Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends meeting celebrities.
When Tony Feddeler and I attended Athletes Unlimited softball games last season, Megan Wiggins was one of our top targets to meet again. A former player for the now defunct National Pro Fastpitch Chicago Bandits, Wiggins remains a favorite here many years after she was traded to the USSSA Pride. While her playing for AU in Rosemont isn't exactly a homecoming, it is still awesome seeing her play here every game of the season.
I don't know if Wiggins will return for another season with AU, but we hope so. Tony and I are now season-ticket holders and we really want to "get Wiggy with it" again.
Go to AUProSports.com for more info on all of the AU sports leagues. In addition to softball, they have volleyball, lacrosse and basketball. AU SB 2023 returns to Rosemont, Illinois in August.
Tony Feddeler and Megan Wiggins in Rosemont, IL-August 2022.
Another week is in the books for Athletes Unlimited. Like the previous weeks, Week Three provided a little bit of everything.
The final two games saw a pitchers' duel and a blowout. One Pendley sister (Nicole) robbed the other Pendley sister (Shelby) of a hit, but Shelby rebounded with a big home run. Speaking of home runs, there were many hit this weekend, including two off the bat of Stephanie Mauga in one game.
Some things remained the same however. Cat Osterman came out on top with three team victories and two pitching wins, including a brilliant 2-1 win over Team Piancastelli and Haylie Wagner, who also pitched a masterpiece.
Week Three final results are:
September 12
Team Piancastelli (Orange) beat Team Sanders (Purple) 7-4
Team Osterman (Yellow) beat Team Reed (Blue) 6-4
September 13
Team Piancastelli (Orange) beat Team Reed (Blue) 8-7
Team Osterman (Yellow) beat Team Sanders (Purple) 12-9
September 14
Team Reed (Blue) beat Team Sanders (Purple) 18-1
Team Osterman (Yellow) beat Team Piancastelli (Orange) 2-1
Standings
Team Osterman (Yellow) 3-0
Team Piancastelli (Orange) 2-1
Team Reed (Blue) 1-2
Team Sanders (Purple) 0-3
Week 4 Captains
Osterman, Reed, Victoria Hayward and Jessie Warren
Scoring was up this week. With a bit of help from the 18 run explosion yesterday, 79 runs were scored in total. That is up big time from Week Two's 61 runs. Again, the sample size is still too small to draw real conclusions, but it's interesting to note the scoring differences.
Osterman has a big lead in overall points and looks to be at the top when the season ends. While these athletes are all competitive, Osterman now has a bigger target on her back. Who, if anyone, will be the first to beat her or her team?
In other Athletes Unlimited news, pitcher Aleshia Ocasio will rejoin the league and is eligible for the Week 4 draft. Also, former Cal State Fullerton pitcher Trisha Parks has been added to the roster pool. Parks joined AU when Ocasio left for a family emergency. After passing the AU health protocol, both players will practice and remain with the league for the remainder of the season.
In media sessions with the players, AU writer Bruce Miles covered the game situation topics for articles on AUProSports.com. I ventured into other topics, including the players' causes, the playing conditions after the rain, the upcoming draft and more general interest topics.
One especially interesting part was Aubrey Leach discussing her grandmother Wilma Ann Williams-Leach, who played professional baseball for the Rockford Peaches in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The elder Leach played in 1953, but died in 1993, before Aubrey was born. Still, she remains a source of pride for Aubrey.
Also especially fun was Megan Wiggins, who is obviously enjoying the league immensely. Wiggins joked about the wet conditions, speed on the bases and hitting home runs, She also gave a big shout out to playing in Rosemont.
Games resume on Saturday, September 19 at noon CST as Team Warren will face Team Reed. All Week Four games will be televised on an ESPN station or the CBS Sports Network, but check your local listings.
I planned on covering the summer softball series between This Is Us Softball and the USSSA Pride, but Covid-19 caused TIU to stop playing. I will still be writing about various softball topics for Global Women's Sports Radio though. First up was Spotlight on Megan Wiggins.
I first met Megan during my first season covering the Chicago Bandits in 2014. A product of the University of Georgia, Megan was in her fourth and last season with the Bandits. Even as a novice softball reporter, I saw the talent in Megan. Over the years, I would also learn what a special person Megan is, too.
I was sad to see Megan get traded to the Pride after the 2014 season. At least I would get to see her several times a year when the Pride came to Rosemont for games. Last season, the Pride won the National Pro Fastpitch championship and defected from the league after the season.
During an August series, I had the chance to interview Megan about her legendary career and her other businesses. Megan runs Two-Five Refined, a training facility in Georgia. It is also the name of her antiquing business.
Megan got her passion and skill in antique restoration from her father. She has space in Olive Branch Antiques and Decor in Georgia. She often shows her handiwork on her social media pages.
I appreciate Megan for her time and consideration. It has been a real pleasure seeing her, covering her and knowing her all these years.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Megan Wiggins (then of the Chicago Bandits) during my first season covering the Bandits. That interview can be found at On the Beat With Megan Wiggins.
Fast forward several seasons and hundreds of games and hits, Megan is now with the USSSA Pride and still going strong. This season, Megan reached the 400 hits and 400 games played milestones.
In addition to her success on the field, Megan is doing great things off the field. Megan runs everything under the Two Five Refined banner. She has a training facility, which has fitness classes, personal training, coaching and more.
She isn't just about softball and fitness though. Megan also does beautiful work with restoration, word-working, antique work and other similar creative projects.
Earlier this season, I contacted Megan about interviewing her about the milestones and her antique work. She graciously agreed and we planned it for the last series when the Pride was in town. On game day, Megan approached me pre-game and asked if we could do it post-game. Of course, I would work completely around her availability, but that was a class gesture for her to even give me that courtesy. True to her word, despite working the long line of autograph seekers, Megan came over to me for the interview.
It was very interesting to talk to Megan about her "other" passion. Clearly, she loves softball, but it was cool hearing her discuss her antique work. You can see her excitement.
The interview is below, but it cal also be found as part of the In The Circle SB podcast from August 12 entitled USA Wins Pan Am, NPF Championship Preview, College Coaching News. This was my second contribution to Inside The Circle SB and I am sure there will be more coming.
A very special thanks goes to Megan for her time and consideration. She has always been great to me and I really appreciate her for everything. Also, thanks for many years of great softball play.
