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, June 16, 2023:
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THE FINAL PITCH: EMMA BAILEY
Uncommitted 2025 OF/UT Emma Bailey recently talked to Dugout Chatter about Strykers National-Esparza, St. Thomas More High, Lexi Dibbley, future college, physical therapist, Biology, Haylie McCleney, Colleen Hoover, Lil Baby, “Gilmore Girls,” Marvel movies and unicycling.
THE FINAL PITCH Q&A
Name: Emma Bailey
Hometown: Lafayette, LA
High School: St. Thomas More High
Club Team: Strykers National-Esparza 16U
Graduation Year: 2025
Height: 5-foot-3
Position: OF/UT
Nickname: EB. My Grandma started calling me EB when I was little.
Twitter/Instagram: @EmmaBailey2025/@emma.bailey7
Honors: 1st Team All-District; 1st Team All-State (2022); Breakfast of Champions; and Top Cat.
Travel Ball Fall Stats: .379 AVG, 25 runs, 23 SBS and 31 games.
High School Stats: .500 AVG, 44 runs, 25 RBIs, 18 SBs, no strikeouts and 36 games.
Travel Ball Summer Stats (so far): .409 AVG, 6 runs, 9 SBs and 8 games.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I played with most of the girls I am playing with now in the fall under a different organization. Coach Charlie (Esparza) makes our organization feel like a family. The girls on the team are all so selfless and truly care about the greater good of the team.
Tell us about your high school team and how you did? My high school team had an amazing senior class this year. They led us to winning a state championship!
Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? In high school ball, Sam Houston is always a very competitive game. Hitting … Lexi Dibbley was tough.
What are you looking for in a future college? Somewhere that makes me feel at home and a place that prioritizes me as a student/person and not just a softball player.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? Kinesiology. I want to be a physical therapist, because I want to help athletes get back to playing the sport they love.
What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? Biology. I think it is cool how the body works.
Who is your sports hero and why? Haylie McCleney. The love she has for the game is inspiring, but she also reminds me that our life cannot revolve around softball and stats … it needs to revolve around God.
What’s your favorite book to read and why? Right now, I am reading “It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover. It is definitely my favorite so far.
What’s the best hype song and why? “I Am” by Lil Baby.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? “Gilmore Girls,” because my family and I sit in the living room and watch it together.
What’s your favorite movie and why? Any Marvel Movie.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? I can ride a unicycle.
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NEWS & NOTES
***The Top Gun Invitational holds events for the 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U age groups, but the top-tier teams compete in the Maverick Division. This year’s tournament is Thursday-Sunday, June 15-18. Bracket play is Saturday and Sunday. Follow the tournament online HERE.
Texas Riptide (14U), Beverly Bandits-Dorsey (16U) and Tennessee Mojo-Danley (18U) are the defending champions in the Maverick Divisions.
***The Team1 Elite Club Summer Invitational is Thursday-Sunday, June 15-18, in Lenexa/Shawnee, KS. Follow the tournament online HERE.
The Tournament has teams competing in the 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U age groups.
Athletics Mercado-Smith (18U), Athletics Mercado-Hovermale (16U), Louisville Lady Sluggers-Wathen (14U) and Iowa Premier Black (12U) are the reigning champions.
***The So Cal A’s Invitational is Friday-Sunday, June 16-18, at Harvard Park in Irvine, CA. Follow the tournament online HERE.
AASA-Merrida, Arizona Storm National-Mathis, Beverly Bandits Premier-Conroy, Breakers Labs-Bobby, BSC Bengals-Briggs, Cal Cruisers-Sievers, Cal Nuggets-Woods, Explosion Premier, Firecrackers-TJ, Irvine Sting, Jersey Intensity Premier-KOD, Lady Magic-Boykin, LTG Lions-Henderson, Ohana Tigers-Quarles, So Cal Athletics-Richardson, So Cal Choppers-Fausett, Sorcerer-Gabales/Rodriguez and Wildcats-Weil are the 18U teams competing in the event.
Arizona Storm National-Mathis is the defending champion.
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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 (and I got IMAX tickets) …
Bring the whole Bat Family. 🦇⚡ THE FLASH – in theaters now. #TheFlashMovie pic.twitter.com/SS3u8do5oC
— The Flash (@theFlash) June 14, 2023
— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff)
