Sports Spotlight - Windermere Observer: Briana Lohr

At just 11 years old, Briana Lohr is no stranger to the world of Little League softball. The Dr. Phillips Elementary fifth-grader has been playing the game since she was 4 and is a veteran in Dr. Phillips Little League. Briana plays in the Majors division and serves as a jill of all trades at pitcher, shortstop, first base and catcher.

Why did you start playing softball?

I played T-ball when I was 4, so since then, I’ve been playing softball. I started because my brother’s played baseball since he was young, too, so he just really got me into playing.

What do you enjoy most about the game?

I just really like hanging out with my friends, and I like the competitiveness but also how at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter whether you win or lose.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?

I would probably say to just keep going. No matter what situation I’m in, in softball or life, it’s someone just telling me, ‘Just keep going.’

What part of your game are you working on?

I’m mainly working on just being better at the positions I play, mainly pitcher.

Which position is your favorite to play?

When I’m not pitching, which I really enjoy, I’d say I love playing short. I really feel like short’s the position that gets a lot of attention, and when I say that I mean that you get the most balls, really, because most of the balls are hit to that side in this age group. I just like being able to get the ball and get an out and have the feeling of the crowd cheering for me.

You’ve been playing for a while. How do you help girls who are new to softball?

I try and just help them with some little things that I see them not doing exactly correctly to try and help them become better themselves.

Disney or Universal?

I’ve been going to Disney my whole life, and we have annual passes, and the only time I’ve gone to Universal was recently on a school field trip.  I’d say I just love Disney, because I love the way it’s more inviting and welcoming than Universal.

What are some of your other favorite things to do?

I love playing with my dog and playing video games with my brother and all my friends. Me and my friends love going to the sportsman’s club. I have a boat, so we love going tubing and playing in the water and fishing and all of that.

What’s your favorite video game at the moment?

It’s Fortnite. My friends got me into it because they had an Xbox for years and they were always playing it when we went over to their house, and slowly my brother and I got into it. Then we finally got an Xbox and iPad, so me and my brother can both play at the same time with each other.