We continue our year-end look at the Top 10 Softball Stories of 2025…  Here is the schedule for this list which will run the rest of December and into January 2025, when we’ll publish the No. 1 Softball Story of The Year:

Click on the links of those previously posted to see what we’ve covered so far!

• Top 10 Softball Stories of the Year: #10 – Tue, Dec. 23, 2025
• Top 10 Softball Stories of the Year: #9 – Wed, Dec. 24, 2025
• Top 10 Softball Stories of the Year: #8 – Thu, Dec. 25, 2025
• Top 10 Softball Stories of the Year: #7 – Fri, Dec. 26, 2025
• Top 10 Softball Stories of the Year: #6 – Sat, Dec. 27, 2025
• Top 10 Softball Stories of the Year: #5 – Sun, Dec. 28, 2025
• Top 10 Softball Stories of the Year: #4 – Mon, Dec. 29, 2025
• Top 10 Softball Stories of the Year: #3 – Tue, Dec. 30, 2025
• Top 10 Softball Stories of the Year: #2 – Wed, Dec. 31, 2025
• Top 10 Softball Stories of the Year: #1 – Thu, Jan. 1, 2025

Also, on Jan. 2, 2026, Line Drive Softball will list all the Top 10 stories in a list and then on Jan. 3^rd we’ll will run the Other Stories Considered List.

For each topic (story), an article that we ran earlier this year on Line Drive Softball is reposted along with any other articles that may be tied into the subject listed that day.

So how were the Top 10 picked?

We looked at what were considered the most memorable and important stories of the year as they impacted the sport.

In researching the Top 10, we talked to those in softball, including college and travel ball coaches, other media members and you—the fastpitch community.

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball

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The Top 10 Softball Stories of 2025: #9… Puerto Rico beats USA in U15 World Cup & Makes Title Game, Melendez Family Key (Dec. 24, 2025)

In October 2023, the WBSC introduced the U15 World Cup as a way to recognize young softball talent throughout the world. 

Player Blog: How Naima Melendez Aims to Set Her Own Path (Including Playing for Team Puerto Rico & Beating USA!) September 6, 2025

On Friday, Line Drive released the Top 10 of the 2027 HOT Rankings and one of those honored was Nia Melendez, a talented corner infielder who is the oldest of four girls in the family.

The other three are Nylah, a 2028 grad ranked by Line Drive at No. 4 in her class (and the top catcher), Naima, a 2029 grad and Nevaeh, age 2.

Naima, ranked No. 20 in the Line Drive 2029 HOT 100 which was released in April of ’25, is a freshman at Hart (Newhall, Calif.) High and plays travel ball with the USA Athletics RML 16U team next years.

The siblings’ father, Luis Melendez says of his middle daughter:

“Naima excels in her studies and loves spending time with her family but especially with her youngest sister, Nevaeh.”

Here, in her own words, are how Naimi enjoyed a wonderful summer experience in softball and helping her national team do something that had never been done before…

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This summer I went to Italy to compete in the U15 WBSC World Classic for team Puerto Rico with my sister Nylah Melendez.

Throughout my journey in Italy, I learned countless lessons about how to overcome my mental game. My biggest lesson I learned through the World Classic was how not to let errors ruin my game.

In March, I competed in Mexico for the U15 WBSC Qualifier.

During the tournament, we played Team USA, which was undefeated and defending U15 World Champions. This game was huge for Team Puerto Rico because we had never beaten USA in the history of WBSC softball.

Coming into the game. I felt intimidated and this feeling subconsciously brought my confidence down. During the first inning of the game, I came up to bat with bases loaded with two outs. In this moment I was feeling the pressure that I needed to get a hit to get the go-ahead run for my team.

The feeling of pressure led me to go for the first pitch (not the best pitch) and I grounded out to the shortstop for the third out.

After my at-bat, I felt very down and I started to doubt my game and this feeling carried over to my fielding. During the game, I played third base and I made two errors that impacted the game negatively.

The biggest reason why I made the errors was because I didn’t know how to let my prior at-bats and errors go. We lost the game in a close score of 3-2. After the game, I felt at my lowest in my entire softball career.

I felt like I lost the game for the team and let everyone down.

When I got back home from Mexico, I knew I had to get back to work and especially improve my mental game. I had many long talks with my mom about the USA game. During this talk, we talked about how I can switch my mental approach and prepare myself for the USA game in Italy.

When the time came to play Team USA in Italy, both teams were fighting to advance to the Gold Medal game against Team Japan.

I wasn’t nervous to play USA this time because I knew I was prepared after all the work I did with my physical and mental game. I wanted to do anything to make sure that we beat Team USA.

I remember in the bottom of the third inning, we were up 2-0 and you could start to feel the pressure USA was feeling. A quick slapper came up to bat with zero outs. I knew there was a high chance that this batter was going to bunt.

Before the pitch came I saw the batter’s hands move to bunt, I ran in and I saw the ball go up in the air, I sprinted towards the ball and dove for the catch. By the end of the game, I had one hit, one RBI, and a diving catch.

Team Puerto Rico won this game 4-0 and we advanced to the championship game. This was also the first time Puerto Rico had beaten Team USA in WBSC softball history!.

This summer strengthened my mental game in many ways.

Keeping your mistakes in the past but learning from them is the biggest lesson I learned.

I am grateful to play softball for teaching me life lessons I will carry for the rest of my life.

— Naima Melendez for Line Drive Softball

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Breaking News: Team USA Blanked by Puerto Rico at the WBSC U-15 Women’s World Cup Finals; Will Play for Bronze Medal… (July 4, 2025)

Closing out Super Round, the U-15 Women’s National Team (WNT) suffered its second loss of the 2025 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Women’s World Cup after falling 4-0 to Puerto Rico.

The setback moves the Eagles to a 6-2 overall record and puts Team USA in the Bronze Medal matchup slated for 3 p.m. CEST / 8 a.m. CT tomorrow against Mexico.

Japan and Puerto Rico will play for the Gold.

The U.S. offense struggled to find its rhythm, collecting only three hits on the day — with Ashleigh Bronowicz, Michaela Landers, and Lucy Reis each tabbing one.

The U.S. pitching staff of Maci Barnes, Braelyn Johnson and Lucy Reis combined for six strikeouts through seven innings while allowing only three earned runs.

Puerto Rico took the lead in the top of the second with a single to plate one followed by a fielding miscue from the U.S. defense in the top of the third that allowed another run to cross – putting Puerto Rico ahead, 2-0.

Quiet through the next three innings, Puerto Rico scored their final two runs in the top of the seventh with a pair of singles and a double to extend their lead.

With the Gold Medal game on the line, the U.S. offense was unable to manufacture any runs in the bottom of the seventh, falling to Puerto Rico, 4-0.

Click here to view all box scores, roster info & more » 

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International News: Japan Wins Gold Medal in 4-0 Win Over Puerto Rico & Team USA Secures Bronze at 2025 U-15 World Cup (July 5, 2025)

The following information courtesy of WBSC & USA Softball

Japan Blanks Puerto Rico 4-0 Behind Haru Kitamura One-Hitter

World No. 2 Japan defeated No. 3 Puerto Rico, 4-0, to win theWBSC U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup 2025.

Starting pitcher Haru Kitamura retired the first 18 batters she faced, taking a perfect game into the seventh inning. She then allowed a walk and a single, before ending the game with her 12th strikeout.

“Everything worked perfectly for six innings. In the seventh, I felt a little overexcited. I believe I overthrew a bit and started worrying,” Kitamura said through an interpreter.

“There was a lot of emotion. But I could focus on the next pitch I had to throw, and I could get that final out.”

“I’ve worked hard to get here,” she added. “Now I can celebrate with my teammates this world title. I believe this is just the beginning for all of us. We want to repeat at the U-18 level, and hopefully we will be up for more in the future.”

Head coach Yu Yamamoto commented on her playing style.

“If you look at the players, our girls have a smaller size. They showed they can still win. What you call ‘small ball’ is the style of play that I believe is more effective.”

Kitamura was the difference in the title game both sides agreed.

“We couldn’t adjust to their starting pitcher,” commented Puerto Rico’s head coach Carlos Leon.

“She used her away pitches very well, and we couldn’t adjust. Japan is a team that can put the ball in play, put pressure on the opposition, and force errors. That’s what happened tonight.”

He added,

“We celebrated a historic win against the United States and are heading home with a silver medal. I thank God for this.”

Puerto Rico’s starter Isabella Ortiz walked Ichigo Suzuki with two outs in the bottom of the first to allow the first runner of the game.

Ortiz walked Rara Minato to lead off the bottom of the second, and Japan used the short ball to take the lead. Rio Masuda dropped a bunt for a hit, pushing Minato to second. Juna Higashiyama sacrificed to advance the runners to third and second.

Yui Yamamoto also bunted, and Minato scored the go-ahead run. Masuda reached third on the play and scored on an illegal pitch. Yamamoto reached third on the play and scored on a groundout.

Makayla Megnauth took over for Ortiz in the bottom of the third. Japan loaded the bases on a pair of singles and an error, but Megnauth got out of the jam with a strikeout.

Japan added a run in the bottom of the fourth. Mioka Mochizuki hit a two-out double and scored on Yuzu Saito’s RBI single.

In the bottom of the sixth, Puerto Rico handed the ball to Maya Melendez.

Haru Kitamura was perfect for 6.1 innings before giving up a walk and single before a final strikeout gave Japan the win.

Kitamura took a perfect game into the top of the seventh. She then walked pinch hitter Kamila Santiago. Yazmine Johnson singled and brought Santiago to second.

Kitamura used five pitches to strike out Skilah Rodriguez and end the game, sealing Japan’s victory.

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USA Captures Bronze Medal in 4-0 Shutout of Mexico

The U.S. U-15 Women’s National Team (WNT) bounced back in dominant fashion on Saturday at the 2025 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup, securing the Bronze medal in a 4-0 shutout victory over Mexico.

The Eagles close out the tournament with a 7-2 record and earn their second medal in U-15 World Cup history after earning Gold in the 2023 edition.

The win was powered by a strong performance on both sides of the ball, highlighted by a three-run home run from McKenzie Thomas (4 RBI) and a no-hitter in the circle from Maci Barnes.

Scoreless through the first three innings, Thomas broke the bats open in the bottom of the fourth with a three-run blast to left field before tacking on a fourth RBI via a bases-loaded walk in the sixth.

Khloe Williams (2-for-3) added support at the plate with a single and a double, helping the U.S. offense stay steady through seven innings and tabbing the only multi-hit performance of the day.

Barnes was electric in the circle — striking out 10 and tossing a complete-game no-hitter to shut down the Mexico offense. Behind her, the Eagles’ defense remained sharp, playing error-free softball in leading the U.S. to victory in Italy.

The U.S. offense put up strong numbers throughout the tournament, accumulating a .386 team batting average and a combined 78 hits while outscoring its opponents 74-8.

Leading the U.S. at the plate was Khloe Williams with a .526 batting average, followed by Michaela Landers (.458) and Ashleigh Bronowicz (.455).

The U.S. pitching staff of Barnes, Leona Eichholz, Braelyn Johnson and Lucy Reis proved to be dominant throughout the tournament with six shutout wins and a combined 49 strikeouts, while allowing 23 hits through nine games.

Click HERE to view all box scores, roster info & more »  

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Final Team USA Results

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All-World Team

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The Final 2025 U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup Bracket