Anna Boucher has big dreams. As she continues the routine of her 8th grade year at Smith Middle School in Glastonbury, knowing four years of softball at Glastonbury High awaits her, the 13-year-old Boucher just wants to keep working toward her ultimate softball goal—playing at the University of Connecticut. But more on that another day. On this sun-splashed fall day in mid-October, just months after leading Glastonbury Little League to the District 7 championship, Boucher was pitching for the CT Charmers 13U squad that was going up against a 16-year-old team from the CT Sirens travel program during a tournament in East Hampton. Boucher held her own in the contest, striking out six and walking just two in a game that Charmers would lose, 4-3. Following the game, Boucher took some time to go Extra Innings with the CT Softball Blog.
FIRST INNING: Tell us about your softball journey. How did you become a softball player?
ANNA BOUCHER: Okay, so I started with T-Ball, obviously, and I always just loved it so much. I was so passionate about it at such a young age, and I just loved it so much. I actually was doing dance, too, so it was really hard to decide. Actually, it was not that hard. After T-ball, I played just one year of minors—usually people play two or three years—but I was actually tall for my age, so got moved up.
SECOND INNING: What made you go into the circle and become a pitcher?
AB: I feel like everyone, when they’re younger, always want to be a pitcher. When you play and you’re little, you’re always like, “Okay, I’m going to be a pitcher.” I wanted to be. So around 11, I started going into lessons and my coach was always telling me she had big dreams for me, and honestly, she is the most wonderful coach. She’s truly amazing.
THIRD INNING: What is your favorite thing about playing for the CT Charmers?
AB: My favorite thing? It’s got to be my coaches and my teammates. My coaches are so positive. Coach Karen and Coach Kelly, the most positive people ever. Even if I’m down, they’re just bringing me up and it’s hard to stay down on their team, and my teammates are just truly wonderful. We all have such a bond and we’ve been only playing for with each other for about a year, and some of us just joined the team and we all just have this special bond. I can’t imagine playing without that.
FOURTH INNING: When you’re not pitching, where do you play and how much do you enjoy that?
AB: I play first base and I love it. I don’t know. I feel like I just like it because I always get the ball, kind of, and it’s so fun to just stretch and scoop the ball, too.
FIFTH INNING: What’s your favorite thing to do in practice?
AB: My favorite thing? It’s hard. I love just going off to the side and pitching to my catcher. Even if we’re just doing live BP (batting practice) where I just pitch to my teammates. It’s super fun. I love it.
SIXTH INNING: What is the best lesson, or words of advice, you’ve ever gotten from a pitching coach?
AB: I’ve got to say just, well, both of (the pitching coaches I have had) have always told me to just stay positive, and they’ve also always told me to keep my head up no matter what. They told me if you’re down, then all your other teammates are going to be down, too. You’re the leader out there. Everyone’s looking at you. You have to stay positive.
SEVENTH INNING: If you could go back and give advice to your former self as you started playing T-ball, what would you say?
AB: Just stay positive and work hard all day, every day. Just keep working at it. If you work hard, you’re going to do great things.
EIGHTH INNING: Let’s shift direction on you and get away from the softball questions. What is your favorite subject in school?
AB: My favorite subject is English because I love to write. I could write all day, every day. I just love it.
NINTH INNING: What is your perfect breakfast?
AB: Well it’s got to my dad’s pancakes. He makes the best pancakes. So it’s got to be his pancakes, some bacon and hash browns.
TENTH INNING: How about your favorite midnight snack?
AB: Ice cream. Specifically, Ben & Jerry’s Marshmallow Sky ice cream. It’s my favorite of all time.
ELEVENTH INNING: And, of course, how about your favorite home-cooked meal?
AB: My dad makes the best penne alla vodka. He just started making it and it’s so good. It’s like a new recipe.
TWELFTH INNING: What is something nobody else knows about you?
AB: Wow. I don’t know. I’m a really good big sister. My sister wrote a paper for school about me being the most important person in the world to her, so I guess it’d be that.
THIRTEENTH INNING: What is your can’t-miss TV show that you must watch?
AB: I love the show “Stranger Things” and I watch it all the time. They’re coming out with a new season of it, and I can’t wait for it.
FOURTEENTH INNING: You’ll be finishing 8th grade soon and heading to high school. Are you nervous? Excited? What are your thoughts about entering this next stage of your life?
AB: I feel like I’m just a mix of all of it. I’m super excited to start the next chapter in high school, but I’m also just nervous. I feel like that’s when things start to get serious and you really need to start working harder at everything and just in general. It’s the start of it all.
FIFTEENTH INNING: What one word best describes Anna Boucher?
AB: Positive.
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