The Top 10 Softball Stories of 2023: #10… Addisen Fisher, Why She’s No. 1 in the 2024 Class & A Future UCLA Bruin Star

Today, we kick off our list of the Top 10 Softball Stories of 2023…  the list will run daily through Jan. 1, 2024, when we’ll present the top story of the year. The day after New Year’s Day 2024, we’ll recap the Top 10 one last time, as well as note others that were considered but narrowly missed the list.

In order to compile this Top 10 list, we considered what were the most impactful and relevant stories of the year and which news headlines or feature-story or human interest spotlights pertaining to the world of fastpitch softball were the most impactful.

Each day, you can also read an original story in full as part of the countdown and pertaining to the topic of the day.

*****

Today’s Story of the Year: #10: Addisen Fisher, No. 1 in the 2024 Class & Future UCLA Bruin, Looks To Be The “Next Big Thing”

There were great college pitchers in 2023 including 1^st Team NFCA All-Americans Montana Fouts (Alabama), Katryn Sandercock (Florida State) and Megan Faraimo (UCLA) and with the graduation of Faraimo, the Bruins looks to have the “next big thing” when it comes to franchise players in the circle.

In October of 2023, Addisen Fisher was ranked the No. 1 player in the 2024 Extra Elite 100 for the second straight time and there’s a good reason for it… check out just a few of her impressive accomplishments:

• Ranked No. 1 Player in the Class of 2024 by Extra Inning Softball
• 5 Star ranked recruit by OnDeck Softball
• PGF All-American
• Gatorade Player of the year (Oregon),
• 1st Team Oregon All State,
• 3rd Place at 18U IDT Boulder,
• 5th Place at Triple Crown Nationals,
• 17th PGF Nationals,
• 3rd Place at 2022 PGF Ultimate Challenge

Addisen, who throws a deadly dropball and frequently gets the opposing team out in 4-5 pitches, is also a star in the classroom as she carries a 4.1 GPA.

Here’s one story from 2023 that covers why Addi is one to watch at the next level…

*****

Originally published Oct. 27, 2023 

How Addisen Fisher – the No. 1 Ranked Player in the 2024 Extra Elite 100 – Achieved Her “Wildest Dreams”

repeats as the No. 1-ranked player Addisen Fisher from Bend, Ore. was twice the No. 1 ranked player in the 2024 Extra Elite 100.

This is Brentt Eads of Extra Inning Softball.

Senior pitcher Addisen Fisher from Bend, Ore., and a UCLA commit, is a player I’ve followed for several years and, even early on, it was apparent she would be a premier talent.

For the last two years, Addie’s been ranked as the No. 1 player in the 2024 Extra Elite 100 and as we surveyed coaches coast to coast, was apparent that Addisen is regarded by almost all as a franchise-type player that you can build a championship team around.

In that regard, she reminds me of past No. 1’s in the Extra Elite 100 like Jayda Coleman, the three-time All-American and two-time national champion at the University of Oklahoma after being atop the 2020 Extra Elite 100 as well as a past Bruin pitcher, Megan Fariamo, who was the No. 1 player in the 2018 Extra Elite 100 and would go on to be an All-American and two-time Pac-12 Player of the Year at UCLA.

As for Addisen, she has that “IT” factor you hear about when it comes to the best in their field—be they athletes, entertainers, teachers, graphic designers… whatever they do.

Interviewing this future Bruin is a treat as you’ll see in the conversation I had with her earlier this week.

While talking to Addisen, the thought came to me that I know what she’ll be doing in 5-10 years after graduating from UCLA: she wants to major in Sports Media, so I can see her being a broadcaster on ESPN or Fox Sports someday,’

The student-athlete with a 4.1 PGA is radiant, intelligent, articulate, passionate and entertaining to listen to; I told her that if she wants to get into sports media online, she has a job waiting for her at Extra Inning Softball post college!

But I could also see her—half kidding here, yes, but half totally serious—being the National Director of the Taylor Swift Global Enterprise LLC someday… that’s right, Addisen is a true blue “Swiftie” in the most unabashedly proud and passionate way.

If you didn’t catch the reference in the headline to this article, “Wildest Dreams” is one of Swift’s big hits (as is “Shake It Off” but I couldn’t think of a way to tie that into the headline!).

“I saw her in Los Angeles” the Class of 2024 student-athlete explains, “and she puts on a terrific show but it’s more than her music… Taylor Swift is a smart businesswoman who is beautiful, strong, confident and shamelessly herself.”

That sounds a lot like a top young Oregon-raised softball player we know who is soon to hit the college fields in Southern California.

And don’t be surprised if—in five to 10 years—Addisen Fisher is revered by young softball fans much as Taylor Swift is admired for her musical skills and off-the-stage persona.

What will Fisher’s fans be called? “Addies” maybe?

Fortunately, we have some time to work on the nickname for this top-ranked pitcher who not only loves what she does but is great at it and lives up to her personal creed that pressure is a privilege.

Listen to Addisen here and see why I’m bullish on her being among the next generation of leaders in our sport…

*****

Finally, here are several articles covering Addisen as well as some from 2022 that provide more context as to why she’s considered a once-in-a-generation type talent:

• How Addisen Fisher – the No. 1 Ranked Player in the 2024 Extra Elite 100 – Achieved Her “Wildest Dreams” (Brentt Eads)
• The Final Countdown! Here Are The 2024 Extra Elite 100 Player Rankings #’s 10-1! (Oct. 20, 2023, Brentt Eads)
• NEW “From the Cheap Seats” Featuring Addisen Fisher (Justin McLeod)
• Reviewing the Recruiting Classes: Pac-12 Conference (Roger Mcafee)
• Sooners Sign Eight in Leading Extra Inning Softball Recruiting Classes (Roger Mcafee)
• Breaking News: 2024 Extra Elite 100 No. 1 Addisen Fisher Commits… Let’s Just Say She’s Heading South to Westwood! (2022, Brentt Eads)
• Meet 2024 Extra Elite 100 No. 1 Addisen Fisher… Contacted by 40 DI Schools on Sept. 1, She Knows: “The Hard Work Was Worth It” (2022, Brentt Eads)
• Story Update: Top 2024 Pitcher Addisen Fisher’s Secret Weapon for Success… Her Own Private Pitching/Hitting Barn! (2022, Brentt Eads)
• Video Interview: Pitcher Addisen Fisher Proves Again Why She’s One of the Best in the Class of 2024 (2022, Brentt Eads)

SUBSCRIBE

COPYRIGHT © 2023 Extra Inning Softball TM

Check out our other EIS links: