Under-The-Radar California 2029s Poised To Break Out

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The beginning of your freshman season can bring out the jitters in anyone. However, it's also an opportunity to prove yourself and find confidence that can build throughout a career. In the Golden State, there is a smorgasbord of talent to go around. The players on this list are worth watching and are primed for breakthroughs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below, Prep Softball highlights some of the 2029 prospects from California who we expect to break out in a big way this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":156661,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Serenity De Avila","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"20","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Corona Angels Tyson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698e654a19db1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Serenity De Avila does a lot of things well on the softball field. The left-handed slugger has a powerful upper-cut swing that leads to wicked line drives in the gaps and, more often than not, over the wall. She puts in the work behind the dish, continuously improving her blocking and throwing skills. She also brings speed to the base paths, which fits perfectly with her threat for an extra-base hit every time she steps up to the plate. Need more proof? Over five games in April for the Angels, she had an on-base percentage of .727. Perhaps her greatest strength is her ability to hit anywhere in the strike zone. She makes quick adjustments and is a tough out for any pitcher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":156663,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Keira Lathram","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"19","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Firecrackers Brashear Hicks Mallari","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698e654a19e59"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It's a simple fact of life: it is difficult to make contact against Keira Lathram when she's in the circle. At the Don Battles On tournament in November, she hurled 21 strikeouts over 12 innings pitched. At the Alliance Winter Qualifier in January, she picked up 11 strikeouts over 11.2 innings pitched. And finally, at another Alliance Qualifier later in the month, she struck out 18, held batters to a .150 batting average, and posted a 1.47 ERA. She has excellent control, can hit all four quadrants of the strike zone, and can also get batters to chase on pitchers' pitches. She has plenty of skill at the plate, too. At the same tournament, during which she picked up 21 strikeouts, she also hit .600 with two doubles and four RBIs. She can help a team in so many ways, and will undoubtedly be a player to watch this spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":156665,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Megan Rader","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"19","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Patrick Henry","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Power Surge Quinagon 14U","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698e654a19edf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sticking with power, Megan Rader also swings a big stick at the plate. In three games against San Diego Nuzzo 16U in January, she picked up three hits, and all three of them were home runs—one to left and two to deep center. She has a fluid, simple swing that packs a punch. She brings plenty of her confidence to the circle as well. In October, she racked up six strikeouts against SD Renegades 18U Gold by keeping the hitters guessing, mixing speeds, and maintaining elite command. As she enters her freshman season, she comes in with plenty of experience against good competition, and has the ability to fire a team up both in the circle and at the plate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":156668,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jazmyne Ramirez","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"21","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Firecrackers Guardado 16U","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698e654a19f5d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">First things first, Jazmyne Ramirez and triples go hand-in-hand. The Clovis, Calif. product has a knack for finding the gap and taking off like lightning around the bases. She was clocked last year at 3.25 seconds from home to first. She is a professional hitter with the underrated ability to hit bad pitches well. If you throw below her knees, she will simply golf swing the pitch over you. Hitting is nothing new for Ramirez; she was named the Offensive Player of the Year for her varsity team in 7th grade in 2024 and has kept it up since. Her overall athleticism shines on the field as well. When she's not playing softball, she also plays volleyball and basketball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":156670,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Chloe Adams","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"19","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Monterey Trail","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"16U Elk Grove Thunder","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698e654a19fd9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Chloe Adams has come through in the clutch for her Elk Grove Thunder squad on more than one occasion. In September, she hit a walk-off home run to break a 4-4 tie. Then in October, she pitched three scoreless innings with six strikeouts, setting the stage for another win for her team. Finally, in November, against the 18U Elk Grove Thunder team, she hit for a .625 average over four games and pitched a complete game with no earned runs allowed. She plays hard with plenty of confidence, and has the stuff to carry a team. She can hold down first base as well and is a dependable fielder. She is also an excellent student in the classroom, and has the potential to be a leader in the dugout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->