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, March 31, 2025:

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THE FINAL PITCH: ELIZABETH “LIZZIE” PATTERSON

Uncommitted 2031 RBP/1B Elizabeth “Lizzie” Patterson recently talked to Line Drive Media about Athletics Mercado 2031-Patterson, PGF Nationals, Tennessee players, hitting and staying in shape, Kentucky Chrome 2013 Premier, shyness, Jillian Patterson, future college, college camps, medical field, math, Freddie Freeman, KB, “The Rookie,” “A Walk To Remember” and hairstyling.

THE FINAL PITCH Q&A

Name: Elizabeth Patterson

Hometown: Henderson, TN

Middle School: Chester County Junior High

Club Team: Athletics Mercado 2031-Hunter 12U

Graduation Year: 2031

Height: 5-3.5

Position/s: RHP/1B

Nickname: “Liz”

Social Media: @elizabethpatterso339 on TikTok

Honors: Junior High Beta Club

Travel Ball Summer 2024 Stats: Hitting — .327 AVG, 34 hits, 32 RBIs, 6 doubles, 3 triples, 1 HR; Pitching — 131 IP, 11-3, 221 Ks, 1.80 ERA,

Travel Ball Fall 2024 Stats: Hitting — .293 AVG, 12 its, 11 RBIs; Pitching — 45.1 IP, 10-2, 43 Ks, 2.10 ERA

Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? Athletics Mercado works to develop players to work hard, play hard and be the best teammates we can be. Our coaches care about our progress on and off the field. After several tryouts, I was invited to tryout with the Athletics Mercado team. I quickly bonded with my teammates and my coaches were wonderful. It felt like home and it was everything I had been searching for in a team. They had talent, great coaches and the schedule was very competitive.

Tell us about your experience at PGF Nationals? Loved playing difficult competition and the best players from all over. (I) loved seeing friends that I’ve met from other teams at other tournaments. I was very excited to win my first PGF trophy this year. It made me feel all my hard work paid off.

What makes players from the state of Tennessee special? The bond and the love we have for each other no matter what team we’re on.

What was your highlight of the fall? What have you been focusing on this offseason? Making my junior team and going undefeated as a pitcher all season. During the offseason, I’ve been focusing on my hitting and staying in shape.

Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? (Ava Newell of) Kentucky Chrome Premier 2013. Every time we have played them it has always been a tough game.

What have you faced/overcome in life that has made you the person you are today? I’ve always been a shy person, but playing softball and picking up with different teams has helped me overcome that and I’ve made some lifelong friends as a result.

Do you have any family members/siblings that are athletes? Jillian Patterson, cousin, softball

What are you looking for in a future college? That they have a good medical program and if I’m lucky enough to play sports, I have good teammates and coaches with a winning attitude.

What college camps have you attended and are you planning to attend and why? Freed-Hardeman University. I hope to attend camps at both the University of Tennessee and Oklahoma University because I would love to attend one of these universities.

What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? Anything in the medical field.

What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? Math because it’s the subject I am the best at.

Who is your sports hero and why? Freddie Freeman. When I first started playing ball, I played first base and he was a first baseman on my favorite team, the Atlanta Braves.

What’s your favorite book to read and why? I don’t have one.

What’s the best hype song and why? “Church Clap” (by KB feat. Lecrae). It gets me fired up before every at-bat.

What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? At the moment, “The Rookie” because it’s really entertaining.

What’s your favorite movie and why? “A Walk to Remember.”

Do you have a secret talent/skill? I’m really good at braiding hair and I’m the team braider.

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NEWS & NOTES

***Triple Crown Big League Dreams Tournament is April 5-6 in Lake Elsinore/Fountain Valley/Chino Hills, CA. To follow the tournament online, CLICK HERE.

***Select Fastpitch-Jones/Byrn went 7-0 en route to winning the 18U title at the Top Club National Spring Invitational this past weekend in Oklahoma.

Florida State-bound 2025 SS Marin Heller hit .824 (14 of 17) with four homers and a double to lead Select Fastpitch this past weekend.

“She is one of the top 25s in the country … hands down,” Select Fastpitch coach Eric Jones said.

***Nebraska Gold National-Boyer went 7-1 en route to winning the 16U title at the Top Club National Spring Invitational this past weekend in Oklahoma.

Nebraska-Omaha-committed 2026 1B/3B/P/SS Alisha McMurtry (0.00 ERA, 38 Ks, .538 AVG, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HRs), South Dakota-committed 2026 C/1B Laini Michaelis (.632 AVG, 2 HRs), 2027 SS/3B Hadley Madson (.545 AVG, 3 doubles, 3 triples, 1 HR) and 2026 MIF/UT Brenly Noerlinger (.500 AVG, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR) were Nebraska Gold’s leaders for the tournament.

“(The) girls performed well for the first time being outside this year,” Nebraska Gold coach Craig Boyer said.”Two of the Gold DNA pillars that really showed was ‘Not about You’ as everyone played a role in the team’s success. The other pillar that showed was ‘Workers Always Win’ as the girls have been putting in work in the offseason. (We’re) looking forward to competing with this group the rest of the year.”

***Oklahoma Premier Fastpitch Futures 2013-Arias went 5-1 en route to winning the 12U title at the Top Club National Spring Invitational this past weekend in Oklahoma.

2031 P Bella Hood (0.93 ERA, 10 Ks), 2031 P/1B Harmoneigh White (1.86 ERA, 10 Ks) and 2031 P/1B Layla L’Hommedieu (12 Ks) were the pitching leaders for OPF and 2031 MIF/OF Hennah-Layla Arias (.583 AVG, .688 OBP), 2031 C Palmer Miner (.467 AVG, 8 RBIs), L’Hommedieu (.429 AVG, 10 RBIs) and 2031 3B Tatum Frisby (.400 AVG, 8 RBIs) were the offensive leaders.

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SIGNING/COMMITMENT ALERTS

Avery Killian (2026, C/3B, Georgia Impact-Taylor/Mount Carmel Academy High, LA, Florida)

Big congratulations for Avery Killian (2026) on her commitment to the University of Florida! 🐊 She put in a lot of hard work and commitment to get here but the work doesn’t stop here! 🟠🔵🟠🔵 @AveryKillian26 pic.twitter.com/gQ4chslN2d

— LouisianaVoodooSoftball (@LA__Voodoo) September 9, 2024

Bailey Ullman (2025, C/IF, Virginia Glory National-Mertz/Laurel High, DE, Maryland)

Couldn’t be anymore excited, Go Terps!🐢❤️@CoachLaurenKarn @JenLapicki @Katey_hendi @GloryGuy99 pic.twitter.com/8w7Wdh0sip

— Bailey Ullman (@Bailey_8_) March 30, 2025

Ella Boyer (2025, C/3B/SS, Texas Blaze United/Oak Ridge High, TX, Kansas)

Shoutout to Ella Boyer for being selected to the PGF All-American Watchlist! Keep working hard kiddo! #BU #BCommitted #BBlaze #BlazeOnhttps://t.co/bbvuOPC4n5@EllaElizabethB @C_robertson10 pic.twitter.com/fBKdCdiqGK

— Blaze United 18U (@blazeunited18) March 17, 2025

Madison Mize (2026, OF, Illusions Premier-Brew/Klein Oak High, TX, Mary Hardin-Baylor)

AGTG! 🙏🏻 I am extremely excited to announce my verbal commitment to play college softball at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor! I would like to thank my parents for always believing in me and pushing me to my truest potential. I would like to thank Coach E, Coach Mike, Coach… pic.twitter.com/e9Gla65gsO

— Madison “Maddie” Mize 2026 (@madisonmsb) March 30, 2025

Kamryn Cancienne (2026, LHP/1B, Louisiana Voodoo-Barksdale/Traub/Riverside Academy High, LA, Delta State)

I am incredibly excited and blessed to announce my verbal commitment to Delta State University to further my academic and athletic career. I want to begin by thanking God for guiding me through all the challenges that led me to this point. I am truly thankful for everyone who has… pic.twitter.com/zUnB4K5VYq

— Kamryn “Kam” Cancienne/2026/LHP (@KamrynCancienne) March 27, 2025

Stormy Gail (2025, 1B/3B/UT, Mojo-Munoz/Father Gabriel Richard High, MI, Franciscan)

COMMITTED!!! 💚💛🤍
I would love to thank all my coaches, family, and friends who have helped me on my recruiting journey. Can’t wait for the next 4 years!! Go Barons!! pic.twitter.com/hq51H1Bm75

— Stormy Gail (@stormy_gail) March 31, 2025

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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 …

‘COYOTE VS ACME’ has been officially saved by Ketchup Entertainment, who bought the film for $50M

They plan to give the film a worldwide theatrical release in 2026. pic.twitter.com/2HUls3ztkq

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) March 31, 2025

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