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, Sept. 15, 2022:
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EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT: GRACIE HILLMAN
Georgia Tech-committed CF Gracie Hillman, #86 in the 2023 Extra Elite 100, recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about Birmingham Thunderbolts 18U Premier, speed on the bases and in the outfield, hitting away, PGF Nationals, Nebraska Gold, the medical field, Haylie McCleney and “Outer Banks.”
EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Gracie Hillman
Hometown: Hoover, AL
High School: Hoover High
Club Team: Birmingham Thunderbolts 18U Premier
Graduation Year: 2023
Height: 5-foot-10
Position: CF
Nickname: Mustang or Gbug
Twitter: @HillmanGracie
Honors: Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society; National Honor Society candidate for 2022-2023; PGF 18U Premier national champion (2022); North All-Star Team; Terrific 20; All-Over The Mountain Journal Team; 7-A 1st Team All-State; All-South Metro; and currently holds Hoover High record for highest batting average.
Travel Ball Highlights/Summer Stats: PGF Show Me the Money champions in Florida, placed 3rd in the Top Club Invitational in Oklahoma and won PGF 18U Premier national title in California. Batted .477 with a .500 OBP.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I’ve been playing for the Birmingham Thunderbolts organization since 8U. I’m proud to be a part of an organization that can take a talented player and make them even better, teaching a deeper meaning of the game and preparing them for college. I’m thankful for Richard Shea’s vision that started this organization and outstanding coaches like Rocky Thompson, who develops the players.
What do you bring to the team? I’m here for my team. We win together and we lose together. I offer speed around the bases as well as in the outfield and have a good eye for tracking the ball. I’ve gained a solid understanding of the game as a whole over the years. I’ve been successful at stealing bases and bringing a triple threat to the plate.
What areas are you focusing on/trying to improve this fall? I have a strong short game along with my ability to slap, so this fall I will be working on hitting away to increase my strength as a triple threat.
Can you tell us about your experience at PGF Nationals this summer? It is a summer I will never forget. My team and I have chased this dream of winning PGF throughout the years of travel ball. It is such a well organized competition and you play the best of the best. The atmosphere at the championship game was electric. We wanted the win for each other and for our coaches. We left everything we had on the field and it payed off.
Which player/team was your toughest opponent and why? Nebraska Gold was one of our toughest opponents. We won that game, 2-0. It was truly a hard fought game on both sides.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I’m looking into different opportunities in the medical field.
Who is your sports hero and why? I’ve always admired Haylie McCleney for her athletic ability.
What’s the best hype song and why? I don’t have a hype song.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? My favorite show is “Outer Banks” because I like the suspense.
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