RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
As the NCAA Div. I Regionals get underway, it’s fun to look at the rising young talent in softball that someday may be playing at the level.
Today, we spotlight a very young player who is already making waves in her age division and showing that it’s never too early to have the passion to dream about the future—and work hard to make it happen
As only a 6th grader, Anna Hinde is the youngest player on a talented the 14U Team North Carolina – Hinde coached by her father, Kevin.
She primarily plays 3rd base and catcher and is a consistent leader on the team despite being two years younger than most of her teammates. Anna has an overhand velocity of 63-64 mph and coaches are already saying her footwork is well beyond her years.
Along with excellent glove work, the junior high softball fanatic is extremely vocal behind the plate controlling the defense, while having pop times measured in the 1.8 range.
Anna is a power-hitter from the right side who also hits for average and resides in the middle of the team’s powerful batting lineup. Team NC Assistant Coach Josh Bahnick stated, “Anna’s work ethic and dedication will drive her to be one of the best players in the 2025 class. Her footwork in the field and her patient, yet aggressive, approach at the plate are some of her strongest attributes. Her softball IQ helps her excel everywhere on the field making her a key leader.”
Anna was a 2017 USA Elite Direct Select Futures All-American and she has been invited to participate in the 2019 Colorado 4th of July Sparkler Jr 14U All-Star Game and the 2019 Scenic City Summer 14U All-Star Game.
She has drawn interest from many college programs through showcases and attending many camps including prospect camps at Mississippi State, Liberty, James Madison, UNC, Clemson, UCF, USC Upstate, along with other camps such as the ProSwings College Exposure Camp and Diamond Direction Camps showing that she just can’t get enough softball in her life!
Here, in her own words, is her story and reasons why softball means so much to her… and what she’s done to rise to the top of her class at such a young age…
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In the Fall of 2015, I was eight-years-old when my dad became a coach for Team North Carolina.
His objective was to develop a 2025 team; however, during tryouts, the bulk of the interested talent were 2023’s, so my dad decided it would be better to “coach me up” rather than try to find 12 girls my age who wanted to play and had the ability to play elite travel ball.
So began my journey of elite travel ball with one of the best organizations in our region.
Wearing the label of youngest player on the team coupled with the dreaded coach’s daughter identity was either going to break me or inspire me. In the past four years, players have come and gone, some very talented and hard-working and others playing simply to please their parents.
Throughout the seasons and transitions, I remain the youngest player on our team by two full years.
As our team began to develop and new extremely talented players were joining, it was obvious that I had a decision to make: wait until I was older and stronger in order to earn a starting spot on this team or put in the work necessary to earn my teammates’ respect and to be so strong at my positions that no parent or player could ever say that I was playing simply because my dad was my coach.
