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, July 21, 2025:

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THE FINAL PITCH: HAZEL RENTERIA

Uncommitted 2028 MIF Hazel Renteria recently talked to Line Drive Media about BSC Bengals-R. Briggs, PGF Nationals, helping her team win the recent 14U Broomfield IDT, California players, mechanics/fundamentals, Athletics Mercado 2010-Tidd/Iwai and OC Batbusters-Stith/AG, being pushed, athletic family, future college, college camps, veterinarian, math, Jose Altuve, “Percy Jackson & the Olympians,” TI, “Outer Banks” and “The Sandlot.”

THE FINAL PITCH Q&A

Name: Hazel Renteria

Hometown: Maywood, CA

High School: Downey High

Club Team: BSC Bengals-R. Briggs 14U

Graduation Year: 2028

Height: 5-2

Position/s: MIF

Nickname: “Hazel Bazel.” I got this nickname from my Bengals’ teammates in 12U.

Social Media: @hazzzel26 on Instagram

Honors: Honor Roll 4.0, Student athlete and Scholar-Athlete Award (2025).

Travel Ball Summer 2024 Stats: 68 games, 153 PAs, 128 ABs, .398 AVG, .483 OBP, .999 OPS, .516 SLG and 51 hits.

Travel Ball Fall 2024 Stats: 33 games, 86 PAs, 70 ABs, .457 AVG, .535 OBP, 1.135 OPS, .600 SLG and 32 hits.

High School Spring 2025 Stats: 30 games, 107 PAs, 86 ABs, .326 AVG and 28 hits.

Travel Ball Summer 2025 Stats (So Far): 28 games, 73 PAs, 65 ABs, .492 AVG, .534 OBP, .1.365 OPS, .831 SLG and 32 hits.

Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I became involved with the Bengals’ organization when one of my old teammates invited me to try out alongside her for a new-forming Bengals’ team.

Tell us about your experience at PGF Nationals? My experience at PGF Nationals has been great, extremely competitive, inspiring and has had a huge impact on my life. PGF has pushed me to play my best and become better because of the situations it puts me in when playing against some of the best teams.

Can you talk about helping your team win the recent 14U Broomfield IDT? In the Broomfield, Colorado IDT tournament, I was able to help my team by having good at-bats and good defense. With the good at-bats or hits that I got, it allowed (me) to score some runs and win games.

What makes players from the state of California special? Something that makes players from California so special is our year-round climate because we get to consistently practice and develop with very little weather inconveniences. Also, in California, there are many elite programs that help the youth develop and become successful.

What was your biggest focus in the offseason? My biggest focus in the offseason (was) to work on mechanics/fundamentals, fix any mistakes or make adjustments and to get stronger.

Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? The teams that have been my toughest opponents are Athletics Mercado-Tidd/Iwai 2010 and OC Batbusters-Stith/AG because they are very competitive and to beat them you have to play the very best you can.

What have you faced/overcome in life that has made you the person you are today? Something that I have faced is being pushed by many people to be the best, which has helped me be stronger mentally and physically because it made me think differently than others may think.

Do you have any family members/siblings that are athletes? Yes, I have two brothers — Xavier and Andrew Renteria. Xavier, older brother, plays baseball; and Andrew, younger brother, also plays baseball.

What are you looking for in a future college? In a future college, I am looking for a good education and a good softball program.

What college camps have you attended and are you planning to attend and why? I haven’t attended any college camps, yet, but I will be attending the upcoming LSU college camp for more exposure to colleges.

What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? For the future, I am interested in being a veterinarian because I like to help animals.

What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? My favorite subject to study in school is math because it’s something I enjoy doing and it is something I can use in the real world.

Who is your sports hero and why? My sports hero is Jose Altuve (a nine-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion for the Houston Astros) because he is undersized and overlooked and I related to some of his experiences.

What’s your favorite book to read and why? My favorite book to read is “Percy Jackson & The Olympians” (by Rick Riordan): “The Lightning Thief” because it includes family, friendship and challenges that needed to be overcome to keep going in his life.

What’s the best hype song and why? The best hype song is “Bring Em Out” by TI because of the beat and the confident lyrics.

What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? My favorite TV show to binge is “Outer Banks” because it shows kids being adventurous and smart to find treasure and outsmart others.

What’s your favorite movie and why? “The Sandlot” is my favorite movie because I grew up watching it and because it’s kids being adventurous and playing sports.

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NEWS & NOTES

***PGF Nationals for 18U Premier/18UPlatinum/16U Premier/16U Platinum will be held July 19-26 in Orange County, CA. To follow the tournament online, CLICK HERE.

***Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series (AFCS) for 18U/16U will be held July 20-27 in Kokomo, IN. To follow the tournament online, CLICK HERE.

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SIGNING/COMMITMENT ALERTS

Taryn Calderon (2025, IF, Batbusters Gomes/Central Catholic High, CA, UNLV)

✍️ SIGNED and headed to Las Vegas!

Welcome to the Rebel family, Taryn! pic.twitter.com/P5zD9MYlCs

— UNLV Softball (@UNLVSoftball) November 13, 2024

Lauren Fettic (2025, P/1B, Colorado Batbusters National-Smith/Bishop Kelly High, ID, UNLV)

✍️ Headed to the Las Vegas desert!

Welcome to the Rebel family, Lauren! pic.twitter.com/im3CAg9Pgr

— UNLV Softball (@UNLVSoftball) November 13, 2024

Hailey Gilbertson (2025, OF, Lil Rebels-Gordie/TC/Foothill High, NV, UNLV)

✍️ She's officially a Rebel!

Welcome to the Rebel family, Hailey! pic.twitter.com/znIGbDhdBy

— UNLV Softball (@UNLVSoftball) November 13, 2024

Lyla Gonzalez (2025, IF, OC Batbusters-Stith/Maroon/Chino Hills High, CA, UNLV)

✍️ Norco → Vegas

Welcome to the Rebel family, Lyla! pic.twitter.com/pH1x9zheYG

— UNLV Softball (@UNLVSoftball) November 13, 2024

Brooklyn Heil (2025, OF/UT, CO Impact Gold Premier/Grandview High, CO, UNLV)

✍️ Pen to paper!

Welcome to the Rebel family, Brooklyn! pic.twitter.com/6HWrq3AU5P

— UNLV Softball (@UNLVSoftball) November 13, 2024

Sophie Stockam (2025, P/IF, Aces Fastpitch Club/Mazie South High, KS, UNLV)

✍️ Midwest to the West Coast!

Welcome to the Rebel family, Sophie! pic.twitter.com/FxvpxXG9PW

— UNLV Softball (@UNLVSoftball) November 13, 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 …

Napheesa Collier just scored the MOST POINTS EVER in a WNBA All-Star Game 🚨🤯

36 PTS
9 REB
13/16 FG pic.twitter.com/J4rCbmOUs5

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 20, 2025

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