Get on board with Line Drive Media’s regular feature, The Final Pitch!

We are scouring the Internet and Social Media and keeping our ears to the street for the latest going on in the softball community.

To contribute information, insights, thoughts or content ideas, email us at carlos.arias@linedrivemedia.com, DM at @los_stuff on Twitter or text (949) 606-3602.

Here’s our TFP for Monday, April 7, 2025:

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THE FINAL PITCH: TAELOR WALKER

LMU-bound 2025 OF/C Taelor Walker recently talked to Line Drive Media about Corona Angels-Tyson, Alliance Nationals, California players, signing with LMU, toughest opponent, size, choosing LMU, sports media, psychology, Class of 2024 Corona Angels, “If He Had Been With Me,” Kendrick Lamar, “Friends,” “Pitch Perfect” and juggling.

THE FINAL PITCH Q&A

Name: Taelor Walker

Hometown: Chino, CA

High School: Ayala High

Club Team: Corona Angels-Tyson 18U

Graduation Year: 2025

Height: 5-8

Position/s: OF/C

Nickname: “Tiny.” I was given this nickname when I was born from my dad because I was a small baby. The nickname “T-WALK” was given to me by Coach Dena (Slye) when I was on her 16s team.

Social Media: @taelor_walker on Twitter and @taelorwalker2025 on Instagram

Honors: AFCS runner-up (2024), AFCS All-Tournament (2024), Clearwater Invitational All-Tournament (2025), three-time Palomares All-League, Palomares League chamion (2023 & 2024), Ayala Defensive Player of the Year (2024), three-time Scholar Athlete and SGV Underclassmen All-Star Selection and All-Star Game MVP (2024).

Travel Ball Summer 2024 Stats: .488 AVG (39 of 80).

Travel Ball Fall 2024 Stats: .410 AVG (32 of 78).

High School Spring 2025 Stats: .532 AVG (17 of 32).

Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I became an Angel around four years ago. I was moving up to 16s and wanted to try a new team, so I decided to try out for the Angels. Hearing about how tough everyone was, I didn’t know if I could handle it. After years of being with the best coaches, they have taught me how to be a strong woman and care for myself. Being an Angel is one of the best things I could have ever done. We aren’t just an organization, but instead we are a family. The Tyson family are people I know I can always look to and talk to when I need it and I will never be more thankful for them.

Tell us about your experience at Alliance Nationals? Last year at Nationals, our team definitely had a breakthrough. We started off Nationals very rough not being able to hit and only winning 1-0 ball games. Sooner than later, we realized that for us to win we needed to start hitting the ball. After that, we beat the Batbusters to go to the championship. The championship was rough for us as we lost. I had a good experience making the All-Tournament team. Last year at Nationals, definitely made our team closer and made us become a family.

What makes players from the state of California special? One thing that makes California players special is that we are able to play all year round because of the weather we have.

What was your highlight of the fall? What have you been focusing on this offseason? My biggest highlight of the fall was signing (with) LMU. The main thing I have been focusing on during the offseason is to get bigger, stronger and faster to compete at my best.

Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? I think our toughest opponent is ourselves. This is why we do mental training with Coach Dena (Slye) to help us stay focused on the things we can control and what we need to compete at the highest level.

What have you faced/overcome in life that has made you the person you are today? Something I have overcome in my life is I have never been the biggest girl when it comes to softball and that has faced me with many problems in my career. I have learned to live with this and use it to my advantage to be able to be the best player I can be.

Do you have any family members/siblings that are athletes? No.

Why did you choose to commit to LMU? I chose to commit to LMU because of how family-oriented the whole team is. Coming from the Corona Angels, we are a family and when I went to LMU, I could see that everyone cares for each other and treats each other with respect. Another reason is how amazing the coaching staff is. Each coach has their own way of coaching, yet it all flows together and they work as a team.

What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? Some future occupations I am interested in is either sports media or being a psychology major.

What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? I really enjoy my psychology class that I am taking this year because everything we learn has to do with our minds and body and I think that is a very interesting topic.

Who is your sports hero and why? My sports heroes are the Corona Angels Class of 2024. These girls showed me how to be a leader and taught me how to play the best at all times. I always looked up to these girls and am so blessed I get to now watch them play college softball every weekend.

What’s your favorite book to read and why? I started reading this new book “If He Had Been With Me” (by Laura Nowlin) and it’s definitely becoming one of my favorites because of how well-written the book is and keeps me interested throughout the whole book.

What’s the best hype song and why? My favorite hype song is definitely “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar because our team last year would play it before every game in Colorado to get us ready.

What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? My favorite TV shows to binge watch are either “Friends” or “Modern Family” because my family and I watch them together and it always makes us laugh when we watch it.

What’s your favorite movie and why? My favorite movie is probably “Pitch Perfect” because I wish I could sing.

Do you have a secret talent/skill? I can juggle and I can also do the worm.

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NEWS & NOTES

***PGF Super Select Northern Championship is April 11-13 in Township, MI. To follow the tournament online, CLICK HERE.

***Top Gun Elite 20 Spring Invitational is April 11-13 at Overland Park, KS. To follow the tournament online, CLICK HERE.

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SIGNING/COMMITMENT ALERTS

Ansley Bennett (2025, RHP/UT, LLG DPS-Corn/Summerville High, SC, South Carolina)

𝓦𝓮𝓵𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓗𝓸𝓶𝓮 @AnsleyBennett9

🏠 Summerville, S.C.
🏟️ Pitcher/Utility
🥎 R/R pic.twitter.com/R0FOTdYPMq

— Gamecock Softball (@GamecockSoftbll) November 14, 2024

Kaileigh Byars (2025, OF, Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier/Hanover High, VA, South Carolina)

GO COCKS!! Excited for the next 4!! 🤙🏻♥️ https://t.co/CjCTxvi0y6

— Kaileigh Byars 2025 (@KaileighByars33) November 13, 2024

Kaylee Grace “KG” Favors (2025, RHP, Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier/Orange Beach High, AL, South Carolina)

One of life’s best moments❤️🖤 https://t.co/py37PTbvDh

— Kaylee Grace Favors (@FavorsGrace) November 14, 2024

Dakota Potter (2025, OF, Athletics Mercado-Smith/Norco High, CA, South Carolina)

📰 Softball Signs Four to 2025 Class. Here is what you need to know about the newest Gamecocks!https://t.co/tKJTXI8v7l

— Gamecock Softball (@GamecockSoftbll) November 14, 2024

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HSOTD

Today’s Hype Song of the Day is …

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BTITW

Today’s Best Thing In The World is …

The live-action ‘MINECRAFT’ movie opens with $301M worldwide.

• Biggest domestic opening weekend ever for a video game movie with $157M

• Budget was $150M

Read our review: https://t.co/uuggEo3o94 pic.twitter.com/e7xqvEZJdh

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 6, 2025

— Carlos Arias, Line Drive Media (Follow Carlos on Twitter @los_stuff)