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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, Aug. 29, 2022:
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EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT: SAOIRSE SKIPPER
2026 C/1B Saoirse Skipper lives in Hawaii but plays club softball for Virginia Glory 16U National-Buker. Saiorse, which is pronounced Sur-shu, means “freedom” in Gaelic.
Skipper recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about her club team, road trips, her name, team-first attitude, hitting and catching, Starz National Gold, D1 Softball, Vicky Galasso, Queen, “Bob’s Burgers,” and magic.
EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Saoirse Skipper
Hometown: Waianae, HI
High School: Waianae High
Club Team: Virginia Glory 16U National-Buker
Graduation Year: 2026
Height: 5-foot-6
Position: C/1B
Nickname: Skip
Twitter: @saoirse_skipper
Travel Ball Highlights/Summer Stats: .447 AVG, .500 OBP, 1.160 OPS and .660 SLG; While catching, only allowed 4 passed balls and 7 stolen bases during summer season; she had a .972 fielding percentage between C and 1B.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I proudly play for VA Glory 16U National-Buker. I followed Coach Suzy (Willemssen) and Bella (Norton) on Twitter and we communicated some and so in August 2021 I attended a tryout for VA Glory 14U National-Norton and absolutely fell in love with Coach Suzy Willemssen and Coach Bella Norton. I knew right away this was my home. They preach culture, culture and more culture. Female empowerment. Chicks with sticks. All guts, All Glory. Purpose, Driven, Softball. They push us to give all we can to the team, so we can bring out the best in each other. Also, they hold us accountable and help us develop our talents within us, so we can use them on and off the field. They want us to be the best versions of ourselves. I know for a fact that I can call upon Coach Suzy, Bella, Bec or any coach in the organization and they will be their for me. It’s a great feeling to have. I could go on and on about the Glory organization and what it means to me.
Can you talk about your travel situation from Hawaii to VA Glory? This past summer between flying and driving, my Dad and I traveled about 12,000 miles. My Dad bought a car in So Cal and we drove to OKC, then we headed to Denver and our engine blew up at the softball field right before a game. Dad got it to a garage and the engine had to be replaced. We got lucky and got a loaner car from dealership and we drove to Atlanta and Virginia for tournaments. Then we headed back West to pick up the car, but it still wasn’t done, so we flew back home to Hawaii. There were so many people that helped us out along the way, family, friends and teammates took my Dad and myself in and helped feed us and give us a place to sleep so we could cut back on travel costs. I’m so grateful for everyone that helped, especially my mom, who worked two jobs to support us, and my Dad, who is retired Army and who flew with me and drove me all around this great nation.
For Fall season my coaches went over the schedule and picked the tournaments I should attend. As far as practicing goes, Coach Bec from Glory is sending me drills to do through Google Docs. I also hit on Monday’s with Benny Agbayani and do tee work throughout the week, Tuesday and Thursday I do remote catching with Kirsten Cox, and I lift Mon, Tues and Thursday with Paul Alferez. I like the structure and routine that I have.
I’ve also been invited to a handful of College Camps this fall, so we are trying to make it all work with finances and my schooling. My teachers and counselor at school have been wonderful working with me to make this all work out. When I travel, they will put my assignments in Google Classroom and I will do them while I am traveling. Since we moved back to Hawaii to be with family, everyone has been so supportive of me. Everyone in Hawaii loves to see local kids play on a national level and everyone will go out of their way to help you along the way. I’ve had numerous people here on Oahu, who I don’t even know, help me in one way or another, so I can succeed. It’s a wonderful feeling. There is so much talent on the islands and I wish it was more recognized on a national level.
Can you talk about the meaning of your name? I love my name. It’s my favorite feature. My name means “Freedom” in Gaelic. My Dad is of Scotch/Irish descent and my Mom is Hawaiian/Filipino/Japanese descent. My Dad was about to get deployed to Iraq before I was born and he came upon my name and he felt it was fitting for me. It is hard to pronounce (Sur-shah), so I also go by Skip.
What do you bring to the team? Team-first attitude, work ethic and the desire to get dirty on the ball field. All guts, All Glory!
What areas were you focusing on/trying to improve this summer? With hitting, I’m focusing on pushing through the ball and catching, I’m working on being more consistent with my transfer time with the softball from catcher’s mitt to hand.
Can you tell us about your experience at PGF Nationals/Alliance Nationals this summer? Unfortunately, we had to pull out of the Alliance Nationals at the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances.
Which player/team was your toughest opponent and why? Starz Gold National 14U. A very well balanced team with great pitching. They don’t make many mistakes fielding and from the top of the lineup to the bottom, they all can hit.
What are your goals for the future? To play D1 Softball. Major in secondary teaching (History) or Exercise Science. I’d love to be the first Head Strength Coach for an NFL team.
Who is your sports hero and why? I’ve have three. Vicky Galasso, Amber Parrish and Bella Norton. All were catchers in college and all are strong women who have guided me in life and softball. They put their heart and soul into teaching and mentoring young woman. They are my life coaches. They push for gender equality. They set me on the path to have self-reliance, be resilient and be confident in myself.
What’s the best hype song and why? “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen. I love Freddy Mercury. The song makes me feel unstoppable and that I can accomplish anything I put my heart into. I got into classic rock because of my Dad and our softball travels cause it’s all he plays. Whenever we travel to new places, I always check out the record stores in the area because I started collecting vinyl.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? “Bob’s Burgers.” It’s one of the best comedy’s of all time. To me, it reflects how families are today and it shows a working class family in a good positive way.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? Oh my, no one knows this but my secret talent would be performing magic tricks. I would order stuff online and just practice it and perform it in front of my little brother and parents.
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