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.

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Here’s our TFP for Monday, Sept. 9, 2024:

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THE FINAL PITCH: AVA TAPIA

Uncommitted 2026 C Ava Tapia recently talked to Line Drive Media about Firecrackers Select-Rico/Brashear, Alliance Nationals, Team Mexico’s Junior National Team, WBSC U-18 World Cup, winning a PGF 10U Premier national championship in 2019, tough opponents, silent battles, future college, teaching or psychology, English, Simone Biles, “The Great Gatsby,” radio, “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” “Baby Driver” and cooking and baking.

THE FINAL PITCH Q&A

Name: Ava Tapia

Hometown: Upland, CA

High School: Upland High

Club Team: Firecrackers Select-Rico/Brashear 18U

Graduation Year: 2026

Height: 5-7

Position/s: C

Nickname: I really only have one nickname, “AJ,” short for Ava James, which was given to me by my grandpa when I was a baby and he’s still the only one who calls me that to this day.

Social Media: @avajamestapia on Twitter and Instagram

Honors: Alliance Super Cup Offensive MVP (2024), made the U-15 and U-18 Mexico National Olympic Teams, helped Mexico win a Silver medal in the first ever U-15 WBSC Pan Am Games in Peru, helped Mexico win a Bronze medal at U-18 WBSC Pan Am Games in Colombia and helped Mexico win a berth in the 2025 U-18 WBSC World Cup in Dallas.

Travel Ball Summer 2024 Stats: Hitting — .437 AVG (21 for 48), 8 doubles, 5 HRs, 20 RBIs, 7 BBs, .500 OBP; Defense — 77 innings caught, 4 caught stealing and 1 pick off.