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, June 6, 2025:
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THE FINAL PITCH: RALEIGH MIZER
Uncommitted 2029 LHP Raleigh Mizer recently talked to Line Drive Media about Frost Falcons-Harr 14U, PGF/Alliance Nationals, Tennessee players, played middle school and fixed mechanics, wining Alliance Spring Bash, toughest opponent, dealing with change, athletic family, future college, college camps, sports media, math, Montana Fouts, the Bible, Survivor, baking shows, Disney movies and writing.
THE FINAL PITCH Q&A
Name: Raleigh Mizer
Hometown: Loudon, TN
Middle School/High School: Undecided
Club Team: Frost Falcons-Harr 14U
Graduation Year: 2029
Height: 5-5
Position/s: LHP
Nickname: Most everybody calls me Raleigh, but my dad has called me “Ra” since I was a little girl and so most of my family still call me Ra.
Social Media: @raleighmizer29 on Instagram and @RaleighMizer29 on Twitter
Honors: Scenic City All-Star (2024), District MVP and Pitcher of the Year Middle School season (2024) and Daughters of the American Revolution Leadership Award.
Travel Ball Summer 2024 Stats: 132.1 IP, 2.06 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 216 Ks, .180 BAA and 48 BBs.
Travel Ball Fall 2024 Stats: 15.1 IP, 3.65 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 9 Ks, .273 BAA and 2 BBs.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? At the Jim Frost Memorial tournament in the spring of 2024, the team I played for at the time played against the Frost Falcons. I held their team to zero runs and they held our team to zero runs the whole game. In the very last inning, Malloree Harr, who is now my teammate, hit a double to score a run in the win. Later on that season, I met Malloree and Coach (Allison) Harr at the Scenic City All-Star games, which would eventually lead to me picking up for them that fall. I picked up for them a few times and I loved playing with such a highly competitive group. Earlier this year in March, I finally decided that the Falcons were the right fit for me and I have enjoyed getting to play with them and win with them this spring.
Tell us about your experience at PGF/Alliance Nationals? I have no experience at PGF/Alliance Nationals.
What makes players from the state of Tennessee special? We play ball in every climate throughout the year. Our spring/summer season
starts in February in freezing, 30 degree weather and ends in August in 95-degree heat. We play in snow flurries and rain in the spring and dusty heat in the summer. Our fall season picks right up in the heat and ends in 40-degree, 8 a.m. morning starts. When we travel to other states, not much surprises us.
What was your highlight of the fall? What have you been focusing on this offseason? I chose not to play Middle School ball in the fall, so outside of tournaments and showcases with my travel ball team, I dedicated myself to fixing my overall mechanics and being more intentional and deliberate about the work I do. This offseason, I have been fortunate enough to train using The Summers Method through the 32 Approach app. This has helped me be more consistent and structured with my workouts and has allowed me to build power and endurance
over the last few months as I prepare for an important season.
Can you talk about helping your team win the Champions Division at the recent Alliance Spring Bash? I have to give all the credit to my teammates and their ability to execute when it mattered throughout the whole tournament. My team is always putting runs on the board, which makes it easier for our pitching staff to do their job efficiently. I was far from having a perfect weekend, so it was important to me that I focused on getting the next out and remaining emotionally stable even when things went wrong. As a pitcher, it is not my job to strike everyone out, I just have to keep the hitters from getting hard contact and let my defense work. I love being on a pitching staff this talented and having teammates that always have my back and can help me out of trouble. I’m very proud of our team and know we will continue
to find success if we work as a team and keep executing at the right moments.
Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? To be honest, my current team has been my toughest opponent, yet. I played against them last spring before I was on their team and they are a very strong offensive force to be reckoned with. Not only that, but defensively they make it nearly impossible to find a way to score runs, as their defenders and pitching staff are solid.
What have you faced/overcome in life that has made you the person you are today? One of the biggest things I’ve had to face is learning how to deal with change. Especially over the past few years, I’ve had to make some hard decisions, however, I’ve learned that being comfortable never pays off. I’ve left teams I can’t forget, I’ve had to leave situations that weren’t helping me grow and I’m ready to make an uncomfortable change when I go to a new high school next year. I’ve
learned to accept that new things don’t have to feel right at first, but you have to give things time to fall into place. As a person who has always struggled with change, I find my peace in knowing that the Lord is in control and that He will make my paths straight if I keep trusting in Him.
Do you have any family members/siblings that are athletes? Brad Mizer, dad, played Lee University baseball; Leah Mizer, mom, played Lee University basketball; Aarron Green, uncle, played University of Tennessee Knoxville basketball; and Charlie Mizer, uncle, played Lee University baseball.
What are you looking for in a future college? I’m looking for a college where I can be challenged both academically and athletically. I want to be somewhere where I can grow as a person just as much as I will grow as an athlete. I’m very serious about my softball performance and I want to go to a school where my coaches and teammates are determined to win every game we play. I want to compete against the best players and teams in the nation, even if it means I will have to grow before I can be successful in the circle.
What college camps have you attended and are you planning to attend and why? Attended: University of Tennessee Prospect Camp (and) Middle Tennessee State University Prospect Camp.
Attending: University of Tennessee Knoxville Prospect Camp — My grandparents and my uncle graduated from the University of Tennessee
Knoxville and me and my family are lifelong Tennessee fans. Tennessee has had some of the best pitchers in softball history and playing in the SEC close to home would be amazing; University of Tennessee Chattanooga Prospect Camp — My travel ball coach, Allison Harr, played at UTC, and my mom earned her doctorate at UTC. I have been fortunate enough to play at Frost Stadium many times and I love the atmosphere and that it is close to home; Lee University Prospect Camp (Pitching and Catching Session) — My parents and other family graduated from Lee University and my parents talk about the close-knit family atmosphere in the entire athletic department. I have been to the campus many times and it is beautiful and I am eager to learn more about Lee and their softball program; Multi-Team Camp at the Triple Crown Sparkler in Colorado with college coaches from: Clemson, NC State, Florida, Texas A&M, San Diego State, Illinois, Western Illinois, Oklahoma State, North Texas, Alabama Birmingham, Auburn and Charlotte. This camp is a great opportunity to get to meet and pitch in front of twelve college programs in a competitive environment. The obvious reason why I am attending these camps is to be recruited. However, it is most important to me that I get to experience and learn as much as I can about each program’s culture and the way the team is managed.
What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? I’m very interested in sports media, especially broadcasting or commentating
across multiple sports. I would also love to stay connected to softball specifically, so I would love to coach collegiate softball or build my own facility and develop a comprehensive pitching program in the Knoxville area. I have been blessed with many great coaches throughout my life who have believed in me even when I didn’t and if I could just impact one person’s life the way I have been impacted, it
would be completely worth it.
What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? My favorite subject in school is definitely math, specifically algebra, because there is always a clear answer and it feels like solving a mystery step by step.
Who is your sports hero and why? My sports hero is Montana Fouts, the pitcher who played at Alabama and is now playing professional softball for the Talons in the AUSL. I have felt inspired by watching Montana pitch since her freshman year at Alabama and watching her
throughout her collegiate years has driven me to always strive for excellence, just as Montana does. One special memory I have of watching Montana is when she threw a perfect game against UCLA in the WCWS in 2021, achieving 21 outs on her 21st birthday! Seeing my favorite pitcher succeed like this led me to believe that absolutely anything is possible! I have been fortunate to meet Montana twice, once at her camp and once when Alabama played Tennessee in Knoxville, and she took her time to actually talk to me about softball and life. I want to be like her with young players no matter what level I pitch at in college.
What’s your favorite book to read and why? My favorite book to read is the bible, because I value my relationship with the Lord over all things. You will never find peace or purpose without the Lord and the best way to do that is to read your Bible! My second favorite book is “Relentless” by Tim Grover. Tim trained Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. His behind-the-scenes look into their mindset and training has been my cheat code to working hard and becoming a mentally mature athlete.
What’s the best hype song and why? My favorite hype song has to be “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor. When I was about 9 years old and still playing rec ball, my dad would play it for me on the way to games and sometimes he would even tell the announcer to play it while I was warming up to pitch! I still listen to it to this day and it reminds me of how far I’ve come. My dad just told me that his coach played this song on repeat while his team trained to win a Dixie Youth Baseball state championship when he was 15 (years old).
What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? I don’t watch a lot of TV, but I used to love to watch baking shows, especially the
ones where random people trying to make professional cakes.
What’s your favorite movie and why? I love any Disney movies, especially “Inside Out” and “Inside Out 2.” I watched “Inside Out” tons of times throughout my childhood and when the second movie came out, I loved it even more than the first one!
Do you have a secret talent/skill? I don’t have any secret talent, but I have always loved writing, whether it be at school, writing about an interesting dream I had, or just writing my own detailed stories at home. I hope to one day write my own book, potentially about my softball career or about another experience that’s shaped who I am.
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NEWS & NOTES
***PGF Show Me The Money is June 6-9 at Gainesville/Newberry, FL. To follow the tournament online, CLICK HERE.
***PGF June Premier Invitational is June 7-9 in Irvine/Anaheim, CA. To follow the tournament online, CLICK HERE.
***Triple Crown Zoom Into June is June 6-9 at Chino Hills/Riverside/Hemet, CA. To follow the tournament online, CLICK HERE.
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SIGNING/COMMITMENT ALERTS
Charleigh Esparza (2025, IF, Strykers National-Esparza/Friendswood High, TX, Baylor)
HOME!!!🐻🐻 https://t.co/4Ix5rznJqI
Gianna Gusman (2026, OF, Explosion Premier/King High, CA, Baylor)
I am so thankful for this opportunity 💚💛 #SicEm #andONE https://t.co/44pigWChOB
Harper Haas (2025, OF, Buzz Fastpitch/Midway High, TX, Baylor)
Excited to announce my verbal commitment to Baylor University. I am so blessed for this opportunity!! SIC’EM 💚💛🐻 @TreyHoldbrook @BuzzCentex @BUMoore @JohniganSteve @coach_diaz22 #godisgood #committed #GoBears #SicEm pic.twitter.com/JzeWNh98Ud
Jayden King (2025, UT/IF, Buzz Fastpitch/Robinson High, TX, Baylor)
SIC EM’ 🐻 https://t.co/QUrfGOhhVf
Kaygen Marshall (2025, UT/IF, Buzz Fastpitch/Robinson High, TX, Baylor)
Lila Toll (2025, IF, Epic National/Vilonia High, AR, Baylor)
💛🖤♥️Officially Signed ♥️🖤💛
Congratulations Ladies! Your dreams are now reality! @JaleyJames - UNT@lila_toll - Baylor@presleeray10 - TULSA pic.twitter.com/nAuwGrIIY6
Olivia Buettner (2025, IF, Titans National 07-Buettner/Denton Ryan High, TX, Baylor)
Denton ➡️ Waco!
💚💛💚#home https://t.co/ZHrtX4kjxo
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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 first trailer for a new real-time strategy ‘GAME OF THRONES’ game has been released.
Releasing in 2026. pic.twitter.com/9Xuw49T8fB
— Carlos Arias, Line Drive Media (Follow Carlos on Twitter @los_stuff)
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