Central Cal Dirtdogs-Pickering was the big surprise in the softball community after a 3rd place finish at the PGF 14U Premier Nationals this past summer in Orange County, California.
No player had a bigger impact than uncommitted 2023 P/OF Ryan Maddox, who was dominant in the circle and a catalyst for the Dirtdogs' offense.
"Ryan pitches, plays outfield and hits in the leadoff spot," Dirtdogs coach Sara Pickering said. "In the circle, her command of her pitches and the strike zone is what sets her apart. She spins the ball well, moves it around effectively and hits the spots she needs to.”
“In the outfield, she covers a lot of ground, runs good routes and throws runners out. Offensively, Ryan hits in the leadoff spot for us and is effective there. Ryan is a big part of why our team is successful. She plays a big role on our pitching staff, in the outfield and leads our team in many offensive categories."
Fresh off an unofficial campus visit to the University of Oklahoma, Maddox is sure to continue to draw attention from top programs around the country.
"What makes her unique is her work ethic, her drive and her ability to stay calm and confident while performing in big moments and in big games," Pickering said. "The moment never seems to get too big for her. Confidence and a strong mindset grows from the work that’s put in and she puts in the time and the work."
Maddox's teammates call her the consummate teammate.
"Ryan is a very selfless player," uncommitted 2022 C/IF/UT Elizabeth Moffitt said. "She is underestimated from her size, but she proves on the field she is a competitor. She sacrifices her body for us when she is physically exhausted and still pitches amazing! She always knows when to pick us up and is a true leader on the field. Ryan is one of the best teammates I have ever had."
Said uncommitted 2022 C/3B/UT Gracyn Coleman: "Ryan is just this bright person that when you are having a bad day you would just count on Ryan. She is just an amazing person and you can count on her for everything."
*** Go inside "Extra Star Power" to learn more about one of the top 2023 prospects in the nation.
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EXTRA STAR POWER Q&A
Name: Ryan Maddox
Hometown: Fresno, California
High School: Clovis North High of Fresno, CA
Club Team: Central Cal Dirtdogs-Pickering 16U
Grad Year: 2023
Height: 5-foot-3
Position: LHP/CF
Nickname: Ryno
Honors: PGF 14U Premier Nationals All-Tournament Team in 2019, Extra Inning Softball National Club Player of the Week Runner-Up (PGF); USA All-American 2016; Principal’s Medallion (4.0 GPA in 7th & 8th Grades)
Travel Ball Highlights: 3rd place finish at PGF 14U Premier Nationals in 2019. This past summer, she had a 1.11 ERA and 218 strikeouts in 196.1 innings and she batted .426 with a .487 on-base percentage and hit eight homers.
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Tell us about your experience at PGF Nationals this past summer?
My PGF experience definitely was memorable because we finished third and our only losses were to the teams in the championship. Our team worked so hard leading up to PGF and then played 16 games in a week. We drew the toughest part of the bracket, beat three teams who beat us earlier in the year and then knocked out a team who beat us at PGF last year. I loved playing teams we have never played.
What have you learned about yourself in the past year?
I learned that this game is about preparation, not only physically but mentally. I also learned to be more confident. Most of my teammates went dark during the high school season, so I played on a temp team and learned to adapt to other coaches and teammates. I can be stubborn sometimes, so I am learning to accept constructive criticism.
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