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Here’s our TLI for Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023:
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EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT: RAEGAN HOLTORF
2025 MIF/OF prospect Raegan Holtorf recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about Arizona Storm National-Mathis, practice with siblings, parents and teammates, PGF Nationals, AZ Last Blast ’23, tough competition, future college, teacher, Rylee, Reece and Reid Holtorf, Micah Taylor, “The Office” and mouth-closed talking.
EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Raegan Holtorf
Hometown: Peoria, AZ
High School: Sandra Day O’Connor High
Club Team: Arizona Storm 18U National-Mathis
Graduation Year: 2025
Height: 5-foot-5 1/2
Position: MIF/OF
Nickname: Rae, Kojo, sticks
Twitter: @Raeganholtorf
Honors: All-Region.
High School Stats: .406 AVG, .486 OBP, 39 hits, 22 RBIs and 35 runs.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I have grown up playing in the Storm organization. My parents have been highly involved in this program. Both of my sisters also played for the Storm. It is actually the only organization any of us have ever played for! The reason I love playing for Storm is because it is highly competitive and is nationally known. I love the team I’m on this year. It is definitely the most competitive team I have played on. The girls push me every day in practice to get better and it’s awesome how welcoming they have been. It will be so fun to watch some of them on TV next year. Also, we are all very lucky to have Coach Corey (Mathis), who pushed us to be our best and always has our best interest in mind.
Do you have any suggestions for training methods or apps and why? I never really went to private trainers, just a lot of work on my own outside of practices with my siblings, parents and some teammates.
Can you tell us about your experience at PGF Nationals this past summer? Winning PGF has always been any team I have played on end goal. It’s a tournament that has turned into my family vacation for the last six years. It is the most competitive tournament in the country. It’s played right by the beach, which is so nice. And I can’t wait to go there this summer. We have never won the tournament. Girls on my Storm team have finished 2nd a few years ago and I believe our team has the leadership and talent to win it this year. So I hope my best PGF moment hasn’t yet happened!
What was your favorite fall tournament/event and why? The (AZ) Last Blast (’23) that just happened (recently). There was a lot of really good teams and high competition. My team ended up coming out and winning the tournament against a very good Beverly Bandits team.
Which player/team was your toughest opponent and why? We have played a lot of really good teams this fall. It would be very hard for me to single one out. That is one huge perk about being in the Storm organization. You always play the best teams in the country.
What are you looking for in a future college? I am looking for a college with a strong culture. I think you can tell when a team has culture and that’s important to me. I want to compete for a national championship and grow to be the best softball player I can, as well as growing to be a better person.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I am interested in becoming a teacher. All the teachers I have had have left such a big impact on my life. I feel like I am able to do the same to other kids. Many kids don’t have a stable someone in their life and I think I can be that for them.
Who is your sports hero and why? My sports heroes are my siblings. Rylee (Holtorf) is a sophomore at the University of Washington playing softball, Reese (Holtorf) is still a senior in high school and she plays volleyball, and my little brother is Reid (Holtorf). He is in 7th grade and plays baseball, football and basketball. My siblings are all very hardworking and love what they do. They are all very talented and I learn so much from them. They are all always willing to put balls on the tee for me, hit me groundballs or play catch with me!
What’s the best hype song and why? The best hype song is “Different” by Micah Tyler. Growing up, my dad has always told my siblings and I “Be different.” Not even just with sports. With everything we did, school, the way we walk, the way we talk, how we look. And that has stuck with me all my life. Not only is this song talking about being different, it is also stating it in a way with your faith. This is actually my walk-up song!
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? My favorite TV show is “The Office.” It has always entertained me. I love Kevin. He will always make me laugh.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? I also play soccer at a high level. I can talk with my mouth closed
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