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Here’s our TLI for Monday, May 8, 2023:
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EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT: GRACIE MALONEY
North Texas-committed RHP/3B Gracie Maloney, #17 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100, recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about Turnin2 National-Maloney, Dakota High, a 21-strikeout game, Alliance Nationals, Triple Crown Colorado Fireworks, Gaylord High and Impact Gold-Jazz, North Texas, sports management, Montana Fouts, will.i.am, “Outer Banks” and dugout behavior.
EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Gracie Maloney
Hometown: Macomb, MI
High School: Dakota High
Club Team: Turnin2 18U National-Naloney
Graduation Year: 2024
Height: 6-foot-0
Position: RHP/3B
Nickname: Gray
Twitter: @graciemaloney_
Honors: #17 in the 2924 Extra Elite 100; All-League; All-County; All-Region; All-District; and HFL Player of the Month (July 2022).
Travel Ball Fall Stats: 55.2 IP, 8-1 record, 2 saves. 33 hits, 2 earned runs, 71 Ks, 7 BBs, 0.25 ERA, .719 WHIP, .159 batting average against
High School Stats: 7 games pitched, 34.1 IP, 5-0 record, 1 save, 6 hits allowed, 4 earned runs, 6 BBs, 83 Ks, 0.81 ERA, 0.35 WHIP, .055 batting average against and averaging 17.04 Ks per 7 innings.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I am an original member of my team that started when I was 8 (years old). I played up my whole life. We have changed organization names to Turnin2 from Michigan Batbusters, but the team stayed the same. Most of my best friends are from this team.
Tell us about your high school team and how you are doing/did? My high school team is ranked #1 in the state in Division 1. We lost in the state championship game last year and we have returned most of our team and we are on a mission to win it all this year. We are currently 13-1 and we have three D1-committed pitchers. I personally play a lot of shortstop when I am not pitching. My sister, Faith Maloney, is a senior committed to Saginaw Valley State and it’s really cool that I get to play with her.
Can you talk about the 21-strikeout game (vs. Gross Pointe North High on May 2)? We arrived at Grosse Pointe North High, an amazing turf field. I felt really loose in warmups and like I had all my stuff working, despite the fact that it was still cold and windy up here in Michigan. When the game started, I came in with some adrenaline and I thought I was throwing pretty hard the first few innings and as the game went on I started to get a really good feel for all of my pitches. I knew I had really good stuff because I was getting a lot of swings and misses. Going into the last inning, I actually knew that all the outs were strikeouts, so I was really focused on trying to get these last three strikeouts to get to 21.
Can you tell us about your experience at Alliance Nationals last summer? It was really awesome that my team qualified in the fall to play in the Alliance Nationals in Indianapolis. We started off the tournament very strong and got into Tier 1 with some huge wins. In the first game, I got the win in the circle and hit a grand slam. That was a really great experience playing some of the greatest teams in the country and I’m excited that my team qualified to play in this year’s Alliance Nationals in California!
What tournament/showcase/event are you looking forward to this summer and why? We are in the (Triple Crown) Colorado Fireworks National Power Pool! Doesn’t get much better than that. Also, I am super excited to go play in the Alliance Nationals in California. I’ve been to Colorado a few times but never California.
Which player/team was your toughest opponent and why? In high school, our toughest competition was Gaylord (High). Going up against Jayden Jones, Aubrey Jones and the rest of their team was quite a challenge. I was up to bat in the last inning and I hit a walk-off double. In travel ball, the toughest team we played is Impact Gold-Jazz. They were full of, not only great players, but great coaches and they’re tough to beat.
Why did you choose to commit to North Texas? I am committed to the University of North Texas. I love the coaches, the team, the culture and the whole school. It all felt right on my visit.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? Coaching and sports’ management because I love the game and want to continue to help grow the game, even when I am done playing.
Who is your sports hero and why? Montana Fouts, because I love the energy that she brings when she pitches. I actually was able to meet her at the first Alliance Championships in OKC!
What’s the best hype song and why? “Hot Wings (I wanna Party)” (by will.i.am). This song is from the movie “Rio” and has a fun upbeat that before every game our team listens to. It really brings everyone’s energy up!
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? “Outer Banks,” because there is so much action that you really can’t stop watching.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? Just listen to me in the dugout.
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