We officially kicked off the nomination process for the Class of 2028 HOT 100 and we’ve had over 200 nominations already!

One player we’re excited to follow again this summer is freshman catcher, outfielder and utility player Paityn Vidano from Poway, Calif.

The Southern California talent continues to impress, going through a strong Spring of ’25 where she hit .393 through her first 12 games playing Div. I high school ball as the only freshman on her Poway High varsity squad.

Paityn’s father, Craig Vidano, is the athlete’s coach in the prestigious OC Batbusters program – they’re playing at 14U currently – and the 2028 grad’s athletic resume is quite accomplished already.

Her coach/father has had the best seat in the house in watching the young athlete develop as a top prospect in her class and comments:

Paityn strengths start with her exceptional grasp of the game at an advanced level. In the batter’s box, she exudes a focused intensity, embodying a competitive and poised mindset.”

“Her confidence radiates not only on the field but also off it, impacting her teammates and opponents. With a powerful arm, she demonstrates impressive strength that adds a significant advantage to her gameplay.”

“Also, Paityn has a remarkable work ethic and approaches each day with a determination to improve, consistently pushing herself to reach new heights.”

“Offensively, the right-hander hit a smoking .486 last year with 90 hits, 43 RBIs and two home runs and also showed her speed and smarts by stealing 32-of-33 bases.”

Her stock continues to rise, and we’ve accumulated a dozen things we find unique to Paityn which underscores why she’s one to watch as an elite player in the Class of 2028:

1. She can play all positions, other than pitcher, at a high level primarily at catcher on the club circuit and in the outfield as a high schooler.
2. Paityn wants to attend the Univ. of Tennessee-Knoxville and study Forensic Anthropology and Fire Science. 
3. She also plays field hockey and soccer at Poway High and was 3^rd in her district as a 7^th grader in wrestling.
4. The high school freshman currently has a 4.0 GPA.
5. Paityn is a true “workout warrior” who hits seven days a week, attends outfield clinics in Orange County and dedicates 2-to-4 days a week to weight training.
6. She’s been clocked at 2.9 seconds home-to-first.
7. Her pop time behind the plate is 1.8 seconds.
8. Paityn’s throwing velocity ranges between 68 and 70 mph.
9. Last Spring (2024), she was 1^st in the Alliance Rankings in hits, runs and steals, was 4^th in throwing out runners (caught stealing) and 6^th in RBIs.
10. She was on the Spring 2025 Alliance Winter Championship All-Tournament Team.
11. Last Fall, the 2028 grad was on the All-Tournament Team at seven events including SoCal’s Finest and the Arizona Fall Showcase.
12. Paityn has won the Presidential Award & Medal for having a GPA of 3.8 or higher.

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball (brentt.eads@linedrivemedia.com)