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Here’s our TLI for Friday, Jun 3, 2022:
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EXTRA SPOTLIGHT: CASSIDY MCLELLAN
Florida-committed OF Cassidy McLellan, #19 in the 2023 Extra Elite 100, recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about Tampa Mustangs 18U-TJ, winning two state championships for Lakewood Ranch High in Florida, Amanda Lorenz, Serena Williams, playing piano and bus rides.
EXTRA SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Cassidy McLellan
Hometown: Lakewood Ranch, FL
High School: Lakewood Ranch High
Club Team: Tampa Mustangs 18U-TJ
Graduation Year: 2023
Height: 5-foot-9
Position: OF
Nickname: Cass
Twitter: @mclellancassidy
Honors: Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) District 16 7A Player of the Year (2021); Florida 7A Player of the Year; 7A All-State; Lakewood Ranch High Offensive Player of the Year (2021 and 2022); Florida 7A state champion (2021 and 2022); Softball Player of the Year by Herald Tribune (2021 and 2022); USA Today Florida High School Softball Player of the Year (2021); USA Today National High School runner-up Player of the Year (2021); 1st Team High School All-American Outfielder by Extra Inning Softball (2021); National Player of the Week by Extra Inning Softball (5/25/21 and 4/17/22); PGF 14U Premier national champion with Tennessee Mojo 04-Fisher (2020); and third at PGF 18U Premier Nationals (2021).
High School Stats: .561 AVG, 3 HRs, 12 doubles, 7 triples, 55 runs and 38 RBIs.
Tell us about you ended up with the Tampa Mustangs organization?
This will be my second year playing for Coach TJ (Goelz) and the Tampa Mustangs-TJ. During my freshman year of High School, Avery Goelz, (Florida) first baseman, was a senior playing for Lakewood Ranch High and we were coached by her dad, TJ Goelz. As a freshman in high school, I played travel ball for Tennessee Mojo-Fisher. We had girls from nine different states and rarely practiced together as a team. I believe Coach TJ recognized that and asked if I would like to practice with his Tampa Mustangs-TJ as they practiced twice a week with their practice field being two minutes from my house. With Coach (Josh) Fisher’s permission I did. Once Avery graduated and began playing for (Florida), no one knew if Coach TJ would continue coaching. Once he decided to continue, I became a Tampa Mustang.
What can you tell us about your junior softball season at Lakewood Ranch High in Florida?
My junior season was tons of fun and I made a lot of memories with my teammates. We spend so much time together and it is honestly some of the best times of my life because my teammates have become my best friends. After winning the state championship in 2021, there were a lot of high expectations coming into the 2022 season. I think that motivated me and my team into working really hard during practices and on weekends. Obviously, all this hard work paid off because we ended up achieving our goal of winning the last game and going back-to-back state champions.
What does the FHSAA Class 7A state championship mean to your school and community?
Winning the state championship means a lot to our school. 2021 was the first time that Lakewood Ranch High had brought home a state championship for softball, so bringing home another one is even better. In fact, 2021 was the first time in Manatee county (my high school county) that any softball team had brought home a state championship, so we have definitely left our mark in my community.
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