Get on board with Dugout Chatter’s regular feature, The Final Pitch!
We are scouring the Internet and Social Media and keeping our ears to the street for the latest going on in the softball community.
To contribute information, insights, thoughts or content ideas, email us at losstuff34@gmail.com, DM at @Los_Stuff on Twitter or text (949) 606-3602.
Here’s our TFP for Friday, July 14, 2023:
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THE FINAL PITCH: SOFIA MUJICA
UCLA-committed 2024 C Sofia Mujica might have been the hottest hitter at the 18U Boulder IDT recently in Colorado, possibly in the country. Mujica of Power Surge-Bendes guest-played for NW Bullets Gold-Campos. Mujica batted .441 with 12 HRs and 24 RBIs at the IDT to help the NW Bullets finish 3rd at 18U Boulder. “In 13 games, Wow!” Power Surge coach Scott Berndes said.
“She is the undisputed leader of our team,” Berndes said. “(She’s a) clutch hitter for power (and) was rated by Extra Innings as the #1 catcher in the nation. She is heading to UCLA to play her college ball.”
Mujica got to play with future UCLA teammate Addisen Fisher, a P/OF, while with the NW Bullets.
“It is truly amazing,” Mujica said of playing with Fisher. “She’s the type of talent you only come by very rarely. To have talent and talent together is super electric and so much fun to be a part of and watch.”
Mujica recently talked to Dugout Chatter about Power Surge, Granite Hills High, Boulder IDT, Kaitlyn Terry, the death of her grandma, UCLA, college coach, math, Alexis Mujica, “The Great Gatsby,” “Gasolina,” “The Vampire Diaries,” “Twilight” and Dinger.
THE FINAL PITCH Q&A
Name: Sofia Mujica
Hometown: Lakeside, CA
High School: Granite Hills High
Club Team: Power Surge-Berndes 18U
Graduation Year: 2024
Height: 5-foot-5
Position: C
Nickname: My nickname is “Fia.” It was given to me by my little sister Alexis (Lexi).
Instagram: @Sofiamujica_00
Honors: San Diego All-CIF Player Of The Year (2022); #1 Catcher in the Class of 2024 by Extra Inning Softball; #5 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100; and PGF Future All-American (2022 & 2023).
Travel Ball Fall Stats (Power Surge Berndes): .474 AVG, .564 OBP, 1.013 SLG, 12 HRs and 37 hits.
High School Stats: .459 AVG, .556 OBP, 1.149 SLG, 15 HRs and 34 hits.
Travel Ball Summer Stats (NW Bullets): Zoom into June —.545 AVG, .615 OBP, 1.364 SLG, 3 HRs and 6 hits; Boulder IDT: .441 AVG, .472 OBP, 1.559 SLG, 12 HRs, 15 hits and 24 RBI.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I started playing for Power Surge when I was 9 years old. I am now 17. Through all my years with the organization, I’ve played for Scott Berndes. He is a huge contributor to my success and all I have become. He is my softball grandpa. He’s seen me grow up and been there with me through my highest highs and lowest lows in life and softball. I love the organization and the players that come through and how they are helping grow the greatness of our club.
Tell us about your high school team and how you did? We did well this year. The year prior we won CIF (San Diego Section) Division 2. I did good this year. It was definitely tough this season because we had rain all season long up until the (last) few weeks, so working around the weather made our season a little rocky. I was able to break the San Diego career home run record (41), which was a goal of mine.
Can you tell us about your recent experience at Boulder IDT in Colorado? This year was my first time playing in the IDT tournament in Bolder, Colorado. I was playing in the 18U bracket with NorthWest Bullets-Campos. We faced the best of the best teams with competition. We made it all the way to Sunday and came in 3rd place. That Sunday I went 4 for 5 with four home runs. Over the week, I hit a total of 12 home runs, one being a grand slam. It was a great experience and I loved being surrounded by great teams and players and being able to compete at such a high level.
Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? One of the toughest opponents I’ve faced was the pitcher for Arizona Storm, Kaitlyn Terry. Good thing she will be (a) future teammate at UCLA, but her in the circle (was) so dominating and at the plate she goes off. She is so athletic all around and so amazing to watch play and I can’t wait to see her in a year.
What have you faced/overcome in life that has made you the person you are today? The passing of my grandma earlier this year was a challenge I had to deal with in my life. I’ve always admired her for being one of my biggest supporters and she always loved watching me play.
Why did you choose to commit to UCLA? Choosing UCLA was a no doubter for me. It was my dream school since I was a little girl. I went to my first UCLA camp when I was 13 (years old). I absolutely love it there. The family culture, the support you have by the amazing coaches and the amazing athletes you are surrounded by, just made my decision so much easier. Staying close to home was a big factor in my commitment. Even though I am two hours away from home, I know I have an amazing family and home at UCLA and I can’t wait to get out to Westwood (in the) fall of 2024.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? My dream job is to be a college coach. A big reason on why I chose UCLA was the amazing coaching staff. I genuinely love softball and being around it, especially with high-level athletes. I would love to make an impact on athletes’ lives and be a big part of their softball journey and helping them become better women for life after softball.
What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? My favorite subject in school to study im school is math. I love how hard it is and how it can express the creativity of your brain and how you solve problems you face.
Who is your sports hero and why? My sports hero is my little sister, Alexis. She drives me to be a better person every day, on the field and off and she loves and supports me no matter what. She always has my back and looks up to me and that pushes me to be my best, so she has (been) a good role model.
What’s your favorite book to read and why? “The Great Gatsby” (by F. Scott Fitzgerald), all of the life lessons and crazy ending.
What’s the best hype song and why? For me, the best hype song would be “Gasolina” (by Daddy Yankee) or any Spanish-fast-beat Spanish song. I love the rhythm and beats of them.
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? My favorite TV show to binge is “The Vampire Diaries” because I love the cheesy love stories and, of course, the vampires and werewolves.
What’s your favorite movie and why? My favorite movies are the “Twilight” series because I love the drama and I will always be Team Jacob.
Do you have a secret talent/skill? A fun fact about me is I don’t get brain freezes and my dog, Dinger, has the best name ever.
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NEWS & NOTES
***The Triple Crown Southwest Nationals are Thursday-Monday, July 13-16, in Georgetown/Taylor/Austin, TX.
The Triple Crown Southwest Nationals was last contested in 2020 and Impact Gold-Jackson (18U), Hotshots Premier-Nelson (16U) and Hotshots Premier-Esparza (14U) are the defending champions.
Follow the tournament online HERE.
***After finishing 3rd in 14U Broomfield at the IDT in Colorado earlier this month, Indiana Magic Gold National/Bennett put itall together and won the 14U title at Triple Crown Nationals in Georgia this week.
“We’ve been growing and developing this team for over seven years and we feel we are the luckiest coaches in the world to watch them grow and develop and compete,” IMG coach Jeff Goddard said. “The mantra the whole time has been to ‘Trust the Process.’ We have players and families and coaches all bought in to the long-range plan. It’s never been about the results. Just the process. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Play against the best competition possible. Work hard, fundamentals first. Speed and power and confidence will come (and has now). Person>Player and Team>Me. We’ve taken our fair share of lumps but the hard work and dedication to playing for each other is starting to pay off and get recognized.”
It’s all coming together at the right time.
“What it means for our team … it’s validation of the things they’ve been doing,” IMG coach Roger Bennett said, “external recognition for their hard work, dedication; confirmation they belong; and hopefully some fuel to keep working hard.”
***Virginia Unity-Johnson/Ross has won the 16U National Power Pool at Triple Crown Colorado 4th of July and the Triple Crown Nationals in Georgia this week. Next up is the Atlanta Legacy Showcase.
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HSOTD
Today’s Hype Song of the Day is …
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BTITW
Today’s Best Thing In The World is …
The final trailer for ‘MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: DEAD RECKONING – PART ONE’ has been released.
Read our review: https://t.co/7x8pVPKHI1 pic.twitter.com/YXjUVmwg1D
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) July 10, 2023
— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff and Threads @los_stuff)
