Uncommitted 2028 RHP Sydney Root of Arizona Storm National-Kobasew, today's standout spotlight athlete from the Grand Canyon State. Photo courtesy of PGF.

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Here’s our TFP for Monday, Sept. 18, 2023:

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THE FINAL PITCH: SYDNEY ROOT

Uncommitted 2028 RHP/MIF Sydney Root recently talked to Dugout Chatter about Arizona Storm National-Kobasew, Xavier College Preparatory, PGF Nationals, Arizona softball players, BSC Bengals-CKM, future college, lawyer, social studies and world history, Kobe Bryant, “The Outsiders,” Rihanna or Drake, “Outer Banks,” “Home Alone” and flag football.

THE FINAL PITCH Q&A

Sydney Root of Arizona Storm National-Kobasew. Photo courtesy of PGF.

Name: Sydney Root

Hometown: Phoenix, AZ

Middle School: St. John Bosco Catholic

Future High School: Xavier College Preparatory

Club Team: Arizona Storm 14U National-Kobasew

Graduation Year: 2028

Position: RHP/MIF

Nickname: My nickname is Syd.

Twitter: @SydneyRoot_2028

Honors: PGF 12U Premier Nationals runner-up (2023); Triple Crown Zoom into June 12U runner-up (2023); Power 48 14U champions (2023); three-time Arizona state champions (2023, 2022 & 2021); and PGF 12U Platinum Nationals runner-up (2022).

Sydney Root of Arizona Storm National-Kobasew. Photo courtesy of PGF.

Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? My coach came to watch me play when I was 9 years old. I was wearing a pink helmet and I tripped over third base when I was running to home, but luckily he still wanted me on the team. We started out as the AZ Diamonds when we were in 10U and our team moved over to the AZ Storm organization in 12U.

Tell us about your future high school team? I hope to be accepted into Xavier College Prep, which is a Catholic high school here in Phoenix. Their softball team won the state championship two years ago.

Can you talk about your experience at the PGF Nationals this past summer? PGF is by far my favorite tournament. This past summer, we played for the national championship for the second straight year, but came up short. We played some really exciting games, including two must-win games against the Beverly Bandits in the semifinals. The first game we won, 2-1, in the bottom of the 7th inning. We were down to our final out and our final strike, but our team came through to win it! We turned right around and played the Bandits again with the winner advancing to the championship. The second game was even more exciting, going 11 innings with four innings of ITB and we won again, 2-1. Our defense was amazing, making big plays in both games.

Sydney Root of Arizona Storm National-Kobasew. Photo courtesy of Arizona Storm National-Kobasew.

We have many fun traditions and superstitions at PGF, including eating at the same restaurant and ordering the same meals for dinner when we are on a winning streak. We also wear our hair the same, ride in the same spots in the car to each game and this year our assistant coach brought a portable ice bath, so every night at the hotel, my teammates and I would take turns in the cold plunge.

What makes a softball player from Arizona different/special? We develop a toughness by practicing in 100-plus degree heat for four months out of the year. Our team is also special because as a national team, all of our players are from the Phoenix area (no out-of-state players) and eight of us are starting our fourth season of playing together.

Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? The BSC Bengals-CKM are a very tough opponent in our age division. They have great pitching and they can hit. We also play up in older age divisions a lot. Playing against older teams is a great challenge for us and has definitely made us a better team by going up against girls who may be faster and stronger.

What are you looking for in a future college? I want to find a college that has a good education and softball program. I’m interested in such schools as University of Washington, Duke University and The Ohio State University.

What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I want to be a lawyer when I am older.

What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? I like to learn about Social Studies and World History.

Who is your sports hero and why? My sports hero is Kobe Bryant. I admire his work ethic … “Outwork Everyone.”

What’s your favorite book to read and why? My favorite book to read is “The Outsiders” (by S.E. Hinton).

What’s the best hype song and why? The best hype song is anything by Rihanna or Drake.

What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? I like to watch “Outer Banks.”

What’s your favorite movie and why? My favorite movie is “Home Alone” because I love Christmas.

Do you have a secret talent/skill? I love playing flag football. Our softball team played in a flag football league, going up against all the boys and it was a lot of fun.

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NEWS & NOTES

***Stacy Tamborra has finalized the teams for her new organization. They are: Athletics Gold Tamborra 18U coached by Tamborra; Athletics Gold Tamborra/Long 18U coached by Guy Long; Athletics Gold Tamborra 16U coached by Tamborra; Athletics Gold Tamborra/Freeman 16U coached by Mekhia Freeman; Athletics Gold Tamborra/FHamilton 14U coached by Pete Hamilton; Athletics Gold Tamborra/Vallery 14U coached by Dickey Vallery; Athletics Gold Tamborra/Olson 12U coached by Janet Olson; and Athletics Gold Tamborra/Schiller-Jones 10U coached by Carey Schiller-Jones. …

***The 30-team field for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic is set for Feb. 22-25, 2024, at Big League Dreams in Cathedral City, CA. …

***The PGF Shootout is always one of the top tournaments of the fall and this year’s tournament Oct. 27-29 in Orange County, CA, is strong once again. …

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SIGNING/COMMITMENT ALERTS

Kai Minor, 2025, CF, OC Batbusters-Stith/Orange Lutheran High, CA, Oklahoma

Libby Jaques, 2024, OF/1B, Athletics National 2024-Madden/Clemmer/Moore High, OK, Oklahoma State

Valyn Pattengale, 2025, C/SS/UT, Indiana Phoenix 24/26 Premier/Daleville High, IN, Bowling Green State

Kaylee Wilfong, 2024, C/3B/UT, So Cal Athletics South Nay/Los Alamitos High, CA, Emnbry Riddle Aeronautical

Hailey Vassalotti, 2024, C/UT, Tampa Mustangs-Seymour/Seminole Ridge High, FL, Boise State

Makynlee Dickerson, 2025, SS, TN Mojo-Hughes/Kosciuso High, MS, Jones College

Landri Pick, 2025, 3B/MIF, Impact Gold-Jazz/Riesel High, TX, Georgia Tech

Carly Compton, 2025, RHP/IF, Team BC-Hinde/Tazewell High, VA, North Carolina

Hannah Tahaney, 2024, RHP, Turnin2/Michigan Lutheran High, MI, Davenport

Calli Yount, 2025, RHP/UT, Carolina Cardinals-Gore/Clarendon Hall High, SC, North Greenville

Callie Dickerson, 2024, IF/RHP, Unity-Pirillo/Gibson Southern High, IN, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)

Avery Maurer, 2025, MIF/OF, Texas Bombers Gold American/Brenham High, TX, Sam Houston State

Alvia Hare, 2025, OF/UT, Ohio Outlaws National-Quinn/Mohawk High, PA, Robert Morris

Breonna Preston, 2024, OF/3B/C/UT, B2 Bulls Fastpitch/Eastlake North High, OH, Otterbein

Mackenzie Reese, 2024, C/3B, Carolina Elite/Hampton High, PA, Pittsburgh

Kimber Shambley, 2025, IF/C, Carolina Nationals-Garner/Kennedy/Cedar Ridge High, NC, Western Carolina

Ava Grace Gainey, 2025, 2B, Carolina Elite SC-Smith/Owens/West Florence High, SC, USC Union

Elyse Starr, 2024, RHP/1B/3B, New Lenox Lightning/Kankakee Valley High, IN, Saint Xavier

Alexa Wilde, 2025, RHP/OF, Arizona Storm National-Appel/Pinnacle High, AZ, New Mexico

Sophia Sandel, 2025, C/3B, Illusions Gold National-Plocheck/La Porte High, TX, Texas State

Logan Currie, 2025, CF/UT, Fury Premier 2025-Moyer/Perry/North Forsyth High, GA, Iowa

Scarlett Poore, 2025, 3B/1B/P, Glory Adkins Gold/Lake Ridge High, TX, Tarleton State

Tori Payne, 2025, RHP/UT, Louisville Lady Sluggers 07-Wathen/Wellington High, FL, Central Florida

Mika Yuge, 2024, OF, Firecrackers Premier-RTY/La Serna High, CA, LMU

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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 …

— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff and Threads @los_stuff)

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