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 Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021…
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EXTRA SPOTLIGHT: AUDREY ABBOTT
Audrey Abbott, ranked the #109 MIF in the Class of 2024, earned 1st Team All-Region, 1st Team All-Area and was named school MVP after hitting .439 with eight homers and 34 RBIs and leading Darlington High of Rome, GA, to the GHSA Class A Private playoffs this past fall.
The 2024 MIF/UT will try to help Lady Dukes Gold 16U-SAMM make an impact at national tournaments this summer.
Name: AUDREY ABBOTT
Hometown: Rome, Georgia
High School: Darlington High
Club Team: Lady Dukes Gold-SAMM 16U
Graduation Year: 2024
Height: 5-foot-4
Position: MIF/UT
Nickname: Triple A and Audge
Twitter: @audrey_a12
Honors: 1st Team All-Region, 1st Team All-Area, school MVP, Scenic City All-Star team, 4.0 GPA and AP honors classes.
Travel Ball Fall Stats: 25 AB, .400 AVG, .464 OBP, 1.384 OPS, .920 SLG, 10 Hits, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HRs, 10 RBIs and 8 runs.
High School Stats: 57 AB, .439 AVG, .452 OBP, 1.487 OPS, 1.035 SLG, 25 hits, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 8 HRs, 34 RBIs and 18 runs.
Can you talk about your journey and experiences with high school softball this past season?
At the beginning of the season, my bat struggled and my hitting was not at its full potential. My coach, Anna Swafford Harris (a Georgia alum), and I worked on my swing and fixed the little things. Throughout the season, my bat came alive and I was able to hit eight home runs, two triples, six doubles and nine singles. I also had to step up and be a leader on the team while playing a position I am not used to. My school ball team often needed me to pitch, so I had to do what was best for the team and trust that my teammates had my back. My team and I were able to make it to the first round of state!
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them?
I have played for Coach Ryan Samples for multiple years. We have moved organizations and maintained the same core players throughout my time with him. I started with him in 10U, playing for RBI Crush. My team has been through a couple of organizational moves until we found ourselves at Lady Dukes. Now, we are coached by Coach Samples, Greg Abbott, Morgan Montemayor (Georgia alum), and Charryl Moody (Columbia College Alum). My teammates and I are a close group that love to have fun and support each other while competing at a high level.
How did your club team do this past summer and in the fall?
This past summer, my travel team placed fourth in the USA A Nationals. Throughout the fall season, we have played at high-level showcase tournaments. We went 6-6-2 at Bolts, Scenic City and Veterans Showcases.
Lady Dukes Gold SAMM Fall Showcase Stats. Scenic City, Veterans, Bolts.
AB 25
AVG .400
OBP .464
SLG .920
XBH 6
RBI 10
HR 3
@LDGold16 @Los_Stuff @ExtraInningSB @swaffstar @KarenWeekly @UACoachMurphy @HarvardSB @CoastalSoftball @UWGSoftball pic.twitter.com/4IKeqGdN76— Audrey Abbott (@audrey_a12) November 24, 2021
What should we expect from your club team?
My team has great chemistry and we are growing stronger every day. I expect us to make very good showings in the upcoming tournaments and in the power pool showcases. We are heavily focused on recruiting and will be attending multiple team camps throughout the season.
What should we expect from your high school team?
My high school team recently had a region change and we will be facing different competition. It will be difficult, but we will all fight to the best of our abilities and will have a lot of returning players to build our team off of. I expect that the tougher competition will help push us and make everyone’s game better.
Do you have a secret talent/skill?
My dad taught me how to clean a deer and how to start a fire without matches and a lighter. His reason was always, “In case of an apocalypse…”
What’s your most memorable softball story?
One of my favorite softball memories was at a World Series tournament in 10U. We were playing in Pigeon Forge (Tennessee) and the bases were loaded. I was told before I went up to bat that if I hit a grand slam, I would get $20 and a footlong corndog. I must’ve really wanted that corndog because, the next thing I knew, my tiny self found it in me to hit a grand slam. I don’t know what I spent that $20 on, but I do know that the corn dog sure was good!
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*** Scroll down to see the latest player moves plus another double-digit commit day including a new SEC verbal…
