Brentt Eads of Line Drive Softball here…

It was a great summer for me traveling across the country and seeing top players in national events ranging from Florida to Missouri, Colorado to California.

An exciting part of what I get to do is see in person the talented players who just “pop” in their play and one of those that really stuck out to me this summer was Peyton Guthrie, a shortstop on the Watson Wolfpack 12U team.

The SoCal standout was impressive with her size and arm strength in the 6-hole.

Peyton is now an eighth grade 13-year-old and, according to her father, John Guthrie, she’s 5-foot-9 currently and doctors project her to be 5-foot-11. And she’s a young 13, too, and won’t turn 14 until next March.

So good so young!

John played baseball at St. Mary’s College of California where he was a pitcher and first baseman. Peyton’s mother was an athlete as well and the husband and father explains:

“My wife Caitlin was recruited to play soccer at Pepperdine before a knee injury kept her from playing, but she did get her degree.”

Peyton’s first sport was soccer, and she dominated at the game, scoring multiple goals, before turning her attention to T-ball with the boys at age 5 where she “did excellent,” according to her understandably proud father.

“Her mom and I knew we had an athlete!”

It wasn’t too long that the impressive athlete from Southern California was drawing attention from club softball coaches and Peyton was invited to play with a team competing for a national championship in Oregon at 10U

“It took us 16 hours to drive home,” her father remembers, “and all she kept saying to us on the trip back was ‘I found my passion and its softball!’”

Once Covid hit in 2020, Peyton switched all her focus to softball, although she does play volleyball for her middle school and has been an all-star in soccer since age 6. She’s even got natural track skills, having run the mile in 6:42 as a sixth grader!

Academically, the 13-year-old has as high of standards in the classroom as she does on the softball field.

“School is very important to Peyton,” her dad continues, “and she gets upset if she gets a B+ and it’s not an A.”

“As parents, we push for max effort only with our kids and that it’s not just about grades, although we’ve emphasized the value of taking AP classes and honors. Peyton said, ‘I can do that!’”

That dedication to be the best she can be in everything she does is evident in the extra work the middle schooler does to improve her softball skills.

“After practices when everyone is going home, she’s doing extra sprints on her own,” the elder Guthrie concludes.

“She loves this game and embraces the grind with the mentally that there are ‘no days off.’”

Here’s a closer look at this talented young athlete who is very faith-centered and of whom you’ll likely be hearing a lot more in the next few years…

*****

Name: PEYTON GUTHRIE
Hometown/ST: Pasadena, Calif.
Grad Year: 2029
Position(s): SS/UT
Club Team: Watson Wolfpack 14U Premier
High School (City/ST): Mayfield Junior School of the Holy Child (Pasadena, Calif.)
GPA: 4.0
Dream College(s): Stanford, Ivy League schools

In your eyes, what are some of the top honors and accomplishments you’ve achieved individually and with your teams?
A top honor for me was reaching the 12U Platinum PGF Championship (runner-up) and helping my team in the tournament defensively and offensively batting .615 with one home run and nine RBIs.

What’s been your most memorable softball experience?
A memorable softball experience was being invited by a neighboring league to play in the Nationals in Oregon.

What would you say are your strengths on the field?
I consider myself a leader and the captain of my team.  I like to motivate and encourage my teammates.

Have you set personal goals for yourself for this year?
My personal goals for this year are to get stronger in the weight room to help me on the field and to start visiting college camps.

Do you have any softball superstitions?
My softball superstitions are that I need to pray the night before and the morning of big games and tournaments.

What would you say is your philosophy in life?
My philosophy in life is to put my trust and faith in God. I always tell myself that God has a plan for me even in the hardest times.

If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be on-field? Off the field?
On field: “captain;” off the field: “compassionate.”

What’s been your favorite place you’ve placed softball?
My favorite place I have played softball is Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine, Calif.

What’s the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome in life?
My biggest obstacle I have had to overcome was struggling with pitching and, at times, wanting to give the sport up.

What drives you to play the game of softball?
I love that softball gives me an alter-ego.  When I am on the field, I feel free.  I also love bonding with my teammates.

Finally, what’s one thing or accomplishment about you that is unusual or unique which few know (until know)?
I am very passionate about my education and studying Astronomy in college.

*****

OFF THE FIELD:

Favorite team: Stanford
Preferred bat: Easton Ghost double barrel
Favorite item(s) in your closet: My sneakers
Favorite school subject: Science
Best way to unwind is…  binge TV shows

If you have 30 minutes to shop and $100 to spend, where do you go?
I’m going to Sephora.

What’s playing in your headphones right now?
Hip hop music.

What’s been your favorite vacation or place you’ve visited?
The mountains because I like to camp.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what’s the one thing you’d want to have with you (sorry: can’t be a phone as they’re no cell towers nearby!)
I would want water… and to think smarter!

If you could have dinner with anyone… living or dead… who would it be?
Katherine Johnson the first African-American woman to work at NASA.

Favorite college uniform (and why):
I love Stanford’s uniform because I dream of wearing it someday.

What worries you most about what classmates your age are facing in the future?
I don’t worry about the future because I try to focus on the present.

If you won a million dollars and had to spend it all in 24 hours, how would you spend it?
I would buy a G-Wagon (Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV) and then give the rest to Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles which helped a friend of mine when he was sick.

Calories aside, what food could you eat and never get sick of?
I could eat steak and salad every day of my life.

Best talent off the field?
I was just elected the Commissioner of Religion for my school, and I love to speak in front of the school and lead everyone in prayer.

What have you learned most about yourself over the last year or two?
I have learned that my faith is the most important part of my life and that I’m resilient.

Who inspires you (athletically & non-athletically):
My parents inspire me because they make sure I’m safe, loved and will do anything for me.

When you leave the game of softball, how do you want to be remembered and what will you do when you’re finished playing to help grow the game?
I want to be remembered as “The Captain” who supported all my teammates and that I was a coachable student of the game.  I hope to be an advocate and coach young girls and to show them the beauty of the game.