The novelty of being an Australian in Pensacola comes with interesting questions like, do you ride a kangaroo to school?

Like, no, we don't live in the middle of the bush.

There is actually cities around.

Or they just tell us that we sound British and I'm like, that's a totally different country.

There's always the sucks and questions about, you know, spies and snakes, but then also just random things you don't expect.

We got asked like, what language do people speak in Australia, you know?

Which I thought was obvious that they just ask you to say like, oh, can you talk for me?

But then I get stuck because I'm like, what do I even start with?

What started with some coaching connections is now a full fledged Australia to Pensacola softball pipeline.

Nine Aussies have played for Pensacola State over the past six years.

You'll get a couple here, show them that we can make them a little bit better and take care of them.

And I think that the the word has gotten out that we do a pretty good job with them.

Three current pirates are part of the Aussie pipeline.

Corey Prichard, Kira Trim, and Abby Morris.

They're enjoying the advantages of playing softball in America.

We practice every day here and there's no opportunities in Australia really like that.

And to me, like coming here practicing every day was crazy because I've never done so much training a lot more and stuff like that, which is like good.

A lot more reps has made me feel better in my ability.

Prichard arrived in Pensacola last year as a heralded recruit, having played for the under 18 Australian national team.

When she first got here, I was like, you might be able to be the best shortstop we've ever had.

And then we we went out and she didn't feel the ground ball for the first four games, and I thought I might be the biggest liar in the history of America.

But then she got her life together and she really has turned into that player.

I feel like that was a lot of nerves and wasn't playing things confidently.

But then I got some more confidence and things come easier.

Prichard earned second team all conference as a freshman and is keeping it up as a sophomore, hitting for average and power, along with stellar play at shortstop.

Trim came to Pensacola following her sister Jenna, an all conference star, in 2022.

But Kyra's freshman season was far from smooth.

Significant struggles at the plate led to a loss of playing time.

Although I wouldn't want to, like, wish that upon anyone.

That's part of the game and it didn't make me grow as a lot as a person.

It made me like, realize how much I had to want it for myself and have that determination for myself.

She's totally turned it around as a sophomore.

On top of outstanding play in left field, Kira has become a key bat in the everyday lineup.

The maturity and the leadership she has, you know, she took it.

She understood she needed to get better and getting there now this year shows how much she's worked on it, she said.

Some of the best at bats we've had here.

Morris is solid as a lineup regular, but her biggest contributions come with game changing play in the field.

We've asked her to do it all.

Last year she was our starting second baseman and now she's our starting center fielder.

And like again, just the growth.

I think it is the practice time and how much they care and want to get better with all the time we get to have with them.

I've proved myself, I can do I get more balls than I could have before when I was back home, and if anything, I'm lacking outfield more than I like the infield, which is something I never thought I would have said before I left here.

Yet another Australian signed with PSC for next season.

While this trio will move on having further cemented the Aussie bond with Pensacola, I enjoy having around.

I enjoy their accents, I enjoy their work ethic, I enjoy their perspective on life.

I enjoy that sometimes the American kids that have summer all the time come in like, oh, practice and they get you, which changes everybody's perspective.

And I think it does bring some of the progress.

I started saying when I went back over Christmas break, I was like, oh, I've got to go home soon.

And my mom was like, well, this is your home.

But you just yeah, you got to adjust and yes, feel comfortable here.

I've loved it here.

Like, it'd be sad to leave actually, cause, it's just the growth I've had is amazing.