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 Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022:
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EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT: EMMA YOUNGBLOOD
Uncommitted 2024 OF/UT Emma Youngblood recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about Palm Beach Bandits 18U, bringing speed, explosive approach, tough competition, special tread/speed training, medical examiner, Mickey Mantle, Black Eyed Peas, “Bob’s Burgers” and painting. (NOTE: Youngblood did not feel the full brunt of Hurricane Ian and is safe. “We are holding good,” Youngblood said. “We, thankfully, didn’t get the bad part of the storm.”)
EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Emma Youngblood
Hometown: Sebastian, FL
High School: Vero Beach High
Club Team: Palm Beach Bandits 18U
Graduation Year: 2024
Height: 5-foot-6
Position: OF/UT
Nickname: Youngblood
Twitter: @emmasoftball26
Honors: National Honor Society; National Society of High School Scholars; All-Area Honorable Mention; and FHSAA District 9/7A Champions.
Travel Ball Summer Stats: .333 AVG and .421 OBP.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? It’s a young 18U (team) that has 2023-2025 players from South FL to Central Fl. I played against them at a showcase while I was on a different team. I was looking for a more local team, so I can attend more practices. Also, these girls became family quickly.
What do you bring to the team? I bring speed to my team, which I use offensively at the plate and defensively playing OF. I can bunt or hit for power.
What areas are you focusing on/trying to improve this fall? This fall, I am focusing on having a more explosive approach to the ball when hitting.
Which player/team was your toughest opponent and why? Every player I would consider my toughest opponent. Every player I played against put everything out on the field, which made it tough when both sides were putting their all into the game.
Can you tell us about your training methods/workout schedule? I do special tread/speed training twice a week, ground-base training, which is speed and agility/explosive speed twice a week and strength training four days a week. I have team practice three times a week and weekly batting lessons.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I’m interested in health care science/forensics. I want to become a medical examiner. I believe people need answers after a loved one has passed. I’m also intrigued by the human body and love the investigating process.
Who is your sports hero and why? My sports hero would be Mickey Mantle. He was one of the best players of all time, but he was always humble. He was kind to his teammates and very friendly as well. Mantle always played 100 percent even if he got injured. He is a player I look up to for the fact he was an amazing baseball player, but also that he since loved playing baseball so much, he didn’t let an injury stop him from playing.
What’s the best hype song and why? “Pump It” (by Black Eyed Peas) because it’s a song that I used to listen to when I was younger, and it just has (a) really pumped upbeat to it.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? My favorite show to binge watch is “Bob’s Burgers,” because the show is funny and very entertaining to watch.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? A secret skill I have is that I can paint.
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