Avery Thompson, a fifth grader from Alma, Ga., has a great softball role model living under the same roof… not surprising, as she was practically raised at the softball fields while traveling with her family to support older sister Asher, a long-time standout in the Birmingham Thunderbolts organization.

Last summer, Asher was honored as one of the Top 10 prospects in the Class of 2027 by Line Drive Softball… here’s what we wrote then about the current high school sophomore:

T-5—Asher Thompson, MIF, Birmingham Thunderbolts – Alford/Rocky
From Nicholls, Ga., Asher continues to get stronger and more refined each year. Her range, arm strength and grit make her one of the best shortstops in her class and beyond. In 2021, she was the USSSA Select 30 Homerun Derby champion and continues to impress including being named the Bacon County (Ga.) High School Defensive Player of the Year last Fall and has been named 1^st Team All-Region as well. Asher carries a 4.0 GPA in the classroom with all honors and advanced courses. She was a nominee for the Triple Crown Power Pool Showcase last year and has won three state softball championships and one state basketball title while also being a two-time runner-up at the PGF Nationals. Asher is also very active in her Southside Church of God youth program.

A lot to live up, for sure, if you’re a younger sister in the sport but that’s exactly what 11-year-old Avery has done.

Known an accomplished all-around athlete who excels also due to her unmatched game IQ for her age, young talent has proven to be nearly unstoppable on the bases and a defensive standout in the middle infield.

Like her older sibling, Avery gets an “A+” for what she’s accomplished in softball at such a young age—a grade that aligns with both girls’ first names.

Their mother, Meg Thompson, quips:

“They’re my only two but I definitely would’ve named them all with an ‘A’ if I had more!” she laughs.

The younger of the two girls, Avery plays shortstop and catcher but has the tools to play anywhere on the field as needed.

Defensively, you’ll probably find the young athlete—who is also a star basketball player in her downtime from softball— behind the plate where she is skilled at keeping runners from stealing.  With the bat, Avery is a consistent line drive hitter who can also hit for power; in fact, three months ago (Nov. 2024), the Peach State product hit her first over-the-fence home run.

Playing with the Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2031 team last year, lining up mostly at second base, Avery helped her team win the PGF 10U National Championship. Currently, she is playing with Unity 12U – Stone squad coached by Haley Stone, a former D1 pitcher from the University of Maryland.

When not playing club ball, you’ll likely find Avery working on her softball skills as she participates in weekly speed and agility classes as well as hitting lessons with Brock Van Faussien, a former coach at the University of Georgia.

She says her goal is to someday play college softball.

Was there any moment, we asked Mom, where there were signs of jealously or envy between the two competitive sisters who are four years apart (Asher will turn 16 in May)?

Not at all, the athlete’s mother, assures.

“Watching and training with her teen-age sister has helped Avery develop a strong work ethic at such a young age and a desire to strive to be like her older sister.”

It’s also helped that she’s been around the game practically her entire life.

“Avery fell in love with softball as a toddler,” the girls’ mom continues, “as she spent her weekends at the ballfields—starting around the age of two—when Asher began playing travel ball. She has always since then looked up to her sister and has wanted to follow in Asher’s footsteps playing middle infield and catcher.”

As the beaming big sister, Asher has only been supportive of her younger sibling’s growth on and off the field.

“Avery has developed into a great player at such a young age!” the high schooler says. “Growing up watching me and then playing very young, she has developed an extremely high IQ of the game—higher than anyone her age!”

It’s not easy living in an older sibling’s shadow, but now that the youngest of the Thompson girls has turned into such a talented and accomplished player, the accolades have started to pour in.

“Many parents, hitting coaches and others around the game have told Avery that she’s going to be better than her sister and Asher loves that,” their mother explains. “She (Asher) brags on her all the time!”

And what does one of the top prospects in the 2027 class think about the growth and development of her fast-rising younger sister?

“Avery stands out due to her quickness on her feet, her strong arm and, most importantly, her passion and heart for the game,” Asher, who is being recruited by top college softball programs, says proudly.

“I can’t wait to watch her grow up into an amazing young woman and softball player!”

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball