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.
To contribute information, insights, thoughts or content ideas, email us at info@extrainningsoftball.com and also los.extrainningsoftball@gmail.com.
Here’s our TLI for Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022:
*****
EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT: CASSIDY RELAY
OF Cassidy Relay, #13 in the 2023 Extra Elite 100, talked to Extra Inning Softball about recently joining Lady Dukes 18U Gold-Torres, slapping, speed work, PGF Nationals, West Coast players/teams, sports psychology, Aliyah Andrews, Meek Mill and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Cassidy Relay
Hometown: Colts Neck, NJ
High School: Colts Neck High
Club Team: Lady Dukes 18U-Gold Torres
Graduation Year: 2023
Height: 5-foot-2
Position: OF
Nickname: Cass
Twitter: @cassidyxxrelay1
Honors: Principal Honors Roll; 4.27 GPA; a member of the National Society of High School Scholars.
Travel Ball Highlights/Summer Stats: .429 AVG, .577 OBP, led the team in hits, runs, triples, and walks and went 24 for 24 in stolen base attempts.
High School Highlights/Stats: Named a High School All-American by Extra Inning Softball with a .495 average, 50 runs, 23 RBIs and 33 stolen bases.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I was previously with Jersey Intensity since 10U, but due to circumstances beyond my control it was no longer the best fit for me. I was just recently welcomed to the Lady Dukes family this fall, and I couldn’t be more excited for what is yet to come. Coach (Juan) Torres, Coach (James) Lamar and my teammates have already shown their full support in just the short time I have been a part of the organization. I am blessed to start this new chapter in my softball career.
What are some of your training methods/training routine? As a slapper, a lot of the training I do offensively consists of tee work and footwork. Breaking down the movements and having rhythm in the box is crucial as a slapper, so it is something I am always working on. In the gym, I do tons of explosive, focused workouts to increase my speed on the base path. Band work is also another thing I do daily to increase arm strength and to prevent injury.
What areas are you focusing on/trying to improve this fall? This fall, I am focusing on my barrel control and bringing my home-to-first time back down to a 2.6-2.7. I broke my big toe last spring, taking me out of training for two months, so regaining that speed is a top priority this fall. There is always room for improvement in every aspect of the game, but those are the two I hope to improve on the most this upcoming season.
Can you tell us about your experience at PGF Nationals this summer? My experience at PGF this summer was super special as a lot of my closest friends finished their travel ball careers and went to college. A few of the girls had been with me since 10U, so to see them start their new chapter playing college softball was so inspiring. With only 11 girls on our roster, we battled and played as hard as we could until the very last out. It was a talented team with a lot of special girls.
Which player/team was your toughest opponent and why? I don’t have any specific team that was my toughest opponent, but being an East Coast kid always made the West Coast teams my biggest competition. The teams on the West Coast have the opportunity to train outside all year round, which is something East Coast kids don’t have. That being said, their level of play and feel of the game was always tough to compete with.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I am planning on majoring in psychology in college to later become a sports psychologist. Being a clinical therapist was always something I wanted to pursue, but I also wanted to stay involved in the world of sports. As an athlete, I know the struggles and mental toll that comes with playing at such a high level. It would be awesome if in the future I could help other athletes work through those struggles and setbacks.
Who is your sports hero and why? My sports hero is Aliyah Andrews. I saw her first play when she was at LSU and have looked up to her ever since. As a center fielder myself, being able to watch how dominant and confident she is on the field, both offensively and defensively, is so inspirational. I hope to make that type of impact on the field the same way she does.
What’s the best hype song and why? My hype song has always been “Dreams and Nightmares” by Meek Mill. The song is all about becoming successful even through struggle. Listening to those lyrics before a set at the gym or getting ready for a big game always gets my adrenaline pumping.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? My favorite TV show to binge has to be either “Friends” or “Grey’s Anatomy.” The two have completely different vibes, so it honestly depends on if I want to laugh or want to watch a surgery. I have watched every season of both shows more than once, and they never get old.
Scroll down to see more highlights …
