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Here’s our TLI for Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2022:
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EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT: SARAH WRIGHT
Arizona-committed RHP Sarah Wright, #84 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100, recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about Northwest Bullets-Campos, video analysis, PGF Nationals, PGF Ultimate Challenge, Arizona, sports medicine or physical therapy, Danielle Lawrie, Soulja Boy, “Friends” and wrestling.
EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Sarah Wright
Hometown: Kent, WA
High School: Kentwood High
Club Team: Northwest Bullets 18U-Campos
Graduation Year: 2024
Height: 5-foot-7
Position: RHP
Nickname: None
Twitter: None
Honors: #84 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100; Gatorade Washington State Player of the Year (2022); MaxPreps 1st Team All-American Underclassmen (2022); Tacoma News Tribune All-Area Player of the Year (2022); 4A NPSL Fastpitch Pitcher of the Year (2022); and 4A NPSL Fastpitch Pitcher of the Year (2021).
Travel Ball Fall Stats: 16 games, 49 IP, 79 Ks, 1.13 ERA, .966 WHIP and .166 batting average against.
High School Stats: Pitching — 0.33 ERA, 330 Ks, 128 IP, 8 no-hitters, 2 perfect games, 18-1; Hitting — .486 AVG, .548 OBP, .837 SLG and 6 home runs.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I knew from the beginning that I wanted to play softball in college. I wanted to compete at a higher level and play with girls that had the same goals that I did. I had pitched against the Northwest Bullets a few times and they were always a tough team.
Before my freshman year of high school, during the Covid pandemic, another player on my team was going to a tryout with the Bullets and asked me to come along. I was skeptical about going at first, but decided it would be a good experience. My current coaches and I joke about my first tryout with the team because it was on a field that looked much like the “Field of Dreams” from the movie, built right on a farm. During the tryout, I knew right away that this was the team I wanted to play for. The players at the tryout were competitive and had the same mindset that I did.
The coaches are outstanding and have helped me develop my mental approach to the game. This is my third season competing with the Northwest Bullets, and I can definitely say that I would not have gotten to this level without their help.
Do you have any suggestions for training methods or apps and why? As a pitcher, the most helpful tool I use during practice and workouts is video analysis. Sometimes I am not always able to feel the small things my body is doing while I pitch, so taking a video helps me break down what my body is doing and connect that to what I am feeling during the pitch.
Can you tell us about your experience at PGF Nationals this summer? Overall, my experience at PGF Nationals was great. I competed with the Northwest Bullets 16U-Muir team and, unfortunately, we did not place, but competed against some of the top-ranked teams in the country.
What was your favorite fall tournament/event and why? My favorite tournament from this past fall was the PGF Ultimate Challenge in Salinas CA. Our team made it to the semifinals where we played against Sorcerer-Gabales/Rodriquez and went into the 9th inning before the game ended. It was one of the most exciting games I have ever competed in and even though we lost, it is one of my favorite games I have ever pitched in.
Which player/team was your toughest opponent and why? Same answer to last question.
Can you talk about why you chose to commit to Arizona? The University of Arizona has always been one of my dream schools. When I was just starting to learn softball growing up, my dad and I would sit down and watch Mike Candrea’s skills videos. I’ve always loved watching them compete on TV and seeing the energy they bring to the field. In January of 2022, I was able to attend a prospect camp in Tucson where I got to meet the coaches and finally see the campus. The coaches were very personable and made it overall a great experience. In September of 2022 when I took my official visit, I stepped on campus again and knew it was the place I wanted to go. The players and coaches are all amazing and it’s a family that I am so excited to be a part of.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? Some of my interests for jobs in the future include sports medicine or physical therapy. I have always been interested in how the human body works and ways that it moves when involved with sports. I have had teammates in the past that have injured themselves, and growing up in a wrestling environment, I see injuries frequently. I want to be able to help athletes that are injured and help them rehabilitate to play the sports they love.
Who is your sports hero and why? My biggest sports hero is Danielle Lawrie. Growing up in Washington, I have been to many University of Washington softball games and as a pitcher always admired the story of the Huskies winning the World Series with Lawrie pitching. When I was about 8 years old, my dad snuck me into a coach’s convention in Washington where Lawrie was speaking. Before she gave her talk, my dad walked me right up to her and asked if she could sign a ball for me. I ended up sitting on stage with her having a conversation and I can still remember how personal and sweet she was. I admire her love for the game and I was excited to hear that she was going to compete for Canada in the Olympics.
What’s the best hype song and why? One of the best hype songs is “Pretty Boy Swag” by Soulja Boy. The song just makes me feel confident.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? My favorite TV show to binge at the moment has to be “Friends.” I have probably rewatched it at least five times. Whenever I travel to tournaments and stay in hotels, the first thing I do is find the Friends channel on the TV. It is my comfort show that I can watch at any time.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? I have been wrestling since I was about 4 years old. My dad is a wrestling coach and my older brother wrestled through high school as well. During the winter time, I wrestle for my high school team and won the District championship both my freshman and sophomore years. I was also able to compete at the 2022 Matt Classic Washington State Tournament. My goal is to make it back this year and place in the top eight.
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