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Here’s our TLI for Friday, Feb. 17, 2023:
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EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT: HARMONY ANDRADE
Oregon State-committed UT Harmony Andrade recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about Arizona Hotshots 18U Gold-Georges, create a routine, PGF Nationals, Canyon View High, Oregon State, sports physician, Kiki Escobar, Nelly Furtado and “Outer Banks.”
EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Harmony Andrade
Hometown: Surprise, AZ
High School: Willow Canyon High
Club Team: Arizona Hotshots 18U Gold-Georges
Graduation Year: 2024
Height: 5-foot-7
Position: UT
Nickname: Loca
Twitter: @HarmonyAndrade
Honors: National Honors Society scholars; Principal’s List (fall semester 2021); Academic Award (2021); Principal’s List (spring semester 2021); Principal’s List (fall semester 2020); 1st Team All-Region (2021-22); 1st Team All-District (2021-22); 2nd Team All-District (2020-21); 2nd Team Central Region (2021); and All-Honors Cambridge Courses (2019-21).
High School Highlights/Stats: Freshman — .436 AVG, 55 at-bats, 24 hits and 18 RBIs; Sophomore — .463 AVG, 82 at-bats, 38 hits and 19 RBIs.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I first became involved with (the) Hotshots when my high school coach actually suggested them. I tryed out for them when I was in my 8th-grade year and the coach told me I wasn’t able to make the team only because I was too young and wouldn’t get playing time because of all of the seniors still there. So freshman year rolls around, I call the coach Brian (Georges) and he said he’d like to have me on. The team welcomed me with no hesitation. I competed and worked my butt off to get on that field knowing I was the only freshman playing with mostly seniors and a couple of juniors.
Do you have any suggestions for training methods or apps and why? All I would say is create a routine for yourself. That routine will stay with you if you’re willing to put the work in. Going to the gym a lot creates power for hitting, throwing, running, etc. Doing drills at home, even the most basic drills, goes a long way, especially just having someone rolling groundballs.
Can you tell us about your experience at PGF Nationals this past summer? This past summer at nationals was very competitive. Before summer started, I told myself this was going to be “my summer,” especially because it was the summer right before I could officially talk to Division 1 colleges. We actually competed against really good teams from all around the US. We made it to the higher side of the (PGF Nationals) bracket, but then unfortunately lost to (Top Gun National), which is a really great team.
Which player/team was your toughest opponent and why? Toughest opponent is during high school season. We’ve played a high school named Canyon View (High in Arizona) and they are one of the best teams I’ve played. They are talented, confident and have that cocky attitude that I love. My high school team, Willow Canyon, has played them four times in the past two years and every single game has been a one-run ball game. It’s kind of a rivalry between our softball teams.
Can you tell us why you chose to commit to Oregon State? Well, ever since I was younger I knew I wanted to go to a Power 5 college. I remember always saying “I just want to go D1.” My first ever camp was actually to Oregon state because I new I did not want to stay in state and because I always saw them on TV. Then when I found out they were interested in me, it was an incredible feeling. I reached out to my club coach and I remember saying, “I want to go to Oregon state. That is my number 1 school and I would just love to go there.” When I went on my official visit there, the atmosphere, the way they welcomed me and how genuine everyone was there was very comforting. It was different than Arizona, not hot and lots of trees. I wanted to live in a place that was polar opposite. I was just very quick to make my decision and decided to choose Oregon state.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I’m interested in becoming a sports physician. I wanted to major and work in something I feel would interest me and that I would have fun with. And working with sports and helping others definitely sounds like the best option.
Who is your sports hero and why? My sports hero is Kiki Escobar. (She is) very crazy, but she is actually a softball player at Oregon state currently. She told her story how her past coach told her she would not be good enough to play infield at the highest level and her freshman season at Oregon state she was the starting second baseman and leadoff (hitter). This showed that not even words can stop her, but only to work harder to prove everyone wrong. I had a similar situation. I was told I wasn’t coachable and wouldn’t be good enough to go Division 1, which made me work entirely harder, so I feel like I can definitely relate to Kiki Escobar.
What’s the best hype song and why? I definitely have a couple of hype songs that I genuinely love, but as of recently the song “Maneater” (by Nelly Furtado). The beginning of the song is just awesome. I truly think because it makes me feel more confident and brings out more of a cocky attitude.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? Favorite TV show as of right now is “Outer Banks. It’s very interesting! And I’m so excited for the new season to come out soon!
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