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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 Friday, May 9, 2020 …
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TLI was down with Zoom before the COVID-19 pandemic, but we finally figured out how to post videos to the site. TLI isn’t exactly a skilled hacker, but given enough time we can figure out technology (picture an ape pounding his fists on the ground).
Anyways, TLI got in touch with two of the nation’s greatest #CantStopWontStopWarriors for our first Zoom Session. 2022 OF/2B Shayna Glass of So Cal Athletics-Limo and 2024 3B/MIF/UT Jada Phillips of Tennessee Mojo 2024-Ross took some time out from quarantining to talk to TLI.
Here’s the interview done by Carlos Arias and Brentt Eads… (Carlos is in the hat!):
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… and check out the profiles below on our two outstanding guests!
THE LAST INNING MINI-Q&A
Name: SHAYNA GLASS
Hometown: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
High School: Mission Viejo High, CA
Club Team: So Cal Athletics-Limo 16U
Graduation Year: 2022
Height: 5-foot-6
Position: OF/2B
Nickname: Shay or Shay Shay
Twitter: @shaynaglass2022
High School Stats/Highlights: Varsity Letter Recipient Freshman Year; Scholar Athlete Award; Batted .410 in 2020; and went into the Quarantine on Orange County High School Top Hitters List.
Travel Ball Stats/Highlights: 2017 PGF 14U So Cal Athletics-June ranked among the top 60 teams.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them?
My travel team is out of Los Alamitos, CA. The team has been together since 2015, but recently I joined in August of 2019. They are the best team I could have asked for, and they really helped me after I didn’t have a team for three months due to an injury by welcoming me with open arms and pushing me to be the best version of myself.
Since we are all under stay-at-home orders because of the Coronavirus situation have you developed any new training methods to stay busy?
Yes! I keep a tight schedule that consists of working out every morning by 8:30 a.m., homework, hitting off the tee or working on the field and maintaining a healthy diet. I try to stay very consistent with my training because I know that after all of this is over we will start back up ready to go full speed and my reps put in now will pay off when it counts. I have also recently been teaching a Zoom workout class every Tuesday morning to a group of 12-16U Travel Ball girls from across the nation that was put on by Coach Rick Cowan of Beautiful Beasts of Softball.
What is something you have faced in your life that has helped you become the person that you are today?
In the summer of 2019, I got injured right before PGF and my team folded because we lost two of our outfielders in the same game. I didn’t have anywhere to go and was uncertain of what would happen next. It was very eye-opening because when I physically couldn’t play the game I love, I was eager to get back on the field when I just couldn’t, so I worked harder than ever to be the best version of myself, so I could have a new start with a new team to take me to the next level.
On a more recent and personal side, one of my biggest and most influential mentors recently passed away. Kobe Bryant has personally been in me and my family’s life for the past 12 years. Through his words of advice and caring nature he supported me through anything and everything. He would always ask about my tournaments and tryouts and College Showcases.
He was always there to pump me up, one year in 10U All-Stars he sent a text with a video to my dad who was coaching, to share with my team to pump us up before a championship game. His work ethic and passion stands above all others and I aspire to be the same way. Everything I do now is in his name and I play with the Mamba Mentality no matter the circumstance. Kobe and Gigi’s death taught me to never take anything or anyone for granted, you can never know when something will be your last. So, in honor of them I go full out in whatever I do and don’t hold anything back.
What’s something that people would be surprised to learn about you?
One thing people would be surprised to learn about me is that I am involved with drama class and acting. At school I have been in advanced drama classes and have participated in three plays, being one of the leads in two of them.
Do you have a secret talent/skill?
I am really good at performing and lip-syncing. Some of the songs I can lip-sync to like nobody’s business are “You’re Welcome” from Moana, “Introducing Me” from Camp Rock 2, “Into the Unknown” from Frozen 2 and pretty much any country song.
What’s the best TV show to binge?
“Friends” and “The Mentalist.”
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THE LAST INNING MINI-Q&A
Name: JADA PHILLIPS
Hometown: Bradenton, FL
High School: Incoming freshman for Lakewood Ranch High of Bradenton, FL, or Braden River of Bradenton, FL
Club Team: Tennessee Mojo 2024-Ross 14U
Graduation Year: 2024
Height: 5-foot-4 (and growing🤪)
Position: C/3B/MIF/UT
Nickname: J$
Twitter: @phillips_27
Travel Ball Stats/Highlights: Batted .522 with a 1.412 OPS 1.412 and 17 HRs in 2019 season; won 2019 USA Elite Select WFC
title; and a Select 30 All-American.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? Tennessee Mojo is really great. Brooks Cherry does so much for the organization and for us as players. Our coaches Tommy Bain and Jay Ross are really fun and give us all the tools to succeed on and off the field. They contacted us to ask if we wanted to come on and play with them at the national level. We were Hotshots when we first came on and then switched to Mojo as a team in the fall.
Since we are all under stay-at-home orders because of the coronavirus situation have you developed any new training methods to stay busy? I have been doing CrossFit workouts at home and speed/agility workouts with my brother. It’s a little crazy at times because we don’t have all the traditional equipment, weights and gear, so we are using sandbags, cement blocks and anything that looks like it will help.
What is something you have faced in your life that has helped you become the person that you are today?
I don’t know that I’ve faced anything specific that has shaped who I am other than my parents. They have done so much to help us become the best people and athletes possible and provide so many opportunities for us to have fun and succeed.
What’s something that people would be surprised to learn about you?
That I’m half Asian. When people first hear that, they are always surprised.
Do you have a secret talent/skill?
I play piano and sing.
What’s the best TV show to binge?
“The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.”
— Carlos Arias & Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff; follow Brentt on Twitter @ExtraInningSB)