If there was ever a pre-teen who loved softball more at such a young age than Ava Rose Eskridge you’d be hard-pressed to find her.

The 11-year-old middle infielder made a national splash this summer when she jumped high in the air to make a viral highlight-reel leaping catch at the Alliance Nationals and the video clip was picked up and widely shared on social media including ESPNW. 

1 of my fav plays from @thealliancefp AFCS event this week. We got knocked out so Top 16 but I'm proud of us we had each others backs🦾🦾 @IamCoachJ @los_stuff @MizunoSportsUSA @TopPreps @gatorjack72 @AppStorms48176 @SBRRetweets #SCTOP10 @espn @SportsCenter @SC_ESPN @SCNext pic.twitter.com/d20UYczwmZ

— Ava Eskridge 2k13 (@_avarose13) July 19, 2025

Ava has also become known to club, high school and even college coaches who are wow’d by her dedication to the game and the work and training she puts in.

And recently, she joined one of the top organizations in travel softball—the Texas Bombers—to play on the Texas Bombers Gold 12U team managed by Kristi Malpass, who oversees the team’s training and communications as well as serving as the program’s “Defensive Guru.”

Though young, Ava is a triple threat lefty hitter who is known for her athleticism, hustle and passion for the game.

The Austin, Texas-based athlete has put up impressive numbers in her career, hitting .409 with a .517 on-base percentage and, most impressively, has stolen 144 bases over the last three years for an 87.8 percent success percentage.

Ava has made numerous All-Tournament teams and even won four games with walk-off hits.

In Loving Memory of Her Popo

Very similar to a recent article published two weeks ago on Line Drive Softball titled “Player Spotlight: 2027 HOT 100 Infielder Aubrie Newton Plays with Passion to Honor Her Late “Paul-Paul”… Her No. 1 Fan (October 3, 2025) Ava Rose was also inspired by her late grandfather, Ronnie Esparza, who was lovingly known as “Popo.”

“I started playing 8U softball in 2022 to honor my ‘Popo,’ she explains.

“He passed away in 2020 but he loved softball a lot and played it his whole life – even when he was fighting cancer. He would teach me how to field grounders and hit off the tee.”

Ava’s mother, Veronica Eskridge, gives more context to her father’s softball heritage.

“My father, Ava’s grandfather, played slow pitch softball all his life even up to his last year of life and he earned MVP at the last softball tournament he played in. He was a big part of the softball community his whole life in Austin and was known as a great, hard-working man, who loved all of his girls so much! He would brag about all of us all the time.”

Today, Ava wears No. 13 on her jersey to honor the memory of her Popo.

“That was my Dad’s jersey number which is also his birthday—October 13. Ava is also an October baby and her birth year is 2013 so there are multiple things about that number that tie her to him.”

Every time I step on the field, it’s bigger than me. I play for the man who believed in me first - My Popo. His spirit pushes me through every rep, every dive, and every inning... I’m chasing greatness with him in my heart always🩵🩵🩵 @BombersTexas @LineDsoftball @TopPreps… pic.twitter.com/O90OL5nfAf

— Ava Eskridge 2k13 (@_avarose13) October 9, 2025

The athlete’s grandfather even inspired the young player to root for a university she now favors even though she’s a long way off from thinking seriously where she’ll play post-high school.

“I started to dream about playing for the Texas Longhorns a lot, as my Popo was seriously their No. 1 fan so I knew he would love to watch that up in Heaven.”

Ava remembers that one thing that helped her fall in love with the game even more was watching game videos of the University of Texas on YouTube.

“Once I found those videos I started to study them all the time. I would study Janae Jefferson and Mia Scott a lot because they all played positions I was playing for my team plus they were super-fast too.”

“I think studying them is what grew my love for the game even more because I started to work on different things especially working out in the gym with my dad and I would picture my future self in a Texas uniform.”

Ava’s mother continues:

“Popo is Ava’s biggest inspiration and, when he passed, she lost her best friend and truly started to play to honor him and make him proud in softball as well as by being a great human being and student as well.”

“She wants to play for Texas because, to her, he was their biggest fan. He rooted for all the Texas Longhorn teams in every sport. It was Popo who inspired her most to play softball and who still pushes her spiritually today.”

To live her dream, Ava set out to become the best athlete she can be.

“Her passion is softball,” the Texan’s mother says, “but she enjoys playing flag football and volleyball for her Christian elementary school! She even led her flag football team to a championship last year highlighted by a Pick 6 in the fourth quarter!”

Coaches on the Ava Bandwagon

To improve her softball skills, Ava trains with Malpass, who has won three Alliance National Championships including two back-to-back in ’24 and ’25, to work on her defensive skills and has plans to train with Bombers organization head Scott Smith on hitting.

Though Ava’s club team is new, her coach has already been impressed with the infielder’s passion for the sport and work ethic to maximize her potential.

“Ava is a very young and talented athlete,” Coach Malpass begins.

“She first stood out through training videos where her footwork, arm slots, and movements immediately caught my attention. We place a strong emphasis on teaching players the correct and elite fundamentals early, and those are not movements you see just anywhere—Ava definitely separated herself when we first saw her.”

“She is a perfect fit here with her work ethic, determination, and the high goals she sets for herself. We are excited to help her grow, and she will continue to develop tremendously in this Academy. Ava is respectful, hardworking, a great teammate, and a big-dream player you will continue to hear about as she rises.”  

Remember earlier when we said Ava Rose has already caught the eye of key people in softball?

Here are just some of the key softball figures at all levels who’ve been impressed with the young athlete:

*** One of those is the father of one of her idols, Janae Jefferson, the former Longhorn great who graduated from UT in 2022 and is now playing for Team USA earning a Gold Medal this year at the World Games.

“Ava is a very dynamic player that can literally do it all,” Vincent Jefferson believes.

“She’s a true 5 tool player that can hit for power and average.  Defensively, she is extremely fun to watch making plays that you typically see from D1 players.  This young lady is very talented and has a bright future in this game!”

*** Coach Alexandra Rodriguez of John M. Harlan High in the San Antonio area says:

“Ava is one of the most athletic and hardworking young athletes you’ll ever meet.”

“Her versatility allows her to excel in any role, and her incredible speed makes her a constant threat on the field, but what truly sets her apart is her softball IQ and her ability to anticipate plays, make smart decisions, and approach the game with a deep understanding beyond her years.”

“Combined with her undeniable passion and relentless drive to learn and improve, she inspires those around her every time she steps onto the field. With her dedication and talent, her future in the game is truly limitless.” 

*** Another high school coach on the Ava bandwagon is John “Carp” Carpenter, a longtime fixture in Texas high school and club softball who moved to Idaho and now has Owyee High ranked as one of the best in the Gem State.

“IQ is everything and the softball instincts Ava Eskridge possesses is off the charts,” he says. “Her defensive skills up the middle and her range gives her an edge immediately! Couple these traits with her work ethic and energy toward teammates makes Ava a tremendous top ‘32 in the country.”

*** The 11-year-old has also caught the eye of those in the travel ball world.

*** Cadence Beck, a coach for the Texas 96 Fastpitch program and current player at Paris (Texas) Junior College, says:

“”Ava is a very versatile athlete on the field, from her energy to her effort, every piece is an advantage.”

“She has one of the best softball IQ’s especially for her age and you can tell she aspires to go far in her career. Anyone who has her on their team is very blessed and she will make a huge impact on the game of softball.”

*** Heath Mentzer, the owner of Diamond Legacy CTX and coach in the club organization, is also a big fan of Ava’s.

“Ava is in that rare 3% category of young athletes who display a dedication academically, culturally, and athletically that is inspiring and rare.”

“Athletically, she has all the tools: speed, quickness, agility, strength, and power, fueled by countless hours of training – both strength and conditioning.

“At a collegiate level, we judge athletes in this capacity not by what her team and coaches instruct them to do, but purely off the self-motivated effort and time given did she dedicates on her own in which Ava is in the top 1%. Based off this amazing dedication, fundamentally and statistically, she is in a top 10% as far as the mechanics and her application and competition level against her peers, which is purely inspiring.”

*** Even a Big Twelve college coach has been impressed.

Meagan Diaz, an assistant coach at Baylor University, first met Ava and her family in the Fall of 2022 at a prospect game.

Ava’s mother remembers:

“We were surprising Ava with a chance to meet Janae Jefferson and didn’t know that the camp was for high school players only but Coach Diaz and Coach Bruce Lenington allowed her to participate.”

“Coach Meagan told us Ava is super special that day and ever since has always supported Ava’s journey and kept in contact with us. She always tells Ava that (Baylor colors) green and yellow would look good on her!”

“Ava is a talented player with an exceptional work ethic and positive attitude,” the college coach explains.

“She’s dedicated to daily improvement, enjoyable to work with, and has a very bright future ahead.” 

Trainer Feedback

Impressively, the Austin-based athlete has been working with trainers for the last three years which has helped her get to where she is today.

*** For two and a half years, Ava trained with Jeremiah Gabriel who was also her youth coach. He raves about his time getting to know the young athlete and see her drive to better herself.

“Ava is a phenomenal athlete whose skill set and mental IQ are ahead of her years,” she begins.

“Her natural athleticism combined with the ability to comprehend, retain and apply info allow her to be the high level playmaker she is.”

“Work ethic is the foundation of Ava’s path to success and her commitment and dedication to getting better are admirable. The attention to detail and intensity she applies in training sessions and games always stand out.”

“Ava is one of the most driven and talented athletes I’ve had the privilege to coach. When the opportunity with the Texas Bombers Gold 12U team came up, I encouraged her and her family to take it because she was ready to be surrounded by elite-level development and leadership.”

“This move wasn’t about leaving a coach or a trainer  — it’s about stepping into the environment that will unlock the next level of her success. She’s prepared for this next level and it was something we knew would come.”

“I’ll always stand behind her as she continues chasing greatness on the field. Ava is a class of 2032 to definitely keep an eye out for and to not write a book on her was a hard task for me!”

*** With the move to the Bombers, Ava began training with Coach Eric Poggenburg, a former pro football player and a performance specialist today who has been working with the athlete on bettering her speed and agility, as well as her knowledge about running and athletic movements.

“In the world of speed,” he says, “it is a skill that is always seen by everyone in the room and since the very first day of training, Ava has been that athlete with raw talent at a young age mixed with an internal drive to learn and outwork any competition.”

“That is who Ava is an athlete. She is young but she doesn’t let that hold her back from competing with athlete at the high school level right now. She has a bright future that only can be held back by herself!”

“Ava takes coaching like a pro and puts it to work almost immediately—a skill that is asked for by all coaches but rarely found in athletes twice her age.”

“Despite truly wanting and working to win at every skill we work on she is still a fun and supportive athlete in groups! An athlete five years older than her doesn’t stop her from having a great time, laughing, competing and having fun while still putting the work like a pro.” 

What Does the Future Hold?

It comes as no surprise that Ava’s parents have athletic backgrounds.

Her father, Dominique Eskridge, was an elite football player in high school and her mother was a select volleyball player.

The parent’s athletic genes together created one of the most promising young softball players in the game today and, to show a sign of the times, though she’s five years away from having her driver’s license, Ava has already been under contract for three years as a Mizuno Fastpitch Athlete.

Just imagine what type of NIL deal Ava will get when she does get to college.

But the future is now and just recently the new Texas Bombers Gold 12U team made it to the championship game of a tournament (although rain cancelled the title game), an impressive accomplishment for the short amount of time the team’s been together.

Her resume already strong, Ava is more excited than ever about what lies ahead of her between the lines.

“What I love most about this sport is there’s always something I want to learn or be better at on the field or in the box which makes me work harder all the time,” she ponders.

“I like how every game is different and how you always have to be ready for the next play, I love to have a high IQ on the field too!”

“I want to become the best triple threat in the softball world and also the best middle infielder. My goals are to keep getting better and stronger (thanks to my dad because he helped me get strong in the gym for like three years now), help my team win, and play at the highest level one day.”

“I can see myself playing for Texas, Baylor, UCLA, Florida State or  Florida one day but also would like to play for Harvard too because I’m always working to have the top grades in the best classes.”

“My school challenges me a lot – we have a lot of class work – and sometime I may struggle mentally with it but my parents have helped me understand that everything I can do now to be the best student-athlete I can be will help me have a successful future and show my little sister Eva the right way to do things so that she’s successful too.”

“I’m excited to see what me and Eva can do in our futures with softball because the game is getting bigger. I got to be on the ESPNW page and I see more softball stuff on ESPN now and I’m just really excited about it growing.”

And many in the sport are excited to see how Ava will grow in it too.

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball