Uncommitted 2027 RHP/1B Julia Caruso, today's standout spotlight athlete from the Granite State. Photo courtesy of Julia Caruso.

Get on board with Dugout Chatter’s regular feature, The Final Pitch!

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Here’s our TFP for Friday, Sept. 1, 2023:

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THE FINAL PITCH: JULIA CARUSO

Uncommitted 2027 RHP/IF Julia Caruso, a former USA Softball All-American, recently talked to Dugout Chatter about Rhode Island Thunder National-Lotti, Pinkerton Academy, NH Comets 14U-Taylor, overcoming an elbow injury, future college, marine biology and therapy, science and labs, Rachel Garcia, “Can’t Hurt Me,” Marvin Gaye, “Suits,” “The Hangover” and dogs.

THE FINAL PITCH Q&A

USA Softball All-American Julia Caruso. Photo courtesy of Julia Carusp.

Name: Julia Caruso

Hometown: Hampstead, NH

High School: Pinkerton Academy

Club Team: Rhode Island Thunder 14U National-Lotti

Graduation Year: 2027

Height: 5-foot-11

Position: RHP/1B

Nickname: One nickname that I have is Jules. All of my teammates on past teams started to call me this over time. I used to be called “The Beast,” but have seemed to outgrow that one and Jules is usually what I am called now.

Twitter/Instagram: @juliacaruso_74

Travel Ball Summer Stats: (Ohio Outlaws 14U National-Leggins Spring/Summer 2023) Pitching — 1.25 ERA, 73 IP, 30 hits, 124 Ks; (NorthEast Hurricanes 14U-Mac 09 Spring/Summer 2023) Pitching — 1.73 ERA, 101 IP, 47 hits, 206 Ks; Hitting — .341 AVG, .440 OBP, .935 OPS, 3 HRs.

Julia Caruso of the NorthEast Hurricanes. Photo courtesy of Julia Caruso.

Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? This past year I played on two travel teams — NorthEast Hurricanes-Mac 09 out of Salem, NH, and Ohio Outlaws National 14U-Leggins. I happily played with the Hurricanes-Mac 09 since 10U and the Outlaws just this year. But we wanted to make a change to play more challenging tournaments, plus a team we could actually practice with as the Outlaws are out of Ohio and we live in New Hampshire (not super realistic). As things normally go this time of year, a lot of girls are making team changes and my new coach at RI Thunder, coach Dave Lotti and Manny Moitoso, reached out through Facebook and contacted my dad. They told him all about RI Thunder and what tournaments we would attend. Plus, we were familiar with them and their reputation. After a couple of weeks of consideration, we decided to join them!

Tell us about your future high school team? I will be a freshman at Pinkerton Academy in Derry. NH. It is a large school, approximately 4,000 students, so I expect to have a bunch of good girls to play with and against on that team! I am already familiar with lots of the girls in this area by playing either with or against them in regional tourneys, so it should be fun.

Julia Caruso of NorthEast Hurricanes. Photo courtesy of Julia Caruso.

Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? The toughest opponent I have faced in the past couple years would have to be NH Comets 14U-Taylor. They have been one of the harder teams to beat because I’ve played multiple times against them in school ball and travel ball. So, they have seen me pitch a lot and done well to time up my pitching better than any other team/opponent. I think it is hard for most teams to time up my pitching, but the Comets seem to figure out how to do it! But it’s always a good game when we play them.

What have you faced/overcome in life that has made you the person you are today? I had an elbow injury last year after fall softball and I needed to take time off from softball — 100 percent. I was playing basketball, but even that struggled a bit. I was not used to taking time off and resting my arm 100 percent, plus the rehab. It was tough and it taught me to be careful and not overdo it with throwing too much — especially overhand throwing. So now we take more time and care of my arm … and I’m looking forward to training this coming winter vs. having to take off 100 percent.

Julia Caruso of Ohio Outlaws. Photo courtesy of Julia Caruso.

What are you looking for in a future college? Looking for School first, Softball second … meaning I want a University that will help me prioritize school. Also, I would like a team that has a great coaching staff with positive camaraderie and team chemistry. Plus, I’d like it to not be too far away … at least on the East Coast to Midwest?

What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? Honestly, I’m not really sure yet what I want to do. I am interested in Marine Biology, as well as Therapy to help people with their problems. Two very different fields, but still interesting!

What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? My favorite subject is science and labs, all of the hands-on parts are super interesting and fun.

Who is your sports hero and why? Rachel Garcia from UCLA is my favorite player because she was dominant at both pitching and hitting! Not a lot of pitchers are also stud hitters, but she was awesome at both — something I strive for!!

What’s your favorite book to read and why? “Can’t Hurt Me” by David Goggins. It shows all that he has gone through to become the accomplished person he is — very inspirational.

What’s the best hype song and why? “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. It just gets me going and is often in my head while I’m on the field, singing this song to myself.

What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? “Suits” (on Netflix). It is just a good, funny show about a law firm.

What’s your favorite movie and why? “The Hangover.” It’s just very, very funny …

Do you have a secret talent/skill? I am really good with animals, especially dogs. I love them and they love me.

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NEWS & NOTES

***USA Softball released the Team USA Women’s national team roster for the 2023 season. …

***2026 LHP/1B Kelsie Donaldson, who plays for Top Gun 16U National-Sciara, is off to a great start for Raymore-Peculiar (Ray-Pec) High in MO. She has a perfect game, a no-hitter and five shutouts in her first six starts. She is 6-0 with 64 strikeouts in 30 innings and has allowed seven hits and one earned run.

“With first the perfect game, I went in excited as the team we were facing is coached by my comp coach Joe Sciara,” Donaldson said. “I knew we’d win and knew it’d be a good game to kick off my sophomore season, but I definitely didn’t expect a perfect game of just strikeouts! My catcher, Bailey Hummel, called a perfect game behind the plate and our bats were on fire putting up 15 runs! After a great summer season, I knew I was going to be a more important piece to my team and I really wanted to set the tone. I told my Coach (Ali Locher) that I was good to go and took us through the entire tournament! It felt great.

“This then led to a 5-0 record taking us to our home opener which equaled a no-hitter. I knew all throughout the game I was throwing one and told myself that I just needed to continue to trust my catch, my spin and my D! It obviously worked as I had 16 Ks in the outing and moved my team to 6-0!!” …

***2028 RHP Chloe Laqui of Ohio Stingrays received her second invite to the USSSA Select 30 National Training Camp.

“I’m from Piqua, Ohio, and every time we travel to compete, people ask where is that and my parents always have to say, ’20 mins North of Dayton,’ and then people will say, ‘Oh, okay,’ lol,” Laqui said. “So it was really really exciting and honored to be invited for the second time! I always think I’m just an ordinary kid, but my mom always follows it with ‘getting EXTRAORDINARY opportunities!’ Aside from learning new and getting better with skills, the biggest thing I learned is no matter what your size is, always play with intention! There were a lot of high-ranking players there so always do your best to standout.” …

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SIGNING/COMMITMENT ALERTS

Kailey Plumlee, 2025, LHP/1B, Fury Platinum X-Hutchins/Gordonsville High, TN, Tennessee

Brookelyn Livanec, 2024, OF, Texas Bombers Gold National/Barbers Hill High, TX, Wichita State

Sabrina Rogers, 2024, 2B/RHP, Top Gun National-MC/Liberty North High, MO, UM Kansas City

Addison Tyre, 2024, RHP/1B/3B, Bombers Premier-Stephens/Wayne County High, GA, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

Kaitlyn Graham, 2024, MIF/OF, D1Vision Softball Premier/Beech High, TN, Central Arkansas

Karleigh “KG” Walker, 2024, C/IF, Alabama Thunderbolts 2024-McCollum/McCracken County High, KY, Campbellsville

Kendall Simmers, 2024, MIF/3B/UT/OF, Hanover Hornets/Turner Ashby High, North Carolina State

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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 …

— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff and Threads @los_stuff)

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