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 Monday, July 10, 2023:
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THE FINAL PITCH: HAILEY TONEY
Texas Tech-committed 2024 SS/UT Hailey Toney recently talked to Dugout Chatter about Texas Sudden Impact-Jones, Magnolia West High, the Independence Day Tournament in Colorado, Lake Creek High, never take anything for granted, future college, physical therapy, math, Derek Jeter, “The Energy Bus,” Lil Jon, “The Vampire Diaries,” “The Blind Side” and juggling.
THE FINAL PITCH Q&A
Name: Hailey Toney
Hometown: Magnolia, TX
High School: Magnolia West High
Club Team: Texas Sudden Impact 16U-Jones
Graduation Year: 2024
Height: 5-foot-7
Position: SS/UT
Twitter/Instagram: @ToneyHailey/@htoney06
Honors: Three years of A/B honor roll; 2021 co-Newcomer of the Year (2021); three years of Academic All-District; and All-State (2022).
Travel Ball Fall Stats: Hitting — 28 games, 65 at-bats, .369 AVG, .377 OBP, 1.008 OPS, .631 SLG and 24 hites; Fielding — 57 total chances, 20 assists, 30 putouts and .877 fielding percentage.
High School Stats: Hitting — 33 games, 91 at-bats, .604 AVG, .690 OBP, 1.690 OPS, 1.000 SLG and 55 hits; Fielding — 155 total chances, 34 assists, 118 putouts and .981 fielding percentage.
Travel Ball Summer Stats (so far): Hitting — 21 games, 47 at-bays, .553 AVG, .618 OBP, 1.427 OPS, .809 SLG and 26 hits; Fielding — 55 total chances, 25 assists, 28 putouts and .964 fielding percentage.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? They are a very hard-working and dedicated organization. My previous team dissipated and I spoke to Bill Jones about joining the SI organization and he gave my the opportunity to be a part of the SI family.
Tell us about your high school team and how you did? We are always ready to push each other and hold everyone accountable even though we had to play top teams in the nation. We were always fighting till the end and never gave up.
Can you tell us about your recent experience at IDT in Colorado? It was a wonderful experience to be able to push through and come out on top and be blessed with the IDT 16U champions title!!
Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? For high school, my biggest opponent was Lake Creek because they were known as the #1 national team and they were new to our District.
What have you faced/overcome in life that has made you the person you are today? In 2017, my Coach and his wife passed away due to a boat accident on Lake Conroe and that has made me realize I should never take anything for granted and appreciate every opportunity I have.
What are you looking for in a future college? A family-based organization, coaches that push me to be the best and teammates that are always looking out for me and that I can trust.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I would like to get my degree in physical therapy, specializing in sports medicine and travel the world because I have always wanted to do it since I was a little kid.
What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? Math, because it’s a subject that I excel at and enjoy it.
Who is your sports hero and why? Derek Jeter, because even though he faced many challenges in his life, he never gave up and always pushed himself to be the best.
What’s your favorite book to read and why? “The Energy Bus” (by Jon Gordon), because it shows me the importance of positivity in overcoming challenges while achieving success.
What’s the best hype song and why? “Shots” by Lil Jon, because it always pumps me up and gets me ready to go for anything.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? “The Vampire Diaries,” because the plot is interesting and exciting and always keeps me on my toes.
What’s your favorite movie and why? “The Blind Side,” because a family took in a kid and gave him a wonderful opportunity to succeed and accomplish his dreams that he didn’t think he would accomplish.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? I can juggle.
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NEWS & NOTES
***The USA Softball Junior Olympic Cup (JO Cup) is Friday-Tuesday, July 7-11, at Lakeland/Winter Haven, FL. Turnin2-Pezz (18U) and Stars National-Coleman/Belfield (16U) are the defending champions.
Follow the tournament online HERE.
***The Triple Crown USA Nationals and the Triple Crown Southeast Nationals are Monday-Thursday, July 10-13, in Alpharetta/Cumming, GA.
OC Batbusters-Stith (18U), Warrior Academy-Jimenez (16U) and BSC Bengals-Briggs (16U) and Athletics Mercado 2025-Tidd (14U) are the Triple Crown USA Nationals defending champions.
The Triple Crown Southeast Nationals was last contested in 2020 and Tampa Mustangs-TJ (18U), AP Gold-Locke (16U) and Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 05-Rockey (14U) are the defending champions.
Follow the Tournament online HERE.
***The Triple Crown Southwest Nationals are Thursday-Monday, July 13-16, in Georgetown/Taylor/Austin, TX.
The Triple Crown Southwest Nationals were last contested in 2020 and Impact Gold-Jackson (18U), Hotshots Premier-Nelson (16U) and Hotshots Premier-Esparza (14U) are the defending champions.
Follow the tournament online HERE.
***Athletes Go Live recently released the 2023 Colorado Sparkler/Fireworks 18U All-Tournament Team.
The 2023 Colorado Sparkler/Firework 18u All-Tournament Team is now released! Congrats to each one of these outstanding athletes! 🏅🔥@triplecrownspts @COSparkFire
#AthletesGoLive #AGL #Softball pic.twitter.com/YlKK0xptMw— AthletesGoLive Softball (@AGLSoftball) July 6, 2023
***Tennessee-bound 3B/SS Amayah Doyle of Jersey Intensity-KOD is hosting the first 42 Academy All Skills Camp July 19 at John A. Logan Community College in Carterville, IL. Scan the QR code or contact Terica Doyle at tericash@hotmail.com for more information.
I am so blessed to be hosting the First Annual 42 Academy All Skills Softball Camp! I love having the opportunity to give back! Please invite all your girls to come and be apart of something great!! 😁🥎 pic.twitter.com/lgaC9wgdP3
— amayah doyle 42 (@42Amayah) July 8, 2023
***Maryland Softball has an all skills Development Camp Aug. 9 & Aug. 16, junior elite and all skills development Afternoon Camp Aug. 22-23 and Tiny Terps Aug. 21-24. Go online at umdsoftballcamps.com for more information.
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SIGNED/COMMITMENT ALERTS
Sophia Torreso, 2023, RHP, Rhode Island Thunder Gold National-Lotti/Bristol Central High, CT, George Washington
𝙎𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙖 𝙏𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙤 | 𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙡, 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙩 | 𝙋𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧@SophiaTorreso pic.twitter.com/WVNP8REfcW
— GW Softball (@GW_Softball) July 6, 2023
Albanie Cordova, 2024, 2B/OF, Colorado Bombers-Robberson/Pueblos South High, CO, Florida National
I'm blessed to receive the opportunity to continue my academic and softball journey at the college level. I want to thank Coach P for the opportunity and support throughout this process. I look forward to the next chapter!@FNUSOFTBALL #committed #blessed #FNU #BEHDifferent https://t.co/NveESxqTzc
— Albanie Cordova (@CordovaAlbanie) July 7, 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 …
Nick Fury downtime: *revenge* #SecretInvasion pic.twitter.com/sfh7ZtNhEB
— Secret Invasion (@SecretInvasion) July 7, 2023
— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff and Threads @los_stuff)