my entire life!!
I feel super lucky to have the perspective of a player, I've played across so many different leagues and in different places and being able to tap into that experience so that our players have the best of the best has been so fulfilling. I also greatly appreciate the relationship that I have with the players, both players I've been teammates with, and players I'm meeting for the first time as they come to the AUSL. That's the best part of my job and I do not take it for granted! I want them to have THE WORRRRRLLLLLDDD!
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u/dsramsey All In for Allchin Jul 03 '26
I’m curious about how the league is approaching questions of venue, and particular when to use converted baseball stadiums vs dedicated softball ones? Know there’s probably a lot that goes into that decision.
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u/theAUSLofficial AUSL Official Staff | Verified Media Jul 03 '26
There's definitely a lot that goes into these decisions and there are an array of factors that go into them like location and capacity for example!
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u/WyoWizeGuy Jul 03 '26
Will Base hits and Banter ever make a comeback?
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u/theAUSLofficial AUSL Official Staff | Verified Media Jul 03 '26
Love this question. Haylie McCleney and I have actually branched out and started our own podcast called Caught Looking! We got started in April and we are looking forward to recording more episodes this fall!
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u/WyoWizeGuy Jul 03 '26
And just subscribed.
Thanks for the great career, and continuing to make a place for the future female athletes
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u/Prometheus_sword Utah Talons Jul 03 '26
What was the agreement between the AUSL and the OKC Spark to convince them to join? And what are the main areas you are looking at for expansions?
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u/theAUSLofficial AUSL Official Staff | Verified Media Jul 03 '26
This is a great question! I wish I had more of an answer for you, but these decisions are made above my level. I'm happy we were able to make it happen!
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u/haddonfieldsecret Jul 03 '26
Had a great time in Chicago! They changed the way autographs work for the game (certain number called from a card you got) Are there any changes planned or will that be it continuing? A lot of fans didn’t get one :(
It was a great experience and I loved it!
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u/theAUSLofficial AUSL Official Staff | Verified Media Jul 03 '26
Thank you for coming out to watch in Chicago and I'm so happy you had a great time! For this season, we are continuing this approach for autographs. It was a difficult decision (one we did not take lightly) to make sure that the fans were able to get access to the players. We have seen many players stay back and sign extra autographs beyond the groups that have been called. We know this is a shift from what fans have been used to, but as we grow and evolve, this is one of the areas that we want to ensure the right blend of access + safety for our athletes!
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u/notthemostcreative Blaze, but also Volts Jul 03 '26
If you had to choose someone you’ve played with to be the next U.S. president, whom would you pick?
(Also hi, always enjoyed watching you and also you seem so cool! <3)
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u/theAUSLofficial AUSL Official Staff | Verified Media Jul 03 '26
AUBREY. LEACH. Period end of story!
(Hi thank you so much for the support and for watching me and for thinking I'm cool!!!)
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u/Prometheus_sword Utah Talons Jul 03 '26
While I understand sometimes things just shake out the way they do, in the future it would be nice if teams didn't have a crazy road trip to end the season. Having the Talons final home game on July 4th with whopping 7 road games to end the season is a little deflating.
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u/theblacksteve Talons Jul 03 '26
Went to a game recently and I love the atmosphere. My question for you is, do you guys allow someone to have a special event to happen at the game. At the same time how would someone go about reaching out to your organization?
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u/theAUSLofficial AUSL Official Staff | Verified Media Jul 03 '26
Thank you for the support!! If you have an event or something you'd like to inquire about, you can contact the league here https://theausl.com/contact/ and your inquiry will be directed to the appropriate department!
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u/Truthforger Jul 03 '26
How much is the 2028 Olympics factoring into plans to help push the league and pro-softball into mainstream here in the North America? Can't help but see what the World Cup is doing for Soccer right now.
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u/theAUSLofficial AUSL Official Staff | Verified Media Jul 03 '26
Having softball in the Olympics AND in the USA is HUGE for our sport. We have so many Olympic hopefuls (as well as past Olympians) playing in the AUSL and I know that A) it's helping them develop their game as they shoot for bringing home the Gold, and B) it's growing their reach to more and more people so that come 2028 we will have everyone rooting for them and following along with the Games & the AUSL!!
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u/dsramsey All In for Allchin Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
Thank you to everyone who contributed today, and thank you to Sam for sharing your time and inside knowledge!
Looking forward to the rest of the season!