Top Defensive 2030s On The Summer Circuit

As the calendar starts to turn to the dog days of summer, softball players across the country continue to flash the leather. From the Lone Star State all the way to the Golden State, defense is a priority for players hoping to be future college stars.   Below, Prep Softball highlights some of the top defensive players from the class of 2030 on the summer circuit.    When Allie Work does her fielding drills, she covers all the bases. She practices her crow hops, throwing from deep in the hole at shortstop, throwing off balance and off of her back leg, turning two, perfecting glove flips, handling tough short hops, and practicing relay throws. She is quick in transition, but also does not rush her mechanics. Her arm strength is ideal for a shortstop and middle infielder. She has the speed to get to balls sharply hit up the middle, and the agility to gather herself into a position to throw. Perhaps most importantly, she is an alert infielder who can be depended upon to make the play and be in the right position on the field. She is a multi-sport athlete, and also plays basketball, volleyball, as well as track and field.     On a cloudy day earlier this spring, Izabella Garcia was simply a vacuum at second base. During one play, she handled a tough hop at her waist, gathered the ball, and threw a strike to first to nab a speedy runner. On another play, she dove to her left, speared a ball that had eyes for left field, and threw to first from her knees to get the out. Middle infield isn't the only place on the softball field where she can shine, however. Last fall, she played catcher for her team and made two remarkable plays. During the first play, the batter dropped down a near-perfect bunt down the first base line. However, Garcia pounced on it, and threw a rocket to first for the out. On the second play, the batter popped up into foul territory, and Garcia dove headfirst for the out, finishing with a basket catch. She is as versatile a fielder as you'll find, and uses her speed and quick reflexes to her advantage.     One of the hardest plays for a fielder to make is a backhand stop in the hole followed by a long throw to first. Trinity Meadows did just that this summer, however, and made it look easy. Playing shortstop, she quickly moved to her right, snagged the hard-hit ball, and made a seemingly effortless throw to first for the out. She also does the little things well. During a night game late last year, the pitcher threw a rise way outside, the runner at first took off, and within two seconds after the pitch was released, Meadows was covering second waiting for the throw. She caught the strike from her catcher, and laid down a perfect swipe tag for the out. Additionally, she has a quick turn for double plays. She puts in the work off the field, and it's showing in her defensive performances.     Sometimes the pitcher is indeed the best defender on the field. At the Scenic City College Showcase in June, Oberg put on a clinic with her glove in the circle, with one play in particular standing out above all others. During an evening game with a runner on third, the batter attempted to bunt down the first base line, but bunted the ball right to Oberg. Oberg then expertly faked a throw to first, wheeled around, and caught the runner in between third and home. She then threw to the third baseman, and in a pickle, the lead runner was tagged out. In that one game alone, she recorded three outs on bunts, including a swinging bunt down the first base line, followed by a difficult swipe tag. In her own words, she works to be a complete pitcher and competitor. She proved that statement to be true in one night.     Lauriana Fertuna takes pride in her catching ability, and for good reason. In two separate tournaments this summer, she finished the weekend with a perfect fielding percentage. At USA Preps in Las Vegas earlier this month, she had no errors in six total chances. Her framing skills are excellent, she is quiet but active behind the plate, and she can successfully block pitches in the dirt with her body. She has also flashed the leather at first base. During one play, after the third baseman gathered up a hard-hit short hop, Fertuna had to stretch to her limit and pick the ball off the dirt for the out. She pairs her solid defense with productive hitting at the plate, and can carry a team with her strong fundamentals and high softball IQ.

As the calendar starts to turn to the dog days of summer, softball players across the country continue to flash the leather. From the Lone Star State all the way to the Golden State, defense is a priority for players hoping to be future college stars.