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 Friday, July 18, 2025:

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THE FINAL PITCH: CHARLOTTE GARRISON

Boston College-committed 2026 C Charlotte Garrison, #72 in the 2026 Line Drive Hot 100, recently talked to Line Drive Media about Top Gun National-Sciara, PGF Nationals, helping her team to a 3rd-place finish at Scenic City Summer Top 25, Missouri players, improving offense, toughest opponent, being underestimated, athletic family, Boston College, business, English, Kinzie Hansen, “The Hunger Games,” Drake, “The Good Place,” “La La Land” and writing.

THE FINAL PITCH Q&A

Name: Charlotte Garrison

Hometown: Kansas City, MO

High School: Liberty High

Club Team: Top Gun National-Sciara 16U

Graduation Year: 2026

Height: 5-5

Position/s: C

Nickname: “Char”

Social Media: @CharlotteG2026 on Twitter and @Charlottegarrison_ on Instagram

Honors: #72 in the 2026 Line Drive Hot 100, three-year Varsity, 3rd place at state tournament, three-time Conference champion, two-time District champion, three-time Academic All-State, 2nd Team All-Conference, 1st Team All-Conference, 1st Team All-District, 1st Team All-Region, Gold Glove, MVP, 16U Future Stars game at Triple Crown Colorado 4th of July.

High School Fall 2024 Stats: .380 AVG, .451 OBP, 1.091 OPS, 38 hits, 9 doubles, 4 triples, 3 HRs, 39 RBIs, 9 runs and 10 BBs.

Travel Ball Summer 2025 Stats (So Far): .438 AVG, .562 OBP, 1.167 OPS, .604 SLG, 21 hits, 5 doubles, 1 HR, 10 RBIs, 5 runs and 9 BBs.

Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I play for Top Gun 16U and it’s been the best decision for my development as a player. I connected with them through a high school ball teammate and got the chance to try out — and from there, I was all in. The culture is competitive, but super supportive. My teammates are incredible and I’ve met some of my best friends while playing for Top Gun!

Tell us about your experience at PGF Nationals? It’s always an intense and cool experience. The competition is stacked and it forces you to elevate your game. I loved being around players from all over the country, who bring that same drive — it reminded me why I love competing at this level.

Can you talk about helping your team to a 16U 3rd place-finish at the recent Scenic City Summer Top 25? That was a different Top Gun team 🙂 Happy to answer a different question! In the recent Colorado Sparkler Power Pool, my team made it all the way to championship Sunday! We placed 9th out of 77 teams. We fought hard against top teams in the country! It’s been incredible to see how our team has grown since last fall. We’re trending upwards and I’m excited to see what we accomplish in the near future.

What makes players from the state of Missouri special? I think Missouri players bring a different kind of grit. We don’t have perfect weather year-round or the biggest names on every roster, so we’ve learned to work with what we’ve got and that’s made us tougher. We’re used to grinding in the cold, hitting in garages, chasing reps wherever we can find them. Missouri athletes have this edge: we’re not flashy, but we’re gritty. We play with heart, we play for our people and we show up ready to give it our all every single time. There’s pride in being from the Midwest — you’re underestimated until you prove you shouldn’t be. And I love being that kind of player.

What was your biggest focus in the offseason? With the pressure of recruiting last year, I struggled offensively. My biggest goal going into the offseason was being able to consistently produce offensively for my team. I’m especially thankful for my Coach, Joe Sciara, hanging with me through the highs and lows on and off the field with my hitting! 😂 It’s great to see my hard work pay off this season! I take pride in being a dependable hitter for my team and being able to change the momentum of a game with (my) bat, which wasn’t the case last year 😆 I look forward to continuing to improve!

Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? Honestly, the toughest opponent I’ve faced hasn’t been a specific team — it’s been the challenge of becoming one. Our current Top Gun 16U group is packed with talent. We have all the tools to be a championship-caliber team, but we’re a new group and that means learning how to play for each other, not just with each other. It’s been a process — getting to know each other’s styles, building trust, figuring out how to communicate under pressure. That kind of chemistry doesn’t happen overnight. It takes leadership, humility and time. But I’m proud of how far we’ve come already and I know the more we lean in and commit to each other, the stronger team we’ll become.

What have you faced/overcome in life that has made you the person you are today? I’ve always felt underestimated. Whether it was being overlooked on rosters or not being the one people expected to step up, I’ve had to fight to earn respect. But, honestly, that’s pushed me to work harder. It taught me not to rely on hype or attention — just to keep my head down and get better every single day. Sticking with softball through the highs and lows has shaped me. There were times when it would’ve been easy to give in to doubt, but I’ve learned that showing up consistently and trusting the work pays off. Being underestimated just made me hungrier — and I carry that fire with me every time I take the field.

Do you have any family members/siblings that are athletes? Brent Garrison, dad, is a Missouri State Baseball alumni. He was a shortstop for the Bears and played alongside Major League stars like Ryan Howard and Shaun Marcus during a pivotal time for their college program; Brenda Garrison, mom, is a competitive spirit and played a bunch of sports in high school like volleyball and basketball. She says if she played softball, she could’ve gone to BC too! 😂 ; Nicole, step-mom, competed at the University of Missouri for gymnastics; Scarlett Garrison, sister, plays 14u club volleyball! I love watching her on the court. She plays fiercely and it’s fun to watch her lead the team as a captain 😊 ; and Brooks Garrison, brother, is 6 years old and plays flag football and machine pitch baseball. It’s so cute to see how he looks up to me and help him learn how to catch!

Why did you choose to commit to Boston College? Boston College just felt like the perfect fit for me as a player and as a person. The minute I stepped on campus, I could picture myself there. The coaches believe in their players and push them to grow, not just on the field, but off of it, too. I wanted to be part of a program that values leadership and character and BC checks every box. Academically, it’s an incredible school with so many opportunities and I know it’ll set me up for life after softball. But more than anything, I wanted to be somewhere that felt like home and that’s exactly what BC felt like. I’m proud to be part of something special there.

What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I’m really interested in going into business. I’ve always loved the idea of leadership, working with people and being part of something competitive even beyond sports. Business gives you the tools to create, manage and grow ideas and that excites me. Whether it’s sports management, marketing or even starting something of my own one day, I want to be in a space where I can lead, think strategically and keep pushing myself to grow. Just like in softball, I’m drawn to challenges and business is full of them.

What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? My favorite subject is English Language Arts. I’ve always loved writing and digging into stories that make you think deeper about people and the world around you. Whether it’s reading a novel or crafting an essay, ELA gives me a way to express myself and explore different perspectives. I like how there’s no single right answer, just how well you can support your thinking. It challenges me creatively and helps me communicate clearly, which is something I know will help me far beyond the classroom.

Who is your sports hero and why? My sports hero is four-time national champion Kinzie Hansen, catcher from (Oklahoma). I’ve always looked up to her for the way she carries herself — she plays with intensity, confidence and heart. As a catcher, she leads with presence and you can tell her teammates trust her. She’s tough, vocal and isn’t afraid of big moments, which is something I try to bring to my own game. Watching her play reminds me why I love softball and pushes me to keep working to reach that next level.

What’s your favorite book to read and why? I love “The Hunger Games” series (by Suzanne Collins) because it’s a fast-paced and exciting dystopian novel with characters you want to root for. The movies are pretty good too!

What’s the best hype song and why? “Pipe Down” by Drake. My teammate from high school ball put me on. Before games and practices, we would scream it in the car together.

What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? “The Good Place” is my go-to. It’s funny, creative and makes you think about life and what it means to be a good person. The characters are all so different and hilarious. I could rewatch it over and over.

What’s your favorite movie and why? “La La Land” is definitely my favorite. I love the music, the cinematography and the way it captures ambition and love. It’s not your typical ending and I think that’s what makes it hit even harder — it’s beautiful and bittersweet. Plus, the performances and soundtrack are unreal.

Do you have a secret talent/skill? I guess one of my “secret talents” is writing. It’s not something I always talk about, but it’s something I really enjoy and feel connected to. I’ve had some amazing ELA teachers throughout school, who’ve really encouraged me — not just to write well, but to actually like writing. It’s cool having a creative outlet that’s totally separate from sports.

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NEWS & NOTES

***AFCS Nationals are July 15-21 in Kokomo, IN. To follow the tournament online, CLICK HERE.

***Triple Crown Southeast Summer Nationals are July 17-20 in Alpharetta/Cumming, GA. To follow the tournament online, CLICK HERE.

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SIGNING/COMMITMENT ALERTS

Sophia Burdick (2025, OF, Mojo-Pikas/Foothill High, CA, San Jose State)

Signed! Sealed! Delivered! @SophiaBurdick07
Sophia Burdick
Outfield - Foothill HS#AllSpartan pic.twitter.com/kzp5V8cGgQ

— San José State Softball (@SanJoseStateSB) November 19, 2024

Leaataofiti Sherlin (2025, 2B/OF/UT, Corona Angels/Centennial High, CA, San Jose State)

Welcome to San Jose, @leatasherlin07!
Leata Sherlin
Utility - Centennial HS#AllSpartan pic.twitter.com/5sbBmtHj1o

— San José State Softball (@SanJoseStateSB) November 19, 2024

Norah Coulsell (2025, RHP/UT, Explosion-Indian/La Costa Canyon High, CA, San Jose State)

Signed on the X! Welcome to San Jose @NCoulsell!
Norah Coulsell
Utility - La Costa Canyon HS#AllSpartan pic.twitter.com/unlUSzwQHm

— San José State Softball (@SanJoseStateSB) November 19, 2024

Delaney Faus (2025, P/1B/UT, Cal Cruisers-Sievers/Cypress High, CA, San Jose State)

Another addition to the Spartan family! @DelaneyFaus2025
Delaney Faus
Utility - Cypress HS#AllSpartan pic.twitter.com/Y2cXzq4Igg

— San José State Softball (@SanJoseStateSB) November 19, 2024

Gabriella Sotelo (2025, OF, Central Dirtdogs-Vazquez/East Nicolaus High, CA< San Jose State)

San Jose welcome to @GabbySotelo2025!
Gabriella Sotelo
Outfield - East Nicolaus HS#AllSpartan pic.twitter.com/hHwIoXyfTM

— San José State Softball (@SanJoseStateSB) November 19, 2024

Samantha Jo Kulak (2025, OF, Top Dog Gold/Buchanan High, CA, San Jose State)

Christmas came a little early for @SanJoseStateSB!
Welcome to San Jose @sammie_kulak!
Sammie Kulak
Outfield - Buchanan HS#AllSpartan pic.twitter.com/f5Ym2DIFoB

— San José State Softball (@SanJoseStateSB) December 12, 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 …

A dog helping a child take his first steps.. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/PVgzWkBLA5

— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) July 17, 2025

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