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 7, 2025:

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THE FINAL PITCH: TAYLOR WORKMAN

Uncommitted 2027 SS/IF Taylor Workman recently talked to Line Drive Media about Warrior Academy-McDonald, PGF/Alliance Nationals, helping her team win the recent Top Club Nationals 16U title, California players, mental game, tough opponents, overcoming injury, Dan and Sarah Workman, future college, college camps, psychology, history, Freddie Freeman and Kobe Bryant, “The Secret Garden,” Taylor Swift, drama, “Mulan” and the guitar.

THE FINAL PITCH Q&A

Name: Taylor Workman

Hometown: San Mateo, CA

High School: Aragon High

Club Team: Warrior Academy-McDonald 16U/18U

Graduation Year: 2027

Height: 5-7

Position/s: SS/IF

Nickname: “Tay.” People have always called me Tay.

Social Media: @tay.workman8 on Instagram

Honors: Co-player of the year for Peninsula Athletic League.

Travel Ball Summer 2024 Stats: .422 AVG, .500 OBP, 1.128 OPS, 5 HRs and 20 SBs.

Travel Ball Fall 2024 Stats: .362 AVG, .434 OBP, .954 OPS, 2 HRs and 18 SBs.

High School Spring 2025 Stats: .597 AVG, .674 OBP, 1.743 OPS, 2 HRs and 19 SBs.

Travel Ball Summer 2025 Stats (So Far): 16U — .407 AVG, .485 OBP, .892 OPS, 0 HRs and 4 SBs; 18U — .484 AVG, .492 OBP, 1.30 OPS, 5 HRs and 12 SBs.

Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I joined the Warriors right before I turned 12 (years old). Warrior Academy is the first and only club I’ve played for. I knew I wanted to play in college and when I met my coach, Ray McDonald, he said that with the Warriors I could have the opportunity to get really good and play the highest level of club softball.

Tell us about your experience at PGF/Alliance Nationals? Nationals last year was such a unique experience for me because I played down in LA for three weeks in a row. First, we played 16s (Triple Crown) Nationals, followed by 16s PGF (Nationals) and then 14s Alliance (Nationals). It was definitely tiring, but such a fun way to end the summer because I got to play almost non-stop.

Can you tell us about helping your team win the recent 16U Top Club Nationals title? Top Club was such a fun tournament to play in and all the games were super competitive. We went 0-2 in pool play, so we came out in bracket really wanting to get a win. Personally, it’s really important to me to always play with high energy, especially on defense through communicating with my teammates and make sure the pitchers have a positive voice in their ear. I think a huge factor of us winning Top Club was the energy the whole team brought to the weekend.

What makes players from the state of California special? The weather in California is great, so it makes it possible for us to be outdoors year-round, especially in Northern California where I’m from. There’s nothing keeping us from being out on fields or playing games, so I would think that contributes to making players from California special.

What was your biggest focus in the offseason? My biggest focus this offseason was the mental aspect of my game. It’s something that I’ve come to realize needs as much work as anything physical that I’m doing.

Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? I don’t really think in terms of one toughest opponent and what we like to say at the Warriors is that every team or player is just a nameless, faceless, enemy. That way, no one is overlooked because they’re not considered “good” and no one is treated like a bigger deal than they really are. In the end, we just want to beat everybody.

What have you faced/overcome in life that has made you the person you are today? The biggest setback I’ve faced in my softball life was last year when I tore my hip flexor. Obviously, the physical aspect of recovery was very challenging, but the mental part of getting back to a hundred percent was extremely hard for me.

Do you have any family members/siblings that are athletes? My parents — Dan and Sarah Workman — both played college basketball at UC Davis.

What are you looking for in a future college? I want to go to a college where I can play for a national championship. It’s always been one of my goals to compete for a title wherever I end up going. It’s also important to me to be in the right kind of environment where the coaches have high expectations of all their players and also genuinely care about every player on the roster meeting their highest possible potential.

What college camps have you attended and are you planning to attend and why? I’ve attended camps at Georgia, Stanford, Arkansas, Washington and UCLA so far. I’m also going to go to camp at Clemson and, maybe, a few other schools after this summer is over.

What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I am interested in pursuing psychology in the future, although I’m not sure what specifically within that. Really, though, I just want to find something I’m passionate about once I can’t play softball anymore.

What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? My favorite subject in school is history. I think that’s in part because I love to read, but also because I like having an understanding about why the world is like it is, right now.

Who is your sports hero and why? I actually have two sports heroes: Freddie Freeman and Kobe Bryant. I don’t have any reason for Freddie other than the fact that he hits missiles, but to me that’s enough. I’ve loved watching him on TV and got to see him live once against the Giants at Oracle Park. Kobe is my other sports hero because of his work ethic and drive to be the best. His philosophies about hard work and showing up every day have always been an inspiration to me.

What’s your favorite book to read and why? My favorite book to read is “The Secret Garden” by Francis Hodgson Burnett. It’s definitely my comfort book that I’ve read and re-read multiple times. The writing is so vivid that it always feels real when I’m reading it and I love feeling that way with books.

What’s the best hype song and why? I don’t have one song that always hypes me up, but I’m a huge Swiftie so I’m almost always blasting Taylor Swift to hype me up.

What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? I don’t have a favorite TV show, but I love anything that’s super dramatic.

What’s your favorite movie and why? My favorite movie is “Mulan.” It’s always so comforting to me to watch animated movies and I find myself choosing to watch “Mulan” over and over again.

Do you have a secret talent/skill? My secret talent is the guitar. I started playing when I was young because I wanted to be able to play Taylor Swift songs. I’m definitely not amazing at it, but I still really enjoy playing as a casual hobby.

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NEWS & NOTES

***USA Softball GOLD Nationals are July 9-15 in OKC. To follow the tournament online, CLICK HERE.

***Atlanta Legacy Showcase Invitational is July 10-13 in Atlanta, GA. To follow the tournament online, CLICK HERE.

***Triple Crown Southwest Summer Nationals is July 10-13 in Round Rock/Georgetown/Taylor/College Station, TX. To follow the tournament online, CLICK HERE.

***Easton Invite is July 10-13 in Orland Park, IL. (To follow the tournament online, CLICK HERE.

***Wilson Fastpitch Championships is July 12-13 in Chino Hills/Lake Elsinore, CA. To follow the tournament online, CLICK HERE.

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SIGNING/COMMITMENT ALERTS

Scarlett Kuhn (2025, IF, Texas Glory/Southlake Carroll Senior High, TX, Minnesota)

We are so excited for our four newest #Gophers!

Get to know Kylin, Scarlett, Carter, and Keali at the link below.

🗞️ https://t.co/3xyGFfXOPB#SkiUMah | #Gophers〽️ pic.twitter.com/FNdyaEMrXZ

— Minnesota Softball (@GopherSoftball) November 13, 2024

Kylinn Stangl (2025, P, Midwest Speed/Mankato East High, MN, Minnesota)

𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐭𝐚, 𝐊𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐧!

🏠 Madison Lake, Minnesota
🎓 Mankato East High School#SkiUMah | #Gophers〽️ pic.twitter.com/o09GenP87W

— Minnesota Softball (@GopherSoftball) November 13, 2024

Keali Cochran (2025, IF, BSC Bengals/Beaumont High, CA, Minnesota)

Carter Raymond (2025, UT, Minnesota Force/Randolph High, N, Minnesota)

It’s official✍️✍️ https://t.co/Js4rvPgfbN

— Carter Raymond (@CarterRaymond25) 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 …

Sundays at 7, on the dot, no matter what.

Watch this new clip from Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps and experience the film in theaters July 25. Get tickets now: https://t.co/RSCFppsx3Apic.twitter.com/ddRKVFzb5R

— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) July 6, 2025

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