Softball: USF's Garcia contributes to Puerto Rican Junior National effort

Toward the end of tryouts, Kayla Garcia received a phone call.

The University of St. Francis softball player did not really know anything about the tryouts for the Puerto Rican Junior National team. Playing in a world championship tournament was not on her mind after her season ended. Still, she got a call.

The call did not come completely out of the blue. Garcia’s aunt learned about the tryouts from a mother of a player on Puerto Rico’s Olympic team and was given contact information. The team needed a catcher, so the coaches flew her to Puerto Rico for a two-person tryout, and she made the team.

On Sunday, Garcia and the Puerto Rican team finished third among 26 teams in the 12th Junior Women’s Softball World Championships in Clearwater, Florida. This is the second consecutive year Puerto Rico took bronze.

“It’s been a one-of-a-kind experience,” Garcia said. “I’ve met girls from different backgrounds. A lot are from the States, but four of my teammates and the coaches are from Puerto Rico. Seeing so many cultures is one new experience.”

For a week and a half leading up to the tournament, Garcia trained with her new team twice a day and had scrimmages against local Florida teams. The team had to bond quickly to succeed.

Even before the incoming sophomore went to train, she needed extra preparation. Garcia played first base with the Saints and hadn’t caught in a game for years.

When she made the team, she started throwing, blocking and working on various other skills to prepare. That was on top of her daily hitting practice and private hitting lessons that she does twice a week.

Her dedication to improving any skill and her willingness to do what the team needs is something that separates her as a player.

“Kayla is an exceptional player,” St. Francis coach Amanda Jensen said. “She is very diligent in her work ethic, which has produced consistency on both the offensive and defensive sides of the plate. Her swing is one of the purest and most powerful that I have seen. Mentally, she comes prepared to compete everyday, which when you combine that with her natural talent, almost makes her unstoppable.

“My nickname for her is the ‘Modest Masher.’ She wants to win, and she knows that she can help make that happen, be it by her swing, making a great defensive play and/or by just being there to pick a teammate up.

“She encompasses a full understanding that winning is a team effort, and you cannot accomplish that without being a teammate first. She is an obvious talent with her abilities, but she is a special player with her unselfishness. And that combination is what makes her great.”

In her first collegiate season, Garcia hit .361 with 52 hits, 46 RBIs, 11 homers and 12 doubles. She posted a .503 on-base percentage and .674 slugging percentage. Defensively, she had a .975 fielding mark.

Prior to USF, Garcia hit .580 for her career at Lane Tech in Chicago and totaled 40 home runs. She added three RBIs and a homer to her resume in the tournament.

As with any tournament, there were moments that stood out. One happened early on for Garcia.

“The first game [against New Zealand] was one to remember,” she said. “We were down 4-2 and I came up with one runner on the bases and I ended up hitting a home run and tying up the game. I came back up in the sixth inning and got intentionally walked which loaded the bases. The girl behind me got a hit to take the lead. It was the game-winning hit.

“Defensively, one girl bunted the ball and I had this big, diving catch. It just reminded me why I loved catching. Those quick plays where you have to hop up, turn around and just go for it. Those do-or-die moments are the amazing things that I missed.”

Playing in the tournament will put Garcia in position to excel as a sophomore.

It gave her the opportunity to brush up on catching skills. If there is ever a need for a catcher, Garcia is willing to take on that role. Being able to transition to a new position and still compete at a high level makes her an asset.

In addition, many college players age out of playing travel ball and are limited to private lessons and training on their own. Garcia was able to compete at a high level against some of the top players in the world at her age group.

“I believe this experience that Kayla has with playing for Puerto Rico is such a great opportunity,” Jensen said. “Kayla is a competitor, and being able to face this level of international competition is only going to make her stronger. I am so very excited for her to build upon this experience and to incorporate it into the remainder of her collegiate career here at St. Francis.”

Garcia is equally excited to see how her career progresses at St. Francis. Like her other teammates, her focus is bettering her skill to help the team get better as a unit.

Beyond college, there are dreams.

Making the Puerto Rico Junior National team was not on the to-do list. Now that Garcia has accomplished that, she is going to do what she’s always wanted. She’s going to try out for the Olympic team.

“[Playing for the Junior National team] is definitely an amazing surprise,” Garcia said. “I wanted to play for a national team. I’ve always dreamed of going to the Olympics, so this is the first step. It’s an amazing start and it’s an honor to be on this team and representing Puerto Rico.”