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Here’s our TLI for Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022:
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EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT: HILARY BLOMBERG
Wisconsin-committed 2023 C/IF/RHP Hilary Blomberg recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about Wisconsin Bandits 18U-Heintz, pitching practice, knowledge of the game, PGF Nationals, Beverly Bandits, medical science and psychology, Wisconsin, “Jump Around,” “The Office” and negotiating.
EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Hilary Blomberg
Hometown: Verona, WI
High School: Verona Area High
Club Team: Wisconsin Bandits 18U-Heintz
Graduation Year: 2023
Height: 5-foot-7
Position: C/IF/RHP
Nickname: Hil for club, Milly for high school
Twitter: @Blomberghilary
Honors: Big 8 Conference champion (2021); Big 8 Conference runner-up (2022); WIAA Regional champion (2021); 1st Team All-Conference (2021 and 2022); Big 8 Conference Player of the Year (2022); 1st Team All-District (2021 and 2022); 2nd Team All-State (2021); 1st Team All-State (2022); 16 Home Runs in 2021 (1st in state); Team MVP Defense (2021); and Team MVP Offense (2022).
High School Highlights/Stats: Sophomore — .495 AVG, 47 hits, 40 RBIs, 16 HRs, 26 extra-base hits, 68 IP, 10-1, 1.76 ERA and 107 Ks; Junior — .600 AVG, 42 hits, 30 RBIs, 6 HRs, 19 extra-base hits, 93 IP, 12-5, 1.58 ERA and 143 Ks.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I joined the Wisconsin Bandits in the fall of 2018 because I was looking for a higher level team. I tried out for them and was the only new girl — it was a little challenging at first, but they were all so welcoming and quickly became my second family. We started off in smaller tournaments and over the years we managed to get noticed and play with the best teams in the country. It’s such an amazing feeling to have done that all together because we have been working together for so long. We were proud to do that, softball in Wisconsin is no joke. Joining the Bandits has honestly been the best decision I’ve ever made.
What are some of your training methods/training routine? So we have practice weekly and then I’ll try to do some pitching lessons once a week, and then some on my own too. I, also, make sure I get my catching lessons in. Anytime I practice, I make sure to get in as much hitting as possible. Then my school had a nice workout facility, so I use that as much as I can before or after school.
What areas are you focusing on/trying to improve this fall? I’m always trying to better my hitting and grow my knowledge of the game. I’m wanting to also improve my reaction time at the corners and to open up my ability to play defense on the right side of the field.
Can you tell us about your experience at PGF Nationals this summer? It’s always amazing. That team will always have a special place in my heart and we battled so hard. We, unfortunately, lost early but managed to win a handful of games and make it back to the final 25. We beat some really good teams and I was so proud about how far we had come. That team never gave up and I would do so much to get that same team out there again because playing in California is electric.
Which player/team was your toughest opponent and why? If I had to choose one it’d have to be any of the Beverly Bandits’ teams. We constantly would go back and forth with all of them and those games were my favorite to play in. But, honestly, we held ourselves up to such a high standard and knew we could beat anyone. No one intimidated us and we weren’t afraid of anyone. We always came out ready to play.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I’m not 100 percent sure about what I would like to do, but something that’s in the medical science field possibly. I also really love psychology and I want to be able to find a career where I can help people. I’ve always liked my science and psychology classes, so I’m hoping to find something for me in that field.
Can you talk about your decision to commit to Wisconsin? I grew up a Badger fan. I was always dreaming of ending up there and when I got offered a spot, I couldn’t pass it up. I’ve always wanted to represent Wisconsin on a higher level and playing for the Badgers allows me to do that. I want to be able to beat all those amazing teams, as a Wisconsin team.
Who is your sports hero and why? I honestly don’t have one. I love watching sports, but I couldn’t pick one person to be my sports hero.
What’s the best hype song and why? I have to pick “Jump Around” because I’m from Wisconsin. If someone plays this song at a tournament, we all get pretty hype. And now that I’ll be a Badger, it will get even more hype.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? “The Office” for sure. I could watch it over and over. It has that awkward funny feeling and never fails to make me laugh. I love getting to see the relationships grow between the characters.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? My mom always says it’s negotiating with my little siblings. I have a 2-year-old brother and a 4-year-old sister and talking with them is apparently my special talent.
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