“Let’s bring everyone in,” Scott Collie said as he called a halt to Southern Nash’s Softball practice.

“Just want to welcome WRAL,” the head softball coach said as he pointed to a television camera. His team gathered around with slightly confused looks on their faces.

“They wanted to recognize Anna Dickinson with the Extra Effort award,” Collie said to applause. Dickinson walked up to accept the award.

She didn’t know the honor was coming, but the recognition shouldn’t come as a surprise.

“Our school has a long tradition of winners,” Collie said after practice in an interview with WRAL. “When I think of the Extra Effort award, obviously what they do in athletics is a big part of it, but what they do in the classroom, in the community, and Anna is…everything she does, she does at a high level.”

Anna is a senior pitcher and shortstop for Southern Nash.

“I love everything about softball,” Anna said. “I like spending time with my teammates, I love the game, I’ve played it my whole life.”

Anna also plays Volleyball for Southern Nash. She has a 4.3 GPA and shows her IQ on the pitching mound as well.

“I already have in my head what I’m going to throw next pitch,” Anna explained. “A lot of times people will say I shakeoff if I don’t want something. But I already know what I want to throw the next pitch.”

“She takes an intellectual approach to pitching,” Collie said. “It’s not just speed, she understands how to work the batter and she does a great job of that.”

Next season she’ll live out her dream of playing in college when she joins South Carolina Upstate.

“From a little girl I’ve always wanted to play D-1 softball at the highest stage,” Anna said. “Making it has been a big accomplishment for me.”

She’s given her all to the Firebirds.

“I’ve loved all the coaches, all the players that I’ve played with,” Anna said. “I love being a Firebird.”

That’s why Anna Dickinson is this week’s winner of the Tom Suiter Extra Effort Award.

“I was completely surprised,” Anna said. “It’s a great honor and I’m really happy about it, but they got me good.”