Extra Star Power: 2024 Extra Elite 100 Catcher Maggie Daniel… Her Pitchers Swear “She Knows Exactly What I Need to Hear”
By
@BruntjensElla
March 11, 2022
Maggie Daniel behind the plate.
Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 16U-Rocky C/1B Maggie Daniel, #42 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100, can be “goofy,” but when the game is on the line, she always finds a way to be successful with her attitude and come through in the clutch.
Makayla Coffield
“Maggie is the person on the team who keeps morale high, she’s always positive, always cheering you on and is the first to make you laugh at the start of a tournament,” said Georgia Tech-committed P/OF Makayla Coffield, #42 in the 2023 Extra Elite 100.
“Aside from atmosphere, Maggie is one of, if not the most, clutch hitter or person in general I have ever played with. Easily I can think of several times where we needed a big hit, or a runner thrown out and she pulled through, many of these coming in game-deciding moments in our 3rd-place PGF run this past summer. In the bottom of the 6th of our second bracket game, the score was 0-0 and she came through with a go-ahead double to crack the game open. Also, in the quarterfinal game against Beverly Bandits-Conroy, she laid down a HUGE bunt that she ended up getting on base for, and she threw out the runner at second near the end of the game.
“As a catcher, she knows how to connect with her pitchers to get the best performance out of us. Constantly in the bullpen she helps me figure out why one of my pitches may not be working like normal and she is so knowledgeable about the pitching side from experience that when she comes out to the circle, she knows exactly what I need to hear in a given moment.”
Daniel consistently gets the job done with her bat, too.
Claire Cahalan
“Over the summer, Maggie really pulled through for us,” said Missouri-committed 2B/OF Claire Cahalan, #44 in the 2023 Extra Elite 100. “She is definitely the best pinch hitter and DH I have ever played with. Maggie didn’t let the moment get too big for her, but she instead believed in herself and did her job to help the team. She is the true definition of a team player. She leads by example, works hard and loves her teammates. I couldn’t ask for a better person to take the field with and I can’t wait to see what college she lands at.”
Daniel doesn’t just come through with clutch hitting, she delivers on defense as well.
“The very first story I can think of was when Maggie was in 7th grade and pulled up to varsity,” said Oregon-committed C/S/3B Katie Flannery, #12 in the 2023 Extra Elite 100. “The very first game she came in to catch she threw a runner out. From that day on she earned her starting spot.
Maggie is also one of the best teammates anyone could ask for. She’s very caring and funny, but knows when it’s time to focus. She will always give her all. Maggie also has a high IQ for the game as well. From this past year, she was one of the most consistent hitters in the lineup and was great behind the plate. She brings so much to the table and is very steady.”
EXTRA STAR POWER Q&A
Maggie has won her share of team and personal trophies!
Name: MAGGIE DANIEL Hometown: Hoover, AL High School: Spain Park High Club Team: Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 16U-Rocky Graduation Year: 2024 Height: 5-foot-8 Position: C/1B Nickname: Magster Twitter: @MaggieDaniel_14 Honors: National Junior Honor Society and NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete.
Travel Ball Highlights/Fall Stats: 1.000 fielding percentage, 58 ABs, 23 hits, 30 RBIs, 21 runs, 7 HRs, .397 BA, .453 OBP, .897 SLG abd 1.350 OPS. High School Highlights: Freshman home run record holder, four-year varsity player (three-year varsity starter), All-Metro and All-County.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them?
I have played for Rocky Thompson’s Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2023 team since the summer of 2019. Since I live in Birmingham, I knew about the Bolts for years and knew several people who played for them and it was always a goal of mine to play with the Bolts. When I heard they were looking for an ’05 catcher, I scheduled a tryout with Coach Rocky and Coach Shane Cahalan. I did not have the best tryout, but Coach Rocky saw some potential in me and gave me a chance and I am so thankful he did.
What were some of the training methods and workouts you did to stay busy during the stay-at-home orders because of the COVID situation?
During COVID, I would schedule FaceTime hitting lessons with Coach Rocky every week and would go with my parents to our neighborhood park to work on catching drills and throw-downs. I would also workout on our Peleton and do strength and agility in our basement.
What is something you have faced in your life that has helped you become the person that you are today?
In 2020, I injured my back in the middle of the summer season. Our Bolts’ team had just won the regional Sparkler Tournament and I had been having a good season and was so disappointed I couldn’t finish playing the season with my team. But I still went to every tournament and cheered on my teammates and put a lot of work into rehabbing my back and learning how to take care of my body better. It was definitely stressful to have a setback, but it taught me how to be a better teammate and how to not give up. With lots of hard work I was able to fully recover and come back a stronger person and better player.
The Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 16U – Rocky team which finished 3rd at PGF Nationals last year.
*** Scroll down to read more about Maggie including why, if you’re the opposing team, you don’t want to play Cotton Eye Joe around the athlete and her teammates!
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