Up the Middle with USA Softball

Learn how Ali Aguilar and Delaney Spaulding developed their middle infield connection.

USA Softball middle infielders and #TeamWilson pros Ali Aguilar and Delaney Spaulding form a critical double play tandem up the middle for the Americans. But before the stars were teammates and close friends, they were competitors.

Aguilar and Spaulding, both California natives, attended different universities and competed in the PAC-12 conference on America’s west coast. In 2016, while competing head-to-head for individual and team accolades in the PAC-12, Ali and Delaney brought their competition to USA Softball.

“If we’re real, there was that rivalry in that we were both competing for the same position,” Aguilar said. “At first, I think we didn’t really talk at all, like the first probably two years we were on the team.”

That relationship began to transform in 2019, about two years after Aguilar and Spaulding finished their college careers and turned pro. The middle infielders said they were able to build their friendship and on-field connection by working and spending time together outside of team settings. Early on in 2020, Spaulding visited Aguilar to train together in Seattle. During that week-long visit, Ali and Delaney got to talking more about life outside of softball.

“She came up for a week to train, and I think that’s where we first started bonding more off the field and realizing we’re both weirdos,” Aguilar said with a laugh. “That was really cool, getting to hang out and getting to talk about each other’s lives and our faith.”

Spaulding and Aguilar bonded over their quirks and long conversations, and that time spent together helped them develop their communication on the field. The duo turned their competition into collaboration as they became close friends.

“Like she said, we’re so weird… We just have a good time,” Spaulding said. “Off the field, we have really connected and really have bonded on certain things that have translated onto the field.”

How Aguilar and Spaulding Learn from Each Other

In college, Ali learned to always be communicating and maintain high energy on the field. When working with Delaney in the middle infield with USA Softball, she learned to adjust to new personalities and a new culture.

“She communicates, but it’s her own way and she’s more relaxed with it,” Aguilar said of Spaulding. “We just weren’t used to that. I remember telling her once, ‘I’m not upset with you, but can you just yell at me to get the ball to you. If you yell at me, I will get you a good throw.’ She understood, ‘Okay, that’s what Ali needs.’”

While Aguilar and Spaulding have different playing styles, they’ve learned to adapt, communicate and push themselves to improve on defense. Over the last several years, the duo has even picked up on each other’s practice habits.

On the field, Aguilar is more methodical while Spaulding is eager to jump into new drills. Delaney said Ali will often take a step back during practice and ask why a certain play is called, a process that helps Aguilar identify the benefits of the play. Meanwhile, Spaulding will jump right into it when a new drill begins or a new play is called. Delaney said she and Ali have learned from and adopted each other’s traits on the field.

“I think we really learned to feed off of each other,” Spaulding said. “Now, I’m starting to ask the question, ‘Why?’ And now, sometimes, Ali is just like, ‘Alright, let’s just do it.’ So I think it’s a really cool dynamic.”

Preparing for Summer 2021

Spaulding said her USA softball teammates frequently talk about Japan and their upcoming competition on the game’s biggest international stage. To identify potential advantages, the team regularly discusses the environment they expect to encounter and the playing surfaces they will compete on. Several USA Softball stars, including Aguilar, have played in Japan and shared their experiences with teammates.

“We hope that when we get to the Olympics that we’re so comfortable and we’re so prepared that we just play and that we don’t let the stage get too big for us,” Spaulding said. “I think we will continue to do a very good job of that.”

Aguilar said she expects her teammates to excel this summer because they’ve been able to keep their play consistent regardless of outside factors. For Aguilar and her teammates, the focus is on performance rather than the location or opponent.

“We are mostly the same, no matter where we’re playing,” Aguilar said of her USA Softball teammates. “I like that our team is more comfortable in any situation, because then that, for me personally, calms me down.”

Follow along this summer as Ali, Delaney and their USA Softball teammates chase down a world championship. Keep up with Ali on Instagram @ali_aguilar1 and follow Delaney @delaneyylyn.