2026 Softball interview with Alexandra “Alex” Akins from Hyde Park High School, TX

 

Name: Alexandra “Alex” Akins

School/town: Hyde Park High School, Austin, TX

Positions played: P, SS

Class: 2028

Height: 5’7”

Jersey Number: 1

Awards won or earned:

VYPE 2026 Pre-Season Pitcher of the Year: Feb 2026

Line Drive Softball National HS Player of the Week Runner-Up: Feb 17, 2026

Austin Sports Journal 2026 Preseason All-Area Team (Austin-San Antonio metroplex)

Austin Sports Journal 2026 Elite 50 

(Top 50 Softball Players in the Austin-San Antonio Metroplex Across All Divisions)

NFCA Top Performers 2026 No Hitter

2024/2025 TAPPS Div II State Champions

2024/2025 TAPPS Div II District 2 1st Team All District 

• USA 14U All-American Team: August 2025

2026 Alliance National Player Rankings Super Division:

9th BAA 16U (T3 class of 2028)

2026 Alliance National Player Rankings Super Division Top 100 P 16U

Bomber Exposure: Super Division

Pitcher of the Tournament!!

All-Tournament Team!!

2nd Team All Tournament 2025 TCS Colorado Sparkler 16U

2nd Team All Tournament 2025 TCS Colorado Sparkler 16U

Alliance Fastpitch 2025 National Pitching Final Leaderboard Super Division 16U Top 100: #67

Austin Sports Journal 2025 All-Austin Metro Rising Star (Top Newcomer)

Line Drive Media Hot 100 Class of 2028 Region 5 (West/SW/Mountain) #50

Line Drive Media National Club Player of the Week 7-16-2025

Extra Inning Softball 

Diamond Elite National HS Player of the Week 5-23-25:

NFCA Top Performers Week of Feb 28, 2025: No-hitter perfect game vs Veritas

NFCA Top Performers Week of April 21, 2025: No hitter Perfect game vs. Grace Community Christian School

Social media link for softball:

X:@AlexAkins2028

Instagram: @AlexandraAkins2028

Facebook: @AlexandraAkins2028

YouTube: AlexandraAkins2028

Other sports played:

Organized: NONE

Fun: skiing, tennis, golf

Please post something from last season that sticks out to you. It can be from a game, practice, or something funny on the bus ride to or from the game. Any moment that sticks out to you.

The TAPPS State Championship is a 2-day tournament, and I hit a solo HR in the 6th inning of the semi-finals, giving us the lead and eventual win, and then the next day in the Championship, in the bottom of the 5th inning, I hit another 3-run HR again, giving us the lead and eventual State Championship! I also pitched in both the semi-finals and the championship with a 0 ERA, getting the save in the semis and the win in the championship.

Who or what got you started playing softball?

My very first exposure to playing softball was at 6 years old in elementary school, where we played softball for 1 month as part of athletics. Then, when I was 7, my parents signed me up for my first organized softball team, and I’ve been playing ever since.

How long have you been playing the game?

I have been playing organized softball as part of a team for 8 years now, year-round.

What makes you a good teammate?

There is a Sanskrit word, "Mudita," which means being authentically joyful for others' successes.

Mudita is what makes me a great teammate. I am truly most excited when my teammates have success and love celebrating their moments.

What do you consider your greatest strength and weakness on the field?

My greatest strength on the field is my ability to play the game fast. Being a coach’s kid means I have spent and still do spend a lot of time reviewing film and dissecting plays to get an understanding of the finer points of the game and strategies and how to attack hitters and players in different situations. This allows me to play anticipatory softball, knowing what a team is trying to do before they do it, rather than reactionary softball, which is always a step late.

My biggest weakness on the field is that at times I put too much pressure on myself and feel that I need to set the standard of play every game and be perfect and forget that my teammates will have my back and pick up slack if I’m having a bad game.

How do you make adjustments after a poor at-bat or pitching performance?

Whenever I struggle in the circle or at the plate, I remember the “One Pitch” approach. I focus on fundamentals and tell myself I’m only one pitch away from an out or only one pitch away from a hit.

What is your game day routine?

I start game days with a light workout consisting of bands and some cardio and then have toast with peanut butter and honey and a protein shake for breakfast.

Then I start visualizing how I want my first at bat and the first inning of pitching to go.

Who are some of the best pitchers that you have faced, as well as the teams they were on?

I have had the blessing and the challenge of facing many P4-committed pitchers already this early in my career. Two that stand out I faced at the USA HPP event in Vero Beach, Florida, this past December. Jenna Mannon, a University of Missouri commit, and Teagan Learmann, a University of Florida commit. I went 2/2 facing them.

What has been your biggest moment as a softball player?

The biggest moment I’ve had for myself and my team was hitting a 3-run HR in the state championship last year to take the lead and regain the momentum on our way to winning the first-ever state championship for Hyde Park softball.

The biggest moment for me individually was the Bombers Exposure Tournament this fall with my Bombers Gold LS CTX Academy team when I was brought in to pitch against a former team of mine. The head coach was my former pitching coach and was at 3B. We were down 3-0 in the first inning with no outs when I was brought in, and his team looked really locked in. I retired the first 10 batters I faced with no one reaching 1B. We won the game, and I was named Pitcher of the Bombers Exposure tournament. He texted me after the game to let me know how proud he was of me and how impressed he was with my performance. That was really cool.

What have you done during the off-season to improve your game?

I have taken the evaluations I got from the USA Softball HPP event and used them as a guide for what I need to focus on to improve and get to the next level. I am committed to spending the offseason increasing my strength and increasing my velocity. I am in the gym every morning at 6:00 with my dad working out. I am working every night with a program to increase my pitching velocity. In addition, I still do my weekly fielding lessons, hitting lessons, and pitching lessons to continue to improve my fundamentals and technique.

What are your goals for this season?

My personal goals for this season are to increase my pitching and overhand velocities by 4-6 mph, hit 10+ HR, and have 3X as many K’s as BB’s for the season.

What team goals are you setting?

I have 2 major team goals for this upcoming season. I want to win the Alliance Championship in Indianapolis, and we had several players with injuries last year, so I want our team to stay healthy the entire season.

What was the best part of the 2025 season?

The best part of the 2025 season was winning the first-ever state championship for Hyde Park softball and also qualifying for the Alliance Fastpitch Championship in Indianapolis. Both of my teams accomplished our biggest goals.

If you could change one rule about softball, what would it be?

I would change the leaving base early challenge when it’s not a stolen base or tag-up play. I feel challenged leaving early when it didn’t affect the outcome of the play violates the intent of the rule.

What is your favorite class or subject?

Art is my favorite class. I love the creativity and getting to see my original vision come to life in a final project.

Who are your role models?

2 of my role models are Tom Brady and Kobe Bryant.

Tom Brady went from being underrated and undervalued to the GOAT by outworking everyone and always believing in himself. He understands that greatness requires sacrifice and hard work, and if you are willing to put in the necessary work, nothing is impossible.

Kobe Bryant was the best at maintaining perspective and remembering God is the source of all of his gifts and strength.

Mamba Mentality is all about turning your weaknesses into your strengths and learning that every loss is a lesson if you choose to learn from it and take honest assessments of your performances and constantly strive to be better than your last game. He was one of the greatest students of the game ever.

What is a style or fad your generation has that you just don't get?

No matter how often I see them, I just don’t get why people like Tabis Shoes. They are completely impractical and look horribly uncomfortable as well. I think the only people who should wear them are ninjas.

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