At the Clearwater Fall Classic earlier this month, one SEC coach said they were at the event “to look at 2028’s.”

One in that class that P4 schools are looking at closely is Haley Maldonado, a talented infielder in the Firecrackers organization who has been on fire this Fall, being named to four all-tournament teams and hitting .522 with nine stolen bases.

What makes his even more impressive is she is in just her second season of hitting from the left side of the plate and has grown exponentially with the help of organization head Tony Rico, who is her personal coach.

Haley has also seen success at the prep level, playing for Notre Dame High in Southern California which was a quarter-finalist last year at the CIF Southern Section Div. I level.

Here’s more to watch on this fast-rising sophomore who already has interest from Big Ten and SEC programs…

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Player Name: Haley Maldonado 
Team Name: Firecrackers Select RTY 2028
School: Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks Calif.) High
Grad Year: 2028
Position(s): SS/2B/3B
Parents: Edgar & Danielle Maldonado
Coach Name: Randy Yuge

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Softball Questions:

Team’s top accomplishments?
Getting 2^nd place at Alliance Tier 2; also, finishing 3^rd place at PGF.

Your top individual accomplishments?
Switching to the left side after being a natural righty my whole life and figuring it out pretty easily and hitting lead off.

What are your strengths on the field?
Range and speed.

What is your favorite softball memory?
My favorite softball memory is in Indiana when we had a lightning delay. My team went onto the field and started sliding everywhere. We were having a fun time including getting food together during our weather delay break.

What is the funniest thing you have ever seen happen on a softball field?
The funniest thing I have seen is when our whole team ran out thinking we won, but there was actually one more out. Instant walk of shame back to the dugout!

What is one thing you have learned from your coach that will always stay with you? 
One thing I’ve learned from my coach that will always stay with me is that effort is a choice.

My coach always reminds me that talent matters, but the way you show up your attitude, your work ethic, and how you respond when things go wrong is what really makes you better.
That idea has stuck with me because it applies to everything: school, sports, and even life outside the field. It’s something I know I’ll carry with me forever.

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More on Haley…

What is something unique our unusual about you most don’t know?
Something unique about me is I can eat anything sour.

Who is your hero and why?
My hero is my dad because he is always a there for me and always cares for me and wants the best for me in everything.

What other activities/hobbies do you enjoy outside of softball?
I enjoy playing volleyball and basketball and building Legos.

If you could have dinner with anyone (dead or alive), who would it be and why?
I would eat dinner with Kobe because he inspired me my whole life growing up I looked up to him and listened to him with his inspirational words.

What is your favorite quote or motto? 
“The moment you give up, is the moment you let someone else win,” (Kobe Bryant)

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball