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We are scouring the Internet and Social Media and keeping our ears to the street for the latest going on in the softball community.
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Here’s our TLI for Tuesday, April 5:
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EXTRA SPOTLIGHT PROFILE: ANIYA MERRITT
Speedy OF/slapper Aniya Merritt recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about her time with Team NC 16U-Britt, Lumberton High in North Carolina, major leaguers and bunting, Karate and playing in the Softball World Series.
EXTRA SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Aniya Merritt
Hometown: Lumberton, NC
High School: Lumberton Senior High
Club Team: Team NC 16U-Britt
Graduation Year: 2024
Height: 5-foot-4
Position: Outfield
Nickname: NyNy
Twitter: @Aniya4Merritt
Honors: #140 in the Class of 2024 and #78 Outfielder in the Class of 2024 by Extra Inning Softball; 1st Team All-Conference, All-County and All-Region (2021 softball); and member of National Beta Club and National Honor Society.
Travel Ball Fall Stats: .438 AVG, four doubles, one triple and one home run, 19 runs and 20 for 20 in stolen base attempts.
High School Highlights: Started on Lumberton varsity softball as a freshman and batted .420 AVG, was second on the team in hits and runs scored. Also, led team in stolen bases and 1.000 fielding percentage.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them?
I play for Team NC-Britt, which has two great coaches named William Britt and Braylon Jones. It helps me greatly that I am coached by William Britt, who is my travel coach and high school coach. I became involved with Team NC-Britt in 2019 from playing with Coach Britt in the Softball World Series. My team is mostly compromised of sophomores with two juniors. The team is like family. We all want each other to achieve greatness. I play with very talented girls that will hopefully get the opportunity to play in college. Playing with Team NC-Britt has also allowed me to get much exposure from college coaches. This summer, we will be competing two of the biggest tournaments — the Atlanta Legacy Showcase and Scenic City Showcase.
Can you talk about your experience at Lumberton High?
It has been great from the students to the teachers. I get the opportunity to go to high school with many of the people I have known since I was small.
Lumberton High got the win last night 9 to 3 against Jack Britt. I went 3 for 3 in the game with 3 steals and scored two runs. Two more games and a track meet to finish out the week. @Los_Stuff @ExtraInningSB @LegacyLegendsS1 @TeamNC_Britt pic.twitter.com/xswklVZCg5
— Aniya Merritt (@Aniya4Merritt) March 22, 2022
What are you trying to accomplish/What are your goals during batting practice?
My goal is to become the best softball player that I can be. In batting practice, my main focus as a slapper is to drive the ball through the 5/6 hole. I also work hard in keeping everything tight so that I will not open early and hit the ball to the right side.
What do you think about major league baseball players ability to bunt?
I think bunting is a big part of the game that many people have forgotten. In softball, I practice a lot on bunting because my speed down the line helps me get on base a lot either by a hit or an error on the opposing team.
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