What I’m Thankful for This Thanksgiving – the 2023 Edition

We always love to hear from our softball audience on what Thanksgiving means to them and what they’re grateful for.

Here are some samplings what talented players wrote to us as well as several posts on Extra Inning Softball’s Instagram account.

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Players’ Expressions of Gratitude

• Name: ANNA HINDE
• Pos: Infielder/Catcher
• Team: Team NC 18U – Hinde
• Grad Year: 2025
• Noteworthy: Anna has committed to Florida State and was tied for 2^nd in the 2025 Extra Elite 100.

The list of things I’m thankful for would likely be obvious to most; however, what I’m most thankful for aren’t things at all.

This year has been a year of achieved goals and the setting of newer/bigger goals. Through it all, I’m most grateful for my faith, which even though it was frequently tested, it never, ever failed.

The opportunities provided to me by the people I’m so blessed to be surrounded with have shaped every aspect of my life and I will forever be thankful for those opportunities, but even more so for those people who have lifted me when I couldn’t see past the disappointments and for those who have celebrated beside me during my successes.

I am also thankful for my critics as they keep the chip on my shoulder in place helping to fuel my desire to be the best person and athlete I can be.

Happy Thanksgiving!! 🦃

— Anna

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• Name: KIRSTEN FINARELLI
• Pos: Catcher
• Team: Newton Rock – Garvey
• Grad Year: 2025
• Noteworthy: Kirsten was an Extra Inning Softball All-American this year and is committed to Penn State.

What I am thankful for….

I consider myself a pretty lucky person, and I’m thankful for many things.

The first thing that I am thankful for is of course my family. My Mom, Dad and brother Graedon have always been there for me.

My brother is the one who really helped me when I was on my recruiting journey. He gave me great advice and helped me because he went through this too. He is now playing baseball at Monmouth University.

I am also thankful for Coach Crowell, Coach Mysha, Coach Lex and Coach Baggetta for giving me the opportunity to become a part of the Penn State family. I am really looking forward to my next journey with some amazing people.

I wouldn’t be where I am today without my softball family at Newtown Rock and Lake Lehman High School softball. My teammates are my sisters, and I am so thankful for every single one of them. My list of reasons for being thankful couldn’t end until I mentioned my dog Koda.

We just got him last March and he is the greatest puppy. He’s always happy to see me and begs to play every day when I get home from school.

There are many more things that I can write about, but the list would go on and on!

— Kirsten

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• Name: MIA GALELLA
• Pos: First Base/Outfield
• Team: Virginia Glory – Willemsen
• Grad Year: 2025
• Noteworthy: Mia is committed to Boston College.

The Thanksgiving holiday is always a special day for me and my family but tomorrow is extra special to me.

On September 16th of this year, I committed to Boston College to continue my softball career while receiving one of the best educations anyone could ever dream of.

Thank you, God, for blessing me with so much and allowing my dreams to come true!

I am so thankful for my extremely supportive and loving family. If it wasn’t for all their sacrifices, I know I wouldn’t be in this most amazing position I am in today.

I am so thankful for my health and being able to play the sport I love. I am so thankful to all my incredible Virginia Glory and Holy Cross (Dunmore, Pa.) High School teammates and coaches, Coach Suzy, Coach Kevin, Coach Ross and Coach Neil who push me to be my very best.

Thank you to Brentt Eads for providing this awesome media platform for all of us softball players.

Thank you to all my high school teachers. You are the very best.

Lastly, thank you to all my Boston College coaches, Coach K, Coach Tim, Coach Roger, and Coach Lexi for believing in me and allowing me to be part of something amazing happening in Chestnut Hill.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

— Mia

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• Name: JAYLA SANTANA
• Team: GA Impact Premier 16U – Caymol
• Pos: 1B/UT
• Grad Year: 2027
• Noteworthy: Jayla’s on-field photo is being used in a Mizuno ad being shown in Dick’s Sporting Goods stores nationwide.

I’m thankful for my health, family, friends, teachers, teammates and coaches. I’m thankful for the opportunity I get to play the sport I love and the memories I’m creating throughout this journey.

We have a tradition to gather at one family member’s house. My parents usually host the holiday gatherings. We have families flying in from the Dominican Republic, New York, Florida and other states.

Also, we have to have the Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving and the house fully decorated. My mom puts up five trees! She decorates one tree with fall theme and, after Thanksgiving, she changes the decoration to a Christmas theme.

For dinner we make rotisserie turkey, roast pork, rotisserie chicken, rice with beans, potato salad, beef and chicken patties, mixed greens salad, sweet plantain lasagna and my mom always makes her famous seven cheese lasagna. That’s everyone’s favorite!

My favorite Thanksgiving Day go-to dessert is key lime pie. My mom and dad always have a dessert table for Thanksgiving dinner that includes cheesecake, red velvet cake, apple pie, corn muffin with homemade cranberry sauce, ice cream and a variety of cookies and holiday candies.

My mom makes piña colada and a holiday drink called “coquito,” which is the Hispanic version of eggnog. After dinner we do karaoke singing, play some Dominican “merengue” music and dance.

I love Thanksgiving and I’m thankful for our family tradition!

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• Name: CARRIE GREEN
• Pos: Outfielder
• Team: Top Gun 18U National
• Grad Year: 2024
• Noteworthy: Carrie, a long-time blogger for Extra Inning Softball, signed with Southern Mississippi and finished her fall high school season in Georgia batting .639.

As the holidays approach, it is important to reflect and celebrate those people or things you are thankful for.

Most importantly, I am thankful for my amazing family.

My mom and dad do their absolute best to take care of me and make all my dreams come true. My sister is my No. 1 supporter and never fails to make me laugh. My grandparents call and text me at least once a day to check up on me and ask me how my day was. All this love and support shows me how blessed I truly am.

Secondly, I am thankful for the amazing sport of softball. It has taught me the importance of many things such as teamwork, dedication, and mental strength.

The team I am on, Top Gun 18U National Turner, has made me so happy and motivated to become a better athlete and person. The girls are kind and loving. The coaches instilled confidence in me and guided me to my next home, the University of Southern Mississippi.

This is only a small fraction of the people and things I am thankful for. With the holidays approaching, I think it is important for everyone to remind those who they value that they love and appreciate them.

–Carrie

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  Name: ADDISEN FISHER

• Pos: Pitcher
• Team: NW Bullets 18U – Campos
• Grad Year: 2024
• Notworthy: Addisen, a UCLA signee, was a two-time No. 1 overall honoree in the 2024 Extra Elite 100.

It’s hard to condense the things that I’m thankful for into just one paragraph, because I’m so thankful for everything that this life has given me.

I’m very grateful for softball, which has given me friendships that will last a lifetime, and experiences I will never forget. Softball has taught me so much about all aspects of life, and I’m so lucky to have been able to find the thing in life that makes me the happiest at such a young age.

The opportunities that softball has given me are so unbelievable, and this sport has made all of my dreams come true. I couldn’t think of living my life in any other way than as a softball player.

More than anything, I’m thankful to be alive and for the people I’ve been able to spend my time with. As someone who loves being around people, I value the time I have around the people I truly love.

My family is so supportive of my dreams, and I have the best friends I could ever ask for.

Every day, I’ve been trying to slow down for just a minute and look out the window and notice the beauty of the things around me.

Whether it be the clouds in the sky, my beautiful Bend, Oregon view of the mountains, or a cool rock I find on the ground, there is beauty in everything around us, and I’m thankful to be able to be alive to appreciate it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

— Addisen

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• Name: ALEXA WILDE
• Pos: Pitcher/Outfielder
• Team: Arizona Storm National – Appel
• Grad Year: 2025
• Noteworthy: Alexa has committed to the Univ. of New Mexico

This year has given me lots to be thankful for!

I am very thankful for my family and everything they have done for me.

My Mom and Dad have always supported me to help me be successful in softball and in the classroom. I am grateful for the sacrifices they make for me and the time they put into the sport I love.

I am grateful for my sister, who plays golf at the University of Wyoming. She is a huge role model for me.

I am extremely grateful for softball and the opportunities that it has given me. I am so excited to be continuing my academic and softball career at the University of New Mexico!

I am so thankful for the coaching staff there, and the opportunity they have given me! I can’t wait to be a Lobo. Softball has given me forever friendships through teammates and I could not be more thankful for them. They have supported me through everything, and I can’t thank them enough.

I appreciate my coaches and all they have done for me to help me become the player and person that I am today.

I recently had a health scare in August, and I am grateful for the help and support I received from friends, family, and health care workers.

I am thankful for the ability to play softball again soon as well!

— Alexa

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• Name: JORDAN WILLIAMS
• Pos: Outfielder
• Team: Beverly Bandits 18U – Conroy
• Grad Year: 2024
• Noteworthy: Jordan signed with the Univ. of Louisville and as a senior this fall .490 and was named All-State as well as All-Region (for the third year).

"I 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 was welcomed and everyone made me feel like I was at home." – @JordanW2024

Glad you chose to make Louisville your home, Jordan! 🏠#GoCards pic.twitter.com/8gMcuBGJ3p

— Louisville Softball (@LouisvilleSB) November 14, 2023

There are so many things to be grateful for I don’t even know where to start!

I am forever grateful for my family and all the support they have given me day after day. My Dad, my Mom and my brothers are my biggest supporters and I’m so grateful to have them by my side. I am always thankful for my friends and time we get to spend together along with my good health.

I’m thankful for all my coaches throughout the years pushing me to be my best on and off the field and the lessons I am able to learn through my journey.

I am especially grateful for the Louisville coaches, Coach Holly, Coach Griff, Coach Bryan and Coach DeeDee, for giving me the opportunity to play college softball.

— Jordan

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More Thanksgiving Responses…

The following were posted to the Extra Inning Softball Instagram page:

* Thanks to EIS for bringing more attention and notoriety to our sport.
@watson_wolfpack

* I am thankful for food and my family
@madster_catcher5

* (I am thankful for) your amazing coverage of all levels of softball!
@outsidethechute

* Family, my grades & softball!
@rachel_31_2026

* My family
@giannaioja

* Thankful for the support and resources to do what I love. Not taking that for granted!
@jaidamills2025

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