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Here’s our TLI for Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022:
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EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT: THALIA MARTIN
Auburn-bound 3B/OF Thalia Martin, #15 in the 2023 Extra Elite 100, recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about Atlanta Vipers 18U Gold-Tamborra, “no-days-off” mentality, exit velo goals, PGF Nationals, Georgia Bombers-Lewis, nursing, Auburn, Odicci Alexander, Lil Baby, “Love Island” and technology.
EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Thalia Martin
Hometown: Lilburn, GA
High School: Brookwood High
Club Team: Atlanta Vipers 18U Gold-Tamborra
Graduation Year: 2023
Height: 5-foot-6
Position: 3B/OF
Nickname: “T”
Twitter: @Thalia11Martin
Honors: 7 AAAAAA Region Player of the Year (2022); Minority Softball Prospect All-American selection (2022); 1st Team All-Region; 1st Team All-County; GACA Junior All-Star Game participant; GADC Senior State Game participant (2022); and #15 in the 2023 Extra Elite 100.
Travel Ball Summer Stats: .386 AVG, .653 SLG, 23 HRs and 103 RBIs.
High School Stats: Career — .380 AVG, 76 RBIs, 135 hits, .581 SLG, .455 OBP, 30 doubles, 7 triples, 9 HRs.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? In simple terms, I LOVE THIS TEAM! We have a great group of girls that all have the same common goal … WIN! We all understand the importance of togetherness and it shows every single time we step on the field. We are fortunate to have a coaching staff that helps us buy into trusting the process. I tried out for the team my freshman year, and that decision was a game changer in my softball career.
What are some of your training methods/training routine? I operate on a “no-days-off” mentality. I hit weekly with Jimmy Mullis and do defense with Joseph Virgo. When I’m not training with them, I take advantage of individual hitting sessions on ADCs hitting simulator as well as live reps at Champions Fastpitch Academy.
What areas are you focusing on/trying to improve this fall? This fall, my focus remains on consistently hitting my exit velo goal, full body strength and staying smooth on defense.
Can you tell us about your experience at PGF Nationals this summer? This summer, my team and I got to play against the best of the best at PGF Nationals. We learned a lot and made some noise by our elite level of play. Off the field, we had so much fun together through all of the team bonding activities that we did. Personally, I believe my game elevated over the course of that week because every time I stepped on the field I knew I had to play strong defense and have positive at-bats to help my team win.
Which player/team was your toughest opponent and why? I would say the toughest team we had to play against was Georgia Bombers-Lewis. They are a team full of well-rounded athletes that challenged us anytime we played them. They move fast and communicate well, which forced us to be on top of our game at all times.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? In the future, I plan on majoring in nursing in hopes of becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner.
Can you talk about your decision to commit to Auburn? After I went to my cousin’s training camp in 2016, I fell in love with the campus faster than I ever could’ve imagined. After that day, I instantly started keeping up with their softball program and ever since then playing at Auburn has been a dream of mine. After attending a few camps and a numerous amount of games and my unofficial visit, Auburn became home for me and I knew that’s where I wanted to spend my four years of college.
Who is your sports hero and why? My sports hero is definitely Odicci Alexander. She embodies everything that I want to be at Auburn one day. She is strong-willed, a passionate leader and will fight until the end for her team. She is the true definition of a fierce competitor.
What’s the best hype song and why? THE BEST hype song would have to be “Real As It Gets” by Lil Baby!! I listen to this song before every tournament and it gets me hype every time. “Solcyboyz 2” by Big Scarr is also a W hype song!!
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? My favorite show to binge is “Love Island.” I LOVEEE love shows!!! This show has a good mix of real life and drama. It keeps me entertained during EVERY. SINGLE. EPISODE. And it never fails to prove to me that I need to expect the unexpected.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? I am really good with technology. I know how to code and do all sorts of things with computers, phones, etc.
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