Signing Day Spotlight: No. 6 Recruit Alyssa Garcia Signs NLI With UCLA
Signing Day Spotlight: No. 6 Recruit Alyssa Garcia Signs NLI With UCLA
No. 6 softball recruit catcher/first baseman Alyssa Garcia signed NLI with UCLA.
Alyssa Garcia is the complete package when it comes to catching and hitting. One of the best receivers in her class, she is extremely detailed in perfecting her craft behind the plate.
Beyond the technical aspects of catching, Garcia has a reputation of building a strong repertoire amongst her pitchers like Brooke Vestal (Oklahoma), Lexi Sosa (UCLA), and more.
Welcome to Westwood, Alyssa Garcia!
— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) November 19, 2018
"Alyssa has developed into one of the most feared hitters in 18U travel ball. She has a beautiful swing and hits for power from the left side. Alyssa is a high-level quarterback behind the plate with a high softball IQ."
--Kelly Inouye-Perez pic.twitter.com/aG7a1wBsUb
Not only a skilled catcher, but her power lefty swing also caught the attention of Pac-12 programs like UCLA and Oregon. Batting close to .600, she also crushed over 11 home runs this fall.
Alyssa Garcia | |
| Position: Catcher/First Base |  |
| Club: UCLA | |
| High School: Mater Dei Catholic | |
| Grad Year: 2019 | |
| College: UCLA | |
| Hot 100 Rank: 6 | |
How old were you when you started playing softball? What do you love about softball?
Started with baseball at 3 and started playing softball at 5
Where did you go on your visits? What did you like about those trips?
We had planned to visit multiple schools, but after I visited Oregon and UCLA I knew I wanted to stay in the Pac 12. I visited Oregon and I loved the environment and how beautiful the campus is. I absolutely loved UCLA once I stepped onto the campus because there is an overwhelming sense of family.
When did you verbally commit to the school of your choice? Why that school?
I committed in October of my freshman year. I chose UCLA because I felt welcomed and apart of the Bruin family. I love the sports program along with the academia. Also being so close to my hometown, San Diego, was a huge deciding factor. I also love the area of LA and all the positive such as watching my Dodgers play.
What are your plans for signing day?
Signing day is going to be a fun and eventful day. I will be signing at Petco Park with all the San Diego County athletes, my high school, and in Huntington Beach with my travel ball team.
What excites you most when you think about college?
I am so excited to be able to represent UCLA while I play softball and to be a part of something so much bigger than myself. I am excited to make friends along the way from different sports. I am also excited to play with my best friend Lexi Sosa for another 4 years.
What's one thing you're going to take from home and bring to college?
I will bring my favorite stuffed animal I've had since I was little and I will definitely bring my Dodger Jersey. I will also be taking, with me my improved Mental game and Time management skillset.
I’ve been a part of great teams, great coaches, and shared the diamond with amazing players along the way. Started way back with coaches Everett, Art, and James at San Diego Renegades then on to Coaches AJ and Dani with Factory Softball. I feel my growth on the field was challenged to another level when Sean Brashear, Mark Thornburg, Joe Sosa, and Roman Gallegos took a chance with me when I was 13.
I’m also grateful for my time playing with Coaches Dave Mercado, Mark Smith, and Brian Pilon at Athletics Mercado. Our 14U PGF National Championship run in 2016 was something I’ll always remember. They demanded the best out of a player and I feel I took away much from that program that's helped me get to this point.
I’m back with the Firecrackers under Tony Rico and Rob Weil a little over a year now. I can't say enough about my coaches and teammates. It's a family environment and I truly feel my understanding of this game has been pushed yet another level under this entire coaching staff.