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 Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022:
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EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT: SYDNEY LANGDON
Kentucky-bound RHP Sydney Langdon, #11 in the 2023 Extra Elite 100, recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier, pitching to her dad, PGF Nationals, Clearwater Invitational, take each batter one at a time, medical field, Kentucky, Jennie Finch, Pharrell Williams, “Grey’s Anatomy” and cooking.
EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Sydney Langdon
Hometown: Perry, GA
High School: Westfield High
Club Team: Birmingham Thunderbolts 18U-Premier
Graduation Year: 2023
Height: 5-foot-10
Position: RHP
Nickname: Syd
Twitter: @SydneyLangdon2
Honors: PGF 18U Premier national champions (2022); PGF Show Me the Money champion; and #11 2023 Extra Elite 100.
Travel Ball Fall Stats: 19.2 IP, 27 Ks and 0.71 ERA.
High School Highlights/Stats: 6-time 4AAA state champion; All-State and All-Region (2022); All-State Pitcher of the Year (2022); 2nd Team NFCA All-Region (2021); Region 5-AAA Player of the Year (2022); Region 4-AAA Player of the Year (2021); Pitching Stats — 100.2 IP, 189 Ks, 0.97 ERA and six no-hitters; Career Pitching Stats — 377.2 IP, 606 Ks.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I am on the Birmingham Thunderbolts 18U Premier team coached by Rocky Thompson. I joined the Bolts organization in January 2021. I was drawn to this organization because of their competitiveness and drive to be the best.
Do you have any suggestions for training methods or apps and why? I currently do strength training with T.2performance and velocity training with my pitching coach Rikk Pearson. I also spend a lot of time pitching to my dad. He spends countless hours catching for me.
Can you tell us about your experience at PGF Nationals this summer? PGF Nationals this year was one to remember. We had just come off a tough tournament at Legacy in Atlanta where we lost every game. PGF was so special because every one of my teammates were in it for each other. We played extremely well as a team while facing tough competition.
What was your favorite fall tournament/event and why? My favorite fall tournament was the Clearwater Invitational. We faced some of the toughest teams in the nation, including Corona Angels-Tyson. I had just come off a fall school ball season where I had over 2,000 pitches. My body was exhausted and I knew I had to dig deep and perform for my team. Sometimes the biggest obstacle that we face is our own self-doubt.
Which player/team was your toughest opponent and why? I don’t look at it as facing a certain team. I take each batter one at a time, which is a game within itself. I focus on doing my part as a pitcher and trusting that my teammates will do their part as well.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I am majoring in Kinesiology with plans to be a nurse practitioner or a CRNA. I love to help people and medicine is a field that interests me.
Can you talk about your decision to commit to Kentucky? I chose to commit to Kentucky for many reasons. As soon as I stepped on campus it felt like home. I love everything this university has to offer, not only athletically, but academically. The coaching staff is everything that I was looking for. Coach (Rachel) Lawson is the best. She holds her players accountable, but cares about them beyond the sport. She loves to see her players succeed on and off the field. The stadium and facilities are beautiful. I felt Kentucky was the perfect place for me!
Who is your sports hero and why? I would have to say Jennie Finch. She put softball on the map and is an extremely popular sport now. She inspires girls like me to keep reaching for my dreams and to never give up.
What’s the best hype song and why? My favorite hype song is “Cash In Cash Out” by Pharrell Williams. The beat of the song gets me hyped up for gameday.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? I love to watch “Grey’s Anatomy”! I know I want to have a job in the medical field and the drama is entertaining.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? I like to cook and try new recipes. My favorite thing to cook is garlic herb butter steak with veggies and chive mashed potatoes.
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