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Here’s our TLI for Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022:
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EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT: GABY MIZELLE
SS/UT Gaby Mizelle, #7 in the 2025 Extra Elite 100, recently talked to Extra Inning Softball about Georgia Impact 16U Premier-Caymol, hitting off the Lite Flight machine, getting stronger and faster, PGF Nationals, Beverly Bandits 16U Premier-Conroy, medical field, Sis Bates and Jessie Harper, Cold Play, “Vampire Diaries” and overhand velocity.
EXTRA ELITE SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Gaby Mizelle
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
High School: Garner Magnet High
Club Team: Georgia Impact 16U Premier-Caymol
Graduation Year: 2025
Height: 5-foot-5
Position: SS/UT
Nickname: Gabs or Gab
Twitter: @GabyMizelle
Honors: #7 in the 2025 Extra Elite 100; Greater Neuse River 4A Conference Player of the Year (2022); Garner Magnet High Most Outstanding Player (2022); All-Conference Team (2022); Academic All-Conference (2022); selected to play for Team Dominican Republic 18U at the Triple Crown Challenge and was asked by the head of the Federation to join the Dominican Republic National team; achieved personal best 72 mph overhand velo (UVA camp – highest of all camp participants across all graduation years); selected to All-Summer Team by Extra Inning Softball (2021); selected #1-ranked athlete (across all grad years) at USSSA Select 30 National Training Camp (2021); and Select 30 Home run Derby finalist (2021).
Travel Ball Highlights/Summer Stats: Led her team (Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2024-Green) in home runs this summer, she was also the only 2025 grad on her Bolts 2024 team, turned 9 double plays (as shortstop), 97 percent contact percentage (only had 3 strikeouts all summer), .333 AVG, .404 OBP and 0.956 OPS.
High School Highlights/Stats: .952 fielding percentage with with seven double plays, .552 AVG, .667 RISP, .575 OBP, 1.471 OPS, five homers, 37 hits, 27 runs and 21 RBIs.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I was very happy playing for the Thunderbolts during the last two years, but after learning that our team was splitting up (some moving to 18s and others staying at 16U), I felt that I should also consider other great opportunities that came my way. After talking to coaches (Teo) Caymol and (Mitch) Rood, who reached out to me soon after winning PGF Nationals, I felt that this was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. Their focus on individual development, mental aspects of the game, and overall team values really resonated with me. Coach Caymol has already given me great advice and even came to watch me at one of my camps recently. I also got great insights from one of his players from his 16U national championship team, who I played with on the 18U Dominican Republic team in Colorado. She couldn’t be happier and shared how much she’s grown and improved as a player under these coaches. My goal is to be as prepared as possible to compete at the highest level in college, and I can’t wait to learn from coaches Caymol and Rood, and of course, my new teammates.
What are some of your training methods/training routine? Aside from basic tee work and front toss, I would say that hitting off the Lite Flight machine has helped me increase my hand speed and contact rate tremendously. This past summer, my contact rate was 97 percent and I only had three strikeouts all season. I also work out with my dad and brother numerous times a week, taking fielding reps, working on arm angles on my throws and increasing my overall range on the field.
What areas are you focusing on/trying to improve this fall? Looking ahead, there’s still so much I need to learn. I will continue to work on my range in the infield, situational hitting, and, of course, getting stronger and faster. I’ve been clocked at 2.78 seconds in the 20-yard dash, but I need to do it more consistently and want to get even faster. And from a leadership standpoint, I know I can be even more vocal on the field.
Can you tell us about your experience at PGF Nationals this summer? To be honest, our team was disappointed in how we did at PGF Nationals. Our pitchers looked good, but we struggled to string hits together. For me, personally, this wasn’t my best tournament, which was disappointing after having a very strong performance in Colorado and doing so well at PGF last year. On the bright side, I feel like this experience has pushed me to work even harder.
Which player/team was your toughest opponent and why? Our toughest opponent this summer was Beverly Bandits Premier-Conroy 16U at PGF Nationals. They had some of the best pitching we faced all summer and very strong hitting and defense. Another thing that set them apart was their aggressive baserunning and overall IQ. We competed well and it was a 1-1 game until the 7th inning when they scored the winning run. I was not at all surprised to see them make it the national championship title game, where they ultimately lost to GA Impact Premier-Caymol (my new team).
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I am still trying to figure it out, but I know that I want to help others. I’ve thought about the medical field or psychiatry, or potentially business. I enjoy math, science and psychology, so I will probably pick a career path that aligns with one of those subjects.
Who is your sports hero and why? I wouldn’t necessarily call them heroes, but the two athletes that I look up to the most are Sis Bates and Jessie Harper. Both players aren’t super big (like me) but that doesn’t stop them from being absolute studs. Defensively, Sis Bates was arguably the best shortstop in college softball with her incredible athleticism and speed. Similarly, Jessie is also relatively small, but equally talented in the field and incredibly powerful at the plate. I try to model my play after them.
What’s the best hype song and why? I don’t have a particular hype song, but I love listening to Cold Play when I work out. From a young age, my Dad played songs by them in the background during our hitting reps in our backyard.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? My favorite TV show to binge is “Vampire Diaries.” I don’t know why, but I find it highly entertaining and there’s always something crazy or dramatic going on. It’s a complete disconnect from reality! #teamdamon.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? I guess my secret talent might be my arm strength (overhand velo of 72 mph), which can be unexpected when you look at my size. I’ve been clocked at 72 mph several times this summer and last fall, and every time it happens people seem to be surprised. A lot of players ask me what I do to throw so hard, and I honestly don’t know. I played baseball before softball and early on spent a lot of time doing long toss, so I suppose that helped me.
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