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 Friday, Sept. 23, 2022:
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EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT: ANNA KATE SMITH
2026 C/OF/UT prospect Anna Kate Smith recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about Birmingham Vipers 2026, leadership and friendship, mental game, Scenic City, Birmingham Bolts-Chaney, cross country, physical therapy, Jocelyn Alo, AC/DC, The Flash and math.
EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Anna Kate Smith
Hometown: Dora, AL
High School: Corner High
Club Team: Birmingham Vipers 2026
Graduation Year: 2026
Height: 5-foot-7
Position: C/OF/UT
Nickname: AK
Twitter: @aksmith_2026
Honors: National Honors Society; Volleyball and Basketball team captain
7th and 8th grade Jefferson County; and All-Tournament Softball Team.
Travel Ball Highlights/Summer Stats: 27 games, 60 at bats, .567 AVG, .581 OBP, 1.397 OPS, .817 SLG, 34 hits, four doubles, four triples, one homer and 33 RBIs.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? My team is a very talented and competitive group of girls and has great knowledgeable coaches. I always look forward to practices and tournaments with them. I attended a tryout with them and they extended me an offer to play. I am so excited to be wearing the Birmingham Vipers’ name. I work very hard to represent it well.
What do you bring to the team? I bring leadership, friendship and encouragement to my team. I have a strong bat and a solid understanding of the game.
What areas are you focusing on/trying to improve this fall? I am going to work on the mental aspect of the game and to have more confidence in myself.
Can you tell us about your experience at national events this summer? We played PGF Scenic City and had the best time. We played some of the best teams in the country. We were able to enjoy downtime with our teammates and family. It was one of my favorite memories. We played a team from Ohio and we made an instant connection. By the time the game was over, we had exchanged contact numbers and we still keep in touch. I had never had that happen before. This is what the game of softball is all about.
Which player/team was your toughest opponent and why? Birmingham Bolts-Chaney. They are a great team that has a lot of talent. We usually play them several times a season. It is always an intense and fun game.
Can you tell us about your experience with cross country and what you get out of the sport? I love long-distance running. I don’t have to think of anything and I can just run. It pushes me, keeps me in shape and makes me faster.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I would like to be a physical therapist because I want to help people recover from an injury and help them improve their quality of life.
Who is your sports hero and why? Jocelyn Alo had 118 career home runs and broke Lauren Chamberlain’s record. I am working hard to be like her with my hitting.
What’s the best hype song and why? “Thunderstruck” (by AC/DC). It is upbeat and it always hypes me up.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? “The Flash.” It is exciting to watch and Barry Allen is cute.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? I really enjoy doing math. It comes very easily to me, and I like being able to help my friends with it.
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