It’s not too big of a stretch to say that Everlee Junker lives, eats and breathes softball.

The Class of 2030 right-handed pitcher and middle fielder who lives in Indian Trail, North Carolina started playing softball at age 4 and two years later took to the mound where she’s been winning ever since.

Although Everlee started out being the youngest and smallest on her teams, her philosophy has always been:

“I might not be the biggest or the strongest, but I can always try the hardest!”

This philosophy guides her every day—whether she’s asking for extra workouts, staying late or coming early to practice. Everlee routinely does strength and agility training, boxing and volleyball in addition to pitching, fielding and batting lessons.

Nicknamed “Armstrong’ (more on that later)” the East Coast-based athlete is now 13 years old and plays for the Thunderhawks 16U team out of Blythewood, South Carolina led by Head Coach John Coleman.

She’s also a skilled shortstop and hitter when not in the circle and last year helped lead her Mallard Creek (North Carolina) Little League team to the ESPN Regionals where she played on national TV.

Everlee’s also been taking pitching lessons over the last four years with former Florida Gators great Lauren Haeger, a two-time NCAA National Champion (2014 and ’15) and a Hall of Fame inductee last year who gives lessons at The Softball Project in Stallings, N.C.

“I’ve been working with Everlee since she was 9,” Lauren tells Line Drive. “Her parents just booked a random lesson with me and the rest is history! They always allow me to be transparent and have always trusted the process.”

That workout routine and work ethic, which worked so well for Haeger—the 2015 NCAA D1 National Player of the Year—has been passed on to Everlee and it’s apparent the instruction is making a difference.

“Everlee has always loved pitching and is so passionate about it,” Lauren continues. “She has always been committed to the process, and I can always count on her to put in the work every week.”

“One of her biggest strengths is her competitiveness,” Haeger continues. “The girl doesn’t care how old or talented her opponent is, she always has the belief and mindset she can beat them.”

Her club coach raves about Everlee’s complete all-around game.

“Everlee is a high softball IQ athlete who consistently demonstrates strong game awareness and decision-making,” Coleman explains.

“Defensively, she shows advanced fundamentals and reliable fielding technique, making her a dependable option in competitive situations. Her work ethic is evident in her disciplined, consistent approach to training.

“Offensively, Everlee is a solid, competitive hitter who takes quality at-bats and makes effective in-game adjustments.”

An excellent softball player, Everlee is also a strong student-athlete with a 4.0 unweighted GPA in Honors classes, membership in the National Junior Honor Society and a recipient of several academic awards in Math and English.

The young teenager is also community-oriented and this summer, when not playing softball herself will be giving back to her community by volunteering at a nature conservation center as well as working with youngsters to introduce them to softball pitching.

But what may best define Everlee is her ever-present sense of humor… and sense of fun.

“I like to play the drums and I do a great Jennifer Coolidge impression,” she begins when asked about her off-field talents.

“I have a pet spider named Princess Fuzzy Butt,” Everlee continues, “and I like every kind of music—metal and rock the most. And I’ve done upside down ziplining.”

Everlee also has someone she looks up to in the sport as well:

“My hero is Jordy Frahm (formerly Jordy Bahl) and I want to pitch and contribute in fielding and hitting like Jordy.”

Thunderhawks 16U Head Coach John Coleman has been with Everlee for three years and likes what she brings to the team on and off the field.

“What impresses me most isn’t just her talent, it’s her consistency, her attitude, and the way she never backs down from a challenge,” Coleman says.

“Everlee’s the kind of player who impacts every part of the game. She’s dominant on the rubber pitching, very dependable in the field, and I can always count on her to lay down a near perfect bunt when it matters most.”

“Her work ethic also speaks louder than any stat line. She is truly an asset to the team and a pleasure to coach!”

Coach Coleman then addresses his young player’s unique nickname.

“I call her ‘Armstrong’ because she brings a powerful work ethic and physically backs it up. Her pitching arm is noticeably stronger a result of the time she puts into her training as a pitcher.”

Everlee interjects and explains:

“Coach John calls me Armstrong because my right arm is bigger than my left!”

“More importantly,” Coleman adds, “when the team needs someone to step up, she consistently carries the load and delivers! Everlee is the true meaning of dynamite coming in a small package!”

That “small package” is one that her coaches and players gravitate to and like to have fun with.

One example: on Everlee’s 12^th birthday, she pitched a no-hitter at the 14U level and was named MVP. Her reward? Coach Coleman snuck up behind her and smashed it into her face after the team had sung “Happy Birthday” to her.

And how did the young athlete take it? She loved it.

Haeger adds her thoughts on her colorful young pitching pupil.

“Everlee was a very headstrong and sassy child, so we knew that was coming!” the Gator legend laughs.

“It had been an absolute joy seeing her grow over the last five years and I can’t wait to see what her future holds.”

*****

Here’s more with Everlee and her perspectives on softball and life in general…

Line Drive Media: What’s it like working with Lauren Haeger, one of the greatest softball players ever?
Everlee Junker: It’s a great experience working with Lauren, I learn a lot of stuff every time. She gives me tips and constructive criticism. She focuses on the little things that make a big difference. She’s nice and funny, but she will call you out if you aren’t giving 100 percent!

I admire her because I’ve known her for years and she’s very patient. She pushes me and I like that. I want to be like her—being able to pitch and hit, both really well!

LDM: Are you primarily a pitcher, shortstop or both? What do you like about each position and what’s her preferred position.
EJ: I am a pitcher AND an infielder! But I can play outfield too. For pitching I like the pressure and feeling that I am contributing every inning. I like working with my catcher to get batters out. I do some of my best work under pressure.

Coach John teaches us to play every position so that, if we need to, we can play anywhere. It helps us see the field from different point of views and I think it helps us play better.

My favorite infield spot is shortstop. I like it because I get to run the field and be involved in most of the plays. I like the feeling of always having to move, having a place to cover and never standing in one spot.

LDM: You’ve been the smallest and/or youngest on several teams. How have you worked hard to overcome those challenges?
EJ: Some people in my life have told me I couldn’t get far in softball because of my height. It didn’t help that I moved up early and was the youngest because i wanted to pitch and I couldn’t in 8U.

But them saying that to me, gave me all the motivation I needed to prove them wrong. I changed my mindset. I stopped thinking about the things I couldn’t do and about the things I could do.

I started asking my parents for more lessons, I set up a workout station in the garage for weights and pitching and hitting. I have some really good coaches in my life. Coach Ox, Lenni (Kunnert), Lauren and Coach John really make me work hard.

I ask my teammates outside of practice to meet up and workout. Sometimes I go to practice early to pitch before practice starts. I usually practice even on vacations!

LDM: Talk about your being on ESPN… how did that happen and what was it like? Exciting? Scary? And how did you and the team do?
EJ: It all started when my Little League team won districts, and then we won NC States. We got interviewed by the news. We drove down to Little League Regionals in Warner Robbins, Georgia.

My entire team got to stay in the same hotel which was a really great experience for us all. We got treated like celebrities and got to play ball every day! The Regionals were on ESPN. We played four games, won two and got knocked out by Florida.

Being on TV was a little nerve racking at first, but towards the end of Regionals, you barely noticed the cameras were there. The instant replay was really cool. I wish we had that all the time!

I liked playing on TV because it was a good opportunity to show off my skills. I think it helped me see what it would be like to play in college one day.

LDM: You’re impressive in how you help in the community with the Conservation Center and giving pitching lessons. Why do that? What joy does that bring you?
EJ: I want to volunteer for Carolina Waterfowl and Wildlife Center because I’ve always loved animals. We found a snake that was hurt in our neighborhood, and I helped get it to CWC and now it’s well. I want to be able to help other animals have a good life, even if it’s just cleaning cages.

I want to help young kids pitch because I want other people to have the same opportunities I have. I know when I was a little kid, I would have been really happy to have an older kid help teach me how to pitch. I think that maybe if they see that I can do it, they will know they can too.

LDM: There’s a fun photo with a stuffed duck… tell us the story behind that!
EJ: The duck is named “Creek” and he was our Mallard Creek Little League mascot. He was in the dugout with us for all the games. We kept him in our hotel rooms and dressed him up and decorated him. We put him on the fence in the dugout so he could watch us play.

LDM: What are your goals in softball and in life in general?
EJ: My goal in softball is to be as big of an inspiration to younger generations as Lauren Haeger is to me. I definitely want to play in college. I want to play in the AUSL. Then I would like to coach softball. I am interested in mechanical engineering but I am still deciding.

LDM: What’s up with the photo of flexing the bicep muscle?
EJ: I was pretending to elbow my teammate for a picture at our friend’s wedding. People said my arm looked huge!

LDM: Finally, what makes you unique? what drives you? What’s something unusual or different about you that most people don’t know.
EJ: What drives me is that feeling of being in a really tight game, the pressure and the adrenaline. I like growing with my team and want them to know they can count on me.

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive