Extra Star Power: 2025 Catcher/Third Baseman Rachel Del Busto Lights Up the Summer with Her Bat & Arm

Many moons ago (try 1986), there was a commercial that become famous for stating: “I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV.”

The clip became a national sensation—a meme even before the start of the world wide web—and certainly developed into a much quoted and parodied line.

Here’s the ad on YouTube:

Now, I’m not a college coach—and don’t play one on TV, online or anywhere else—but even my contact-wearing eyes can see that Rachel Del Busto, the 2025 catcher/third baseman from the San Diego area, is really something special.

Check out this highlight reel of some of the 20 baserunners she gunned down this year from behind the plate and also her marvelous glove and arm when playing  third base:

But Rachel isn’t just a defensive star… she can also use the stick to win a game as shown in these offensive highlights:

To give credit where it’s due, Tony Garcia—Rachel’s head softball coach at Eastlake (Chula Vista, Calif.) High and the father of current San Diego State catcher Alyssa Garcia (who started her college career at UCLA)—told us earlier this summer that Rachel “has been under the radar way too long.”

He added:

“When five DI schools I have talked they have her Top 2 on their boards then, yup, you know she’s for real!”

The backstop made a big splash last summer in the 2022 PGF National Championships as she helped her Breakers – Labs/Chavez 16U team win a title.

Rachel subsequently got lots of attention last summer and in the fall of 2022 showing not only a cannon arm but power as well. She attended several camps last fall where she impressed and continued to do so this summer.

One coach who attended an OnDeck camp expressed how impressive Rachel was with her arm, getting pop times in the 1.60-1.65 range consistently—even getting some 1.59’s from other coaches.

Not surprisingly, OnDeck has Rachel listed as the highest-ranked catcher in the 2025 class.

Rachel recently played in the 2023 PGF 16U Premiere Nationals where she led her team in hitting with a .455 average and a 1.591 OPS. Her team also finished 2^nd at the Alliance Super Cup this summer.

Some coaches describe her presence as stoic, very mature and very confident behind the dish. One of her coaches, Bobby Labs from Breakers – Labs programs, says: “Rachel is a cerebral student of the game”.

Coach Garcia adds:

“Rachel is a silent leader who doesn’t say much but is one of the hardest workers I’ve coached. She was my work horse behind the dish during the 2023 high school season and I personally haven’t seen an arm like hers in a long time. I work and have worked with lots of catchers and I’ll put Rachel’s arm and pop times up against any college catcher right now.”

Recently, Extra Inning Softball caught up with Rachel to get the details of her fast-rising softball career… first, here’s the basics on the backstop who will be very busy fielding calls and texts come September 1^st, the initial day college coaches and can contact prospective recruits:

The DEL BUSTO BASICS

We also caught up with the incoming junior who isn’t afraid to share her opinions:

Extra Inning Softball: What’s an early memory you have of playing softball since you were four years old?
Rachel Del Busto: Easter egg hunting with my T-ball team!

EIS: What would you identify as the highlights of your softball career so far?
RDB: My biggest accomplishment as a team was winning 2022 PGF 16U Champs. This was easily the most fun I’ve ever had in a season, and we accomplished so much together. As an individual, I feel like my greatest accomplishment is yet to come!

EIS: What challenges have you faced in playing the game?
RDB: Yes, I have had a few setbacks, but mostly when I was younger. I went through a lot of benching and times where I did not feel like I was believed in. However, I think this is the best thing that could’ve happened to me because I learned to never take any chances for granted and that hard work pays off.

EIS: How about role models for you?
RDB: I have two role models and I can’t pick a favorite because they have both helped me so much over the years. First, I must mention Coach Liz Silva, my “softball mom” and catching coach of eight years with more to come. Coach Liz was a catcher for Oklahoma State. And secondly, Coach Pam Stone, my old hitting coach and my softball compass. Coach Pam has given me so much advice and I could never thank her enough. She was a pitcher for the University of Arizona.

EIS: If you had the power to make a change in softball, what would it be?
RDB: I think that the game should be strictly inning-based instead of run by a clock.

EIS: Have you picked up any nicknames in your career?
RDB:  Fun fact: my 8U All Stars coach nicknamed me “Slingshot.”

EIS: Imagine you get stranded alone in the desert… what are three things you want to have accompany you??
RDB: If stranded in a desert, I would bring a fan, my phone, and my dog!

EIS: Getting back to the softball fields, what is it about the sport that you love so much?
RDB: Here are four things I love about softball:

• I love being in control of the field and being involved in every single play,
• I also love facing towards the field and feeding off of the intensity from my teammates,
• I love jumping up and down after a strike out and when my teammates make diving catches,
• And most importantly, I love that I have a special bond with each of my pitchers and that I am there battling with them to get through tough innings.

EIS: Final question… What excites you at this time of your life?
RDB: What excites me? September 1st of my junior year. What worries me? September 1st of my junior year!

— Brentt Eads/Extra Inning Softball