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 Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023:
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THE FINAL PITCH: KALE’A TINDAL
Uncommitted 2026 CF Kale’a Tindal recently talked to Dugout Chatter about OC Batbusters-K. Stith/Black, Holden Valley High/Harvard-Westlake Hugh, winning a 14U Alliance national championship, Athletics Mercado-Hovermale and Indiana Magic Gold-Bennett/Goddard, shyness, future college, science-based occupations, science, Allyson Felix, “The Inheritance Games,” Missy Elliott, “Abbott Elementary,” “Hidden Figures” and crochet.
THE FINAL PITCH Q&A
Name: Kale’a Tindal
Hometown: Santa Clarita, CA
High School: Harvard-Westlake High
Club Team: OC Batbusters-K. Stith/Black 14U
Graduation Year: 2026
Height: 5-foot-5
Position: CF
Nickname: My nickname is KJ. My dad originally gave me my nickname when we realized that it may be easier for others to say compared to Kale’a.
Honors: Two-time USA Softball All-American (2020 & 2021); Rookie All-American; Golden Valley League Scholar Award (2023); and Most Valuable Offensive Player for Golden Valley (2023).
Travel Ball Fall Stats: 115 at-bats, .470 AVG, .504 OBP, .800 SLG, 1.308 OPS, 54 hits, 9 BBS, 10 doubles, 8 triples, 4 HRs, 37 runs and 29 RBIs.
Travel Ball Summer Stats: 167 at-bats, .419 AVG, .471 OBP, .725 SLG, 1.203 OPS, 70 hits, 18 BBs, 9 doubles, 9 triples, 8 HRs, 55 runs and 47 RBIs.
AFCS stats: 32 at-bats, .562 AVG, .571 OBP, .875 SLG, 1.463 OPS, 18 hits, 2 BBs, 2 doubles, 4 triples, 0 HRs, 7 runs and 11 RBIs.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? The Batbusters organization and my coaches are amazing. When I first came into the organization, I was shocked about how close-knit the teams were to one another. Before the Batbusters, I never really had the opportunity to train with other players from other teams, so when I arrived it was so much fun getting the chance to meet players outside of my team. I heard great things about the team and the organization and I had an opportunity to meet with the head, Mike Stith. After the meeting, we were given the opportunity to join the new 14U team being put together.
Tell us about your high school team and how you did? During Freshman year of high school, I was with a school called Golden Valley (High). I truly enjoyed playing with all of the girls and had so much fun with them throughout the season. Our team was very young, since most of us were underclassmen. Even though we did not get as far as we wanted to, it was fun to represent our school.
Can you tell us about your team’s run to the 14U Alliance national championship? Before the Alliance tournament, our team battled through other tournaments, including ones in Oklahoma, Colorado and Georgia. After these, our team’s mindset was to go out with a bang and finish our summer with a national championship. During the tournament, we really tried to focus on taking it one game at a time and to not get overwhelmed.
Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? We played a lot of great teams throughout this season. In the fall, I would say Athletics Mercado-Hovermale was our toughest opponent. In previous tournaments, they continuously put up runs against our team and had consistent hitting. During the summer, I felt like Indiana Magic (Gold)-Bennett/Goodard has been our toughest opponent because of their pitching. While we were in Georgia, we faced Indiana Magic in the semifinals, but we were unable to put up any runs against them. When we played them again in this championship, we were definitely preparing to face some tough pitching.
What have you faced/overcome in life that has made you the person you are today? In the past, especially in school, I was extremely quiet and would only give short answers when spoken to. I never liked to raise my hand in class or volunteer for things. Playing center field helped me to come out of my shyness. I remember when my recreational tournament team coaches put me in the outfield and told me that I would have to be more vocal, especially to avoid collisions with teammates. That stayed with me and gave me the confidence to speak to others and have conversations.
What are you looking for in a future college? I hope to find a college that will have a diverse and inclusive campus as well as a competitive aerospace engineering program. Also, I would like to find a college with a competitive softball program.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I am interested in science-based occupations and I would love to work at NASA someday. I would like to be an aerospace engineer because I could potentially be a part of the exploration of space.
What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? Science is my favorite subject to study in school. I would really like to learn more about the things we take for granted and use on a daily basis, making science my favorite subject.
Who is your sports hero and why? Allyson Felix is my sports hero because of the hardships she faced and what she did outside of track and field. I find it really inspiring how she went through struggles during her pregnancy and was still able to push through and be an elite athlete afterwards. Also, I admire her dedication to women’s empowerment and her support of maternal health.
What’s your favorite book to read and why? My favorite book to read is “The Inheritance Games” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I have always been a fan of mystery books starting when I used to read Nancy Drew. I really was captivated by the constant mystery that the main character has to face, the threats coming her way and the pressure that is put upon her being a billionaire. I really like how it puts me in another person’s shoes, even though her situation is not common.
What’s the best hype song and why? The best hype song is “Lose Control” by Missy Elliott because I find that the beat is exciting and has great energy.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? My favorite TV show to binge right now is “Abbott Elementary” because of how it reminds me of what elementary school was like. It is really interesting to watch something you remember told from another perspective and be able to laugh at it at the same time.
What’s your favorite movie and why? My favorite movie is “Hidden Figures” because of the inspiring story it tells about three black women, who work at NASA. This movie is also my favorite because it introduced me to the idea of working in the space industry.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? I really love to crochet, which is something I taught myself to do to make things for the house. Usually, I make blankets or scarves for my family.
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NEWS & NOTES
***Stacy Tamborra, previously with the Atlanta Vipers organization, started her own organization called Athletics Gold Tamborra, which will have 18U, 16U, 14U 12U and 10U teams. She said her plan is to create elite teams in each age group rather than a massive organization. She has had a lot of success creating top teams over the past decade. …
***Cambell-committed 2024 3B/1B Hannah Cornetto, previously with Fury Premier 2023, joined Rock Gold-Manetta, the reigning PGF 18U Premier national champion. …
super excited to play my last year of travel ball this fall/summer with the defending PGF Premier Champs @RockGoldManetta 18u! thank you Coach Manetta for this opportunity! @LegacyLegendsS1 @ExtraInningSB@Los_Stuff@TrenaPrater @Meg_Hill22 @E_Arevalo27 @riss_15 🧡🐪 pic.twitter.com/OcKODaJrZV
— hannah cornetto (@2024HannahC) August 20, 2023
***Trevor Gore, who previously coached NC Intensity-Gore, has moved his team to the Rock Gold organization and they are now known as Rock Gold SC 16U-Gore. …
2023-2024 Rock Gold SC 16u- Gore Roster
Excited to hit the field with this group!! 🤘🏼#RockOnTop pic.twitter.com/TnwBLlnUSv— Rock Gold SC 16u – Gore (@RockGoldGore) August 21, 2023
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SIGNING/COMMITMENT ALERTS
Giovanna Lynch, 2024, RHP/1B, Lady Gators-Jackson/Castle High, IN, West Georgia
So excited to be a wolf!! ❤️💙🐺 #commited @UWGSoftball @jackson_gators @Castle_Softball pic.twitter.com/iNL64PD6qt
— Giovanna (Gigi) Lynch (@gigilynch22) August 22, 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 …
Outsmarted.. 😅 pic.twitter.com/yZEtdxj5HC
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) August 21, 2023
— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff and Thread @los_stuff)
