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.
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Here’s our TLI for Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022:
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EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT: ALYSSA HOUSTON
Stanford-committed RHP/UT Alyssa Houston, #36 in the 2023 Extra Elite 100, recently talked to Extra Inning Softball and Iowa Premier 18U National-Dickel, long-distance running, spin and accuracy, Alliance Nationals, Ohio Hawks, Stanford, nursing, Oddici Alexander, Drake, “Criminal Minds”, Legos and hoops.
EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Alyssa Houston
Hometown: Benton, AR
High School: Benton High School
Club Team: Iowa Premier 18U National-Dickel
Graduation Year: 2023
Height: 5-foot-10
Position: RHP/UT
Nickname: NASA and Jelly
Twitter: @Alyssamhouston
Honors: Softball — Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series 16U Tier 1 runner-up; Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series 16U Tier 1 All-Tournament; MaxPreps All-American (2022); Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year (2021-22); Arkansas All-Preps Softball Player of the Year (2021-22); 5A Arkansas State Tournament MVP (2021-22); 5A All-Conference and Arkansas state champions (2021-22); 5A Arkansas All-Conference, All-State, All-State Tournament Team and All-Star Team (2021-22); #36 in the 2023 Extra Elite 100; 5A Arkansas All-Conference, All-State and All-Star Tournament Team (2020-21); 1st Team All-Arkansas Preps Team (2020-21); 5A All-Conference and Arkansas state champion (2020-21); selected to the All-Summer Team by Extra Inning Softball (2020); Basketball — Full Court Award Finalist (2022); 5A Arkansas All-Conference and All-State (2021-22); 5A Arkansas All-Conference and All-State (2020-21); Academic — A Honor Roll; and National Honor Society.
Travel Ball Highlights/Summer Stats: Hitting — .434 AVG, .485 OBP, .731 SLG, 8 HRs, 50 RBIs; Pitching — 82.1 IP, 145 Ks, 1.70 ERA and .127 batting average against.
High School Highlights/Stats: Hitting — .407 AVG, .864 SLG, 11 HRs; Pitching — 85.1 IP, 175 Ks and 0.49 ERA.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? Greg Dickel and Iowa Premier truly work for the athletes to make sure you get where you want to go collegiately. They also compete against the best teams across the country. Last fall, I was a guest player for Iowa Premier 16U-Lacina during the Bombers Showcase Tournament. I really enjoyed my experience with the team and decided to make the transition to play full time for the organization.
What are some of your training methods/training routine? My training includes lifting weights, plyometric exercises and long-distance running. After long-distance running, I like to hit and pitch to really push myself and make sure that even when I’m exhausted that I have the right mechanics.
What areas are you focusing on/trying to improve this fall? For pitching, I’m really focused on spin and accuracy. I want to get more swings and misses in the strike zone. For hitting, I am working on pitch selection and consistency at the plate.
Can you tell us about your experience at Alliance Nationals this summer? Playing in the Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series (AFCS) was a fun but extremely challenging tournament. Every game, I was challenged in the circle and at the plate — facing some of the best athletes across the country. I also really enjoyed the structure of the tournament and its resemblance to the Women’s College World Series. During my time at the AFCS, I also had fun hanging out with my teammates — eating, shopping and even playing intense games of cornhole. As most players will say, playing in and winning a national championship is a goal. So I’m very proud that we were able to fulfill one of my goals.
Which player/team was your toughest opponent and why? The toughest team we faced was the Ohio Hawks. They were defensively sound, rarely made errors and were good hitters 1-9. Their pitching staff was also strong.
Can you talk about why you committed to Stanford? Over the summer, I developed a strong connection with the coaching staff at Stanford. They would talk to me about softball, but they also wanted to learn about me as a person. When I went on a visit to their campus, I really loved the way the coaches interacted with the players as well as the competitive structure of practice. The players were also GREAT! During my visit, I felt like I was at home and decided this is where I fit in.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I am interested in becoming a nurse with a minor in psychology because I have always had a passion for helping others. Or becoming a civil engineer with a minor in advertising.
Who is your sports hero and why? Oddici Alexander. I like the way she took ownership of the mound — despite being labeled as an underdog. She was a fierce competitor and it never varied during the game.
What’s the best hype song and why? The best hype song is “Headlines” or “The Motto” by Drake. Drake brings in one of the best beats that draw you in to get your head bopping and his lyrics are so clear that you can always sing along.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? My favorite TV shows to binge are “Criminal Minds,” “NCIS” and “Law and Order” (all variations). I also enjoy watching crime shows on “Investigation Discovery” (ID). I enjoy watching the investigations and how they come up with the evidence and theories that come from the strangest objects.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? A secret talent/skill I have is that I am good at building Legos and other arts and crafts. I am also good at basketball. In fact, I am less than 200 points shy of reaching 1,000 points and currently have over 550 rebounds in my high school career since the 10th grade. Not to mention, I am one the leaders on my team in steals and assists. My basketball accolades includes two-time All-Conference and All-State selection as well as 2022 Full Court Award Finalist that honors the top five high school male and female basketball players across the state.
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