Marist heaps praise on NiJaree Canady, Lubbock Regional opponent Texas Tech softball

The Marist softball team is getting the full West Texas experience.

Midway through the Red Foxes' practice on Thursday at Tracy Sellers Field, an unexpected storm of wind and dust rolled through Lubbock, sending the batting practice balls hit by head coach Joe Ausanio every which way. Ausanio had been in town before — Marist was in Lubbock for Texas Tech softball's home tournament just before COVID-19 halted the sports world in March 2020 — but the strong gusts of wind were a new experience for his players.

Senior outfielder Peyton Pusey asked if that sort of thing happens all the time, while shortstop Haley Ahr hopes that it doesn't happen during Lubbock Regional games.

"It was kind of cool to experience," Pusey said. "I could not see the ball."

The Red Foxes aren't concerned with how most view their stay in Lubbock going. Nobody expects Marist to play beyond Saturday, and even less foresee them getting by the Texas Tech softball team.

That's not going to stop them from having their fun, evidenced by the open batting practice the team took that involved all team personnel traveling this weekend, including a student reporter who made the trip from New York — he hit a home run.

Ausanio noted the upgraded facilities since he was last in town six years ago. Pursey said the amenities are on par with their previous regional stops at Florida State and Texas A&M.

And they all have a great appreciation for what Texas Tech star pitcher NiJaree Canady has done for the sport of softball, including her ground-breaking NIL deal.

"I think it's really amazing that people in college sports are able to create a brand for themselves like she has created," Pusey said. "I know a lot of people have a lot of opinions, but to me, all the people who think it's unfair are the people that don't have the money.

"It's awesome. I think it's a good representation of women in sports and I think she's killing it."

Ausiano said he knows Canady's decision to leave Stanford couldn't have been an easy one to make, noting how she's also made an impression on growing the sport.

"She's done amazing for this game," Ausiano said, "and a lot of little girls want to become softball players when they watch her play."

When Ahr was asked by the Marist student reporter about Canady, the question didn't get to finish before she chimed in, "She's awesome."

"She's someone that we all look up to," Ahr said. "She's getting the kind of exposure that is boosting women's sports. It's, like, amazing. If you think about it. ... I'm playing in her stadium. That's so awesome. She's doing great things for women's sports and she's doing great things for women's sports in the future.

"It's kind of cool to be a part of, playing and having our careers at the same time."

Marist doesn't know who it'll face in Friday's opener — Texas Tech head coach Gerry Glasco coyly declined to reveal such information — but the Red Foxes have great reverence for whomever will be in the circle against them.

"We get to play, in my opinion, one of the best teams in the country," Ausiano said. "There's no question. They should never in a million years be an 11-seed or 10-seed, whatever they are. It's mind-boggling to me. But you know what? We had to go somewhere, and we had to play a tough team no matter where we went.

"And why not play one of the best teams in the country?"

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Marist has reverence for NiJaree Canady, Texas Tech softball in Lubbock Regional