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.
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Here’s our TFP for Monday, July 17, 2023:
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THE FINAL PITCH: TORIE TURNER
Uncommitted 2027 RHP/1B Torie Turner recently talked to Dugout Chatter about Impact Gold 2K9 National, Summer Creek High, Triple Crown Colorado 4th of July, Hotshots, Morgan Wilson, future college, running a business, RELA, Kobe Bryant, “Wonder,” Lil Baby, “All American,” “The Blind Side” and impersonations.
THE FINAL PITCH Q&A
Name: Torie Turner
Hometown: Houston, TX
High School: Summer Creek High
Club Team: Impact Gold 2K9 National 14U
Graduation Year: 2027
Height: 5-foot-8
Position: RHP/1B
Nickname: I have 2 nicknames: “T-Money” and “Big Puma.” My team started calling me T-Money because I’ve been pretty consistent over the years coming through in big spots. They call me Big Puma because of my quick reflexes when I’m pitching.
Twitter: @Torie_Turner15
Honors: Top-18 Performer at USA HPP U-13 National Selection; Player of the Tournament at Ronald McDonald (2022); 1st Team All-Tournament at Ronald McDonald (2022); two-time USA Softball All-American (2021 & 2022); USA Softball All-American champion (2022); 1st Team All-Tournament Colorado Sparkler (2022); 1st Team All-Tournament at Summer Cup (2023); and 1st Team All-Tournament/Pitcher of the Tournament at Texas Bombers Shootout (2023).
2022 Fall/2023 Spring/2023 Summer stats combined (includes HPP U-13 National Selection Event): Offense — 283 plate appearances, .439 AVG, .529 OBP, 1.287 OPS, .795 SLG, 106 hits, 52 extra-base hits, 35 doubles, 14 HRs, 107 RBIs and 42 BBs; Pitching — 29-5 with 4 saves, 2.978 ERA, 161 IP, 73 ER, 111 Ks and 54 BBs.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I was originally a part of an organization called Power Surge and in the fall of 2019 we joined Jazz (Jackson Vesely’s) Impact Gold organization and I have been a part of this IG 2K9 National team ever since. Our team has been one of the most competitive 09 teams in the country. I feel like our team is really talented and hard-working and that has allowed us to win a lot. At one point, we won 16 or 17 09 tournaments in a row. Last Summer, we won the 12U Colorado Sparkler and Alliance Nationals. Last week, we finished as runner-up in the 14U National Power Pool in the Colorado Sparkler to OC Batbusters-(Hudson/)White. I thought that was a really great team accomplishment!
Tell us about your high school team and how you did? I’ll be a freshman at Summer Creek High school this year.
Can you tell us about your recent runner-up finish in the 14U National Power Pool at the Triple Crown Colorado 4th of July? Our team went 8-2 overall. It was a total team effort and we were in a lot of dogfights. One memorable game was being down 9-2 against Arizona Storm National 14U in the semifinal game and coming back and winning the game 10-9 by a walk-off home run.
Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? We’ve played a lot of tough teams over the years, but the teams we have had the most tough battles against has been teams from the Hotshots organization.
What have you faced/overcome in life that has made you the person you are today? The toughest challenge that I have had to try to overcome is losing one of my closest friends and teammates, Morgan “Mo3” Wilson, last December. We all miss her and we are dedicated to honor her.
What are you looking for in a future college? A place that I can call home and continue my education and grow as a softball player and young woman as well.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I know time is running out lol, but I have so many things that I am interested in. I do know that I would like to be my own boss and run my own business someday.
What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? My favorite subject to study is RELA because I enjoy reading and writing.
Who is your sports hero and why? My sports hero is Kobe Bryant because he was a fierce competitor that refused to get out-worked and he never backed down from a challenge.
What’s your favorite book to read and why? The book “Wonder” (by RJ Palacio) because it’s a true story about a kid who overcame adversity.
What’s the best hype song and why? The best hype song is “Right On” by Lil Baby. All of his music gets me locked in and ready to play!
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? My favorite show to binge is probably “All American” because it’s very entertaining and it gives me something to do when I’m bored.
What’s your favorite movie and why? “The Blind Side” because it shows that we all need help to succeed in life.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? I can do a really good impersonation of Anjelah Johnson — nails salon.
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NEWS & NOTES
***The USA Softball GOLD Nationals for 18U & 16U are July 17-23 in OKC. Wichita Mustangs (18U) and Oklahoma Pure Fastpitch 06 Premier-Melson (16U) are the defending champions. Follow the tournament online HERE.
***The PGF Nationals for 18U Premier, 18U Platinum, 16U Premier & 16U Platinum are July 22-29 in Orange County, CA. Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier (18U Premier), Rock Gold-Manetta (18U Platinum), Georgia Impact-Caymol (16U Premier) and Breakers Labs-Carter (16U Platinum) are the defending champions. Follow the tournament online HERE.
***Alliance Nationals for 14U & 12U from July 23-29 are at Grand Park, IN. Texas Bombers Gold-Malpass (14U) and Impact Gold 2K9 National (12U) are the defending champions. 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 …
https://twitter.com/OFFTHATTABLE/status/1677294580234952705
— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff and Threads @los_stuff)
