Athlete Spotlight: Savannah Toukatly #12

SPORTS: Softball ( primary) and Volleyball

Tell us your story. What life experiences have impacted your journey? What motivates you? What is your “why"?

I was originally born in Bryan, Ohio. When I was around 2 years old we moved to Clifton Park, New York. When I was 11 years old I moved from New York to my current home in New Port Richey, Florida. After around 2-3 years of playing local softball in Florida, I joined my first National Team, Georgia Impact. That really opened my eyes to the level of competition available in the softball world, and how vast softball spreads across this country. That is when I decided I want to play at the next level. I travel all across the country with my current Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2028 Parker team, competing in the highest level tournaments, and attending as many camps I can. What motivates me is the amount of work I have put in to get to the level I am at today, and knowing that I always need to keep getting better to achieve my goal of playing D1 Power 4 softball. My "why" is knowing that God has given me an incredible talent to play this game at such a high level, and I want to fulfill the goals He has set for me to the best of my ability, and use the gifts He has given me to achieve my dream.

What role does your faith play in your life and in your sports career?

My faith plays a significant role in my life and sports career. What primarily drives the faith in my life and sports is believing that God's plan is so much greater than one I could craft on my own, and trusting fully in the plan He has written for me, and just trying to live every day with His presence in my soul. I fully trust in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and that He is the way and the light, and the only way to salvation. With this belief in my heart and my mind, I go every day knowing I have someone who loves me so unconditionally, He died on the Cross for my sins, and I want to be the best I can be every day for Him and His goodness.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse? If so, which one and why?

My favorite Bible verse(s) are Psalms 56:3-4.

Psalms 56:3 "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." Psalms 56:4 "In God, whose word I praise- in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"

These are my favorite verses because they have gotten me through some of the toughest moments in my life. Whether I was nervous before a big game, a big test, or a conflict I have had to deal with, these verses have brought me peace. They help me realize that when I have a Lord and Savior on my side, and I fully put my trust in Him, there is nothing and no one on this Earth that will harm me. When I am afraid or unsure, I can turn my trust to Him, and He will be there for me as a steady rock and foundation. 

What accomplishment are you most proud of personally and athletically (name one of each)?

Personally I am most proud of my grades. I have been able to maintain a 4.4 GPA, while only having straight A's throughout the current duration of my educational career. I am most proud of this personally because being able to balance my grades with my busy practice and workout schedule has not been easy, but I have put in the work and I am very proud of that. Coming out of middle school I received the President's Award from the White House for Academic Achievement, which was an incredible accomplishment personally. Athletically I am most proud of being an MVP for my J.W. Mitchell High School team as a Freshman as well as being nominated along with D1 Power 4 commits for the Florida Softball Class 6A Player of the Year as the only freshman on the list (all other nominees being sophomores or above). This was a miraculous achievement for my freshman year, and I am so blessed to have the ability to compete with such a high level of talent.

What do you feel sets you apart from your competition and what skills do you currently possess that are your biggest assets?

What I feel separates me most from my competition is my heart and desire to win. When I step between the two white lines for a game, I enter a different zone. No matter who the team is we are facing, I enter the game with an 100% intensity level and desire to crush the competitors. When I am on the field, I play fearless and with such an intense fire that I feel almost no other competitors possess the way I do. This has developed from trusting the work I have put in, and knowing I can compete against the best of the best, and that is how I am able to get so hype and always be ready to attack during a game. The skills I currently possess that are my biggest assets are my ability to contribute on all sides of the game as a Right Handed Pitcher/Outfielder, as well as a Left Handed Power hitter who can hit bombs. I believe being able to always contribute to the game, not just in one or two aspects, really sets me apart. Having the athleticism to throw strikeouts, throw runners out from the outfield and track fly balls to the fence, as well as stepping into the box to hit homers, has really kept me active and engaged, as well as helping me stand out on past and present teams. I also believe my spin and command in the circle is some of the best at this level, as I have been told by coaches and other observers I have elite level spin on my movement pitches (Curve, Backdoor curve, Rise, Screw, and Drop-Curve), and the ability to place a pitch wherever I want. Being able to spin these pitches so confidently and at different heights and tunnel all my pitches to maximize deception, as well as commanding almost every pitch in the location I need, has really set my confidence at a high level when I am in the circle. I would like to thank my pitching coach Kaci Clark Zerbe for her guidance and insight to support my growth.

What skills are you most focused on improving?

I am most focused on increasing my velocity and perfecting my changeup. Throughout the offseason and continuing currently through high school, I have a set routine of velocity exercises (whether in the gym or pitching focus), that are helping me throw harder and be more explosive of the mound. I also prioritize my changeup in all my bullpens, as I know how crucial it is to have the opponents fearing your changeup to keep them off time and make my other spin pitches more effective and deceptive.

Tell us what a typical day or week is like for you:

Different seasons of the year have different schedules as far as my daily tasks. However currently I am in high school softball season, and I will describe my daily/weekly schedule. I wake up around 7:15 am, to get ready for school and have a proper breakfast. I attend school from 8:25am-1:55pm. Once I get home, I have a quick snack/meal, and either head to my local fields for a batting/long toss session, head to my back yard to do weighted speed drills or a softball specific workout, or some homework that may have strict due dates. I then head to my high school practice from 5-7 pm. Once I arrive home, I eat and then either head back out to my indoor batting cage for a bullpen or workout ( depending on whether I was able to get work in after school or not), or I finish my homework/study. I then shower and get ready for bed, and I try to fall asleep between 10-11 pm depending on my work load. Game days look a little different as I am not able to get full workouts in, but I usually take batting practice or do a quick long toss warm up before I head to my game. The weekends I rotate my workouts and target different areas of the body to keep everything balanced, and I am able to have longer bullpen sessions at home or longer workouts in general. I try to attend church every Saturday at 6, which is a priority for me when I am home and able to attend.

What are your plans for the future and what is your number one objective for the next year / season?

My plans for the future are to attend a 4 year Division 1 Power 4 college to continue my softball career, where I will earn a degree in either biomechanics, business, sports broadcasting, or pre-med. My number one objective for this upcoming year is to get calls from Division 1 Power 4 programs, and have the opportunity to commit in September to a school that aligns with my goals and supports me in a way that sets me up for a successful life after college.

What is the biggest challenge you see in achieving your upcoming goal or where could you use help?

The biggest challenge in achieving my upcoming goals will be blocking out the noise of others and focusing on myself and my future. There is a lot of noise on social media and in the softball community, and I need to be able to separate myself from the cluster of others, and showcase my talents and my personality to the coaches I interact with, and play the sport I love freely. I want to be able to keep my head down and continue the grind, while not being distracted by others and my surrounding environment. I want to have God as my guide through the recruiting journey, and trust that the school He has planned for me will be the perfect fit to set up my future.

What words of advice do you have for younger athletes that are up and coming?

I advise all younger athletes to never hold back or have someone tell them to change who they are. I have a loud and ecstatic personality that transfers to all around me, and I try to always be the light in the dark and guide others who need assistance. I advise all younger athletes to ask questions and be the one to speak their mind and share their ideas. Be the leader of the pack and use your energy and your light to encourage others. I ask all athletes to work hard every day to reach their goals, and never let someone tell you they're out of reach. Keep pushing, keep going, and always have fun. Never let someone take your joy and remember you have a loving and caring God who is always on your side!

Who was your favorite player growing up or who's style of play do you most admire?

My favorite players growing up were Rachel Garcia and Sis Bates. Rachel Garcia always inspired me because not only did she dominate everything in the circle, but she could rake at the plate, also while playing some first base. I admire how she was able to contribute to all sides of the game, which is what I aspire to do and have the ability to compete anywhere I have the opportunity too. I always admired Sis Bates passion and love for the sport, along with her insanely high energy. She was 100% a bulldog for the full 7 innings of every game, and her love for this sport and desire to win always inspired me to be the same way, and compete for every moment that is mine.

What one question would you have for your favorite athlete if they were sitting here now?

How often did you practice when you were my age? What separates good athletes from great athletes?

Is there anything else you would like to share with the community?

I have been so blessed over the course of my life and athletic career and I am so thankful for my support staff who push me and provide me everything I need to be successful. I am looking forward to college, and finding a program that believes in me and who I am, and having a culture of great coaches and teammates where I can play 4 years of competitive softball and get a great education!