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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 [email protected]. You can also send items/story ideas to Carlos Arias via email at [email protected] or via Twitter @Los_Stuff.
Here’s our TLI for Thursday, Jan. 23 2020 …
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MLB TO SPONSOR U.S. OLYMPIC SOFTBALL TEAM
MLB is using its financial muscle to support the U.S. women’s softball team, announcing on Thursday that it will be a presenting sponsor of the women’s Stand Beside Her Tour leading up to the Olympic Tournament.
“The platform for us is 10 times bigger,” Team USA outfielder Haylie McCleney told ESPN. “For us, it’s a great opportunity for people that have never watched softball before, people that have only followed it at the collegiate level, to really see how fun our game is to watch, how pure it is.”
“If people are baseball fans, I guarantee they’re going to love softball because it’s pretty much just a faster game — it’s shorter, it’s quicker, it’s more entertaining to watch, in my opinion.”
We're proud to announce that @MLB has stepped up to the plate as the Presenting Sponsor of the #StandBesideHerTour!
» https://t.co/jEgLtVTxdK pic.twitter.com/2k70MBfwq2
— USA Softball (@USASoftball) January 23, 2020
As part of the deal with MLB, the softball team’s official training facility will be at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Florida, the old Dodgertown spring training camp. MLB Network will include programming from the tour, which currently starts Feb. 4 in Tampa, Florida, and has about three dozen stops.
“These are world-class athletes,” said Kim Ng, MLB’s senior vice president for baseball operations. “Because we have not been in the Olympics for the last 12 years, they just haven’t had that stage. So it’s really important at this point that we show as much support as we can for them.”
EXTRA INNING SCOUTING REPORT
With the 2020 high school softball season approaching, TLI will be taking a look at some of the top teams in the country with the Extra Inning Scouting Report.
TLI talked to Ghar High of Cerritos, CA, coach Rey Sanchez about his Gladiators, who went 22-6, reached the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 semifinals and finished #20 in the nation in the final 2019 Extra Elite Eighty High School Rankings.
Let’s get to the Extra Inning Scouting Report of …
GAHR
Top Returners:
- Taylor Stephens (2021, SS/3B/P)
- Mikala Huskey (2022, 2B)
- Malia Luna (2020, UT)
- Kristalyn Romulo (2021, OF)
Top Newcomers:
- Hayley Olivas (2023, SS)
What will it take for your team to be successful this season? We always stress if throw strikes, play catch and put the ball in play, we can compete with anyone. It’s a great group of young ladies that have great team chemistry and like having fun.
Who is your No. 1 pitcher and what can you tell me about her skills? Who else could see some time in the circle? Junior Ashley Benavides will be our #1. She throws strikes with multiple pitches and commands both sides of the plate. Taylor Stephens and Skylar Sanchez will also see time in the circle.
What can we expect from your offense? We have a good mix of power and speed. Should be a fun group to watch on the offensive side.
Did you pick up any impact transfers or did you lose any players to transfers? Valerie Alvarez transferred in from Bellflower High, CA. She is a catcher who can also pitch.
Who are the potential All-Section/All-District/All-State players on your team? Taylor Stephens, Kristalyn Romulo, Mika Huskey and Malia Luna.
Signed and Committed Players: Sydni Jones, 2020, CF, Howard; Malia Luna, 2020, UT, San Jose State; Johanna Rodriguez, 2020, 1B, North Dakota State; and Taylor Stephens, 2021, SS/3B/P, UCLA.
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