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 Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023:
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EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT: LISABELLA DIMITRIJEVIC
Uncommitted RHP Lisabella Dimitrijevic, #21 in the 2025 Extra Elite 100, recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about Illinois Chill Gold, softball-specific strength training, PGF Nationals, Bombers Exposure Weekend, Birmingham Thunderbolts-Rocky, future college, medical field, Michael Jordan, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Grey’s Anatomy” and karaoke.
EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Lisabella “Bella” Dimitrijevic
Hometown: Mokena, IL
High School: Lincoln-Way Central High
Club Team: Illinois Chill Gold 18U
Graduation Year: 2025
Height: 5-foot-10
Position: RHP
Nickname: Bella, Bell
Twitter: @BellaDimi3jevic
Honors: IHSA 3rd Team All-State; SWSC All-Conference; Shaw All-Area; #19 in the 2025 Extra Elite 100; #9 Pitcher in the Class of 2025; and Extra Inning Softball 16U All-Summer Team.
Travel Ball Stats: Summer — 114 IP, 161K s; 2022 PGF Nationals: 5-0, 38 IP, 51 Ks; and Fall — 74 IP, 123 Ks.
High School Highlights/Stats: .373 AVG, 138 Ks and 68.2 IP.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? Luckily, Gerry Quinn, took a chance on me and I have been playing with the Illinois Chill since 14U. I’ve had so much fun with my teammates and coaches since 8th grade. We are a highly-competitive organization that plays the best competition in the country. I’ve played at the 14U, 16U and 18U levels and I absolutely love playing with all of the girls. They are the best teammates ever!
Do you have any suggestions for training methods or apps and why? I do softball specific strength training at Method Athletics 4-5 days a week. I workout with my pitching coach, Jonathan Hon, at the Chicago Pitching Lab twice a week. Also, I work with Esia Rivera a couple times a month on my body movement while pitching. We have Chill practices once a week as well.
Can you tell us about your experience at PGF Nationals this summer? We placed 7th in the PGF Premier 16U bracket and it was awesome! The games were super intense and we went into ITB three times! I loved pitching in that atmosphere and winning with my teammates.
What was your favorite fall tournament/event and why? My favorite fall tournament was the Bombers (Exposure) Weekend 16U in Texas. We played some of the best teams in the country and I love pitching against strong players.
Which player/team was your toughest opponent and why? We have played a lot of tough teams this summer and fall. Some that come to mind are Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier-Rocky, Iowa Premier, Texas Bombers Gold, Georgia Impact-Caymol and Corona Angels-Tyson.
What are you looking for in a future college? I look for a great coaching staff that share the same pitching philosophy. I would also love to play for a top softball program along with getting a great education.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? My favorite subjects in school are biology and gym. I would love to go into the medical field and work with other athletes in the future.
Who is your sports hero and why? I grew up surrounded by basketball and live in the Chicago area. I look up to Michael Jordan because he is one of the most successful athletes to perform under pressure. He always expected as much out of himself as his teammates did.
What’s the best hype song and why? My favorite hype song is “Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)” (by Yeah Yeah Yeahs). We would play it before every game during the high school season and it has stuck with me ever since! With that, I also love to listen to any Rihanna songs because I love her music.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? My favorite TV show to binge watch is definitely “Grey’s Anatomy.” There are just so many seasons and every episode is entertaining.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? I love to sing even though my friends don’t think I’m quite good at it. My favorite song to karaoke to is “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys and I can also rap “Lose Yourself” by Eminem.
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