Dual-Threat 2027 Lyla Morici Values Team Chemistry

More than any particular pitch she throws or talent she brings to the plate, Lyla Morici Lyla Morici RHP Kell | 2027 #29 Nation GA believes her greatest value as a softball player is something that can't be measured with statistics.

“I feel like I'm just a very good teammate, and I love to encourage my team,” the 2027 recruit from Marietta, Georgia said. “I just love being with a team that is like a family. I love to kind of take charge and orchestrate team events to get everyone super close, because I feel like that really helps on and off the field with the team chemistry.”

Morici comes from a family of ballplayers. Her mom, Joanne, played softball and dad, Mike, played baseball at Lewis University. Her sister, Julia, is a freshman utility player at Georgia Tech, and her brother, Lucas, is a senior pitcher at the University of Georgia.

The siblings grew up attending games at a different field nearly every weekend, and remain bonded by their common passion.

“We are always pushing each other. Whenever they come home from their breaks, we're always working out together,” Morici said .”My brother and I would pitch together, and Julia would sometimes catch us. We're all just super close, and just love spending time with each other whenever we get the chance.”

Morici will prolong the family's college-playing legacy. The righthander has committed to Alabama. Morici visited Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Oklahoma State before taking her trip to Tuscaloosa.

“I just kind of had a feeling that this is the place I wanted to be,” said Morici, who plays travel ball for MoJo Ramsey/Fisher 18U. “I did have a couple of girls on my travel team that were committed there, so just listening to them talk about it, and I've always heard such great things about the school. They have a great coaching staff and a great history in the program.”

Morici completed her junior season at Kell High last fall, setting the program's career records in wins and strikeouts with one more season still to play.

Morici played soccer, volleyball, and did dance when she was younger. But once she started playing softball, she instantly fell in love with it.

“I've always been pretty tall, so I immediately got into pitching, and that's what made me want to keep playing,” she said. “I just love to pitch, and I kind of like to have control of the game. I felt like I had the most control when I was out there pitching.”

Morici has always been a two-way player, and hopes to pitch and hit for the Tide.

“But I told them I am a pitcher before I'm a hitter,” she said. “So if it ends up being a little tough to balance both, I will end up becoming a PO (pitcher only).”

Morici's role models are a pair of All-American pitchers who had different roles at their respective colleges.

“I really idolized Rachel Garcia, because she pitched and hit at UCLA. That's always the pitcher that I have looked up to the most because she did both,” she said. “I also loved Montana Fouts, which is cool, because I'm gonna hopefully do as good as she did when she was at Alabama.”

Morici recently started a new job at an after-school program where she works with kids that has provided her with some welcome perspective.

“It gets me into a whole different headspace. It's completely opposite from softball, and I get to kind of take a step back and relax and work with kids,” she said. “Softball can get pretty intense at times, so just taking a step back is what's really helped keep me grounded.”