Get on board with Line Drive Media’s regular feature, “Recruiting Spotlight”!

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Here’s our “Recruiting Spotlight” for Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024:

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RECRUITING SPOTLIGHT: PIPER CAVANAUGH

Oregon-committed 2026 RHP/1B/3B Piper Cavanaugh, #3 in the 2026 Line Drive Hot 100, recently talked to Line Drive Media about Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier-Thompson, the USA Softball All-American Games, balancing everything, Sept. 1st experience and recruiting journey, college camps, Oregon, Ducks’ coaching staff, engineering, kinesiology or sports management, math or science, enjoy the process, “The Power of Now,” Pitbull, Adam Sandler movies, “Friends” and drawing.

RECRUITING SPOTLIGHT Q&A

Name: Piper Cavanaugh

Hometown: Traverse City, MI

High School: Traverse City West High

Club Team: Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier-Thompson 16U

Graduation Year: 2026

Height: 5-11

Position/s: RHP/1B/3B

Nicknames: “P,” “Pip” and “Pipe”

Social Media: @pipercav on Twitter and Instagram

Honors: All-Conference, All-District, All-Region, Freshman of the Year, Varsity Softball and Volleyball and National Honor Society.

Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I play for the Birmingham Thunderbolts out of Birmingham, AL. It is an amazing organization that I am so grateful to be a part of. All of the coaches and everyone involved want the best for every single player and it feels like a family. In the organization, you know everyone and I think that is something not a lot of organizations can say.

Tell us about your experience with the USA Softball All-American Games? I went to the USA Softball All-American Games my 12U year in 2021. I had a lot of fun meeting so many new people, most that I still keep in touch with and love seeing at tournaments. To compete with such talented girls at a young age and to play at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City was so surreal and an amazing experience that I will forever look back on.

What have you faced/overcome in life to become the person you are today? I’d say just the constant challenge of balancing school, sports, my travel schedule, having a social life, as well as having time with my family and for myself. It has not always been easy, but I feel I do fairly well. I think it has made me the person I am today and taught me so many valuable skills I will benefit from throughout my life such as time management, communication, accountability, work ethic, goal setting, etc.

Can you talk about Sept. 1st and your recruiting journey? September 1st and my recruiting journey far exceeded my expectations. The biggest takeaway from my recruiting process was how genuinely kind and supportive all of the coaches were. Every coach I spoke with truly had me and my family’s best interest in mind.

What was the most important thing you picked up at college softball camps? The most important thing I picked up at college camps was the ability to play with girls I have never played with before. You come into camps not knowing anyone and have to quickly learn how to communicate on the field.

Why did you choose to commit to Oregon? I chose to commit to Oregon because it feels like the perfect fit for me both academically and athletically. The University of Oregon has an amazing softball program with a great coaching staff and a team that feels like family. I love the school spirit and the support for athletes. When I first stepped on campus, I just got this feeling that it was where I belonged. The atmosphere, the people and the overall vibe made me feel at home right away. Overall, Oregon just feels like home and I can’t wait to be a part of the Duck family!

What can you tell us about the kind of coaches you will have at Oregon? At Oregon, I will have coaches that not only support me as a player, but as a student and person. They are people that are passionate about the game of softball and want the very best for all of their players.

What do you plan to major in or study when you get to college? When I get to college, I plan to study engineering, kinesiology or sports management.

What’s your favorite subject to study in school? My favorite subject in school right now is either math or science — I love them both!

What’s your best piece of advice for younger players at the beginning of their recruiting journey? My best piece of advice for younger players would be to focus on enjoying the process and not just the outcome. Embrace the journey, be patient with yourself, stay resilient and most of all just have fun.

What’s your favorite book to read and why? “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle, I really like this book because it teaches that living in the present moment is the key to peace and happiness.

What’s your favorite hype song and why? “Give Me Everything” by Pitbull.

What’s your favorite movie and why? Any Adam Sandler movie.

What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? “Friends.” I think I have probably watched every episode at least five times.

Do you have a secret talent? I love drawing realistic graphite portraits.

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