RANKINGS
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ABOUT
Extra Inning Softball has partnered with College Bound Jocks, a “Marketing Company for Athletes” that, for over 15 years, has succeeded in its mission to help those looking to play at the college level how to “understand, plan and succeed in the college recruiting process.”
We are happy to use our editorial platform to promote these talented athletes as part of our CBJ Athlete of the Month program and today we spotlight Keira Tolmie, an athletic catcher from Clarkston, Michigan, who also shines on the basketball court, is a 4.0 GPA student and also serves as one of eight students in Michigan on the state’s Student Advisory Council.
Here’s a video look at the current junior…
…. And here’s more on our November 2021 CBJ Athlete of the Month!
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Player Name: KEIRA TOLMIE
Grad Year: 2023
Position(s) Played: Catcher/3rd Base/Utility
High School: Clarkston (Michigan)
Club Team: Bandits 16U Premier – Spoerl
What are your team’s top accomplishments?
My current team @BanditsSpoerl just won the Finesse Invitational Championship in Ohio on October 17, 2021. We have beaten some highly competitive Midwest teams this fall including the Illinois Chill, Indiana Magic Gold, Turnin2 – Pezzoni, Hawks – Lenos and Finesse – Dreher.
Last year’s team, Beverly Bandits 16U Premier CC/GB coached by Christine Christopoulos, was ranked #11 in the nation by Extra Innings and was filled with girls committed to Power 5 Schools.
I was the youngest player on the team as everyone moved up to 18U this season but was lucky enough to catch for some highly-ranked pitchers like Paytn Monticelli (Wisconsin commit), Sydney Swartz (Minnesota verbal) and Ella Whitney (Florida International commit). As a team, we qualified for PGF in the fall winning the Top Gun Invitational Championship in Kansas City.
What are your top individual accomplishments?
Most recently, I was nominated and selected as one of eight student-athletes in Michigan to serve for two years on the MHSAA Student Advisory Council. In this role I will be responsible for bringing the voice of student-athletes to pertinent issues that impact the future of high school athletics, such as sportsmanship, safety, gender equality and the role of scholastics in sport.
I’m also a member of The National Honors Society and Clarkston Leadership Program, a dual sport varsity athlete for basketball and softball the last two years and I have a 4.07 GPA and am ranked 9th out of 520 students in my grade.
What are your strengths in softball?
In softball, I am a natural leader on the field, primarily behind the plate for my Bandits teams and at the hot corner for high school ball. I’ve been catching ever since I can remember and, until this season, have always played up with older girls.
I’ve developed a strong IQ for the game and have often been recognized by coaches and umpires for understanding the finer points. Being able to stop offenses by always knowing the next play, after the play and controlling the defense with a calm but contagious energy, is a key characteristic for me. Catching is second nature for me, as I’ve been working with strong pitchers since I was little and really have a sense for helping them get strikes and setting up hitters during an at-bat to secure the out!
On the basepaths, I utilize a smart and aggressive approach that really fits well with the Bandits style of offense and I just love striving for that next base! As a lefty power hitter, I am a tough out and work hard to move my teammates around the bases by driving balls into the outfield when it counts.
From a metrics standpoint I have recorded the following with CBJ/OnDeck this Summer (2021):
- Bat Speed – 79.4 mph
- Ball Exit Speed – 80 mph
- Hand Time to Impact – 0.14 sec
- Grip Strength (RT) – 85.3 lbs
- Home to First – 2.66 sec
- Overhand Throw – 64 mph
- Catcher POP Time – 1.73 sec
What is your favorite softball memory?
Hitting home runs is always so memorable but some of my favorites this past year were during the District Finals and then again in the Regional Championship for my high school. Another notable home run was against Bandits – Cray in a huge rivalry game during the DeMarini Showcase this Summer.
All that said, my favorite and most emotional softball memory was playing in the 14U USA Softball Northern National Championship in my hometown of Clarkston, Michigan. It was the week after one of my best friend’s mom lost her battle to cancer and I promised her that I would always do big things.
I was up at the plate during an intense moment in an early bracket game and felt something completely different come over me. I started to battle in what turned out to be a 13-pitch at-bat which ended in a three-run game-winning home run! That moment was super special and will stay with me forever, as it was the closest I’ve felt to the game of softball and the power that it has!
Do you have any softball superstitions?
I keep a small piece of wood in my catcher gear bag in case a teammate makes a game-time prediction, which calls for the need to “knock on wood.”
What is the funniest thing you have ever seen happen on a softball field?
After one of my high school games this season, we decided to reenact a scene from The Benchwarmers movie and made it a TikTok video that went viral with 690.9K views.
If you could meet anyone in the softball world, who would it be?
Kaleigh Rafter. Growing up a dual citizen of the USA and Canada, I have always wanted to meet Kaleigh Rafter who has been Team Canada’s catcher since 2007 and won a Bronze Medal in the 2020 Olympic Games. She has now been named the Head Coach of the Canadian National Women’s Softball Program and brings so much leadership experience and knowledge of the game… she would be absolutely amazing to talk to and learn from.
What is one thing you have learned from your coaches that will always stay with you?
Coach Christine Christopoulos taught me the importance of holding yourself to the highest level of standards within the game and paying attention to the details and doing the little things right. For example, something as small as setting up on the outside of the plate as a catcher, at just the right time and early enough to give confidence to your pitcher but not so early to tip off the batter.
What is something unique about you?
A lot of college athletes grow up playing multiple sports but what is unique about me is that after playing many sports growing up I found that being a point guard in basketball makes me a better catcher in softball. Learning how to lead a team and watch a play develop on the court has really given me the confidence to command a defense and ensure the right play is made ahead of time.
Communicating on the court carries over 100 percent to my role as a catcher or in the infield because I learned that being vocal in basketball not only helps my team but intimidates the other team and when the whole team is vocal, it is such an infectious momentum starter.
Who is your hero or heroes and why?
My hero is my sister Abbey, hands down, no question! She is someone that I try to emulate in every way including, but not limited to, the intangibles of attitude, effort, compassion, empathy and most of all work ethic.
I have had the privilege of working with her in softball and watching her compete at the highest levels in our sport. She is currently a sophomore at Central Michigan University and played for the Canadian Junior National Team, winning a Bronze Medal at the PanAm Games in Columbia, South America.
Growing up, we always either shared or switched jersey numbers from #24 to #42. To say that I look up to my sister would be a drastic understatement; in fact if I had to give you my motto, it would be “What Would Abbey Do?”
What other activities/hobbies do you enjoy outside of softball?
I play varsity basketball and love everything about the game—from conditioning to practice and, of course, playing in games as a point guard. It is the second most exciting thing that I do!
In addition to sports, I love spending time with my friends and large extended family in Canada! Especially my Grammy and Papa in Ontario, who live with my puppy Chloe!
Lastly, I have a not-so-secret hobby of baking: anything from my super popular chocolate chip cookies to cupcakes that often get shared with friends on special occasions and times when they need a little pick me up.
If you could have dinner with anyone (dead or alive), who would it be and why?
Wow, what an interesting question! So many people come to mind, especially since we have been separated from so many of our family members in Canada since the Stay At Home Orders and extended COVID-19 Border Restrictions.
However, I would definitely have to say my paternal grandparents who passed away in a car accident before I was born. They have left such a strong legacy in my family with all of my cousins who have grown up to be so successful in their lives and are now raising their own families.
I would just love to enjoy one of my Grandma Tolmie’s famous French Canadian meat pies and talk to them about what it was like to raise eight children and have 20 grandchildren who were so involved in sports and extracurricular activities!
What is your favorite quote?
“Be the Reason Someone Smiles Today!”
Here is a link to our previous CBJ Athlete of the Month!
- Oct. 2021: Taylor Davison (Richmond, Ill.)