Liliana “Lily” Padilla is a 2030 right-handed pitcher who plays for Firecrackers TJ/Pantages 16U out of Southern California.

Lily skipped the 14U age group and went straight to 16U after winning three straight 12U National Championships for El Rio Fastpitch.

This fall, the SoCal standout has been dominant in the circle. In 47 innings pitched, she’s only given up 25 hits and 12 runs while striking out 93 batters.

Lily has a 1.78 ERA pitching against some of the toughest teams in So Cal and last weekend she faced the BSC Bengals Briggs 18U team and threw four innings, giving up only one run on one hit with four strikeouts.

Offensively, Padilla has batted .394 during the fall with 17 RBIs.

Her Firecrackers Head Coach, Jason Pantages, raves about the young athlete’s two-way talents.

“Lily has been a great addition to our team and has had an incredible fall season both offensively and in the circle.”

“To think that she just turned 14 years old a few weeks ago is just crazy because she’s out here competing against some of the best teams in So Cal and putting up great numbers.”

“Lily is mature beyond her years and always wants the ball against the best teams. She throws to all four quadrants and has incredible movement on all her pitches. Lily’s not only a great player but she’s a great teammate too and our girls absolutely love her.”

“She’s one of the most humble, hard-working kids I’ve ever coached, and she has an extremely bright future in this game.”

Here’s a closer look at this pitcher playing up and facing talented hitters up to four years older than her…

*****

Name:  Liliana Padilla
School (current): Mesa Union (Somis, Calif.) Middle School
Club Team: Firecrackers TJ/Pantages 16U
Grad Year: 2030
Position(s): Pitcher/1st Base
GPA: 3.8
Colleges visited/camps (if any): Oklahoma, UC Santa Barbara

Top Club Accomplishments:
This is my first full year in travel ball, but I won three straight USA Softball National Championships with El Rio Fastpitch.  I’ve also pitched in 12U PGF Nationals with Cal Cruisers and led them to a top 10 finish in 2023.

Fill in the blank… The best part of softball is _________:
The bonds I build while playing the sport I love.

What does it mean to you to wear “Firecrackers” on your jersey?
I remember as a little girl playing for my rec league, I saw girls practicing with a Firecrackers jersey and wanting to play for them someday.

The Firecrackers organization is one of the biggest and best travel ball organizations in the country and has produced so many great softball players over the years.

Now that I get to play with the Firecrackers name on my chest, it’s such an honor and I just try to always be a good representation of our org both on and off the field.

Tell us about your club team and teammates… what do you enjoy most about being with them?
I’ve only been a part of this team for a short time, but they truly treat me as if I’ve known them my whole life.

My teammates are the most supportive, funny, and passionate girls I’ve ever met. They constantly push me to be a better athlete and I enjoy all the different personalities that all of them have.

This team feels like a second family to me.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve ever received is, “Use tough situations as opportunities to be great.” It has taught me to welcome pressure and prove what I’m capable of doing when it matters the most.

Who do you look up to or admire (whether you know them personally or not)?
I look up to my Dad because he is both physically and mentally strong. He is the most loyal, dependable, and hardworking person I’ve ever met.

Whether he’s fixing something in the house, or working at his own job, he does everything with 100 percent effort and that’s one of his character traits I would want to have.

What would you say that you do really well on the field that makes you a “Rising Star?”
Offensively, I pride myself on being disciplined at the plate and having great at-bats each time I bat. Being the 4^th batter on our team, I know my job is not about me, it’s about getting the runners to score any way I can.

To me, a simple ground out or sacrifice fly that scores a run makes me feel just as good as a big hit because I was able to get my job done and help the team.

In the circle, I spin the ball well and can move the ball in different directions as well as change speeds.

Playing on this elite team, I am able to trust in my teammates to make a play behind me and don’t feel like I have to make a perfect pitch every time because we have a great defense who always has my back.

If you could have dinner with anyone in history, dead or alive, who would you choose and why?
I would like to have dinner with Kobe Bryant. He inspires me to look at the game of softball

in a different perspective. Yes, I know basketball and softball are two different sports but to me I see the way he approaches things in the game of basketball can be applied to softball.

I’ve watched his interviews and the way he played on the court, and he seemed like the kind of guy you can talk to when you want to know how to approach obstacles with confidence.

I also think the Mamba mentality is very beneficial for athletes just like me.

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?
When most people see me, they assume that I am a serious person but once you get to know me, I’m the most shy and nicest person you will ever meet.

Where’s your dream vacation?
I would really like to go to New York. I’ve heard great things about New York, and I would like to experience it for myself.

Do you have any softball superstitions or rituals?
I take a moment to pray before every game.

What’s been your proudest accomplishment on the field?
My proudest accomplishment is to be able to win three national championships with El Rio Fastpitch. I have been playing for El Rio Fastpitch since 6U.

The friendships I have created are something that will always have a special place in my heart. I have learned and grown so much from El Rio.

Six-year-old me would be proud of all the accomplishments I have had throughout the years.

And off the field?
Winning four championships for my school basketball team and being able to excel not only on the field but in the classroom as well. I have made the Honor Roll since the 6th grade.

If you could improve softball in one way, how would you do it?
If I could improve softball in one way, I would change it by having professional women softball players having better pay like men do.

This would also give women softball players a better future just how the men have the MLB, women should have something like that as well.

If you could have a superpower, what would you want it to be?
If I could have a super power, it would be to be to have the power to heal the sick.

What did you want to be when you were little?
When I was little, I wanted to be a chef but grew out of it.

Any nicknames(s) for you?
Lily, Lilers, Clark, Lil, and Lils. The girls on our team jokingly call me their “favorite 6^th grader” because I’m the youngest player on the team! 😊

Where would you like to be—and what would you like to be doing—in 20 years?
I would like to be playing for the USA team and inspiring younger kids to chase their dreams.