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Here’s our TLI for Monday, April 25:
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EXTRA SPOTLIGHT: JAYELLE AUSTIN
CF Jayelle Austin, #33 in the 2025 Extra Elite 100, is a decorated multi-sport athlete from Owasso High in Oklahoma and she recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about balancing multiple sports, playing for Tulsa Elite 25/26-Knight, Owasso High, Rocky Balboa and bird accidents…
EXTRA SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Jayelle Austin
Hometown: Owasso, OK
High School: Owasso High
Club Team: Tulsa Elite 25/26-Knight
Graduation Year: 2025
Height: 5-foot-8
Position: CF
Nickname: Moonboots (Given to me by Coach Rod b/c I wear size 11.5 shoes)
Twitter: @austin_jayelle
Honors: NJHS, Principal’s Honor Role, Academic All-Conference (Fall 2021), Defensive MVP Southern Nationals (2020), All-American MVP at SY All-American Games (2021), 6A-4 District Player of the Year (2021), All-World Player of the Year Finalist (banquet in July), and received invitations to invite-only camps from OU, OSU, and TU.
Travel Ball Summer Stats: .513 AVG, .601 OBP, .877 SLG, 59 singles, 19 doubles, 14 triples, 8 HRs, 49 RBIs and 34 SBs.
High School Stats (Fall of 2021): .532 AVG, .629 OBP, .982 SLG, 6 HRs, 15 doubles, 8 triples, 51 runs and 36 RBIs.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them…
I first became a part of Tulsa Elite-Knight in 10U. I started off playing basketball for Coach Frank. I wanted to play softball for him too, but he originally did not have a spot for me on his softball team. But after one season of playing basketball for him, a spot opened and I made the team. Our team is pretty unique in that we have seven girls that have played together since 10U.
Can you talk about your experience at Owasso High and what you accomplished as a freshman?
Being able to represent my school, playing a sport I love has been one of the best experiences I’ve had. It is different from competitive ball. I have the privilege to play with older girls and learn what being a leader looks like. School ball is short and intense and there is so much pride in representing your whole school and city. This year we were District champs, Regional champs, and State runners-up.
I was named District Player of the Year and was recognized for Academic All-Conference. I was also voted as an All-World Player of the Year finalist, but, honestly, my year would not have been as successful if I wasn’t playing with such a great group. Our coaches are very supportive and they make coming to play every day fun. I am so grateful to have played with our three senior leaders. There were four of us freshman and the seniors always made us feel like we were just as needed as anyone else. Plus, I get to play behind one of the best pitcher/catcher duos … in school and in competitive.
Can you talk about playing/training multiple sports?
Playing multiple sports helps me be a well-rounded athlete. Sometimes it is hard to juggle them all and I want a break. But when I have breaks, I end up feeling like I should be doing something. Softball is my heart, so I pretty much play basketball, run track and go to boxing in order to be faster and stronger for it.
I believe training in these sports ultimately helps me be a better softball player. Basketball and track help me maintain and increase speed and explosion, which I need as an outfielder and baserunner. Boxing helps me build strength, physically and mentally. This is a must to be a strong hitter.
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