There was something about Texas-bound C Reese Atwood that always impressed Oklahoma-committed 2023 OF/P/SS Kasidi Pickering.
Atwood, #5 in the 2022 Extra Elite 100, brings skills and a bright energy to the dugout, but Pickering, #4 in the 2023 Extra Elite 100, noticed something else about the three-time national champion.
“I remember playing with her for our 18U team, while we were still in 16U to play in TFL Nationals with them after we had just won Nationals with our team in Oklahoma,” Pickering said. “We were extremely worn out and ready to end the summer, but she was still the first one to the park every morning and always in a good mood.
“She came up clutch in a loser’s bracket game offensively, giving us a hit to put us up in score and an outstanding play behind the plate to end up making a triple play to get out of a tight inning. She’s overall a great person and teammate. So glad she joined our team.”
Florida State-committed P/1B Ava Brown, #3 in the 2023 Extra Elite 100, said she couldn’t ask for a better target to throw to.
“Reese is a very agile and vocal catcher,” Brown said. “As I pitcher I love throwing to her because she always gives me feedback on my pitches and how they’re moving. That’s one thing that we have different from other pitchers and catchers, we work very well together, especially when it comes to signs, location and communicating to each other.”
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EXTRA STAR POWER Q&A
Name: REESE ATWOOD
Hometown: Corpus Christ, TX
High School: Tuloso Midway (Texas) High
Club Team: Hotshots National 18U-Nelson
Graduation Year: 2022
Height: 6-foot
Position: C
Twitter: @atwood_reese
Honors: PGF All-American and All-Summer Team by Extra Inning Softball.
Travel Ball Highlights/Fall Stats: Won three national championships; hit .456 with 47 hits, 24 runs, 13 doubles, nine home runs and 34 RBIs.
High School Highlights: District Offensive MVP, All-South Texas and All-State.
Tell us about the Hotshots and how you became involved with them…
I started playing with Hotshots my freshman year of high school. When I met Coach Nathan (Nelson) I knew that he would get me where I needed to be to accomplish my goals. I connected extremely well with my teammates and I knew that it was a perfect fit for me.
What were some of the training methods and workouts you did to stay busy during the COVID-forced quarantines?
I worked out a lot and really focused on perfecting my fundamentals using the resources I had from home.
*** Scroll down to read more about Reese including her goals when she puts on the Texas Longhorn uniform…
