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 Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023:
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THE FINAL PITCH: ANNALEA ADAMS
Auburn-committed 2024 1B/UT AnnaLea Adams recently talked to Dugout Chatter about Beverly Bandits Premier-Conroy, Union County High, reaching the PGF 18U Premier national-title game, Tennessee Mojo-Danley/Fisher, committing to Auburn, medical research, chemistry or math, Kobe Bryant, “The Mamba Mentality,” Jelly Roll, “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Princess and the Frog” and Future Farmers of America.
THE FINAL PITCH Q&A
Name: AnnaLea Adams
Hometown: Liberty, IN
High School: Union County High
Club Team: Beverly Bandits Premier 18U-Conroy
Graduation Year: 2024
Height: 5-foot-5
Position: 1B/UT
Twitter/Instagram: @_annalea_adams_
Honors: Three-time 1st Team All-State; three-time TEC All-Conference; TEC All-Conference Player of the Year (2023); 765 Junior of the Year (2023); 765 All-Area Player of the Year (2023); two-time PGF All-American; led the state in batting AVG, SLG and OBP; 4th in the nation for batting AVG; 8th in the nation for SLG; and 3rd in the nation for OBP.
Travel Ball Fall Stats: .308 AVG, .438 OBP, .442 SLG, 16 hits, 1 HR and 13 RBIs.
Travel Ball Summer Stats: .404 AVG, .438 OBP, .674 SLG, 36 hits, 6 HRs and 30 RBIs.
High School Stats: .813 AVG, .857 OBP, 1.680 SLG, 61 hits, 15 HRs, 64 runs and 56 RBIs.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? It’s a high-level organization that plays at the very top level. One of the best organizations to play for to get recruited. I got involved in 14U after a few people gave me good recommendations!
Tell us about your high school team and how you did? Our high school was built mainly on underclassmen. We have one senior and four juniors. Our team won TEC All-Conference and Sections for the fourth time in a row! We lost in Regionals 3-4 in 8 innings. We had a great season, but with many returners and the incoming freshmen, we hope for an even better season this year.
Can you talk about your team’s run to the PGF 18U Premier national-title game? It was a bitter-sweet ride. Sage (Mardjetko) pitched amazing to allow us to stay in the winner’s bracket and play a minimum amount of games. The team came together on offense to produce the amount of runs needed. Our slappers were awesome for getting on and putting the power hitters in a good place to score. Although the ending wasn’t exactly what we wanted, the team played great throughout the tournament. I couldn’t be more proud of what this team has done.
Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? I would say (Tennessee) Mojo-Danley/Fisher because of the all-around great team they have. It was a very low-scoring game when we played them in (PGF) Nationals. Their pitchers didn’t allow us to do much and kept us on our toes in the box. Sage pitched an amazing game and also kept their hitters on their toes and caused many strikeouts. I hit a home run during the game to get us on the board. It was a very hard-fought game all 7 innings. I’m glad we came out on top!
Why did you choose to commit to Auburn? I chose Auburn because of the family environment that the coaches created. I appreciate the level of focus on both academic and softball the coaches put in. I fell in love with the school and the great program for my education.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I want to major in Pharmacy and minor in Agriculture. I want to do medical research on herbal medication. The research programs that have been put in for Parkinson’s and other diseases drew me to this field. I also enjoy helping others and this way I could help others and enjoy doing my job!
What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? Chemistry or Math. I enjoy doing labs and I enjoy solving problems and getting to the answer.
Who is your sports hero and why? Kobe Bryant because he worked extremely hard. He loved passing the game on to the younger generation. He made the sport fun even though it was a job. He pushed himself to be the best he could be both as a person and an athlete.
What’s your favorite book to read and why? “The Mamba Mentality” by Kobe Bryant because it was interesting to read about his mindset. It showed how hard you need to work to be great.
What’s the best hype song and why? “Call It Quits” by Jelly Roll (Crypt and Adam Calhoun) because it talks about never giving up on your dreams no matter what obstacles you face.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? “Grey’s Anatomy” because I enjoy watching the medical side of things. I also enjoy watching the surgeries and how doctors can change people’s lives.
What’s your favorite movie and why? “The Princess and the Frog” because it’s about a young girl with a dream. She works very hard to achieve this dream and make her family proud.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? Future Farmers of America (which includes archery/hunting/gardening).
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NEWS & NOTES
Tori Tyson, the daughter if Marty and Donna Tyson and current Howard softball coach, guided the Texas Smoke to its first WPF championship. Tyson is a former Corona High, Corona Angels and Nebraska player.
Congratulations to Red Team alum @ToriTyson for coaching @thetexassmoke to a WPF championship!#ProBigRed x @wprofastpitch pic.twitter.com/6f1qup2xLo
— Nebraska Softball (@HuskerSoftball) August 15, 2023
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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 …
"It's my honor to be #Ahsoka."
See Rosario Dawson in the two-episode premiere of the Star Wars Original series, streaming August 23 only on @DisneyPlus.
(Previously Recorded) pic.twitter.com/DLP9E4u2IF
— Star Wars (@starwars) August 15, 2023
— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff and Thread @los_stuff)
