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Here’s our TLI for Tuesday, May 17, 2022:
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EXTRA SPOTLIGHT: KIANA “KIKI” ESTRADA
Arkansas-bound 1B Kiana “Kiki” Estrada, #13 in the 2022 Extra Elite 100, recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about Lady Dukes 18U-Lamar, her senior season at Orange Lutheran High in California, her recruiting process, her big brother, movie lines and beating Villa Park High…
EXTRA SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Kiana “Kiki” Estrada
Hometown: Chino Hills, CA
High School: Orange Lutheran High
Club Team: Lady Dukes 18U-Lamar
Graduation Year: 2022
Height: 5-foot-9
Position: 1B
Nickname: Kiki
Twitter: @KikiEstrada1
Honors: PGF Regional All-American finalist, Team Mexico and OC All Star Game.
High School Highlights: 68 AB, .500 AVG, 34 hits, 32 RBIs, 9 HRs, 32 walks and .676 OBP.
How does a So Cal standout become involved with the Lady Dukes on the East Coast?
I joined the Lady Dukes in January when high school ball started. I am still fairly new to the team, but I can tell everyone on the team has the drive and hunger to win and compete every game. I can’t wait to get out on the field with them and leave it all on the field.
I can already tell that anyone on that team would run through a wall for each other. At the beginning of the season, Coach (James) Lamar reached out to me to have me join the team. I didn’t pull the trigger until January. This summer should be fun and I can’t wait to get out there.
Can you talk about your experience at Orange Lutheran and your role there this season?
Orange Lutheran has helped shape me into who I am today. They have taught me to be confident in myself and to be confident in my faith. They made me realize that softball doesn’t define who I am. If I play good or bad, I am still a child of God and nothing can change that. The endless support I’ve gotten at Orange Lutheran is like none before. I wrote an article about my experience on how OLu impacted me (click HERE to access the link).
This season I have had the role to help the younger underclassmen grow and learn what it means to be a Lancer. It has been a privilege to help lead this team to the CIF(-Southern Section) quarterfinals and help them grow on and off the field.
Can you talk about your recruiting experience and how you chose Arkansas?
Going into the recruiting process I was in the 8th grade (2018) when my travel coach at the time told me Arkansas had interest in me. I wasn’t sure because I didn’t know a lot about the school besides it being in the SEC.
From my very first call with Coach (Courtney) Deifel, there was something about her that was different. She had so much energy and was so excited to talk to me that it made me feel wanted right off the bat. There is something very genuine about her. She was so easy to talk to over the phone, so when she invited me to see campus I didn’t hesitate to say yes. I did a little homework and saw how Coach Deifel has had a reputation to build up programs, so I had faith and believed that she would do the same with Arkansas.
Scroll down to see more in today’s TLI!