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 Thursday, March 17:
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EXTRA ELITE PROFILE: SYDNEY SOMERNDIKE
Arizona-bound P Sydney Somerndike, #13 in the 2022 Extra Elite 100, is considered one of the top pitching prospects in country and she helped Villa Park High of CA, #2 in the nation in the Extra Elite Eighty High School Rankings, win the prestigious Dave Kops Tournament of Champions last weekend in Bullhead City, AZ.
Somerndike recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about her softball journey, the TOC and the summer with Firecrackers 18U-Rico.
EXTRA ELITE Q&A
Name: Sydney Somerndike
Hometown: Villa Park, CA
High School: Villa Park High
Club Team: Firecrackers Rico 18U
Graduation Year: 2022
Height: 5-foot-7
Position: P
Nickname: BoomSydie
Twitter: @sydsomerndike
Honors: California Gatorade Player of the Year (2021); 1st Team All-League and League MVP (2021); 1st and 2nd Team All-American (2021); and Team MVP (2021).
Travel Ball Highlights/Fall Stats: Beat Texas Bombers 18U in College Station, TX, in December.
High School Highlights: Made it to CIF-SS finals with her team and threw her first perfect game (2021).
How great was it winning the Dave Kops Tournament of Champions this past weekend?
I had a very unique experience at the TOC, starting with Thursday night before our first game warm-ups. I got hit in the head with a bucket lid in the intense winds in Bullhead City, AZ. I ended up not playing the first game and got to watch our freshman Auddrey Lira go out and throw a no-hitter!
My team shared lots of fight and effort to win the tournament. Playing against some very intense and talented competition, it was surely a test for our team to see our potential. I’m very proud of the way we played and the chemistry our team built. Pitching that many games in a short span of days was hard physically and mentally, but I’m so glad my team pushed through and got it done!
Tell us about the Firecrackers and how you became involved with them?
I was introduced to the idea of joining Tony (Rico’s) team after the summer. I got to meet with him in person and quickly found out that it was the place I wanted to be. I love the aspects of the game he focuses on and how he teaches the game. I felt very drawn to the team atmosphere and culture.
How will you approach the summer season with Firecrackers-Rico?
I’m going to approach the summer season with my Firecrackers’ team with the intention of improving my play and pushing myself and my team to win. I believe our team is talented enough to go to the end, so I can’t wait to see how it goes.
*** Scroll down to learn more about Sydney Somerndike plus catch the latest News & Notes from around the high school and club scenes!
