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The Last Inning (April 29, 2020): A Special Look at the Alex Wilcox-Inspired 4:28 Wall Sit Challenge; Spotlighting Hotshots Premier HTX 08

The Hotshots Premier HTX 08 team is one of the top first year 12U teams in the country.

Get on board with Extra Inning Softball’s regular feature, The Last Inning.

We are scouring the Internet and Social Media and keeping our ears to the street for the latest going on in the softball community.

To contribute information, insights, thoughts or content ideas, email us at [email protected]. You can also send items/story ideas to Carlos Arias via email at [email protected] or via Twitter @Los_Stuff.

Here’s our TLI for Wednesday, April 29, 2020 …

*****

12U CLUB SCOUTING REPORT

Extra Inning Softball began releasing the Extra Elite Eighty 12U Club Rankings on Monday, April 27, 2020, so we’ll continue to take a look at some of the top teams in the nation.

Let’s take a look at Coach Lane Galloway‘s team …

HOTSHOTS PREMIER HTX 08-GALLOWAY

2019 Fall Record: 24-7 with notable wins over Diamond Fury Elite 07 (twice), Blaze-McBride 07 and played some second-year 12U teams really tough.
2020 Spring Record: 24-6-2 with a third-place finish at the Bombers Shootout and quality wins over Texas Bombers Gold-Crabtree, Impact Gold National 08-Mendoza (twice), Bombers 07-Davis (twice), Blaze McBride 07, DFE 07, Illusions National 07 (twice), Illusions Premier 08, Illusions Premier 07-Archiega and DFE 08.

Returners:

  • Sara Wiggins (2026, P/OF, a very competitive pitcher that performs best in the biggest games (Spring ERA of 2.89). An elite right-hander, very consistent and controls/spins the ball as well with above average velocity. Has the ability to get the big strikeout when needed. An above average hitter that would bat 3/4/5 in most lineups)
  • Gracee “BB” Brewer (2026, OF/MIF, a rare combination of size and speed. Alefty slapper that is a true triple threat. Has hit over .500 in the fall and spring as a first year with 56 SBs in that time frame and hits in the 2-hole, but could hit 1-3 in any lineup. Best lefty slapper Coach Galloway has seen at this age and has elite speed. Has athletic ability to play any position on the field and has even pitched some great innings for the team)
  • Alexis Cebrero (2027, C/3B, a traditional 4-hole power hitter that hits for a high average (.461 Spring average). Has elite catching skills with a dominant arm that can completely shut down the run game of an opponent. A plus 3B that moves well with a great arm. Mature beyond her years with leadership skills above anything Galloway has seen before and demonstrates it through hard work and effort)
  • Kyle Sazera (2026, 3B/CF/SS, hits for power and average and runs really well. Outstanding arm and plays all three of the positions mentioned at an elite level. Very even-tempered kid that makes jaw-dropping plays look routine. Plays with great instincts and has elite level talent that continues to grow)
  • Laney Cole Galloway (2026, LF/2B/CF, a lefty slapper that has really developed her ability to swing away. Handles the bat at a high level and uses her athleticism to create on offense and has hit all over the lineup. Top level speed and base-running instincts. A hard worker that embraces any role, a plus OF that covers ground and makes it look easy. Has the skill-set to be a great player offensively and defensively as she grows)
  • Khloe Klawinsky (2027, RF/3B/C/1B, a power hitter that sprays the ball to all fields. Has good instincts and is the ultimate grinder. Started catching recently and has worked diligently to grow her skills to a high level. A plus infield corner and outfield corner)
  • Rocki Mazur (2027, 2B/RF/LF, hits for high average and uses all fields well. Handles the bat at a high level and creates really well on offense with plus speed. Very consistent on defense and plays any position at a high level. Grinds out every at-bat and each rep on defense)

Newcomers:

  • Ariel Arambula (2026, P/1B/LF, came to us from IG Mendoza in the Fall. Galloway considers her one of, if not the top hitter in the country in her class. Hits for power (15-20 over the fence HRs between 10U and 12U), high average (.557 this spring after a slow start) and has plus speed. Also an elite lefty pitcher with plus velocity, spin and understanding of the zone)
  • Ryan McIntosh (2026, P/1B, one of the top power pitchers and hitters in the Class of 2026. Hits for plus power and average. Had a big HR against Bombers-Crabtree and hitting .561 average this spring. Has a dominant fastball with a nice off-speed pitch. She’s developing additional pitches and is close to really owning an arsenal)
  • Stevie South (2025, C/CF, the ultimate lead-off hitter that does it all. A natural lefty that can beat you many ways offensively. She has top level speed and has hit over .450 this spring with 24 SBs in 46 ABs. Can swing away with plus gap power. An elite catcher and CF and uses her speed, quickness and special arm strength to change games. Has excellent instincts)
  • Sophia Acevedo (2026, SS/MI/OF/UT, a top level hitter that uses all fields with gap power and top level speed. Plays with a high motor and has made some eye-popping plays. A naturally gifted SS/MIF, but can play 3B/OF at a high level. Has a plus level arm and an elite quick release)

What will it take for your team to be successful this year?
We put very little emphasis on wins. We measure success through development and how they have played early on in 12U tells me their potential is limitless. This group is trending well, but I always want to see more consistency. We need to continue to grow mentally. We are starting to see this group mature physically and I am really excited to see what they can become physically. Our goal is to develop hard at practice and play against the best competition. Hopefully, that translates into them becoming future leaders and each of them reaching their long-term goals in life, whatever that might be.

Who is your No. 1 pitcher and can you describe her skills? Who are the other pitchers on your staff and can you describe their skills?
I have three No. 1 pitchers at this point and any of the three can compete with anyone. While they get it done in different ways, they all have top level stuff. Sara is very disciplined (will not give in), with great control, spin and plus velocity. Ariel has a great understanding of pitching with great movement, spin and velocity. Ryan has an intimidating presence with elite velocity and mixes speed really well. They all love to “compete” and all three of them can be elite.

Can you describe your offense and what some of the strengths are?
We are blessed with an unprecedented combination of power and speed. That balance (six righties and five lefties) gives us the ability to beat teams in many ways and most of this group has top level speed. So far this spring, this group has a team batting average over .400 and OBP right at .500. That kind of consistency has translated to a pretty good start to our first spring in 12U.

*****

Alex Wilcox at Mississippi State… she’s honored in this The Last Inning with supporters across the country doing the 4:28 Wall Sit Initiative.

THE #428WALLSITCHALLENGE FOR ALEX WILCOX

Former Mississippi State outfielder Alex Wilcox lost her battle with Ovarian Cancer in June of 2018. A few months later, Mississippi State launched the 4:28 Wall Sit Initiative to honor her.

No one would have guessed Wilcox was battling cancer because she continued to practice with her team during her freshman season while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment. The Bulldogs challenged everyone to take part in the 4:28 wall sit on Tuesday, April 28, 2020.

“At practice one day Coach Tyler Bratton, our outfield coach, was out there doing some sort of conditioning and they were doing a wall sit while he was telling a story,” Bulldogs coach Samantha Ricketts told CBS 12/WJTV News. “It was the Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile story. He was just going on and, you know, making his point and when he looked down to tell them, ‘Okay, you can stand up,’ it had been four minutes and twenty eight seconds and she (Wilcox) held it the entire time. Everything she went through and the way she handled herself and her situation, you never would have known she was battling cancer. She was just a really bright light.”

The 4:28 Wall Sit Challenge was an idea Wilcox’s teammates came up with themselves, but as you can see below it spread through the entire softball community.

Carlos Arias & Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff; follow Brentt on Twitter @ExtraInningSB)


 

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