Get on board with Extra Inning Softball’s regular feature, The Last Inning!
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Here’s our TLI for Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022:
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EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT: KRISTYN EMBLER
2025 2N/UT Kristyn Embler recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about Team NC-Huss, very intense conditioning, middle infield training, Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier, dental school, Gary Embler, Taylor Swift, “Grey’s Anatomy” and gymnastics.
EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Kristyn Embler
Hometown: Harrisburg, NC
High School: Hickory Ridge High
Club Team: Team North Carolina-Huss
Graduation Year: 2025
Height: 5-foot-7
Position: 2B/UT
Nickname: Kris
Twitter: @kristynembler
Honors: Ranked #2 in her class out of 500; all As in four AP classes this semester; Beta Club; won the state games this summer for Region 4 in NC; nominated for Youth Player of the Year; and Greater Charlotte Hot Stove Awards.
Travel Ball Highlights/Fall Stats: 49 ABs, .551 AVG, 1.770 OPS, 1.204 SLG, 8 HRs, 8 doubles and 25 RBIs.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? My dad had coached me my whole life up until this fall. Last November, he had a stroke making it very difficult for him to continue coaching. I played local legion ball over the summer, which is where I met Phillip Belfield. Coach Belfield coached for Stars National-Coleman/ Belfield and I got the opportunity to play with them over the summer in Colorado and Atlanta. These tournaments really opened my eyes. Due to my dad’s health reasons and these opportunities, I decided to move on from his team for the fall. Philip along with many others helped me find the perfect fit with Team NC-Huss. So far, my experience has been amazing and I couldn’t ask for a better group of girls, who are so talented and supportive of each other.
What are some of your training methods/training routine? Up until March of this year, I was competing in competitive gymnastics and was in the gym four hours every day. Gymnastics helped keep me in shape with very intense conditioning. Since I have stopped gymnastics, I have been able to focus more on softball. This fall, I have been working with a trainer to get stronger and maintain the conditioning I got in gymnastics. I also have softball workouts through my high school team during the week. I work with Kassidy Krupit (UNCC) to work on hitting and fielding. To maintain pitching for the high school season, I work with Stephanie Marlowe (Liberty alum). I have also done “In Body” scans to maximize my performance and make sure I am eating right.
What areas are you focusing on/trying to improve this fall? This fall is the first season where I have played middle Infield. My whole life I have pitched and played third base, so I am working to try and better develop in my position this fall.
Which player/team was your toughest opponent and why? This fall, I think our toughest opponent has been the Birmingham Thunderbolts 18U Premier team. They just came off of a PGF (national championship) win with some of the best players in the country.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I really want to go to dental school after college to become an orthodontist. I have always wanted to become an orthodontist because I always loved going there and I love math and science.
Who is your sports hero and why? My sports hero is my dad (Gary Embler) because I’ve always looked up to him and we share the same number of 4. He played baseball in college and was my only coach up until this year. He played second base and now I play second. We have always connected through sports.
What’s the best hype song and why? “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift because it’s me and my two sisters’ song. We sing it as loud as we can when it comes on.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? Not a huge TV watcher, but I enjoy watching “Grey’s Anatomy” because I like the medical field.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? I was a level 9 competitive gymnast. Unfortunately, I had to stop in March to focus on softball, but I have still been able to maintain some skills! I can still climb the rope and walk on my hands and do a couple flips if I need to.
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