Rising Star: Standout 2026 Grad Bria Bosiljevac Has Had a “Fierce” Last 12 Months

“Fierce.”

That’s the word that club coach Dana Fusetti, head of the Carolina Elite 16U National team, loves to use to describe 2026 Extra Elite 100 pitcher and corner infielder Bria Bosiljevac who has had a meteoric rise this year at both the high school and club levels.

On the prep side, the right-hander with a 3.7 GPA helped lead her Shaler Area (Pittsburgh, Pa.) High team to the Pennsylvania Class 5A state title game where the Titans lost a 3-2 heartbreaker on June 17^th Northern York High in nine innings.

The only loses for the Titans—including that state title nail-biter—both went nine innings, but, on the bright side, one of the Keystone State high schooler’s wins earlier in the season was a perfect game in which she also nearly had a perfect perfect game as she struck out 20 of the 21 batters faced with only a popup in the first inning being the only non-strikeout.

The then freshman put up huge numbers across the board with a jaw-dropping 177 strikeouts in 83.1 innings pitched including double-digit K’s in each of her eight high school playoff games which included wins over the WPIAL champion and the defending state runner-up.

Those eight-game strikeout totals in the playoffs went as follows: 13 K’s, 16, 16, 17, 17, 12, 12 and 12 in the championship game where she threw 127 pitches and allowed just one walk.

Bria also got it done with the stick this Spring as she smacked five home runs and compiled a .495 batting average for her initial prep campaign.

Those numbers are, yes, “fierce” but so too is the passion in which Bria attacks the game which you can see in this play in which she closed the semi-final game with a strikeout:

FINAL SCORE: Shaler 8, Armstrong 5.

Freshman Bria Bosiljevac finishes off a complete game with a strikeout to send the Titans to the state finals after a wild eighth inning: pic.twitter.com/aqWIDyMIjU

— Steve Rotstein (@SteveRotstein) June 12, 2023

Flipping to the club side, Bria’s emergence on the national stage began last Summer when she helped lead her Elite team to a 13^th place finish at PGF Nationals with the team’s only two losses being to the eventual champion and second-place teams.

Discovered playing 14U at the IDT tournament last summer coach, the club coach saw a star in the making after scouting Bria on the recommendation of a parent.  Though it took a while for Bria to hit the field, Fusetti’s patience paid off.

“Waiting to see her get in the game was was well worth the wait,” the head coach remembers, “and I was so blessed to see this unknown ‘diamond in the rough.’”

A two-way player, the underclassmen led her Carolina Elite team in home runs and quickly became the squad’s ace pitcher last Summer.

“Having Bria join our team was a huge gamechanger,” Fusetti adds.

Fast forward just one year and “what a difference commitment, hard work, dedication and a competitive attitude makes,” per Coach Fusetti.

This year, the momentum has continued for the versatile athlete although her prep team’s run into mid-June meant the pitcher/infielder got a late start to the travel ball season.

Still, Bria returned in time to compete at Top Club in Oklahoma and really hit her stride at the Boulder IDT where she went 2-0 with two saves and in 11 innings pitched had 12 strikeouts. The hurler only gave up two runs and three walks for a 1.73 ERA and, against solid competition, Bria was a key component in helping her Carolina Elite 16U team go 6-1.

Then came the All-Star Game for the 2026’s in which Bria threw to nine batters and struck out seven of them. That performance didn’t escape the attention of college scouts as more than a few—including several Power 5 programs—were watching the young player closely.

Oh wow what an experience this was. I will forever remember the 2026 All star game 1st base side. I am so grateful for the amazing people I have on my side, and I am so thankful for the light god is giving me. @EliteFusetti @madden_0707 @LegacyLegendsS1 @ExtraInningSB pic.twitter.com/HjD93q9fnD

— Bria Bosiljevac (@BriaBosiljevac) June 28, 2023

Coach Fusetti believes that her fast-rising pitcher was heaven sent to her.

“I feel God continues to bless me with dedicated, talented and hardworking players like Bria Bosiljevac,” she states. “The sacrifice this player, her family and her teammates make to come to our practices in South Carolina driving all the way from Pittsburg amazes me and drives me to work so hard for them.”

Appreciative of the praise, Bria nonetheless is humble in explaining that her impressive emergence over the last year starts at home thanks to her supportive parents.

“My two biggest fans in the world are my Dad and my Mom,” she explains, “and they are big role models for me.”

“My dad has a work ethic like no other, one that no matter how big the storm he will finish the job, and he is where I get my drive to never settle for average and to go all the way all the time. My Mom has the purest heart you’ll ever see and is someone you turn to if you need comfort.”

“As a softball player, not every game is a good one and on your bad days sometimes you just need a person to look you in the eyes and tell you that, no matter how bad you played, softball isn’t you, it is the thing you love to do, and my parents are great in being supportive in this.”

Coach Fusetti believes the future is very bright for her young player from Pennsylvania because of her fierce (there’s that word again) drive to be the best and will do whatever it takes to get to that point.

“Bria is definitely a Power 5-caliber kid in my eyes and is such an amazing competitor, too,” the coach concludes.

“I love being a part of this kid’s journey.”

— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball