Club News: The Final Pitch (Jan. 13, 2025): Spotlighting Auburn-Committed Leah Byrd, News, Commits, ‘Gasolina’ & Michael Irvin/Black Panther
By Carlos Arias
January 13, 2025
Club News: The Final Pitch (Jan. 13, 2025): Spotlighting Auburn-Committed Leah Byrd, News, Commits, ‘Gasolina’ & Michael Irvin/Black Panther
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 Monday, Jan. 13, 2025:
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THE FINAL PITCH: LEAH BYRD
Auburn-committed MIF/RHP/UT Leah Byrd, #4 in the 2026 Line Drive Hot 100, recently talked to Line Drive Media about Athletics Gold Tamborra, PGF Nationals, Arizona Storm, failure, athletic family, Auburn, health science, science, Kobe Bryant, “Almost Adulting,” Spanish music, “Dance Moms,” “The Princess and the Frog” and cooking.
THE FINAL PITCH Q&A
Name: Leah Byrd
Hometown: Acworth, GA
High School: North Cobb High
Club Team: Athletics Gold Tamborra 16U
Graduation Year: 2026
Height: 5-7
Position/s: MIF/RHP/UT
Nickname: “Tweety”/“Byrdie.” My teammates call me that.
Social Media: @Leahbyrd2026 on Twitter
Honors: #4 in the 2026 Line Drive Hot 100, two-time 12U USA Softball All-American, #8 in the Class of 2026 by Perfect Game Softball, 1st Team All-Region, Region Player of the Year (2024), 1st Team All-County, All-County Pitcher of the Year and 1st Team All-State.
Travel Ball Summer 2024 Stats: .399 AVG, .492 OBP, .741 SLG, 14 HRs and 40 RBIs.
High School Fall Stats: .491 AVG, .633 OBP, .991 SLG, 12 HRs and 44 RBIs.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? If I were to describe my team as one word, I’d choose exciting. I say that because we are always keeping the game interesting even if we have a slower start, we always find a way to flip the switch and find a way to rally back. Or if we are starting hot, we stay hot and we always have fun while we are playing. I came to the team when it was first being built my first year in 12U a part of a core five and from there I feel like we have just been on the uprise.
Tell us about your experience at PGF Nationals? I personally love PGF Nationals because it gives me and my teammates the opportunity to play at the highest level, play against the best and compete for that top team spot. This year, it did not go the way we expected it to go, but we showed a lot of grit and fight those days we were there. (I) would not want to do it with anybody else.
Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? This past spring season, I think my biggest cometitor as a team was Arizona Storm 16U. We played them in PGF this last year and that too was a very exciting game. We fell short in the end, but I can’t wait to run into them again this summer and show how much I have grown and how much the team has grown.
What have you faced/overcome in life that has made you the person you are today? As a person, my biggest challenge I had to overcome was the fear of failing. I would approach things with that fear that I would not approach it with all of my potential, so I’d hold back. This past year, I feel like I really fought that fear and I play and go about life with an open mind and if I fail, I take it as a learning experience.
Do you have any family members/siblings that are athletes? My mom (Tonya Byrd), softball, Norfolk State; my dad (Ricky Byrd), football, NCAT; my sister (Lauren Byrd), softball, Queens University of Charlotte; and my cousin (Chase Byrd), football, Clemson.
Staying in the orange&navy! WDE🧡🦅💙@AGTTamborra16U @nchswarriors @rykerzc @DJSanders37 @KateMalveaux @CoachMalveaux pic.twitter.com/AfnePMiLBS
— Leah Byrd (@LeahByrd2026) October 4, 2024
Why did you choose to commit to Auburn? I chose to commit to Auburn because a big thing for me when I was being recruited, pursuing my dreams was to find a home away from my home here in Georgia. At Auburn, the way coach Kate (Malveaux), coach Chris (Malveaux) and the rest of the staff created a family with the girls and made Auburn feel like home for me. Also, the people, just walking on the street, speaking so highly of Auburn and how they are all so nice and welcoming makes me feel like I’m where I need to be and where God led me to be.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I am interested in pursuing a career in health science, specificly a nurse practitioner or a pediatric physical therapist because when I was younger, I did get injured a lot and spent some time in the hospital and in PT rehabbing and I have always had a drive to help people out any way I can.
What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? My favorite subject to study in school is science because I like the hands-on aspect because I’m more of a hands-on or visual learner.
Who is your sports hero and why? My sports hero is Kobe Bryant because he played with such confidence and swag when he was on the court and I see him in me sometimes when I play with confidence on the field.
What’s your favorite book to read and why? My favorite book to read is the book “Almost Adulting” (by Arden Rose) because it talks about all the things you need to know about being an adult broken down into teenage language. I find it kind of amusing.
What’s the best hype song and why? I don’t have a favorite hype song, but when I warm up, I try to find some up-beat Spanish music to keep me awake and moving while I do a workout or while I’m in the car for a game.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? My favorite TV show to binge is “Dance Moms” because every time I watch it, I feel like it gets more interesting. Every time I rewatch it, I try to focus on a different person each time.
What’s your favorite movie and why? My favorite movie is “The Princess and the Frog” because when I was a kid, I would always watch it with my sister.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? My secret talent or skill would be cooking.
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NEWS & NOTES
***The Space Coast Select 30 National Training Camp is Jan. 17-20 at USSSA Space Coast Complex, FL. Follow the tournament online HERE.
***The Surf City MLK AZ Winter Invitational is Jan. 18-20 in Mesa, AZ. Follow the tournament online HERE.
***The AZ Last Blast V is Jan. 24-26 in Mesa, AZ. Follow the tournament online HERE.
***The AZ Power 48 is Feb. 15-17 in Mesa, AZ. Follow the tournament online HERE.
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SIGNING/COMMITMENT ALERTS
Brooklyn May (2025, C/3B/OF, LLG Premier-Corn/Berkeley High, SC, Chattanooga State)
See you in Chattanooga !🐅@Org_LLG @LLGPremier18U @CS_Tigers_SB pic.twitter.com/DRyLrylOxO
— brooklyn (@brooklynnnn_4) January 13, 2025
Hailey Rudrick (2026, C/UT, Ohio Hawks National 08-Pentz/Mt. Vernon High, OH, Indianapolis)
Can’t wait to be a Greyhound!🤍❤️#Committed @coachferrell15 @UIndySoftball @ohhawks08pentz @mvhs_softball pic.twitter.com/TwF2H3VVwC
— Hailey Rudrick (@RudrickH) January 12, 2025
Ava Day (2025, 3B/SS/UT, ai Bandits-Breer/Central Kitsap High, WA, Seattle)
#committed #goredhawks !! pic.twitter.com/bmxA9TvRv4
— Ava Day (@AvaRaeDay) January 12, 2025
Abbie Kegley (2025, RHP/1B, Carolina Cardinals-Chandler/New Kent High, VA, USC Aiken)
So excited and blessed!!!❤️💙 @CoachpooleU @AliciaDorgan @cardinals_chand @NewKentSoftball pic.twitter.com/oPz5hAF2t2
— Abbie Kegley (@AbbieKegley47) January 12, 2025
Madison Ferrell (2026, MIF/OF, Finesse-Nowlin/Edgewood High, OH, West Liberty)
COMMITTED!!! Go Toppers! 💛🐻🖤@SaraPelegreen @CoachWelsh_WLU @WLU_Softball @FinesseNowlin08 pic.twitter.com/7Ov5nNubNx
— Madison Ferrell (@MFerrell_2026) January 12, 2025
Cammerlyn Herport (2026, C/UT, Carolina Elite National-Fusetti/Daphne High, AL, Northwest Florida State College)
So excited to announce my commitment to play at the next level for NWF!! Thank you to all my coaches that got me to this level. And thank you to my parents that always did everything for me to get better. @AndyLeeNWF @EliteFusetti pic.twitter.com/WYMUE1kIcw
— Cammerlyn Herport (@CammerlynH) January 12, 2025
Adelynn “Addy” Oldham (2026, 3B/UT, Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2026-Chaney/Orange Beach High, AL, Northwest Florida State College)
Committed! Thank you Jesus! @NWFRaiders_SB Thank you Coach @AndyLeeNWF Coach @coachNat21 & Coach Nelson @08Bolts2026 @oba_softball @CoachHodo @kbcarson17 @PrinChrisShaw @ExtraInningSB @LineDsoftball @BHMBoltsOrg #soundthesiren pic.twitter.com/4aaRqMQdRI
— Adelynn Oldham (Addy) (@AdelynnOldham) January 10, 2025
Chloe Sanders (2026, 1B/C, Texas Unity-Girven/Huntsville High, TX, LSU Eunice)
I am excited to announce my commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at LSUE! Thank you to Coach Collins and Coach Sierra for seeing something in me and giving me this opportunity! @sierracrimson @LSUEBengalsSB @CoachCollins_11 @BessieGirven @CoachBohannon5 @htx_08 pic.twitter.com/BAkxrWfV95
— Chloe (@chloe_sanders26) January 12, 2025
Elia Cabo (2026, CF/OF, Select Fastpitch/Francis Howell High, MO, Jefferson College)
So excited and blessed!!!❤️💙 @CoachpooleU @AliciaDorgan @cardinals_chand @NewKentSoftball pic.twitter.com/oPz5hAF2t2
— Abbie Kegley (@AbbieKegley47) January 12, 2025
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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 …
When they explain to Black Panther what the month of February means in America https://t.co/uPFnrrv7oj pic.twitter.com/RUnKIriZAS
— Luke Charles (@DanteEternal_) January 12, 2025
— Carlos Arias, Line Drive Media (Follow Carlos on Twitter @los_stuff)
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