Courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics
Rust Has No Match for the Power of Motherhood and Madison Preston
Top StoriesThe text message threw Trisha Ford for a loop. It had never crossed her mind what she was being asked. Madison Preston, one of her former Arizona State players, wanted her coach’s opinion. After missing the 2021 and 2022 seasons due to the birth of her daughter, Kendri, Preston wanted to come back to the circle, and she wanted to know what Ford thought about this idea.
Ford had a lot of thoughts as she started to process the situation. She had hesitations because of the pitching depth she had in Tempe. The initial rebuttal she had was, “Have you even started throwing a ball yet?” Preston, the down baller, had been throwing a tiny bit to her father, Jeff, and he said it looked good. Ford took his word for it, and they continued to talk.
Those conversations started before Ford took the Texas A&M job, with the original plan for Preston to return to Arizona State, where she had transferred to before the 2020 season. But if Preston was going to come back, she was only going to play for Ford. She entered her name back into the portal, and other schools reached out. But she had no interest. She was headed to College Station.
After not having pitched since March 8 of 2020, Preston has thrown 29.1 innings for the Aggies and has a 1.65 ERA. The lanky lefty also had her best outing last weekend against the third-ranked Tennessee. Preston went six innings, not allowing a run until the seventh and striking out eight, three against the ever-talented Kiki Milloy.
“I’ve been getting better with every outing this season, and I knew after not playing for two years that it’ll take me a bit to get going again,” Preston said. “Saturday was my breakthrough and I really felt like I’m back to where I was.”
Ford knew Preston had it in her. She believes that Preston is stronger than ever because as a mom herself, Ford knows having a child makes you stronger physically and mentally.
“It teaches you a lot. You do things you didn’t think you could do,” Ford said. “There’s a lot that children teach us. It’s the same skills in softball and life, perseverance and grittiness. You don’t really have a choice, there’s a life dependent on you. She’s a great mom.
“After the game on Saturday, I went home and watched the game 100 times because like I told her, ‘nobody can ever take this game away from you,’” Ford said. “She pitched a gem. It was so much fun to see the joy on her face, her mom’s face. Getting to do the postgame interview with Kendri in her arms. From my perspective, because I’ve had kids, those are profound moments you’re witnessing.”
Of course, none of it has been a breeze. Preston is working on a certificate online as she already has her degree during her last season as a student-athlete while being a mom. She misses team lifts at times to wind down Kendri and her and Ford have to adjust her bullpen times every so often as well. Preston’s own mom, Missie, has been a tremendous help as well. She spends most of her time in College Station but travels back and forth from their hometown in Missouri to help with Kendri and even takes her back to Missouri at times.
“I knew if I was going to come back, I was going to need a lot of support, especially from my mom,” Preston said. “Asking her to do that, to stop her life for a little bit was a big ask. For her to do that and help me finish my dream has been really cool because they get to come to all the games. I wouldn’t be able to do it without her.”
During her time in Tempe, Ford labeled Preston as a free spirit and a goofball. It took time for her to become that girl again. When she arrived at Arizona State, she wasn’t in the best place. Ford spent a lot of time with her, a lot of individual bullpens, talking through pitching and life. Preston’s parents saw their daughter become Madison Preston again. That’s why Preston was so adamant that if she returned, she wanted to be with Ford.
“Our relationship is different now as I’m in a different stage of my life than my teammates,” Preston said. “I think it’s really cool that we stayed close. It felt like I never left when we’re on the field together.”
For Ford, it’s been incredible to watch Preston’s journey. She and Preston’s mom text about it a bunch because it has been quite the transformation.
“I truly believe that Preston needed Kendri just as much as Kendri needs Preston,” Ford said. “Kendri has allowed Preston to really flourish into the person that we all know she is deep down. She is getting great grades, her priorities are straight. For me, that’s why I coach, for those moments. I know that Preston from here on out is in a much better place physically, emotionally and mentally than when I first was around her at ASU.”
Originally, Preston had no intention of coming back to softball after the shortened 2020 season. However, as more time passed, the more she wanted to go out on her own terms with a new perspective.
“It really shows it’s just a game,” Preston said. “There are a lot bigger things in the world than softball and it should really just be fun for you to be out there. Having my daughter showed me all of that and life beyond softball.”
Certain days are harder than others for Preston. Although, she wouldn’t want it any other way. She’s closing out her dream with her long-life best friend beside her.