Throwback Thursday: Alabama’s Star Centerfielder Elissa Brown… Her Early Days In Softball & In Track

Four years ago, I began following this absurdly talented softball player with track speed out of Alabama named Elissa Brown and quickly saw that she had crazy-good speed which she could put to use in many ways, offensively and defensively.

She was a standout in the 100 and 200 meters in track and even qualified for state in both track and softball.

If you know your sports seasons, softball and track run concurrently—at least in Alabama, they do—and one time her father, Primus, wrote me to say:

“Elissa qualified to compete for State in both events but will not participate because we have an area softball tournament on the same days as the State track meet. Although she would love to compete in track, she chose softball and to play with her teammates!”

Of course, that looks like a solid decision these days as Elissa is now entering her senior year at Alabama and has the Crimson Tide looking like a favorite to capture not just the SEC title, but return to the Women’s College World Series and perhaps win it all.

Last time you’ll be seeing us run half gassers!!! #Senior7 #Team24 🐘❤️ pic.twitter.com/IaFfgBueDW

— Taylor Clark (@tclarkie9) August 27, 2019

Last year as a junior, the speedy centerfielder was named to the Top 50 Watch List before the season and after hitting .328 with 50 runs scored (both second best on the Tide) and leading the team with 48 steals and three triples, she was named 2^nd Team SEC and NFCA 2^nd Team All-South Region for the second straight year.

Not hard to see why she was nationally heralded with plays like these:

https://www.facebook.com/AlabamaAthletics/videos/2373809885982648/?v=2373809885982648

Elissa was a Freshman All-SEC pick in 2017 and that same year played for the USA Softball Jr. National Team.

All that followed a great high school and club career in Alabama.

Here’s a profile I did on January 17, 2015 prior to Elissa’s junior year so all her successes and accomplishments came halfway through her high school season when she had already committed to the Tide…

­Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball

*****

Originally published on FullCountSoftball.com on January 17, 2019

Name: ELISSA BROWN
Grad Year: 2016
Pos: Infielder
High School: Elmore County (Eclectic, Ala.)
GPA: 3.9
Club: Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 18U                   
High School Stats: Hit .570 in 38 games with 69 hits and 24 RBI. On-base percentage of .631 and had 62 steals.
Honors: All-Area, All-Region, All-State      
College: Alabama

*****

You had 62 steals… is that for real or a misprint? That’s almost two per game! Scout yourself as a base stealer and define what makes you so good…
No it’s not a misprint! I think what makes me a good basestealer is my athleticism as well as my knowledge and love for the game. The object of the game is to outscore the other team so the faster you get from one base to the next the better chance you have of scoring. I would say I am very aggressive—if the ball hits the dirt I’m gone! I am confident—I watch the pitcher’s motion while I’m on deck so when I’m on base I get a really good jump off of her release. The other thing I think that makes me a great base stealer is my mindset; I’m not afraid to slide and I’m not afraid to be thrown out either. Her arm against my legs, I like my odds!

You’re a great all-around athlete and play basketball too… how’s that going this winter?
Basketball is going great! Our team is young and inexperienced this year so I had to really step my game as the team captain. I average about 22 points a game and in December I scored my 1,000^th point (a three point jump shot at the buzzer). The school record is 1,298 and I currently have 1,108 so my goal is to secure the record this season.

Join Today to Get Unlimited Access to Extra Inning Softball

Join Now

Already a Extra Inning Member? Log In