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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 Monday, Mar. 9, 2020…
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International Women’s Day landed on Sunday, which is when TLI was busy watching Outlander, The Walking Dead, Homeland and The Outsider, but that didn’t stop us from reaching out to the softball community to find out who they respect:
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY APPRECIATION
* Said Central Cal Dirtdogs/Clovis North, CA, 2022 C/1B Elizabeth Moffitt:
“I idolize and have so much respect for (Central Cal Dirtdogs coach) Sara Pickering. She is the strongest woman I have ever met. She inspires me every day to be the best person I can be. She is the most dedicated and selfless person. She cares so much about the athletes she works with and it’s more then the game for her in the end. She is a perfect role model and mentor that I am blessed to have in my life every day of the week.”
* Said Cal Breeze-Fernald/Folsom, CA, 2022 SS/UT D’Auna Johnson:
“I would say a female athlete that inspires me is Rachel Garcia. She is such a humble athlete and I love the energy and confidence she brings every time she steps on the mound. Not only is she a great pitcher, but she is also able to help her team earn runs with her bat. She is truly the definition of a leader.”
* Said OC Batbusters guru Gary Haning:
“I have great respect for Laura Berg. She has been the same person since she was 12 years old. Always working, always trying and always with same attitude and character.”
* Said Jersey Intensity-BOD coach Brittany O’Donnell:
“There’s actually three female athletes who I idolize and respect. My three coaches from Notre Dame — Deanna (Gumpf), Kris (Ganeff) and Lizzy (Ristano). These three women helped my dream to play for the Irish come true. Each one of them demonstrates passion, strength and perseverance in everything they do both on and off the field. Each one of them had to overcome adversities and I watched them handle it with poise and courage. During my time at Notre Dame, Coach Gumpf’s daughter, Tatum, battled and beat Leukemia. Being around Coach Gumpf, her family, and the coaching staff and team during that time inspired me to go down the career path I did — to be a special education teacher in an elementary school. I wanted to make a positive impact in children’s lives who fight their own individual battles every day. I get great joy in being a positive influence and role model for my students, knowing that I’m not only making them better students, but great people. These women gave me the opportunity to flourish and succeed in life because of the core values they instilled in the Notre Dame softball program. My coaches gave me the opportunity to play for and graduate from the the University of Notre Dame and for that I am forever grateful. Go Irish!”
* Said Athletics-Mercado/Smith 2020 P Allison Royalty:
“I would have to say an idol of mine is Jessica Mendoza. Not only did she reach the WCWS in her college softball career, but she also went on to be an Olympic athlete. I respect her because she didn’t stop her goals and hard work when she was done with softball. She went on to pave a way for women in the sports broadcasting industry. I admire how she built a career for herself that has made an impact for generations to come. It’s an inspiration to younger women like myself to work hard and find a career that you’re passionate about. It inspires me to set goals and dreams outside of sports. I’m used to having dreams and goals when it comes to softball, but unfortunately I can’t play softball forever. What Jessica has accomplished inspires me to dream bigger when it comes to what I want to do and accomplish after my athletic career.”
* Said Nebraska Thunder Gold/Papillion-La Vista High of Papillion, NE, 2021 P/UT Jordyn Bahl:
“Sydney Romero, while being one of the most fierce and confident competitors out there, she is a super humble and awesome person, and appears to be a great teammate. The more stressful the situation, the more confident she comes off as.”
* Said So Cal Athletics-Richardson/Eastlake of Chula Vista, CA, 2021 C/OF Hannah Slike:
“Two women that have been mentors to me are Carlee Wallace, catcher for So Cal Athletics, Auburn and Baylor, and Liz Silva, Oklahoma State catcher, current Mater Dei High (of Chula Vista, CA) and my catching coach for the last five years. Both of theses women athletes have been mentors for me both on and off the field. Not only have they helped me develop as a catcher and player, but they both have been role models for handling adversity on and off the field. Carlee always has stayed true to herself while playing the highest level of the game, even when it meant making difficult decisions. Liz started as my catching coach, but over the years has become much more. She always knows the right thing to say at the right time. I hope I can one day be a mentor to others, as they have been to me.”
* Said Georgia Impact Premier-Lewis/St. Joseph-Ogden, IL, SS Bailey Dowling:
“A female athlete I respect would definitely be Danielle Zymkowitz. She played at the University of Illinois and when I was younger, I followed their team intently and was a huge fan! Anyone that watched her play was able to see the love and passion she presented towards softball. I followed the U of I softball team around so much that she gave me one of her trading cards and a home run ball. Having your idol take the time to talk to you after games and give you personal items of theirs that are so valuable are memories I will never forget. She went on to play pro softball with the Chicago Bandits and is now an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin. Sometimes at tournaments we will see each other and it’s so cool that we still have that connection.”
* Said So Cal Choppers/Chatsworth, CA, 2020 P/1B Ava Justman:
“A female athlete I’ve always idolized is Jennie Finch. The love and drive she has towards this sport is unmatched. Ever since I was little I always looked up to her and wanted to be just as good as her. Obviously, those are some very big shoes to fill, but seeing her unconditional love towards this sport inspires me and so many others to work to be the best in the game. Sometimes that’s all you need when you’re having a bad inning or bad game or bad season, someone to look up to.”
* Said former National Gatorade Player of the Year at Mater Dei of Santa Ana, CA, and All-American at Washington Tia Meza:
“Muffet McGraw … not only what she has accomplished as a coach at Notre Dame, but also how she fights to show our young female athletes that they can be anything and there isn’t a ceiling.”
* Said Texas Blaze United/John Horn of Mesquite, TX, 2022 C/OF Kailee Bautista:
“I idolize Sahvanna Jaquish and Dot Richardson. They are two women who put out a whole new perspective of our game. Not only do they teach us skills and techniques but they teach us lessons that we can handle in the real world and on the field. They are athletes that help us improve our mentality towards the game and how we put our attitudes out there. With Sahvanna Jaquish being a catcher like myself, I look up to her and all of the accomplishments she has made throughout her college career and being on the USA national team. She pushes me to never give up on anything and make sure to always push for your dreams throughout any obstacle. Dot Richardson, a former USA national team alumni and now a coach at Liberty university, is someone we can all look up to. With her induction in National Softball Hall of Fame as a big accomplishment she’s a huge mentor in teaching us the history of our game.”
* Said former Washington All-American and Corona Angles coach Dena Tyson:
“Natasha Watley, she does such amazing things for a game and growing up in softball you really didn’t see too many players that looked like me and she was turning into a household name during the time of my recruitment. I was able to play against her my freshmen year and I remember that year there was debate of who should of the national player that year and although she didn’t get it her performance at the World Series is still one of my favorite moments to watch. But that’s just why I idolize her. But the respect I have for her is what she is doing now, getting more girls of color to get involved in our game and providing opportunities that girls in certain areas wouldn’t have without her influence. SHE IS JUST AMAZING AND I LOVE HER!!!”
* Said Beverly Bandits DeMarini-Richards/Gahannah Lincoln High 2023 OF/SS Kirnan Bailey:
“A female I idolize is Bailey Landry because she represents more than the game of softball. She doesn’t play for herself, she plays the game for a bigger reason. She tries to empower people to be the best version of themselves. Also I love how great of a slapper she is and how she will do anything in her power to make her TEAM succeed. Adding on she is a great example of working hard and not just becoming an amazing athlete, but an extraordinary person for little girls to look up to.”
*** To read the rest of today’s The Last Inning, scroll down below…