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, Aug. 21, 2023:
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THE FINAL PITCH: LEAH BYRD
Uncommitted 2026 MIF/RHP Leah Byrd recently talked to Dugout Chatter about Atlanta Vipers 08-Tamborra, North Cobb High, her team’s runner-up finish at the PGF 14U Premier Nationals, Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2026-Thompson, fear of failure, future college, nurse practitioner, science, Kobe Bryant, “The Hate U Give,” SZA, “All American,” “The Sandlot” and art.
THE FINAL PITCH Q&A
Name: Leah Byrd
Hometown: Acworth, GA
High School: North Cobb High
Club Team: Atlanta Vipers 08 Gold-Tamborra
Graduation Year: 2026
Height: 5-foot-7
Position: MIF/RHP
Nickname: “Leech,” my USA All-American teammates gave it to me because they misspelled my name on the roster.
Twitter: @Leahbyrd2026
Honors: 1st Team All-Region; 1st Team All-County; Triple Crown Futures All-Star (2022); and two-time USA All-American.
Travel Ball Summer Stats: Batting — .333 AVG, .887 OPS, .422 SLG and .937 fielding percentage; Pitching — 240 IP, 251 Ks and 60 BBs.
High School Stats: Batting — .349 AVG, .953 OPS, .535 SLG and .918 fielding percentage; Pitching — 108 IP, 104 Ks and 26 BBs.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? My travel team is an extension of my family. We are a very closeknit group that has great chemistry. I’ve been with my team since it started in second-year 12U. I knew I wanted to play against the best competition, so the Vipers were a natural choice.
Tell us about your high school team and how you did? Last year, my high school team went 20-12 and lost during playoffs. All of us have been playing with each other for a while through middle school ball etc. I had a great freshman year with a .346 BA, .953 OPS and .535 SLG. For pitching, I had 108 innings, 104 strikeouts and only 26 walks. For fielding, I had a percentage of .918. It was the first time our school made it past the first round, so I was proud to contribute to our success.
Can you tell us about your experience at PGF 14U Premier Nationals and your team’s runner-up finish? I had so much fun this year at Nationals. This was my team’s third year, so we knew what to expect. We set a goal to stay in the winner’s bracket and to finish better than the year before. We knew we had a shot at the title and every day we played for each other. Even though runner-up isn’t how we wanted to finish, we still fought hard as a team. I couldn’t be more proud.
Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? I think our toughest opponent has been (Birmingham) Thunderbolts-Thompson, just because they beat us for the Natty. They have a very good small-ball game and we didn’t make adjustments quickly enough.
What have you faced/overcome in life that has made you the person you are today? My biggest problem I had to overcome was my fear of failure and letting my team down. It made me the player I am today because I had to learn how to let loose and not see failure as a bad thing, but a learning experience for me to get better.
What are you looking for in a future college? I’m looking for a top program that is focused on player development and competing. I also want to be able to exhibit all my talents, all while being able to pursue a degree in nursing.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I am interested in being a nurse practitioner because ever since I was little I wanted to become a doctor or a vet, and as I got older I narrowed it down to a nurse practitioner because it’s right under being a doctor and you do some similar things. I also really enjoy science and the study of the body, so I think this is something I see myself doing.
What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? My favorite subject is science because I like the hands-on aspect because I feel like I learn better that way.
Who is your sports hero and why? My sports hero is Kobe Bryant because I loved the way he played his game and his mentality. He gave his all 110 percent of the time and I strive to put my all into everything I do, just like him.
What’s your favorite book to read and why? My favorite book to read was “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas. I like that book so much because it portrays real-life scenarios and how the characters overcame those challenges.
What’s the best hype song and why? I think the best hype-up song before a game is “Seek & Destroy” by SZA. It has the perfect amount of soothing, and upbeat to it to hype me up before a game.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? My favorite TV show to watch is “All American” because it’s about an athlete, who is dealing with the external factors of his friends being in gangs, him trying to help everybody out, his relationships with his friends, all while trying to get recruited.
What’s your favorite movie and why? My favorite movie is “The Sandlot” because it brings back a lot of childhood memories for me.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? As my secret talent, I am an exceptional drawer and love to paint
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SIGNING/COMMITMENT ALERTS
Amanda Ashe, 2024, 1B/OF, Lady Dukes Gold-Torres/Mountain View High, VA, Towson
Guess who’s committed 👀… ME 😆🙏#GohTigers #committed @Towson_SB @DukesGoldTorres @IB_softball @iamglobalsports 🖤🫡🖤 pic.twitter.com/4TjTOgrBos
— Amanda Ashe (Towson Commit) (@amanda_ashe28) August 19, 2023
Grace DiBuono-Krafick, 2024, 1B/OF/LHP, CT Impact Premier/Wilton High, CT, Dickinson College
I am SO excited to announce that I've committed to Dickinson College to continue my academics and play softball! Thank you to my parents, coaches, teammates, friends, and everyone who has supported me in this process. ROLL DEVS 🤘🤘@DsonRedDevils @CTimpact18u_P @WiltonAthletics pic.twitter.com/3Z2E03esyM
— Grace DiBuono-Krafick (@Grace_DK2024) August 18, 2023
Sarah Dupre, 2024, OF, Rhode Island Thunder Premier/Bishop Feehan High, MA, Nichols College
Excited to announce my commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at Nichols College!! A huge thank you to everyone who has helped me get here!💚 #gobisons pic.twitter.com/GD7RI7CJFu
— Sarah Dupre (@sarahdupre10) August 18, 2023
Jenna Donohoo, 2024, C/OF/UT, Tecumseh High, IN, Evansville
I would love to announce that I have verbally committed to play softball at the University of Evansville!! Big thanks to @Coachmun for this opportunity, my family, and my coaches. GO ACES!!🧡💜🧡💜 pic.twitter.com/OXlWblEMy5
— Jenna Donohoo (@DonohooJenna) August 18, 2023
Kenzy Johnson, 2025, Indiana Fusion Elite 06/Tecumseh High, IN, John A. Logan College
So excited to announce I have verbally committed to continue my softball career at John A Logan college. Can’t wait to be on that field and play with one of my best friends @lauryn_adamson! Thank you to my family and coaches for being there and helping me. Go Vols!!!💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/kg2vQFEqVJ
— Kenzy Johnson (@JohnsonKenzy) July 20, 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 …
1. Superman Legacy
2. Joker 2
3. The Batman 2
4. Aquaman 2 https://t.co/xZkR60usbc— Wild Laughs (@wild_laughs) August 19, 2023
— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff and Thread @los_stuff)
