Line Drive Softball correspondent Grace White recently went through a fun mental exercise: the former college softball player imagined what celebrities she would love to assemble to have on her very own softball team… here are her selections and why!

If you know me, you probably have a pretty good idea of what my interests are… namely movies, TV shows, music, and sports!

So, I pondered, who would I choose if I could pull together and field my very own Dream Celebrity Softball Team and why I’d love to have them ALL on the same field with me!

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Pitcher—HARDY

Turn on pretty much any HARDY song, and I can tell you which one it is within the first five seconds. I guess you could call it a hidden talent of mine. Anyway, one thing that draws me to his music is his lyrics. As a writer, words have a lot of meaning to me, especially when put in clever and impactful phrases. I think HARDY does this really well, whether it be in songs like “wait in the truck” that deal with extremely heavy topics or songs such as “THE REDNECK SONG” that are anthems for country living. It’s for this reason that I decided to put him in the circle: he’s always pitching strikes.

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Catcher—Tom Hardy

Catchers are the toughest players on the field as they take balls in the dirt off their chest and foul tips off the helmet. They are also the quarterbacks of the defense since they usually have the best view of everything happening all at once. Tom Hardy, who is a definite crush of mine, gives me the vibe of a catcher. Many of his film roles have him playing the part of the tough guy, including Tommy Riordan Conlon in Warrior, Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, and Eddie Brock and Venom in Venom with my personal favorite Hardy character being Eames in Inception. I definitely wouldn’t hesitate to put this English actor behind the dish.

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First Base—Jane Leeves

Jane Leeves, known for her roles on “Frasier,” “Hot in Cleveland,” and “The Resident,” is one of my favorite actresses. She does it all from comedy to drama and makes her mark every time she’s on screen. Unlike somebody like Julia Roberts, who you have probably heard of even if you haven’t watched her movies, Leeves isn’t necessarily an actress that you know unless you have watched those three shows. In my opinion, first basemen are some of the most under-appreciated players on the field, but when it comes time to save a bad throw or make an impossible play down the first base line, and you do it, everyone is going to realize how important you are are. This is why I chose to put Leeves there. She may not be the most well-known actress, but when you see her on screen for the first time, you’re going to wonder why she’s not.

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Second Base—Adam Driver

When I think of second basemen, I think of players who have a lot of range and versatility. I would say this is very comparable to one of my celebrity crushes: Adam Driver. Before his acting career took off, he served in the Marines for over two years. Then he began the journey that has put him on the big screen in a variety of roles, including Kylo Ren in Star Wars, Charlie Barber in Marriage Story, and Maurizio Gucci in House of Gucci. He isn’t confined to one genre or type of role. It’s this versatility that makes him a great actor and would make him a great second baseman.

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Shortstop—Henry Cavill

Shortstops are the leaders of the infield defense and the ones that are supposed to take charge. When picking a position for Henry Cavill, I couldn’t help but choose shortstop. He takes the top spot in my list of celebrity crushes, and he also plays Superman, a true leader in his own right. I believe Cavill is more than capable of making a Derek Jeter-esque play in the 5-6 hole.

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Third Base—Emily Blunt

Third base is called the “hot corner” for a reason. Whoever plays there has to have great reaction time and be ready for plenty of hot shots to come their way. I’d say Emily Blunt fits the bill in this aspect. This British actress has been in her fair share of cinematic masterpieces from The Devil Wears Prada to A Quiet Place to Oppenheimer and numerous others in between. No role is too difficult for her as she proves herself to be a powerhouse every time she’s on the screen. I’d put her at the hot corner any day.

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Left Field—David Hyde Pierce

Left field may seem like a position that anybody can play and the perfect place to just stick someone. However, like every other position, it requires specialized skill, including the ability to track the ball well off the bat. David Hyde Pierce makes my celebrity softball team mainly for his role in Frasier as Niles Crane. Pierce was excellent in this role. In fact, if I had to pick a favorite TV character, I would almost undoubtedly choose Niles. For his skill in bringing my favorite character to life, I choose Pierce to be my leftfielder.

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Center Field—Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson has been one of my favorite actresses ever since I started watching the Marvel movies. She played Black Widow, who became my favorite movie character, so naturally she had to be on my team. Centerfielders are the leaders of the outfield, and they are usually tasked with covering a lot of ground. I would say that Johansson is perfect for this position not only because of her portrayal of the Avenger and assassin Black Widow but also because of her ability to tackle numerous other roles, including Rosie Betzler in Jojo Rabbit, Nicole Barber in Marriage Story, and Ash in Sing.

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Right Field—Meryl Streep

Right field is one of the hardest positions to play because of the spin that the ball usually has when coming out there. The rightfielder has to be focused and experienced. For this reason, I chose Meryl Streep, arguably one of the greatest actresses of all time, to be my rightfielder. I credit my “adopted grandmother” Wanda Buckner for kindling my love for not only writing but also movies and TV shows. One of her favorite actresses was Streep, so it felt right include her. From The Devil Wears Prada to The Post to Big Little Lies, Streep is an icon, and as such, I’d always feel confident in her ability to track down a ball in right field.

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Designated Player—Leonardo DiCaprio

When I think of the designated player, I think of someone who has a big bat and is capable of hitting home runs or gap shots at all times. In the realm of cinema, I’d say Leonardo DiCaprio is one of those guys. For decades, he has been a heavy hitter in Hollywood, starring in blockbusters such as Titanic, Catch Me If You Can, and Inception. It’s no surprise then that I’d put him in that role in my lineup. If his hitting is anything like his acting, I’d say he’d make an impact for sure.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my celebrity dream team! We’d love to hear what your choices would be and, if you’d be willing to share, email YOUR team to: brentt.eads@linedrivemedia.com.

— Grace White/ Line Drive Softball