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.
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Here’s our TLI for Monday, April 6 2020 …
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14U CLUB SCOUTING REPORT
Extra Inning Softball recently released the Extra Elite Eighty 14U Club Rankings last week, so let’s take a look at Coach Josh Haggas‘ team …
TEAM NORTH CAROLINA-HAGGAS
Extra Elite Eighty 14U Club Ranking: T-80
2019 Fall Record: 17-7
2019 Summer Record: 25-7-3
Top Finishes: Went 4-1 at Scenic City Power Pool and 6-0 at USA National Qualifier
Returners:
- Olivia Mora (2023, OF/1B, #183 in Class of 2023, Select 30 All-American, a speedy slapper that can power slap in the gaps)
- Tate Davis (2024, SS/C, has been playing 16U for two years and should “tear up” 14U)
- Skye Harrington (2023, C/MIF, #50 catcher in Class of 2023, extremely athletic and was hitting .650 in first HS season)
- Riley Haggas (2025, IF, extremely athletic with Power 5 infield skills and developing power)
- Anna Partridge (2023, UT, developing into a top tier 2023 hitter with second best exit velocity measured at Sceneic City Show case in the fall)
- Gracie Hollingsworth (2023, P/1B, a strikeout pitcher and power hitter that led team in HRs in 2019)
- Cady Ferguson (2023, OF, sub-3 down the line with great range in the outfield)
- Austyn Moran (2023, P/1B, throws 60 mph with a nasty change-up and pounds the strike zone)
- Gabby Kaduson (2023, C/OF, very productive hitter and developing C/OF)
Newcomers:
- Riley Pennington (2023, P/UT, a pitching student of former Olympic coach LB Bailey. Not only does she have a fabulous presence on the mound, but she’s also a big bat)
- Gracie Mabrey (2024, UT, tough as nails, has great feet, superior defensive fundamentals and a bat that’s only going to get stronger)
What will it take for your team to be successful this year?
We are full of athletes who are capable of making the great play game in and game out. However, the key will be making the routine play, getting consistent performances from our pitching staff and having great at-bats, meaning a great approach, great recognition and great timing.
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?
Tough one to answer. I’ll base it on last falls stats. Austyn Moran came to us in the fall of 2019. She consistently got ahead of batters with a 70 percent FPS percentage, pitched to soft contact and kept batters off-balance with a great change of speeds. Austyn’s ball-to-strike ratio, free pass per inning percentage and ability to get the first batter out were all exemplary.
The balance of the staff is made up of Gracie Hollingsworth and Riley Pennington, who will both shine on the mound like Austyn. Gracie struck out 16 batters in her first two high school games as a freshman and Riley comes to us from an 18U team where she stood out. We can only imagine how she’ll perform vs. girls her own age.
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