Before I began Extra Inning Softball three years ago (and three years prior to that even), I was running a softball site called Full Count Softball.
(Yes, I love three-word company names ending in softball, but that’s another story.)
To be honest, I really didn’t know how successful softball media coverage, especially at the youth level (club and high school) could be, but I loved the market and the dedication of the athletes and those supporting them.
The following story, which I wrote on a quite Saturday morning in the winter of 2015, opened my eyes to how passionate the softball market could be!
Let’s start with this year: UCLA freshman pitcher Lexi Sosa threw a five-inning perfect game on March 18, 2020—the first one in 10 years at the storied Pac-12 school—with a six-strikeout 15-out performance against Boston Univ. at the Bruin’s home, Easton Stadium.
Lexi would go on to compile a 4-0 record with a 1.50 ERA and 29 K’s in 28 innings for the Bruins in the Coronavirus-shortened 2020 season and at the plate she also did well, going 4-for-8 with a home run and five RBIs in limited action.
But she’s been impressive for a long time, including being ranked in the Top 15 of the 2019 Extra Elite 100 rankings and earning 1st Team Extra Inning Softball High School All-American honors in the summer of 2019.
Five years ago, I was following the tall pitcher and hitter who then was playing for the Firecrackers organization before she went on to win championships with the Athletics-Mercado program.
Early on that fateful Saturday, I got a call from the athlete’s father, Joe Sosa, who told me Lexi had committed to the powerhouse UCLA program even though she was just 13 years, five months old (obviously, way before the Early Recruiting Rules would go into place in April of 2018).
I wrote and posted the following story and was stunned to learn that, by the end of the weekend—which is usually a slower time for online traffic, at least in sports—the article on Lexi’s commitment had surpassed 75,000 page views… a record for the burgeoning little softball site back then!
Lexi went on to a very successful club and high school career, winning a San Diego Section championship at Mater Dei (Chula Vista, Calif.) High and was also named the Section’s Player of the Year as a senior when she went 24-2 with a 1.07 ERA. She also won a PGF Nationals title at the age of 14, just a year after she committed.
Here’s that story and one of the milestones in my softball media career that showed me not only how great the players could be, but how strong the following of them was as well!
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball
*****
UCLA Gets Its Youngest Verbal Ever (1/24/15)
Originally published January 24, 2015 on Full Count Softball
There are certain players who, no matter how young they are, just look to be no-brainers when it comes to predicting and projecting future success and in the ongoing race to get talent early, UCLA has picked up one of the most promising prospects in the 2019 class.
Lexi Sosa is a power pitcher and hitter who turned 13 just five months ago (August 14) and yet projects so highly she had 21 offers even at this early age.
Originally from El Paso, Texas, Lexi—who goes by the nickname “SOS”—is already 5-foot-9 and throws 64 mph in the circle and is a dangerous hitter at the plate as well.
Last summer she hit .478 with 16 home runs and 104 RBI and in the circle went 42-3 with a 1.4 ERA and 289 K’s. This winter, she’s even doing better: a .575 average with seven homers and 41 RBI already and a 12-1 pitching record with a 0.98 ERA.
She plays for the Firecrackers – Brashear/Thornburg 14U team and, according to her father Joe: “Tony Rico and Sean Brashear have mentored and helped our family during this intense process and has been hands on when it comes to Lexis recruiting and growth. She loves being a Firecracker. Norm Perez and Melissa Roth have been also involved with her development.”
According to her father, Lexi participated in several combines last year and her recruiting interest blew up. However, it appeared early on that she would be going anywhere but to UCLA.
“During this time (combines),” he explains, “SOS was recruited by other universities but not UCLA. We honestly thought she was going to go to another Pac-12 or SEC school when the whole process began. The process came quick, but UCLA was not even an option at this time and they came into the picture late.
“Lexi’s pitching coach, Jason Iuli, had received a phone call from UCLA coach Kirk Walker asking about another pitcher who pitched on a different organization. During the conversation Kirk asked Jason if he knew of any 2018-2019 pitchers. Jason said yes and sent a video of SOS pitching. The very next week Coach Walker came out to a game to watch SOS pitch and (Head) Coach Kelly (Inouye-Perez) came the following week.”
The athlete’s father feels UCLA is the perfect fit for Lexi.
“UCLA is one of the few schools that lets their pitchers hit and play another defensive position,” Joe Sosa, Jr. continues. “ She wanted to be an everyday player, something other programs seldom or never do. Academically, it’s one of the best in the nation. She has visited other locations as well but she felt a connection to the school. The staff was professional and courteous and you could see her eyes glow. We attended the UCLA camp along with two other Firecracker teammates. We attended a basketball game and it was there that she verballed.”
However, there is one important stipulation with the offer, Lexi’s father adds.
“UCLA made it very clear academically she has to maintain her grades and GPA,” he says. “Her freshman transcripts are extremely important and she has to keep a 3.5 average.”
Both player and parent attribute Lexi’s progress to pitching coach Juli, who is a former men’s professional fastpitch hurler.
“Jason taught Lexi how to pitch and in six months shewas pitching in Nationals with a different organization,” Joe stresses. “She shares a special relationship with him; he is family to us now. Jason has and will remain the only pitching coach she will have. I’m her hitting coach.”
Closely watching in her training regime, Joe admits it “is a little out of the norm.”
“She pitches on a bullpen style system,” he continues. “If we compete Saturday and Sunday she returns to train on Thursday. If we do friendlies we go on Wednesdays. Her pitch count per game is less than 80-100. She pitches on a four-pitcher rotation with two other girls also being recruited by D-1 Schools.”
“Arm injuries are a concern of ours—we want to keep our girls healthy and avoid burnout. We are off one complete weekend a month in which time no softball activities are allowed.”
“She’s a 13 year old girl,” he emphasizes. “She needs her time.”
