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 info@extrainningsoftball.com and also los.extrainningsoftball@gmail.com.
Here’s our TLI for Monday, Dec. 20, 2021…
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EXTRA SPOTLIGHT: JAYDEN HEAVENER
Left-hander Jayden Heavener, #1 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100 and the #1 Pitcher/Duo in the Class of 2024, is definitely known as a “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” Workout Warrior for her intense training tactics.
Let’s find out what the highly-touted pitcher, who moved from the Birmingham Thunderbolts to Virginia Unity earlier this year, is up to:
Name: JAYDEN HEAVENER
Hometown: Pace, FL
High School: Pace High
Club Team: Virginia Unity-Johnson/Ross 2024/2025
Graduation Year: 2024
Height: 5-foot-7
Position: P
Nickname: “J”
Twitter: @JaydenHeavener
Honors: #1 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100; #1 Pitcher/Duo in the Class of 2024; Extra Inning Softball Summer MVP Pitcher; Florida 5A Pitcher of the Year (2021); and 5A 1st Team All-State.
Travel Ball Fall Stats: Pitching — 57 IP, 22 GP, 116 Ks, 0.74 ERA and .117 opposing batting average; Hitting — .317 AVG, . 417 OBP, 12 Runs, 20 RBIs and 5 HRs.
High School Highlights: Pitching — 14 GP, 11-3, 105 IP, 1.42 ERA, 252 Ks( Pace High School record); only gave up 29 hits all season with 26 of those being infield singles. Gave up 1 double, 0 triples and 0 HRs; and .088 opposing batting average; Hitting — .305 AVG, .404 OBP, 4 HRs and 23 RBIs; Fielding — .909 fielding percentage.
Freshman Year HS Accolades & Accomplishments: State of Florida 5A Pitcher of The Year; 1st Team 5A All-State; National High School Sports Softball Athlete of the Year Finalist; North Florida Pitcher of the Year; led the team to the 1st District win since 2013; led team to their 1st Regional win since 2007; and led team to the State Final Four.
Early morning workouts. Getting stronger every day. 💪🏻#workoutwarriors @unity_json_ross @BethTorina @KarenWeekly @SoftballConnect @TexasCoachWhite @MRhodesSmith @LLefty18 @Coach_Jo_Evans @ExtraInningSB @BrenttEads @FastPitchNet @softball_pace @Los_Stuff pic.twitter.com/yZ24teJOBZ
— Jayden Heavener (@JaydenHeavener) December 14, 2021
Tell us about your training methods and your daily routine…
I get up five days a week and go to a 6 a.m. CrossFit class before school. I have pitching lessons every Wednesday and hitting lessons with live pitching scrimmage every Thursday. I pitch and hit in the cages with my Dad on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. We work a lot on drills to fine tune my mechanics. I come home after all that and work on homework.”
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them?
I moved to Virginia Unity-Johnson/Ross this fall. I love the (Birmingham Thunderbolts), but it was time for another challenge prior to recruiting. Unity has been amazing. I love my new teammates. Coach Josh (Johnson) and Coach Jay (Ross) really push us toward our recruiting goals and give us feedback from college coaches. They have really pushed us academically also. They are having us focus on the ACT.
How did your Virginia Unity team do this past Summer and in the Fall?
We had a great Fall as we went 25-3-2. We really started clicking.
What should we expect from the Unity in 2022?
We have a very busy summer planned. We don’t have a final schedule, yet, but still plan on going back to Oklahoma, Colorado and California for sure.
What should we expect from your high school team?
We will be chasing a state title this year. We have all of our starters coming back. This is our year. Shelby McKenzie and I are on the same high school team, so we still get to play together and we want that title.
Do you have a secret talent/skill?
I really don’t. I wish I did! (laughs)
What’s your most memorable softball story?
I look forward to making new memories, but my most memorable is still pitching two back-to-back 7-inning games in the semifinals to help my Bolts team win PGF in 2019. I would also like to add winning the Florida 5A Pitcher of the Year as a freshman. Florida has so many amazing pitchers, so being recognized as a freshman was a very proud and humbling moment.
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NEWS & NOTES
***Triple-threat OF Karynton Dawson, #17 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100, joined Hotshots National-Jones 16U.
Dawson previously played for Texas Dirt Divas 05 and plays softball, volleyball and track for Hardin Jefferson High in Beaumont, TX.
https://twitter.com/hotshotsjones/status/1472294963052531716
*** Scroll down to read about more of latest news on player moves and see where 35 more standout players will compete at the next level including at schools in the ACC, Big 10, Pac-12, MAC, Ivy League and more!
