Wednesday March 27th, 2024
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Scott Kirby!

 

Scott Kirby

USSSA Playing History

GoSoftball.com Player Page

Major Players List

2014 Interview

What positions do you play and what is your best position?
Inf/OF – whatever position helps my team is my best position

Who is the best softball player you have ever seen play?
Best all around; Wegman and Purcell.. Both are great on both sides, both have stadium power and both hit it down.

Best hitter: Helmer, Rulli, and BB.. I've seen Helmer go like 42-45 in consecutive tournaments.. I once made a comment to Todd Joerling on the bench about how I thought Brett was having  a bad tournament.  He said,  yeah.. Well..Even when you think he's going bad he's still really good…. I bet he still hits 700 this weekend… When Scotty O'Neil emailed the stats he hit like 720. Rulli and Bryson are the two hardest outs in the game. They put the ball exactly where they want it..

Power: Rusty, Kennington, JC, Connell, Halsey, Wallace, Frizzell, JMac… These guys just seemed to have a little more than everyone else..You always wanted to be watching when they were up.

Defense: Jr, Purcell, Joerling, Spike, Matt King, Flea..

Teammate: Dal Beggs.. No one is as sincere about the betterment of the team than Dal..

Statistics: Scotty O'Neil.. I really appreciate the dedication all statisticians have to the team but no one cared with as much passion as Scotty..

Why do you like the game of softball?
Competitive, friendships, bombs, challenging…

Who is the best up and coming player in softball and why?
Lee Powers,  Bubba Mack.. I'm confident these two will be hall of famers. They're still young though and have a lot of career left.. Reyna, Bazat, Santana, Yates, Melton, Crawford, Clark, Lloyd, dillon, Pearson, helm, ollivera, umsheid ..

What is your nickname in softball and how did you get it?
"Turbo" – American gladiators had a try out in Orlando at the same time as winter nationals.. I waited in line for an hour before it even started moving. I abandoned the try out and went back to the ball fields. Of course I got some flack about the try out and everyone started saying that my stage name would have been turbo.. (lightnin)  Rusty has a nickname for everyone he's ever known.. Mine was lightnin because he thinks I have lightning quick hands.. I loved hearing his loud carrying voice yelling (mon lightnin, mon lightnin!)

What is your height and weight?
6' 215-230

Where do you call home?
Destin, Florida

What's your favorite way to spend an off weekend?
Anything with my wife and son…My son brings me great joy, and my wife.. Well.. If you've seen her you know why I would rather be home then away. Believe it or not she's as beautiful on the inside as the outside.

What do you do for a living?
General Contractor.
Kirbygc.Com"

Did you play sports in High School / College / Pro?
Played 6 years in the Brewers minor league system.  Was #9 on baseball America's top 10 prospect list in 2000. Hit 30 bombs in A ball in 99.

How did you get your start in softball and how did you get to the upper level?
My dad played Usssa B back in the 80's so I was around the game a lot when I was younger. When I quit baseball I started playing league. I loved it.  Two local guys Shane Frederick and Scott Summerlin played for LandL  paint.  They asked me to play in the mullet which was a local tournament. I only made 1 out and was mvp. The next tournament was the smoky where I went 10-12 with 9 hrs. The rest of the season I found myself sandwiched between Carl Rose and Dewayne Frizzell.  L and L didn't make the world series so Ed Higgs asked me to play in the major with uniflora/higgs/worth. We won the first game against Aubreys and made it to Dan Smith in the second round. I went 4-5 with 3hr with one being a grand slam to tie the game at one point. Dan and company met with me after the game to invite me to play with them the next year. However, the next year was 2005 when Dan and Travis decided to combine so I was left out. Brett never forgot about me and in 2006 he, Bill Taylor, and Woody Bell invited me to play on Bell Corp/Taylor /Easton. I've been with Brett ever since.

What was the most surprising difference between Conference play and non-Conference play when you made the jump?
The conference has evolved since 2006. With Bell Corp we never lost to anyone other than Resmondo. All we had to do was show up and the other teams would roll over. Now you even have to be ready on Friday night. All of the teams have good defense and pitching. The conference has made the players better than when I first started playing. Now the difference between conference and local is the conference teams are more complete. When you play local you can pick out a couple guys from the other team you want to hit at, while in the conference their all good.

In your career was there a single person (player/manager/coach) who had the most significant impact on your approach to the game? Why?
Brett Helmer: he gave me my shot and stuck with me when I was injured and sucked. 

What advice can you give a young player trying to break into the upper level?
Show power and defense.. The more you play the more you'll figure out how to get on base more. The game still needs true stadium power. It's not easy to find.

What type of batting grip do you use and what ounce bat?
Full overlap. 28oz.. Carl rose taught me the overlap back in 04. Once I got used to it I kind of felt like I was cheating. I could swing half as hard and the ball went twice as far.

What do you do in the offseason to prepare for the next softball season?
I start looking to the next season around February. Shane Frederick and Scott Summerlin always told me not to start getting ready too soon or else you'll burn out.  I lift pretty regularly year round but start getting heavy around February. The same goes for Hitting. I'll start with tee work with the Kirby Comeback (old family invention) in February and start hitting live once a week.

What is your favorite sports team and your favorite sport other than softball?
Cards.. My pappy was always a big St Louis fan. Plus they always seem to have a fun lineup to watch.
Buccaneers.. Grew up near Tampa so I was a bucs fan even in bad years.. I used to wear a Vinny Testeverde Jersey to school on Fridays.
FSU.. Dad's old boss where I grew up played wide receiver there in the 70's so we used to always pull for FSU.

Do you have any superstitions and if so, what are they?
Not really.. I have a lot of routines though.

What would be your "at bat" music selection?
"Higher" by Creed

What is the best improvement upper level softball could make?
People are still shaving their  bats.. They think that just because it passes it's OK. I think the only way to level the field is to implement the 52/300 ball.

What is your favorite non-World tournament and why?
Smoky.. No explanation needed!

What is the best softball field/complex you have played at and why?
Disney.. We get to play on the same field as major league baseball players.

Where is the best place to eat on the road after a game?
Anywhere Helmer is at!!! Seriously though.. Marysa (wife)  Brett and I went to Fogo DE chow after the dudley one year. It was my first experience at a Brazilian steak house. It was probably the best meal I've ever had. Hibachi is also  good time had by all.

What is the funniest thing you have ever seen on a softball field?
"Scotty O'Neil used to take the flips before the games with bell Corp. He would actually practice it during the week like the players would take BP. It was the winners final at the Texas legends in 07 against Resmondo. He lost it and was furious.. Kicking stuff, throwing stuff.. So we were like.. Scotty… It's cool man.. Don't worry about it. Then he said…. It is a big deal guys… I'm better than that! Haha

That same year in Texas Helmer became our starting pitcher because Scooter was out with an injury. Mooch was up and coming and really did some cool stuff on the mound. So when Mooch gets up to bat Helmer goes about 10 feet behind the rubber, does a full cart wheel, fakes to first second and third, spins around and delivers. Classic! Helmer is the most agile 300 lb man I have ever seen.


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9 responses to “Scott Kirby!”

  1. Jamie13 says:

    I can’t honestly say that this is one of the good guys. Scott has always been one of the game’s best players. But, if you know Scott, you realize that he is an even better person. He just can’t beat me at the Mullet…LOL!

  2. Wiggs says:

    Great guy both on and off the field….

  3. Gordon#10 says:

    I’ve been all over the world, and I can honestly say one of the nicest human beings I have ever met.

  4. Kyle Yerkes says:

    One of the most honorable men in the game. On and off the field he exudes class!

  5. Wolf#13 says:

    Scott,it was a pleasure playing with you and winning that ring! You’re a TRUE CLASS ACT ON AND OFF DA FIELD,and thx for sum of da great advise u gave me! there are just A TRUE FEW THAT ARE TRULY GROUNDED AND BLESSED BALL PLAYERS.YOU ARE ONE OF THEM! Takecare and bless you and your fam and tell your pops I said DAY WALKER SAIDS HELLO!lol

  6. pete says:

    Scott is simply , “good people”

  7. Perl daddy says:

    Very cool that Scott mentions Dwayne Frizzell and Bubba Mack.

    Frizz is an absolute legend and beginning to play some Senior ball where he will be a beast.

    Scott is as the top of his game and is one of the best players in softball today.

    Bubba is the future.

    All three are NW Florida guys that are great examples of how to play the game at the top level while being humble.

    Shane Frederick and Scott Summerlin can also really play.

    Florida Panhandle ball continues to produce some great talent.

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