Get on board with Line Drive Media’s regular feature, The Final Pitch!

We are scouring the Internet and Social Media and keeping our ears to the street for the latest going on in the softball community.

To contribute information, insights, thoughts or content ideas, email us at carlos.arias@linedrivemedia.com, DM at @los_stuff on Twitter or text (949) 606-3602.

Here’s our TFP for Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024:

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THE FINAL PITCH: TOWNSEN THOMAS

Florida-bound OF Townsen Thomas recently talked to Line Drive Media about Texas Bombers Gold-Smith, winning an 18U Alliance national championship, Impact Gold-Jackson, reaching the Final Four, setting a standard, Florida, Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, science, Anna Hall, The Bible, Mike Teezy, “The Resident,” “The Princess and the Frog” playing guitar.

THE FINAL PITCH Q&A

Name: Townsen Thomas

Hometown: Humble, TX

High School: Episcopal High

Club Team: Texas Bombers Gold-Smith 18U

Graduation Year: 2024

Height: 5-9

Position/s: OF

Nickname: “T” or “T-Money” (my family).

Social Media: @TownsenThomas44 on Twitter and @t.n.t_44 on Instagram

Honors: National Arts Honors Society, National Honors Society and National English Honors Society.

Travel Ball Summer 2023 Stats: .521 AVG, .615 OBP, 75 hits, 40 SBs, 69 runs and 6 HRs.

Travel Ball Fall 2023 Stats: .333 AVG, .464 OBP, 15 hits, 12 SBs, 14 runs and H2 HRs.

High School Stats: .592 AVG, .655 OBP, 61 hits, 56 SBS, 69 runs and 8 HRs.

Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? It was my last year playing travel ball and I had just come off of a two-year absence due to a knee injury, and I was looking for a team, who could help me get better in order to be ready for college next year, and I could tell the Texas Bombers would be prefect for that.

Can you tell us about your team’s run to the Alliance national championship? It was a fight all week. We ended up playing eight elimination games and battled our way through Elite 8, then into top four, and ended up winning the championship series and resulted in champions!!

Which player/team was your toughest opponent at Alliance Nationals and why? I would say the toughest team mentally to face at Alliance Nationals would be Impact Gold-Jackson because we were the underdogs all year and we’ve faced them so many times before, that in order to beat them twice to make it to the championship, it really required grit and heart that we hadn’t had before.

Is there a moment/important game that stands out during your run to the national championship? I would say the game we had to win to make it to the Final Four. We had to double dip the other team and it was a late night game, our third of the day, and it was just the most perfect way to end that long day knowing we had a shot at the natty title.

The final team clinches a spot in the FINAL FOUR

Extra innings. Walkoff win. @bombers_fp vs @IowaPremierFP
18U Tier I @HarleyVestal scores @TownsenThomas44 #AFCS #Final4 pic.twitter.com/MxUDrPNPV6

— The Alliance Fastpitch (@thealliancefp) July 27, 2024

What is something that would surprise people about this team? Knowing that there are lot of returners and young athletes, who still have a year or two left of ball, and now there’s a standard and a goal to reach for years to come.

Made it official🔏

Welcome to Gainesville, Townsen! #GoGators | @TownsenThomas44 pic.twitter.com/ISNlRDRqRI

— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) November 8, 2023

What are you looking at Florida? I’m looking forward to just being able to immerse myself in an environment filled with the best of the best at the highest level. I believe it’s going to be a whole new game of softball that is going to be challenging and fun at the same time and I’m excited to be here!!

What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? My intended major is APK, which is Applied Physiology and Kinesiology. But I’m not exactly sure what I want to do career-wise. However, I am wanting to be in the sports science industry, potentially more so on the data and analytical side of things.

So much fun at @thealliancefp All Star Game and events. Thank you @EvoShield pic.twitter.com/s2Pj4GtI9q

— Townsen Thomas (@TownsenThomas44) July 22, 2024

What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? My favorite subject is science, specifically anatomy. I just love learning about the human body and there is so much to discover and capabilities our bodies can do and testing this knowledge and incorporating it into daily life is awesome to me.

Who is your sports hero and why? My sports hero would have to be Anna Hall. She’s just so determined and resilient in everything she does and she keeps God first. She’s a heptathlete, one of the best and despite her injuries and minor setbacks throughout the years she was still able to chase her dreams and participate in the Olympics and be an inspiration to others.

What’s your favorite book to read and why? The Bible. It’s God’s word for us and how to live and it’s truly a beautiful and wonderful masterpiece written by so many authors and it’s amazing to learn about the stories in it. This is also like the only book I’ve read outside of school.

What’s the best hype song and why? “Big Problem” by Mike Teezy. Really gets you going and instills confidence that you’re capable of doing what God has planned for you in everything.

What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? “The Resident.” I like medicine and it’s a cool way to just get an inside peak of what the hospital field might look like even it’s not totally accurate.

What’s your favorite movie and why? “The Princess and the Frog.” I love the colors, food, characters and setting in Louisiana and the music and overall plot is just fun and relatable to me.

Do you have a secret talent/skill? I’ve played guitar almost for 11 years.

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NEWS & NOTES

***2028 MIF/CF Michaela Landers of Texas Bombers Gold-Malpass won a 14U Tier 1 Alliance national championship.

tier 1 national champions!

this season has been so amazing, to watch us grow, compete, and really
become a team. i couldn’t have asked to do this with any other team, or any other coaches!🤍@BombersTexas @bombers_academy @KenyaLanders @NCBulldogsAD @CoachNealPT @CoachBBuchanan pic.twitter.com/yzGLvIpvID

— Michaela Landers (@MichaelaAkera) August 6, 2024

***2027 P/1B Gianna Torres and 2027 OF Chloe Koenigshofer of Athletics Mercado 09-Tidd won a PGF 14U Premier national championship.

2024 PGF 14U Premier National Champions!! 🏆 So proud of our entire team! pic.twitter.com/jTxxAQoKE2

— Gianna Torres 2027 (@az_gtorres) August 5, 2024

We did it! 2024 PGF Premier National Champs 14U! So so proud of this team ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/HILXr990Gs

— Chloe Koenigshofer (@chloek2027) August 5, 2024

***Check out this twirling-barehand job by Athletics Mercado 09-Tidd 2027 3B Maya Matthies from PGF Nationals.

HOW. IN. THE. WORLD????? 🤯🤯🤯🤯 MAYA MATTHIES

Preserved the No hitter✅
INSANE play to get one out closer to claiming the natty🏆✅#SCtop10 @sportscenter ‼️‼️#playPGF #bestofthebest #thefutureofthegameishere #softball #PGF2024 #ESPN pic.twitter.com/aU5cmlEBmp

— PGF (@PGFnetwork) August 6, 2024

***2026 OF/MIF Kayla Fletcher of DA-Betsa/Hebert/Central Dauphin High in PA is already counting down to September 1st, the first day 2026s can commit to D1 colleges.

I got some cage work in this evening after my workout. Counting down the days until September 1st⏰😊@dsabetsahebert @hittingcoachJ pic.twitter.com/jWKDTF6MT1

— Kayla Fletcher 2026 (@Kaylafletch23) August 5, 2024

***The club softball summer season is over, but the high school softball season has begun/is beginning shortly for many in Georgia such as Impact Caymol SS Kate English of Creekview High in GA.

Travel season is over & HS ball has officially started w/ a W for @CreekviewSB tonight. I loved my summer w/ my @impactcaymol team. Our team highlight = 3rd in the Top Gun Invitational in KC. Some of my fav plays are ⬇️. Now on to enjoying my SR year & making more 🥎 memories! pic.twitter.com/3vsgS5yDpV

— Kate English (@KateEnglish2025) August 6, 2024

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SIGNING/COMMITMENT ALERTS

Takoda “Kodi” Crabtree (2025, RP/1B, Arizona Rising-Appel/Pinnacle High, AZ, Boise State)

Long as I can remember I’ve wanted to attend Boise State! Today my dream became reality! I’ve verbally committed to further my academic and athletic career w/BSU Couldn’t have done it w/o my family, my coaches, my team but most importantly BSU for the opportunity 💙🧡#BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/fj2uTTckXx

— Takoda “Kodi” Crabtree🥎 (@Kodi_Crabtree43) October 10, 2023

Julianna Martinez (2024, OF, Sorcerer Gold/Bullard High, CA, Abilene Christian)

Excited for this new chapter😸💜 @ACU_Softball pic.twitter.com/ZgDhpdutKe

— Julianna Martinez (@juliannam2024) August 6, 2024

Arabelle Shulenberger (2025, P, Team NC-Bayog/Tracy/West Rowan High, NC, Lenoir Rhyne)

I am excited to announce my verbal commitment to Lenoir Rhyne university to further my academic and athletic career! Go Bears!!🐻🐻 pic.twitter.com/rdwdAi2osV

— Arabelle Shulenburger (@ABShulenburger) August 6, 2024

Hannah Brooks (2025, IF/OF, Ohio Outlaws/Elyria Catholic High, OH, Bradley)

Thank you Jesus for this opportunity!!! Super excited for this new journey!!! ❤️🤍🩶 @BradleySoftball @lo_gambone pic.twitter.com/XlGnfOpYGT

— Hannah Brooks 2025 (@hbrooks2025) August 6, 2024

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HSOTD

Today’s Hype Song of the Day is …

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BTITW

Today’s Best Thing In The World is …

AD got UP 😤 pic.twitter.com/VtIG8M5IwM

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 6, 2024

— Carlos Arias, Line Drive Media (Follow Carlos on Twitter @los_stuff)