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, Sept. 15, 2023:
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THE FINAL PITCH: CARLY MEYER
Uncommitted 2027 CF Carly Meyer recently talked to Dugout Chatter about Midwest Speed National-Wagner, Hudson High, finishing 9th at 14U Alliance Nationals, OC Batbusters-K. Stith/Black, overcoming minor problems, future college, biomedical sciences and engineering, math, Grace Lyons, “Legend,” “Mulan,” NF, “Gilmore Girls” and cooking.
THE FINAL PITCH Q&A
Name: Carly Meyer
Hometown: Hudson, WI
High School: Hudson High
Club Team: Midwest Speed 15U National-Wagner
Graduation Year: 2027
Height: 5-foot-3
Position: OF
Nickname: My nickname is Carls/Carl. My sister originally came up with it and started referring to me as Carls and it just stuck with me for softball.
Twitter/Instagram: @CMeyer2027/@cmeyer2027
Honors: Showtime Sports Running Competition (10.99 Home-to-Home)
Travel Ball Summer Stats: 40 games, 115 plate appearances, 94 at-bats, .351 AVG, .451 OBP, .919 OPS, .468 SLG, 33 hits, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HRs, 20 RBIs, 12 BBs, 38 SBs and .964 fielding percentage.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? My travel team is with Midwest Speed. I started with them in 12U after I decided I wanted to take my softball game to another level. I’ve been with them ever since.
Tell us about your future high school team? My future high school team is going to be pretty young. We had quite a few seniors graduate last year and there’s a large amount of sophomores and freshmen coming this year. We just got a new coach, so I think we’ll be more disciplined this year and more connected as a team.
Can you tell us about your team’s 9th-place finish at the 14U Alliance Nationals this past summer? I am so proud of how we did not only that tournament, but all summer. It was really great for us to be seeing a high level of competition from all around the nation and every game we played caused us to get better. We fought hard for our spot and we got to show that even though we’re from Minnesota, we are meant to be at these big tournaments. We fought hard until the end and we lost to a phenomenal team. Next year, we’ll come back even stronger.
Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? Our toughest opponent was definitely the OC Batbusters-Stith team. They were fluid with every play and they played at a faster level that we weren’t at, yet.
What have you faced/overcome in life that has made you the person you are today? I have been fortunate enough not to have had any major problems that I’ve had to overcome. All of my problems have been minor like minor ankle sprains and disciplining myself to continue to get better off the field. However, even these minor problems have shaped my hard-working personality, which forces me to be the best I can be every day.
What are you looking for in a future college? I am looking for a college with a great program that I want to major in (still deciding what I want to do), a great community and nearby activities to do outside of school. For school size, I don’t want a super tiny school. I’m fine with any mid-sized school.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I am interested in biomedical sciences and engineering and potentially sports medicine. All of these occupations would allow me to contribute towards a more advanced medical world, meaning I would get to help people in a significant way.
What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? My favorite subject is math because there are logical steps for every problem and it correlates into real-world scenarios.
Who is your sports hero and why? My softball sports hero is Grace Lyons. She’s an incredible player with the best attitude and she shares similar values to me.
What’s your favorite book to read and why? I really enjoy reading “Legend” by Marie Lu because there are so many moving parts to the story that it keeps it interesting the whole time.
What’s your favorite movie and why? My favorite movie is “Mulan” because it gives a great message of perseverance and it doesn’t get boring.
What’s the best hype song and why? The best hype song is “Clouds” by NF because it’s up-beat and gets you in the mindset to do your best.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? I like to binge the “Gilmore Girls” because there are new elements in each episode and you can easily jump in at any episode and know what’s going on.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? I am surprisingly good at cooking and baking.
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NEWS & NOTES
***The ACFL is hosting the Alliance Cup Super Cup Stage 1 Saturday-Sunday for 14U-18U teams in Glen Allen/Henrico, VA. Follow the tournament online HERE.
***The Triple Crown Fall Classic at Big League Dreams for 10U-18U teams is Saturday-Sunday in Chino Hills/Perris/Lake Elsinore, CA. Follow the tournament online HERE.
***The PGF Super Select Fall Championship features 10U-14U teams Friday-Sunday in Kokomo/Westfield, IN. Follow the tournament online HERE.
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SIGNING/COMMITMENT ALERTS
Lexi McDaniel, 2025, MIF/3B/OF, Aces Fastpitch Club/Pocola High, MO, Oklahoma
B⭕️⭕️MER S⭕️⭕️NER!!! 🤍 @GassoPatty @jtgasso @coachjro @OU_Softball @rktaylor12 @STayTaylor18 @Aces_SoftballKC pic.twitter.com/cLvpFE2MCZ
— Lexi McDaniel (@LexiMcDaniel2) September 13, 2023
Anna Hinde, 2025, 3B/C, Team NC-Hinde/Charlotte Christian High, NC, Florida State
You already 𝗡𝗢𝗟𝗘🍢@TeamNCHinde @lhaeger17 @PickettBrittany @ExtraInningSB @BrenttEads @tdoby_USASB @PGFnetwork @LegacyLegendsS1 @SoftbalAmerica @PG_Softball @outsidethechute @justfactsmaam pic.twitter.com/iXI5gdUumG
— Anna Hinde (@anna_hinde) September 14, 2023
Alexa Riddel, 2025, OF, Top Gun National-Slezak/Parkway West High, MO, Kentucky
Committed! Go Cats 🤍💙😼 @UKCoachLawson @UKCoachHimes @coachjb_18 @gbaalman25 @BrittCerv14 pic.twitter.com/J43Kg9wZFN
— Alexa Riddel (@alexa_riddel) September 13, 2023
Abby Hammond, 2025, RHP, Southern Force National/Lexington Catholic High, KY, Kentucky
COMMITTED. 😼💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/4KvhgaJGZW
— Abby Hammond (@abbyhammond23) September 13, 2023
Ava Zubovic, 2024, MIF/UT, Bella Vernon High, PA, Mercyhurst
Let’s Go Lakers!🍀🍀🍀 pic.twitter.com/YsaVuGlFie
— ava (@Ava_Zubovic) September 13, 2023
Michaela Smith, 2024, 3B/C/1B, Virginia Platinum National-Bacci/Heritage High, VA, West Chester
I am super blessed and excited to announce my commitment to further my academic and athletic career at West Chester University! I’d like to thank God, my family, and all my coaches who have helped me achieve my dream. Go Golden Rams! 💜💛 pic.twitter.com/yUQQrP5T5V
— Michaela Smith 2024 (@michaela55smith) September 14, 2023
Nicole Knox, 2025, SS/MIF, Stars National-Shirey/Coleman/Red Bank Catholic High, NJ, North Carolina
1000% COMMITTED!!! Thrilled to call Chapel Hill home!! GO HEELS!!🩵🤍🐏@UNCSoftball @coachmegsmith @c_lyon22 @Maddie_Holub @coachkiwij @evltncatching @ThrillChapel @GreatDayTarHeel @starsnationalfp @StarsNat18U @RBCSoftball @ExtraInningSB pic.twitter.com/lGOBRqjQ6r
— Nicole Knox 2025 (@NicoleKnox_2025) September 14, 2023
Dani Lee, 2025, RHP/UT, Carolina Cardinals Nationals-Sars/McLouth High, KS, Liberty
Psalm 37:5
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
GOD IS GOOD ✝️@EASRecruiting @national16usars @LibertySB @CoachDot_LU @SamiFagan @coachkfagan@TopPreps @SoftballDown @SBRRetweets pic.twitter.com/qt8A3ItPrY
— Dani Lee (2025) (@Dani_lee11) September 14, 2023
Destiny Melton, 2024, UT, Carolinas Hurricanes/Legion Collegiate Academy, SC, Lees-McRae
Excited for the chance to call Lees-McRae my new home for the next four years!!! Thank you coach Bumgarner for the opportunity!!! GO BOBCATS💚💛@LMC_Softball pic.twitter.com/0UBAAD99E2
— Destiny Melton (@destinymelton9) September 14, 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 …
Bless someone's TL today with Snoop Dogg being the best Celebrity Softball player ever 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/Q4PkKvbyvq
— MLB Life (@MLBLife) September 14, 2023
— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff and Threads @los_stuff)
