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Spotlight: Interviews with baseball’s superstars

She’s been a co-host of the National Dog Show that was broadcast on NBC’s Peacock network.

She’s a teenage reporter for Sports illustrated Kids and a writer for MLB.com and has interviewed Houston Astros’ World Series winning manager, Dusty Baker.

Last year, she reported from Citizen’s Park during the final games of the World Series. She also has her own successful podcast called “Speak Up Sports.”

So, what does Lehighton’s Anna Laible do for an encore?

How about serving as a sports reporter during the recent World Baseball Classic held in Miami. During her time at the WBC, this 18-year-old who will graduate this year with both a home-schooled high school diploma and a Lehigh Carbon Community College Associate’s Degree, carried her notebook and pen to chat with the superstars of baseball.

“I had prepared questions based on my research,” she said, “but sometimes interviews go in different directions so I just follow whatever direction they go. In fact, once I start the interview, I really don’t look down at my notebook anymore.”

Laible spoke with Trea Turner of the Phillies, who was arguably the MVP of Team USA. She also chatted with Team USA member Kyle Schwarber - who also plays for the Phillies - before one of the games. Mets manager Buck Showalter’s remarks were recorded for her podcast.

“Most of the players were very accommodating, but there are a few whose body language said, ‘I don’t want to do an interview,’ so you just leave them alone,” she said.

Laible got the opportunity to interview Team Mexico manager Benji Gil and Team USA manager Mark DeRosa after their countries had been eliminated from the competition.

“Both basically said the same thing to me,” Laible explained. “They said ‘We didn’t win tonight, but baseball was the big winner.’

The World Baseball Classic created a lot of excitement in the game across the globe,” Laible added. “I mean these were the Olympics of baseball. When I sat in the press box, I was watching the greatest athletes in the sport.”

She’s also been present for another historical baseball moment. “During the last World Series, I was there when Astros pitchers combined for a no-hitter against the Phillies. It was bad for the Phillies, but good for baseball and to be present when baseball history was made is something difficult to express in words.”

With her reporting for SI Kids and MLB.com, Laible has proved herself time-and-time again.

The opportunity came about when her application to write for SI was accepted - making her the only teenage writer from Pennsylvania for this prestigious publication.

When asked if she ever takes time to sit back and realize what it means to be in the company of superstars like Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani before she has even graduated from high school, Laible takes a breath.

“Wow. Sometime, I feel like I need to pinch myself,” she said. “I’m living a dream doing what I have wanted to do, and for all this to happen during my teenage years is simply incredible.”

Finding time to be a typical teenage kid has been challenging, but it remains important to Laible. She plays centerfield for the Lehighton High School Indians’ softball team and gets to hang out with her friends.

Her future plans are still a work in progress, beginning with deciding where to continue her education after being accepted at severa colleges. She hopes to major in broadcast journalism or sports media. “I’d really love to become a broadcaster for baseball - which is my favorite of all the sports.”

Her immediate goal is to cross over the baseball diamond and onto the basketball hardwood.

“I’d like to cover an NBA game, maybe for the 76ers in April with the playoffs coming up,” she said.

During her interview at the WBC with Alex Verdugo - the Boston Red Sox all-star - he described playing for his homeland, Mexico as, “electric.”

The past four years have also been electric for Anna Laible and she’s not about to pull the plug anytime soon.

Team USA Captain Mike Trout poses for a photo with Lehighton's Anna Laible.
Anna Laible with Boston Red Sox all-star and Team Mexico player Alex Verdugo.
Anna Laible interviews former Yankee pitcher CC Sabathia.
Team USA star Trea Turner is interviewed by Lehighton's Anna Laible before a recent World Baseball Classic game.
World Baseball Classic MVP Shohei Ohtani poses for a photo with Anna Laible.