Sometimes it only takes one tournament to prove your mettle on the defensive side, and for Juliana Chavez, it was at the recent Mother’s Day USSSA Tournament that she did so. After catching a wicked line drive at shortstop with a full-out dive, she quickly got back to her feet and flipped the ball to second base for a double play. Later, she turned two again, with a difficult over-the-shoulder grab in shallow center field, followed by a bullet to second base for the second out. She wasn’t done, however. She orchestrated a perfect run-down, and applied a quick tag on a runner caught between second and third. Over those three plays, she helped record six outs. She has a strong arm, elite speed, impressive composure, and an ability to complete challenging plays with sheer effort. Coaches often talk of players who can carry a team offensively. She can carry a team defensively.