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Here’s our TLI for Thursday, Feb. 3:
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XTRA SPOTLIGHT: KAYLEE LIZARDO
Virginia Unity 2026 C/UT Kaylee Lizardo is a former two-time Youth Softball, USSSA and USA Softball All-American and will try to help Josh Johnson’s Unity team win a second consecutive PGF 14U Premier national championship this summer.
Lizardo talked about her softball journey to this point and her intense training regiment with Extra Inning Softball.
EXTRA SPOTLIGHT Q&A
Name: Kaylee Lizardo
Hometown: Stafford, VA
Middle School: HH Poole Middle School
Club Team: Virginia Unity 2026-Johnson 14U
Graduation Year: 2026
Height: 5-foot-7
Position: C/UT
Nickname: Kay
Twitter: @2026Kaylee
Honors: Two-time Youth Softball All-American, two-time USSSA All-American, two-time USA Softball All-American, two-time Select 30 Camp invitee, USA Softball HPP and 4.0 GPA.
Travel Ball Fall Stats/Highlights: 34 GP, .434 Avg, 1.244 OPS, 16 singles, 12 doubles, 3 triples, 2 HRs, 20 RBIs, 28 runs, 15 SBs and caught 58.2 innings; played in some of the biggest showcases (Ray Seymour, Sand Dollar, Scenic City, T-Bolts 5 Star) in front of some of the top college coaches; and has a 1.85 pop time.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them?
Virginia Unity was my very first travel organization after playing rec ball for a few years. I played there in 10U. It is founded by my current head coach Josh Johnson. They have won multiple national championships, including USA Softball 14A national championship and PGF Nationals during the 2021 season.
When I decided to Guest Play with them in California at the end of my season, I realized that I wanted and needed to be on a team that would continue to push me. I made new friendships and rekindled old ones because I believe once a softball sister always a softball sister no matter the name on the jersey. I was also happy to be coached by Coach Josh Johnson, Coach Jenny Buzzell, Coach Camm Buzzell and Coach David Tyler.
Can you talk about your All-American experiences with Youth Softball, USSSA and USA Softball?
Youth Softball was the first event that I attended with girls from all over the country. It was my first opportunity to meet and play with girls from outside of Virginia. I was able to participate in the home run derby and came in second place with my dad pitching to me. It was very memorable for me because we went into bracket play only winning one game and came back and won the whole thing. My parents had to drive through the night so that I could make it to my JMU Camp the next day.
USSSA All-American took it a step further because this was my first tryout event. I practiced hard after school with my brother, Jacob, and hitting coach Danny Brooks, so that I could be ready. I luckily made it and had another opportunity to play against very good competition and be on the same team as two of my friends. I also was so excited because I got an inside-the-park home run.
I also participated in the first ever USSSA Winter All-American games. It didn’t require a tryout that year, but it was still very fun. I was selected to the All-Star team and they gave us ugly sweater-themed shirts to play in. I was selected to hit in the home run derby and came in second.
USA All-American was another big step in the “All-American” world since it was by tryout only. I had to compete against girls from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, DC and North Carolina. I knew I had to step up my game with practicing, so I worked hard with my catching coach, Crystal Byers. Only 15 girls are selected in this event and I was the only 08 player to make it in my first year. I worked so hard and was so happy to get in. I learned so much under coach Jillian Callaway and her team. All the girls took me under their wing even though I was the youngest there. I remained friends with all the girls today.
In 2021, I also made it in my final opportunity of 12U to become a two-time USA All-American. The girls in this tournament were some of the very best in the country. I enjoyed being a leader this year and playing with and against many girls that are highly ranked in Extra inning (Softball).
Your training schedule is pretty intense. Can you talk about your daily routine?
I usually am at catching practice on Mondays with Crystal Byars and got some hitting in with Cam Byars, team practice on Tuesday, hitting practice on Wednesday with Danny Brooks, on Thursday I would go to sixfour3 with my dad and brother if I needed to work on something and had team practice on Saturdays unless we had a game. Now that I am on Winter break, I have decided to add strength and conditioning so that I can get stronger, not only for my hitting, but my catching. I love training and working hard because I know it will help my pitchers and teammates.
What should we expect from your club team this summer?
I anticipate that Unity 14U-Johnson will be going to compete in some high-level national tournaments against high-level teams in Florida, Kentucky, Georgia, Missouri, Tennessee and Indiana. I can’t wait till our first tournament starts on the 19th and 20th of this month and to be on the field with my teammates.
Do you have a secret talent/skill?
I solve Rubik’s cubes as a hobby. I own over 100 cubes and solve sizes ranging from 2×2 to 7×7 and a variety of different types. My fastest solve using a standard 3×3 cube is 14.58 seconds. I even went to cubing conventions and met famous cubers.
What’s your most memorable softball story?
My most memorable moment was making it to the USA All-American team as the only 08 and getting to play on the College World Series field in Oklahoma City. In that game, we turned an incredible double play. We were down, 1-0, with a runner on third with one out. The batter hit a bunt back to the pitcher. She threw it home to me and I tagged the runner out at home. The batter continued to run to second and the shortstop that was covering third on the play ran all the way to second and without thinking I threw the ball to her, and we got her out at second. The whole crowd cheered and the umpire turned to me and said, Wow! Great work.” Even though we didn’t make it far in the tournament, I was so happy to be a part of that experience. I made amazing friendships that weekend and was coached by such an amazing staff.
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