Get on board with Dugout Chatter’s regular feature, The Final Pitch!
We are scouring the Internet and Social Media and keeping our ears to the street for the latest going on in the softball community.
To contribute information, insights, thoughts or content ideas, email us at losstuff34@gmail.com, DM at @Los_Stuff on Twitter or text (949) 606-3602.
Here’s our TFP for Friday, June 23, 2023:
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FINAL PITCH: BAILEY KENDZIORSKI
Uncommitted 2024 RHO Bailey Kendziorski recently taked to Dugout Chatter about Georgia Impact-Sampson, South Effingham High, PGF Nationals, battling herself, a loving family, future college, math, Simone Biles, “The Great Gatsby,” Macklamnore, “The Office,” “Enola Holmes” and oragami.
FINAL PITCH Q&A
Name: Bailey Kendziorski
Hometown: Savannah, GA
High School: Effingham College and Career Academy/South Effingham High
Club Team: Georgia Impact 18U-Sampson
Graduation Year: 2024
Height: 5-foot-4
Position: RHP
Nickname: “B.” I’m not sure, I’ve just been called that occasionally. “BK.” My old high school coach freshman year started calling me that, so now I am called that in high school ball.
Twitter/Instagram: @b_kendziorski/@baileykendziorski
Honors: PGF national champion (2017); All-American Champions (2019); Region Pitcher of the year (2020, 2021 & 2022); 1st Team All-State Pitcher (2020); finalist for Coastal Empire Player of the Year (2020 & 2021); and Coastal Empire Player of the Year (2022).
Travel Ball Fall Stats: 0.74 ERA, 25 Ks and 4 BBs.
High School Stats: Junior Year — 1.07 ERA, 110 Ks, 9 BBs and 3 no-hitters.
Travel Ball Summer Stats (so far): 1.24 ERA, 133 batters faced, 31 Ks and 3 BBs.
A great start to the summer with many more opportunities to come!! https://t.co/tkD3YQgahD
— Bailey Kendziorski (@b_kendziorski) June 12, 2023
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I became involved with Impact the first year of 12U. We have a highly-talented group of hard-working athletes! I always have a lot of fun playing with my team, winning or losing.
Tell us about your high school team and how you are doing? We have recently started workouts and scrimmages to prepare for the fall season! I am very excited to see our growth and progress as the summer goes on!
What tournament/showcase/event are you looking forward to this summer and why? I am most excited for PGF Nationals in California this summer!! We have such a strong team this year and it is always fun to play competitive teams out in Huntington (Beach, CA). The weather and team-bonding time is also a plus.
Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? I feel like I have been my toughest opponent throughout all aspects of life. I am a perfectionist, so I have had to learn to overcome fears and expectations that I have put on myself. I have and still am learning to deal with stress in school, sports and life in general.
Have you dealt with something that has made you the person you are today? Growing up, I was always surrounded with the most love and support someone could ask for. My family has always been so encouraging and I have become the person I am today because of them.
What are you looking for in a future college? I am looking for a college with both academics and athletics. My education is very important to me, so I would like to attend a university that not only prioritizes softball, but also the athletes succeeding after college.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I’m not exactly sure, yet. I have thought about a variety of occupations and none seem to interest me enough. I am leaning towards an occupation that connects to math.
What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? I really enjoy learning about math! I took AP Calculus AB junior year and the content as well as the teacher made it so much fun! I like how there is always an answer compared to English where an answer may vary.
Who is your sports hero and why? Simone Biles is great not only because of her skills and athleticism as a gymnast, but also her leadership and advocacy for mental health.
What’s your favorite book to read and why? We read “The Great Gatsby” this year in school and I really enjoyed it! The Roaring Twenties as well as the characters’ desires create such an interesting book!
What’s the best hype song and why? “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore (& Ryan Lewis) has always been one of my hype songs because it has been my only walk-up song since I started softball! I still use it as my walk-up song in high school!
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? I really like “The Office” because the dynamic between the characters makes it a very funny show.
What’s your favorite movie and why? “Enola Holmes” because of its fun and exciting mysteries!
Do you have a secret talent/skill? I can do origami (with a YouTube video)!
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NEWS & NOTES
***Top Club Nationals is Wednesday-Saturday, June 21-24, in OKC. Follow the tournament online HERE.
OC Batbusters-Stith is the defending 18U champion, Hotshots National-Jones is the defending 16U champion, Texas Glory 2K26 and Texas Glory-Naudin shared the 14U title last summer and Hotshots National 09 is the defending 12U champion.
***The inaugural Patriot Games Thursday-Saturday, June 22-24, in Windsor, CO, features teams in 14U, 16U and 18U competing for championships.
Follow the tournament online HERE.
***The 2023 Scenic City Summer is Thursday-Sunday, June 22-25, in Chattanooga, TN. Teams in 14U, 16U and 18U will compete for championships.
Follow the tournament online HERE.
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HSOTD
Today’s Hype Song Of The Day is …
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BTITW
Today’s Best Thing In The World is …
What to watch this weekend in theaters and streaming:#NoHardFeelings – 66%#AsteroidCity – 75%#SecretInvasion – 63%#TheBear – 100%#LoveSimon – 92% pic.twitter.com/aOlp11690S
— Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) June 22, 2023
— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff)