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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 Thursday, May 7, 2020 …
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BUBBA AND GARCIA WILL BE BAAACK
As if the UCLA Bruins needed help after the last two years, the National Championship in 2019 and finishing #1 in the shortened season this spring, they’ll have two of the top players on Team USA coming back to play next year in Westwood and also play in the Tokyo Olympics.
Here are excerpts from the release that UCLA released today:
They’re back!
Rachel Garcia and Bubba Nickles, members of the 2019 National Champions, will rejoin the UCLA softball team for the upcoming 2021 campaign, their senior seasons.
Garcia and Nickles are both members of the USA Softball Olympic Team. The duo took part in the 2020 Stand Beside Her Tour and were set to compete in the Tokyo Olympics before the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the Games to 2021.
“The Bruin Bubble welcomes Bubba and Rachel back for the 2021 season to defend our title,” head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said.
“I am beyond proud and blessed to be able to compete with my Bruins next season and still represent our great country in Tokyo 2021,” Garcia said. “Stay safe and stay healthy!”
“I am very excited to have the opportunity to be back with the Bruins for the 2021 season,” Nickles said. “It’s truly an honor to be able to play my last collegiate season, as well as represent USA in the Olympics in the same year. 2021 is going to be a good one!”
USA Softball said in a statement earlier on Thursday, “Given the uncertainty during these unprecedented times, USA Softball encouraged and supports the three current student-athletes returning to their respective NCAA programs to complete their senior campaigns in the 2021 season. We also would like to thank the University of Arizona and UCLA for working with our program to ensure that Bubba, Dejah (Mulipola of Arizona) and Rachel can continue their pursuit of a Gold Medal with the U.S. Olympic Softball Team at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.”
They're back!
Rachel Garcia and Bubba Nickles, members of the 2019 National Champions, will rejoin the UCLA softball team for the upcoming 2021 campaign, their senior seasons.https://t.co/6hye0cb4dQ#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/9I5yLLIKh2
— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) May 7, 2020
12U CLUB SCOUTING REPORT
Extra Inning Softball began releasing the Extra Elite Eighty 12U Club Rankings on Monday, April 27, 2020, so we’ll continue to take a look at some of the top teams in the nation.
Let’s take a look at Coach JJ Williams‘ team …
CENTEX BUZZ ELITE 08
Central Texas’ own Buzz Elite 08 fastpitch softball team had a great 2019 season, going 72-17, and finished the summer strong by winning the USSSA Road to the Beach National 10U Class A Championship. Buzz Elite 08 moved up to 12U where they continue to be laser focused on being the best. The coaches of Buzz Elite 08 are Head Coach JJ Williams and Assistant Coach Edward Rosillo. Their main goal for their girls is “Teaching them to be the best they can be inside the chalk, as well as outside those chalk lines” and “To compete at the highest level and to always want and work for more!”
*** To read the rest of today’s The Last Inning, scroll down below…