Club Team Spotlight: “The Magic Way”… Lady Magic 12U – Munoz Shows Respect to the Game—& Gets It Back!—After Strong Initial Season

“Respect the Game.”

This motto hangs atop the Lady Magic website as the first thing visitors see and, for the Lady Magic Munoz coaches, respecting the game has led the way to numerous successes over the years: Top 3 national finishes, high school All-Americans and handfuls of Power 5 collegiate commitments.

For Lady Magic Munoz 18u Co-Head Coaches, Lindsey and Ernie Munoz, starting a new young team was a no-brainer and that’s how, in the Fall of 2020, Lady Magic 12U – Munoz began.

 “We started with our current 18U team as 12s, so when we considered adding a young team, we felt that was the age group we wanted to focus on,” explains Coach Ernie.

“At 12’s, the passion and eagerness to learn is so exciting to coach. We couldn’t wait to teach the young group what it was to be part of the Magic legacy.”

In just its initial year of existence, the first-year 12U (2009) Lady Magic Munoz team won three tournament championships, was invited to play in nationally prestigious invite-only events, and earned a Top 25 finish at 12U Premier PGF Nationals.

While the accolades listed previously are impressive, what stands out to Coach Ernie Munoz the most is the way the girls work and respect the game day in and day out.

 “Our expectations as coaches don’t change from our 18U team to our 12u team,” he explains. “We want each player to learn the game, be able to execute when asked, and be great teammates. After what we’ve seen from this 12U group, we know the sky is the limit… they’re so talented. They’ve never backed away from a challenge and we can’t wait to watch them grow in the game.”

This past Spring/Summer season, the Munoz squad posted a 65-20-4 record. In those 89 games, they hit .404 as a team with three players hitting over .400 and two hitting over .500.

One of the players who hit over .500 is Niayli (Yelli) Calvo, already looked at as one of the top hitters in the 2027 class and, according to her coaches has a “swing that is the most pure swing we’ve seen at any age really… she’s really advanced in her approach).

Here’s a clip of Yelli in action:

Even the youngest player on the team, 2028 shortstop Kate McCartney, is a high-level prospect who can absolutely mash the ball.

Here’s video of the power-hitter putting one shot into orbit:

Those two, like others on the Magic -12U roster, have the potential to play at the next level according to Coach Lindsey.

“We have several players that we feel have Power 5 (like Pac-12 or SEC) type talent that is even obvious at this young of an age,” she says.

Not only can these girls hit, but they can run too.

The team swiped 310 stolen bases with the leadoff hitter Caelyn Campos tallying 75 stolen bases all by herself (and she was only caught three times for a 96 percent success rate!).

Lady Magic 12U is just as dominating on the mound: the pitchers threw a total of 407 innings and recorded an impressive 445 Ks.

It doesn’t take a lot of smarts to see that the combination of elite offense and shut down pitching makes this Munoz team a top contender for a National Championship come Summer 2022.

Coach Lindsey Munoz thinks this team is built for the big stage.

“I’ve been around Championship teams and players both as a coach and an athlete, and this team has all the tools to make a big splash. This group gives me the same feeling as the two Cal Bears teams that I went to the World Series with as a player.”

What is the key ingredient, the former pro and USA National Team catcher is asked, that makes this 12U team so special?

“All of the girls are all in, all the time. We go into every game expecting to win. That’s something that comes from the athletes themselves. It can’t be taught.”