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Here’s our TLI for Friday, Oct. 14, 2022:
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EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT: TAYLOR PORTER
Illinois-committed 2B/UT Taylor Porter recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about Bombers Gold National 18U-Carp, training, mental training, Impact Gold-Jazz, Illinois, sports psychology, her grandpa, Megan Thee Stallion and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Taylor Porter
Hometown: Leander, TV
High School: Leander High
Club Team: Bombers Gold National 18U-Carp
Graduation Year: 2024
Height: 5-foot-6
Position: 2B/UT
Nickname: Tay or T-Port
Twitter: @taylorporter04
Honors: Academic All-District and 1st Team All-District (2022).
High School Highlights/Stats: .352 AVG, 7 HRs and 25 RBIs.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? My hitting coach was a Bombers coach at the time and it was the beginning of a new season. Some girls were moving up and he needed to fill their spots and I got a spot on his team. He is friends with my current coach (John Carpenter), which got me exposure to him, and as the new fall season was coming up, I moved up to 18U to play with Coach Carp.
What are some of your training methods/training routine? I have a personal trainer (Sierra Nevels) that I see two-three times a week.
What areas are you focusing on/trying to improve this fall? Trusting myself and having more confidence is what I want to improve on mentally. I am always working on my mechanics and trying to be smooth and efficient with everything I do.
Which player/team was your toughest opponent and why? Impact Gold-Jazz 16U. That team is full of studs and their pitching is no joke.
Can you talk about why you committed to Illinois? They have a great softball program with amazing coaches. They have great academics as they are ranked top-15 in public schools in the US. I loved the environment and the culture when I went up there and how close the players were with each other. I also choose Illinois because I want to go to a school where I am wanted and valued and the coaches.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? Sports Psychology. Many athletes at this age tend to have mental illness. I want to be a resource athletes can come to when they need to talk about their sport or their mental health in general. I feel like there are plenty of psychologists, but not enough sports psychologists as well.
Who is your sports hero and why? My grandpa (Jimmy “Poppy” Mueller). He played at Arkansas State and then the Chicago White Sox in the minors. He was always one of my biggest supporters and having a family member that was as passionate as I am toward the sport I play was great to look up to. He passed away due to cancer a couple of years ago and I play to make him proud as he didn’t get to see me play a lot.
What’s the best hype song and why? Anything by Megan Thee Stallion. Her songs are so upbeat and give me energy and she always has a good song you can dance to before the game.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? “Grey’s Anatomy” because it’s my comfort show. I already know what is going to happen, but every time I watch it it’s just as interesting as the first time. Even though it’s a show about doctors, it is very dramatic, which I enjoy.
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