One of the first articles published when Line Drive Softball began last month was the fun story of 2028 two-sport standout Paitlyn Vidano.

As we get more into the 2028 class and the upcoming 2028 Line Drive HOT 100, we thought it would be a good idea to introduce this talent young athlete to the our ever-growing softball audience who may have joined us after this article went live.

One of the best parts of our work here at Line Drive Softball is getting tell the stories of these wonderful athletes… here’s one of them about a player to watch in the next round of player rankings….

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball

Rarely, do you find such a talented young student-athlete who knows exactly what she wants in life as does Paitlyn Vidano, a 2028 grad from Southern California who plays in the highly accomplished OC Batbusters organization and is already making a name for herself in competitions locally and across the country.

And that’s not just limited to softball.

The young athlete has also shined on the wrestling mat for her Twin Peaks Middle School in Poway, Calif., taking third place in sectionals last season.

The two-sport star feels training and competing in both sports has improved her all-around athleticism.

“Wrestling and softball are similar in the level of hard work and the type of physical exercise they both require,” Paityn explains.

“However, they are different because softball is a team sport. This means that losses are the team’s and softball is a game of failures. Wrestling is a team sport, but it’s each person’s responsibility to succeed or fail through trial and error. It takes a different mentality for an athlete to go between both.”

Paityn also believes each sport enhances the other and the sum of her athleticism is greater than the individual parts.

“The physical training I do for each sport focuses on building core and limb strength,” she believes.

“This means the more I practice one sport, the stronger I get for the other. The mental training from wrestling specifically is a huge help with softball. I use the mental strength from wrestling and translate it into my mentality in the batter’s box.”

Paityn comes from a very athletic family as her father, Craig Vidano, was drafted by the MLB and he played multiple sports as a standout athlete, even making his school’s athletic Hall of Fame, before an injury in 1991 forced him to end his promising baseball career.

Her little brother, Neiko Vidano, is a champion golfer who has won tour championships at the young age of eight including the US Kids Open 2020 and the Future Champions Junior Golf Tournament.

In her short but promising softball career, Paityn has earned multiple MVP awards herself and has also been recognized by other organizations’ coaches for being a leader and having a demeanor on the field and in the box that makes her stand out.

To be sure, Paitlyn has seen her share of successes on the softball fields too.

The fast-rising catcher and centerfielder has competed at a high level in some of the biggest tournaments in the Pacific Coast Fastpitch League (PCFL) as well as in PGF and AFA events against some of the best competition nationwide. 

In the Fall season, she carried a batting average of .449, an OPS of 1.056, with 48 hits, 31 RBIs, 33 runs scored and a stolen base percentage of a stellar 95.8 percent.

Paityn has played in the Softball Youth All-American games and was given an invite to be part of the Softball Youth Elite program, where talented athletes are selected from the All-American Games to play in the SoftballFest, a national tournament.

The current eighth grader has received the Silver Slugger award after leading a tournament with a batting average of .750 in her age bracket and she has also been recognized by Athletes Go Live for being in the Top 5 with a batting average over .500.

But this isn’t anything new for Paityn, who has held achievements such these for most of her softball career.

During her 10U and 12U seasons, she helped lead her team to multiple championships such as the Triple Crown World Series, AFA Nationals 10U and 12U and multiple other Triple Crown and PCFL events.

The last 12 months have been tremendous for Paityn as she competed up at 14U and batted .449 with a .496 on-base percentage and a 1.056 OPS with 48 hits, 31 RBs and 33 runs scored.

Asked which accomplishment she’s most proud of and she goes back to last year in her selection.

“I am probably most proud of our AFA Championship win in 2023,” continues Paityn.

“After three years of going back and battling the same teams who have been working just as hard to get better, it showed us that our hard work has finally paid off. Each year coming back without a win just pushed me to train harder.”

Today, she plays in the prestigious Batbusters club program under the watchful eye of her father, and it’s been a productive relationship so far.

“Having my dad as my coach encourages me to work harder because so many people watch me and want me to fail so they can say my dad is not a good coach,” Paityn explains. “But it just makes me work harder and train to be better so I can prove them wrong.”

She was asked if having her father for her head coach has its upsides and downsides. 

“It can be hard,” the athlete explains, “because he’s my dad and when he’s giving me advice on the field or correcting me, I have to remember that in this moment he is not my dad but my coach. Those two positions—father and coach—require different levels of respect and I must remember that how I may react to something at home is not how I should react on the field.”

Paityn admits that, as much as she loves playing for her father, there’s another head coach she someday hopes to play for.

“I really look up to Patty Gasso, the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners softball team,” she admits. “Coach Gasso has led her team to three national championships in a row and her coaching style and the way she pushes her players to succeed makes me want to play for her.”

That’s not the only future goal Paitlyn is shooting for: she has her life planned out for more than a decade down the road.

“Right now, I really just want to pass eighth grade with straight A’s,” she explains of her goal for 2024.

And beyond?

“I would love to play for Mike Stith, the owner of the Batbusters (travel ball) organization,” Paitlyn says. “After that, I want to make it to OU (Oklahama) and play for Coach Gasso, win a national championship, and graduate college as a forensic anthropologist.”

“Then, maybe, earn a doctorate by age 30.”

— Brentt Eads, Line Drive Softball

*****

Scroll down to read more about this tremendous two-sport athlete including a detailed scouting report of her skills on the fastpitch fields…

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VIDANO VITALS:

• Player: PAITLYN VIDANO
• Position(s): C/CF/UT              
• Class: 2028
• GPA: 3.90                  
• School: Twin Peaks Middle School (Poway, Calif.)
• Club Team: OC Batbusters – Vidano                                              
• Home City/ST: Poway, Calif. 
• Parents: Craig & Ellie Vidano

SCOUTING REPORT:

As one of the elite catchers in the 2028 class, Paityn consistently pushes herself to the next level in every aspect of the game.  Behind the plate, her arm is a force to be reckoned with, deterring even the most daring base runners.  Paityn is equally formidable in center field.  Her range and ability to track down balls is exceptional, putting her on par with centerfielders in higher age divisions.

Paityn is an offensive threat every time she steps to the plate. Her lightning-fast hands makes her one of the hardest outs in her class and enables her high contact rate and high on base percentage. This is key in clutch situations where she thrives, as she can always be counted on to put the ball in play and advance runners.

Paityn is the player you want in critical moments, always ensuring the job gets done and at one point this year led the Batbusters – Vidano with 29 RBIs which was 5^th in the Alliance rankings for 2028 class despite her hitting second in the lineup. 

Paityn also has a very high softball IQ when it comes to running bases as well.  She has been ranked as high as 4th in Alliance for the 2028 class with over 20 stolen bases.

Beyond her on-field achievements, Paityn has earned high praise from coaches, teammates, and fellow softball enthusiasts.

Her dedication to being the best player possible is evident in her work ethic, game knowledge, and positive attitude.  You would be hard pressed to find someone who works harder than Paityn, as she has a steady routine of practicing game skills (hitting, fielding), taking catching lessons, weightlifting and speed and agility training to improve herself as a player and help her team achieve its goals and, as explained previously, she’s a success on the wrestling mats and that training has greatly enhanced her softball skills.

As a team player, Paityn has showcased her ability to lead her team with a combination of drive, charisma, and an in-depth understanding of the game. Her contributions make her a valuable asset, and she embodies the spirit of a true softball player.  Paityn’s multifaceted skills, leadership qualities, and dedication to the game make her an exceptional player and a true asset to any team.”has