COLUMBIA, S.C. — Have you ever ever heard a music by Bone Thugs-N-Concord at a baseball recreation earlier than? How a couple of softball recreation?
Earlier than this weekend, I couldn’t say that I had both. With apologies to the good abilities of Bizzy Bone, Want Bone, Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone and Flesh-n-Bone, “Crossroads” and “1st of tha Month” aren’t precisely tunes that evoke the nice and cozy and fuzzy emotions of a ballpark.
Nevertheless, I believe my opinions about what’s and isn’t acceptable music for the diamond modified at Beckham Discipline in Columbia, South Carolina, on Friday once I heard “Thuggish Ruggish Bone” pumping from the audio system as UCLA’s Kaniya Bragg made her manner in the direction of the batter’s field.
That beat nonetheless slaps. It’s enjoyable. It evokes nostalgia. It introduced a smile to my face and made me nod my head. It was superior. Furthermore, it was enjoyable and distinctive, and that’s what makes school sports activities what it’s.
So I made a decision I’d maintain notes on the walk-up songs that I heard over the deafening chants of “GAME-COCKS” whereas seated on the Tremendous Regional matchup between UCLA and South Carolina.
The Bones did convey success to the Bruins, as they beat South Carolina in three video games to go to the Girls’s School World Sequence for the 18th time this century. The Gamecocks weren’t as fortunate, however no less than all of us bought to get pleasure from some good tunes.
Right here’s a totally subjective and unscientific rating of the most effective walk-up songs I heard in Columbia this previous weekend.
9. “Crimson Grime Street” — Ella Chancey, South Carolina
*deep breath*
“IT’S WHERE I DRANK MY FIRST BEER…”
A timeless small-town nation ballad by Brooks & Dunn that you could’t assist however sing together with.
8. “Encompass Sound” — Rylee Slimp, UCLA
This music has a catchy hook about promoting medication, a pattern from the good Aretha Franklin, and a beat that completely knocks. I’ve heard this one at a number of school soccer, basketball and now softball video games, and it feels prefer it’s making itself at residence as a go-to for pregame hype music.
7. “Cowgirls” — Arianna Rodi, South Carolina
This music by Morgan Wallen and Ernest is one other latest hit that feels prefer it has some endurance within the walk-up music pantheon, particularly within the SEC and different packages within the South. It’s a crowd-pleaser in that it’s a rustic music with a hip-hop beat, and does a pleasant job of meshing the 2 genres collectively.
6. “It Was A Good Day” and “It’s a Nice Day to be Alive” — Emily Vinson, South Carolina
Vinson rotated her walk-up music with throwback tunes from Ice Dice and Travis Tritt in an try and, I assume, manifest good days for herself on the plate. She had simply two hits within the collection, however it’s all the time nice to listen to the music of Mr. Dice and Mr. Tritt.
5. “California Love” — Emma Sellers, South Carolina
Sellers hails from Lakewood, California, in Los Angeles County, so the throwback monitor from Tupac and Dr. Dre felt acceptable and private as her Gamecocks took on UCLA.
4. “Gasolina” – Sofia Mujica, UCLA
This one from Daddy Yankee is a basic. Play it at each recreation. It will get the folks going.
3. “Wanna Be” – Megan Grant, UCLA
No, not the Spice Women’ music. That is from GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion and got here out final 12 months. Greater than every other music I heard, this one — the lyrics, the beat, the vibe, all of it — simply exuded confidence and swagger. It felt like worry was reaching the opposing pitcher after they heard “Go Meg, Go Meg, Go Meg,” from the loudspeaker, which is the portion of this music Grant appropriately chosen for her walk-up music. And certainly, she has 25 residence runs this season, adequate for fourth within the nation. She drew three walks in UCLA’s decisive Recreation Three win over South Carolina.
2. “Preserve their Heads Ringin’” — Karley Shelton, South Carolina
Just like the monitor from Bone Thugs-N-Concord, you possibly can file this 1995 jam from Dr. Dre below songs I didn’t count on to listen to at a softball recreation in 2025, however am oh so glad I did. You’re bobbin’ your head proper now simply enthusiastic about it.
1. “Thuggish Ruggish Bone” — Kaniya Bragg, UCLA
10-out-of-10. No notes. What I beloved probably the most about listening to this was watching Bragg nod her head to the beat, holding her bat earlier than stepping as much as the plate whereas the UCLA followers rocked together with it within the stands. School softball wants extra ‘90s hip-hop.
