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 Wednesday, Feb. 9:
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EXTRA SPOTLIGHT: CAITLIN TIGHE
Caitlin Tighe, #89 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100, is one of the top infielders in club softball in the country, but she’s a softball/basketball star at Edwardsburg High in Michigan. Tighe recently talked with Extra Inning Softball about playing and training at a high level in two sports.
EXTRA SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Caitlin Tighe
Hometown: Edwardsburg, MI
High School: Edwardsburg High
Club Team: Indiana Bombers 15U Gold-Widmar
Graduation Year: 2024
Height: 5-foot-5
Position: SS/3B/UT
Nickname: CT3
Twitter: @ctighe33
Honors:
#89 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100; 14U All-Summer Team by Extra Inning Softball (2021); three-time Honorable Mention High School National Player of the Week by Extra Inning Softball; two-time Honorable Mention National Club Player of the Week by Extra Inning Softball; 1st Team All-Wolverine Conference softball (2021); 1st Team All-District softball (2021); MHSAA Division 2 District 11 softball champions (2021); Outside of the Chute Softball Player of the week (2021); MHSAA Division 2 District basketball champion (2021) and #8 in Sixty Feet Softball Ranking in Class of 2024 (2021).
Travel Ball Highlights:
Top 8 finish at the Colorado Sparkler (Record 6-2) — finished 15 of 29 (.517) with 3 HRs, 3 triples, 5 doubles, 15 RBIs and 9 runs scored; Fall Stats — .481 (26 of 54), 4 HRs, 5 triples, 3 doubles, 31 RBIs, 24 runs and 19-3-3 record.
High School Stats/Highlights:
.468 AVG, 54 RBIs, 51 runs, 17 doubles, 10 HRs, 5 triples and 13 SBs in 37 games (team record 27-10); won first District championship in softball in four years; beat #2-ranked Lakeshore, whose previous record was 38-1, in the Regional semifinals; went 13 for 17 with 7 HR’s, 23 RBI’s and 13 runs during a five-game span yo set a school record.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them?
I currently play for the Indiana Bombers Gold 15U team out of South Bend, IN. I grew up playing on a local travel team that was a feeder to our high school program and for the most part only played local tournaments. I went to a college camp when I was in 7th grade and did well against girls who were sophomores and juniors in high school. I drew some interest from the coaches which motivated me even more. At that time, I told my dad that I wanted to challenge myself and play against the best girls in the country. At that time, we started looking into travel teams across the country and the Bombers were the best fit for me.
Can you talk about your softball experience at Edwardsburg High as a freshman?
It was an amazing experience that led to a District championship and a Regional semifinal win. Leading up to my Freshman season, I put in a ton of work with my hitting coach Ashley Burkhardt, who played at the University of Purdue. She did an amazing job preparing me mentally on what I would face as a freshman. Also, I had the opportunity to play against some of the top talent in the country in Kali Heivlin (Three Rivers High), who is at Alabama now, and Anna Holloway (Crown Point High), who is at Notre Dame.
Can you talk about playing basketball for Edwardsburg High?
Softball is definitely my love and #1 sport, but basketball gives me a mental break after the Fall travel season and provides different challenges to me mentally and athletically. At the beginning of my freshman season, it took me a while to adjust to the speed of the game, but by the end of last season I was able to play fast and not get caught thinking so much. We ended up winning a District championship last year and won a Regional semifinal game. This year has started out great as my team is 14-0 and one of the top teams in the state of Michigan. I am contributing 10.3 ppg, 5.0 spg and 3.7 rpg and we hope to win the school’s first Regional and State championship this year.
How do you balance softball and basketball during your training routine?
Time management is the #1 key for me to ensure I can make it all work. Basketball is a 6-day a week commitment for me as we normally play Tuesday/Friday nights and then practice Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturdays. Normally, I am hitting in the evening with my hitting coach 1-2 nights a week in December/January after basketball practice along with a 3-hour softball practice on Sundays with my travel team. Once the month of February starts, I will hit on my own once a week and with my hitting coach two times a week after basketball practices along with my 3-hour practice with the Bombers on Sundays.
Do you have a secret talent/skill?
I can fold my tongue into a flower.
What’s your most memorable softball story?
I have two. The first was last year as a freshman I hit four HRs in a game vs. Niles High, which tied an MHSAA high school record for HRs (4) and RBIs (8) in a game. The second was this past fall. My travel team had the opportunity to play at the University of Notre Dame at a four-team showcase camp.
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