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 Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023:
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THE FINAL PITCH: KENDALL WELLS
Uncommitted 2025 C/3B Kendall Wells recently talked to Dugout Chatter about Georgia Impact-Sampson, North Oconee High, PGF 18U Premier Nationals, coming back from injury, Tennessee Mojo-Danley/Fisher, Sept. 1 anticipation, orthopedic surgeon, math, Tim Tebow, “The Outsiders,” Pitbull and Kanye West, “Chicago Fire,” “Remember the Titans” and riding horses.
THE FINAL PITCH Q&A
Name: Kendall Wells
Hometown: Bogart, GA
High School: North Oconee High
Club Team: Georgia Impact 18U-Sampson
Graduation Year: 2025
Height: 5-foot-9
Position: C/3B
Twitter/Instagram: KendallWells00/@kendallwells__
Honors: 1st Team All-State; Region co-Player of the Year; Basketball 2nd Team; Academic Honor Roll (All As); Beta Club; and holds team’s High School records for home runs, RBIs and stolen bases.
Travel Ball Fall Stats (two tournaments): .500 AVG, .588 OBP, .964 SLG, 15 hits, 4 HRs and 20 RBIs.
Travel Ball Summer Stats: 475 AVG, .525 OBP, .822 SLG, 64 hits, 12 doubles, 11 HRs, 58 RBIs and 18 BBs.
High School Stats (in 11 games so far): .783 AVG, .861 OBP, 2.261 SLG, 3.122 OPS, 18 hits, 10 HRs, 23 RBIs and 13 BB.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I used to always play against them when we were younger and knew that they were a high-quality team. When the opportunity became available, I chose to join this team! This team, organization and coaches have pushed me to be a better player and developed me into the player I am today. I am always grateful for everything Coach Brett (Sampson) and everyone else in the organization has done for me!
Tell us about your high school team and how you did/are doing? Last year, I didn’t get to play much of high school season because I was still recovering from my injury, however, I did make it back for the end of the season and we didn’t finish how we wanted to. This year, we are off to a great start and we hope to make a great run in the playoffs!!
Can you tell us about Georgia Impact-Sampson’s run to 5th place at the PGF 18U Premier Nationals? We had a great team this summer with lots of talent top-to-bottom. We played a very good first few bracket games and then were put into the loser’s bracket, however, we battled back beating many high-level teams with mostly 23s, and lost our final game in a pitcher’s duel, 1-0. We had a great season and look forward to making a run next year!
Can you talk about your ankle injury, how long you were out, what you did in rehab and how you came back? At the beginning of June in the (PGF) Show Me The Money Tournament, I dislocated my ankle, breaking several bones and tearing several ligaments. I had surgery to repair it, which included screws, plates, wires and anchors in my ankle. The recovery took about 5-6 months. I was blessed to have some of the best physical therapists, a dad who works in the orthopedic world every day, and one of the best surgeons in the Southeast, Dr. Stephen White, at Piedmont Orthopedics Sports Medicine. I worked hard throughout those months at therapy to get my strength back and recover quickly and I started back to catching, hitting and speed and agility workouts as soon as I was cleared to!
Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? (Tennessee) Mojo-Danley/Fisher. They are always a tough opponent that we play and it’s usually always a great game! They have a really great pitching staff and they are a very good hitting team.
What are you looking for in a future college? Can you talk about Sept. 1 and how you are approaching it? I am super excited for Sept. 1 and looking forward to talking to coaches that day! I have tried to stay calm and not be anxious and just be grateful for the opportunities I have. I am looking for a future college that is a family atmosphere where I can play and compete at the highest level and is the right fit for me.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I am interested in something in the Orthopedic world, specifically Orthopedic Surgeon. I have grown up watching my dad work in the Orthopedic world my whole life and want to work with athletes and help people with injuries just like mine that I had last year!
What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? Math. I am currently taking AP Calc and really enjoy math and the problem-solving in it! The reason I really love math is because it’s a logic course. There is no could be this or could be that of math.
Who is your sports hero and why? Tim Tebow and the way he advocates for his Christianity.
What’s your favorite book to read and why? I am not really a huge reader, but I did really enjoy the book “The Outsiders” (by S.E. Hinton).
What’s the best hype song and why? My team and I love the songs “Fireball” (by Pitbull) and “All of the Lights” (by Kanye West), because our coach Scotty (Lowry) had told us to play like fireballs and my teammates and I love to play at night under the lights!
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? “Chicago Fire.” I love the drama and the action.
What’s your favorite movie and why? “Remember the Titans.” I love the messages and motivation of the movie.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? Riding Horses. My family has five barrel-racing horses.
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NEWS & NOTES
***Louisville-committed 2024 OF Jordan Williams, who previously played for Virginia Unity 16U-Johnson/Ross, is looking forward to playing her final club season with Beverly Bandits Premier 18U-Conroy, which finished as runner-ups at PGF 18U Premier Nationals this summer.
“I think my skills will fit with the team’s style of play with my speed, ability to hit for power and my small ball game,” Williams said. “I believe that Coach (Bill) Conroy has a similar philosophy for the game as my future University of Louisville coach, which will help me increase my knowledge of the game.”
Williams is also looking forward to playing with future Louisville teammate, Taylor Monroe, a 2024 2B/OF for the Beverly Bandits.
“My family moved from the Midwest eight years ago,” Williams said, “and I am looking forward to playing a couple of tournaments close to some family that can finally come watch my team play.” …
Excited to play my final year of travel softball with 18U Premier Conroy @Bandits05 @ConroyBandit looking forward to playing some games in the Midwest! @DanesClub @DHSCoachHuff @LouisvilleSB @UofL_CoachHolly @GriffJ_13 @sabbyBsabs @ExtraInningSB @LegacyLegendsS1 @Los_Stuff pic.twitter.com/CpwTeMJxjk
— Jordan Williams 2024 (@JordanW2024) August 25, 2023
***Fury Platinum 2026 IF Riley Staats, a member of U-15 Team USA, dubbed her Real Dream Team that’s realer than “Real Deal” Holyfield.
19 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘰 — The 2004 U.S. Olympic Softball Team was dubbed 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙢 by Sports Illustrated 🇺🇸✨
𝘛𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 — U-15 WNT member, Riley Staats, dubs her 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 featuring five members from that '04 squad 👀@SInow | #WeAreUSAS90 🥎 pic.twitter.com/LrdA1DiNFt
— USA Softball (@USASoftball) August 30, 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 …
Ninja moves.. 😅 pic.twitter.com/jdV5kAxomE
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) August 30, 2023
— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff and Threads @los_stuff)
