Extra Star Power: Catcher Kendall Wells, the #1 Catcher in the 2025 Extra Elite 100, “Stellar Defense, Unbeatable Offense”
By
@BruntjensElla
February 12, 2022
Kendall Wells poses with Oklahoma Head Coach Patty Gasso. Ranked as a Top 5 player in the 2025 Extra Elite 100, the standout from Georgia is on a lot of major college radars.
P/1B Emma Grace Williams knows what kind of player Georgia Impact 06-Sampson C/1B Kendall Wells, #4 in the 2025 Extra Elite 100, is.
“I remember we were in a championship game a couple years ago and there was a pop fly in between the two of us,” Williams, #41 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100, said. “We weren’t going to let that ball drop, so we both ran after the ball. We ended up running into each other and falling on top of one another, but Kendall made sure that she didn’t let go of the ball for the win.”
Audrey Vandagriff
Georgia Impact 06-Sampson CF/UT Audrey Vandagriff, #20 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100, is very familar with Wells.
“I have played with Kendall on two teams now, and I know her well on both a personal level and an athletic level,” said Vangagiff, a former USA Softball All-American. “Let me start by talking about her as a friend. There is not just one story of Kendall that describes her, but when you are with her you’re going to have a good time. She is funny, outgoing, positive, loud, in a good way, but doesn’t know how to whisper.
“Now let me talk about her on an athletic stand point. I talk to Kendall just about every day, and she is constantly at a hitting lesson, at a camp, or catching all while having basketball for high school. Her mindset is she wants to be the best, and she’s one of the top 2025s if not the best. She brings her competitive, fierce, ‘I’ll run you over if I have to’ mentality each time she steps on the field. Kendall brings a lot to our team: her cannon of an arm behind the plate, her powerhouse of a bat and her unmatchable energy.”
Casey Holloway tells of a story of Kendall (pictured) hitting a home run with a bat fresh out ouf the box!
Berry College-bound LHP/1B/OF Casey Holloway, a teammate of Wells at North Oconee High, still remembers a move she once pulled off.
“Kendall is an extremely skilled athlete,” Holloway said. “I remember during one of our weekend tournaments Kendall pulled a brand new bat right out of the box and hit a home run in front of many college coaches without the bat being broken in first. Every time Kendall was up to bat everyone knew she was going to do exactly what we needed her to do because her offensive game is unbeatable.
“She also has stellar catching skills to go along with her defense. She was a wall behind the plate during the school season and has a cannon for an arm. She gave our team a very dependable hitter and we knew we could always count on her to execute exactly what we needed her to do. She also brought humor and energy into the dugout, which was good when we got too tense and needed to relax and enjoy the game.”
Williams has been teammates with Wells since both played together in 10U.
“What makes Kendall unique is that she dominates and leads with athletes two years older than her,” Williams said. “She works hard and pushes herself and others. She has developed into a great catcher and the one I always want behind the plate. Kendall is an on-field leader and knows when to call time out and refocus the game. She is great at framing my pitches and has a cannon behind the plate, which is a game changer. BTW … she can rake too.”
EXTRA STAR POWER Q&A
Kendall Wells
Name: KENDALL WELLS Hometown: Bogart, GA High School: North Oconee High Club Team: Georgia Impact 06-Sampson Graduation Year: 2025 Height: 5-foot-9 Position: C/1B/3B Twitter: @KendallWells00 Honors: Region Player of the Year; 4A 1st Team All-State; North Oconee High was Class 4A state runner-up for class 4A; Region champions; #4 in the 2025 Extra Elite 100; and #1 Catcher in the Class of 2025. Travel Ball Fall Stats: .500 AVG, 1 HR, 8 RBIs and no stolen bases allowed (in two fall showcase tournaments). High School Stats: .495 AVG, .608 OBP, 48 hits, 48 RBIs, 21 intentional walks (26 total), 19 SBs and 14 HRs.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I
have played with several of the girls on teams before I joined the Impact organization and I’ve played against this team for many years. I originally joined Georgia Impact 05-Lewis, then moved to the Georgia Impact-Sampson team. Although I have only been with the organization for a little while, I am thankful for everything they have done for me so far.
What were some of the training methods and workouts you did to stay busy during the stay-at-home orders because of the coronoavirus situation?
I did virtual lessons online with my hitting and catching coach (Claudia Cooper) at the time and hit off the tee and sometimes on the field if allowed.
What is something you have faced in your life that has helped you become the person that you are today?
Faith and family are very important to me. Before my twin sisters were born, they were diagnosed with TTTS (Twin Twin Transfusion Syndrome) and there was a very high chance they would not survive. My family had to lean on each other and trust in our faith during these times and my sisters were born completely healthy. Even though I wasn’t very old when this happened, it has shaped my family and the things we believe in.
Kendall with her North Ocanee teammates, which finished second in state last year.
What’s your most memorable softball story?
My high school team finishing as state runner-up. We battled through the loser’s bracket after losing our first game in the state championship tournament. We won five games in a row to get us back to the championship and lost the championship game by two runs. This was our first appearance at the state championship in 15 years.
*** Scroll down to learn more about Kendall including the surprising stat she compiled that would make lead-off hitters jealous!
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