We kick off our first of many All-American candidate profiles we’ll post as we look at candidates being considered for the Full Count Softball and USA Today post-season All-American teams.

If you’d like to submit a player for consideration, follow the process as outlined here.

Today we go to the East Coast to learn more about a Pac-12 commit who’s having a huge year on the field…

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Player: JULIE RODRIGUEZ
High School: Northern Valley Regional at Old Tappan
City: Old Tappan
State: NJ
Club Team: Jersey Intensity – KOD (18U)
Grad Year: 2017
Position: P/OF
High School Stats (as of last week, through 23 games):

• Batting Average: .653
• At-Bats: 72
• Hits: 47
• RBI: 30
• Runs: 22
• Doubles: 10
• Triples: 6
• Home Runs: 5
• Slugging Percentage: 1.167
• On-Base Percentage: .716
• Walks: 16
• Stolen Bases: 5
• Caught Stealing: 1
• Fielding percentage: .953

Note: Julie has hit safely in all 23 games played thus far. She broke several of her high school’s records including batting average (.608), doubles (13) and triples (nine) as a freshman. Her average last year was the 2^nd highest in the state and she’s much higher this year so far.

High School Honors: No. 24 ranking in the 2017 Hot 100; 2014 high school (freshman year)—3^rd team all state; 1^st team all Group 3; 1^st team all Bergen County; 1^st team all league

Recruiting: verbally committed to UCLA (as a hitter/outfielder)

Scouting Report: Juliana is a skilled, intuitive five-tool player who does everything well on the field, mentally and physically. She is a very good pitcher too, but her athleticism and ability to make big plays will likely see her in the everyday line-up at UCLA. She is a hard-throwing lefty pitcher who has a rise, screwball and a good change-up to go with heat she throws up and down. On offense she has good bat speed and can hit for power and average with the speed to turn a gap hit into a triple. Juliana has always played up and is a lifetime .550 hitter with opposite field power to go deep. Competitive and smart on the bases, the New Jersey standout does the little things well that help a team win.

Off the field:

• volunteer worker at youth softball camps
• free pitching lessons for youth player
• volunteer at a food pantry at local church in Norwood, NJ during Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays
• served food at a homeless shelter during this past Thanksgiving
• helped set up and run a Valentines Day party at the church for the Norwood Pre K
• made wreaths for the local church during Christmas

Coach’s Comments: “Julie is a pleasure to coach.  She is a role model to her teammates, a hard worker, and a natural leader.  In the 17 years that I have been a softball coach and the four years that I myself competed at the Division I level I have not seen a better hitter than Julie Rodriguez.

— Melissa Landeck, Head Softball Coach, Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan