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, Aug. 18, 2023:
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THE FINAL PITCH: LUCY CROWDER
Central Arkansas-committed 2024 RHP Lucy Crowder recently talked to Dugout Chatter about Texas Glory-Naudin, Hebron High, winning the 16U Alliance national title, pitching in the AFCS championship series, Impact Gold-Jazz, moving up the ranks, Central Arkansas, college coaching, math, Paige Parker, “Watch Over Me,” Taylor Swift, “Criminal Minds,” “10 Things I Hate About You” and art.
THE FINAL PITCH Q&A
Name: Lucy Crowder
Hometown: Lewisville, TX
High School: Hebron High
Club Team: Texas Glory-Naudin 16U
Graduation Year: 2024
Height: 5-foot-3
Position: RHP
Nickname: Lulu, from when I was a baby. Family name.
Twitter/Instagram: @Lucy10995845/@lucycrowder33
Honors: Most Outstanding Player of Alliance Championship; MVP for high school; and All-District.
Travel Ball Fall Stats: Pitching — 3.54 ERA, 1.516 WHIP, 31.2 IP, 149 Ks; Batting — .406 AVG.
Travel Ball Summer Stats: Pitching — 2.39 ERA, 167 IP, 1.204 WHIP; Batting — .481 AVG, .520 OBP, .677 SJG, 1.197 OPS.
High School Stats: Pitching — 14-6, 1.29 ERA, 162.2 IP; Batting — .355 AVG.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? The Texas Glory organization is about finding a home for you in college and also making lifetime friends. Our travel team has been bonding for two years and I am the team captain along with Brooke Wells. We have improved every step — going from 3rd place (at) the Colorado Sparkler to 1st place in the Alliance (Nationals). We strive to be the best and that is what we work towards. We have built a family that you can lean on and last forever.
Tell us about your high school team and how you did? My high school team (had) some ups and downs, but it’s one family. Some days aren’t the best and we go through good and bad as a team. I pitched every game and I was the top hitter as well. I was the most positive person on the team. When we are down by 8, I was still up and cheering for my teammates.
Can you talk about your team’s run to the 16U Alliance national title? OMG. Our team’s run to the championship was incredible to say the least. We had walk-off home runs, amazing pitching and amazing defense all throughout the tournament. We knew once we lost the first game in the championship series that we had to punch back and win. In the words of Ed Naudin, “ No one beats us twice.” Everyone was playing for one another and we used that to get to the championship.
Can you talk about your thoughts of pitching in the AFCS national championship series? My thoughts about pitching in the championship series were to hold them to 0 or 1 run and rely on offense and defense to back me up. I knew that we could win if we got ahead first, then hold them from there.
Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? The toughest team would be Impact Gold-Jazz because I have been pitching against them since 14U. In the final game against them, we had to change the approach. The first game that I pitched was basically only throw outside to them, then on the final game we went inside and outside against them. We have to change it up each game. I pitched back-to-back games and still had to keep them on their toes.
What have you faced/overcome in life that has made you the person you are today? During 10U and 12U, I was always second or third string in the pitching rotation. I had to work 10 times harder to make starting pitcher. I worked five times a week to get ahead of everyone and try to become top pitcher for the team. Now, I am one of the starting pitcher for our team.
Why did you choose to commit to Central Arkansas? I committed to Central Arkansas because of the amazing coaching staff and when I stepped foot on the campus it felt like a second home to me.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I am interested in coaching college for my occupation because I helped out my little sister’s team in the past and that really opened my eyes to coaching. I also want to get a degree in teaching high-school level math because that’s my favorite subject in school
What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? Math because there isn’t a lot of reading or writing in it.
Who is your sports hero and why? Paige Parker because I grew up watching her pitch at Oklahoma. She was one of the best pitchers I had ever seen and I strove to be such a great pitcher.
What’s your favorite book to read and why? “Watch Over Me” by Mila Gray because that was the first chapter book I have read and I fell in love with the writing.
What’s the best hype song and why? “End Game” by Taylor Swift because the music is really up-beat and really gets me going for the game.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? “Criminal Minds” because I love the science and mystery.
What’s your favorite movie and why? “10 Things I Hate About You” because I love the plot to the movie.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? Art.
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NEWS & NOTES
***LSC junior center fielder Ciara Briggs recently won her second consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove Award. Briggs has been an amazing player to watch develop. Her parents, Ken and Roseann Briggs, co-founded the BSC Bengals softball club organization a couple of years ago. BSC Bengals-CKM captured the PGF 12U Premier national title on Aug. 6, the first PGF title in the organization’s history.
I remember watching @ciarabriggs88 at @OLuSoftball and @SoCalAsOrg. She was always a great hitter, but an even better outfielder #softball @BSCBengals https://t.co/rzou9oPZs8
— Wild Laughs (@wild_laughs) August 18, 2023
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SIGNING/COMMITMENT ALERTS
Aniya Merritt, 2024, OF, Team NC-Britt/Lumberton High, NC, North Carolina A&T
Finally found a home! Thank you to all my great teammates travel and high school ball. @Los_Stuff @ExtraInningSB @RecruitFayNC @StilesOnSports @TeamNC_Britt @PGFnetwork @HighSchoolOT @MaxPreps @CoastRecruits pic.twitter.com/vAn04x52gQ
— Aniya Merritt (@Aniya4Merritt) August 17, 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 …
Batman has Gotham, Superman has Metropolis, and now #BlueBeetle has Palmera City. pic.twitter.com/CI4g4z94Fc
— Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) August 17, 2023
— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff and Thread @los_stuff)
