Lalia "Cheese" Mejia: A Top 2029 Softball Prospect Lalia "Cheese" Mejia is a top prospect from Centerville, OH, in the class of 2029. L&L recently did a spotlight story on her, and we were fortunate enough to catch up with her again. •What's new since the spotlight article? The biggest news is that I attended the PGF Metrics camp preceding the Bandits Not So Friendly tournament in Crown Point, Indiana, in November 2024. At the camp, I recorded my personal best pop time of 1.59 seconds, certified by PGF! This was the fastest pop time of the day, across all ages, and it remains the number one pop time on the PGF certified metrics website for any age. I also achieved a 70+ mph exit velocity and mid-60s mph throwing velocity. •That's impressive! Were there any coaches in attendance at the camp? Yes, it was super exciting to see Mike White from Texas, along with coaches from Notre Dame, Louisville, Michigan, and Indiana, to name a few. • Wow, that's an impressive list of coaches! Did you receive any camp invites as a result? That was the most exciting part! I was invited to the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Louisville, and the University of Northern Iowa following the camp! It feels like everything is becoming real! •What’s next in terms of camps or tournaments for you and your team? We'll be attending the Blue Magic Event from May 30 to June 1, the Top Gun Invitational from June 10 to June 15, the Colorado Sparkler from June 27 to July 5, the Atlanta Legacy from June 10 to June 13, and PGF Nationals from July 25 to August 3. I'm also signed up for the Connect camp at Top Gun for FSU, Oklahoma State, UCLA, and LSU. Additionally, at the Sparkler, I'm signed up for a combined camp with the University of Florida, Oklahoma State, Auburn, and several others. • I see you're not with the Bandits anymore? Yes, the team is amazing, and I was with them for about three years. We had some scheduling conflicts from winter through spring, and it wasn't fair to ask them to play with one less player. I miss them and wish them the best. Fortunately, I found a home with the Lady Dukes '28 Premier Burden/Lamar, whose schedule worked out perfectly! I'm excited to take the field with this group of exceptionally talented athletes. •That roster looks extremely talented! Congratulations on your new team, and it's unfortunate that the schedule didn't work out with the Bandits. Best of luck this season with the Lady Dukes! Introduction: 1. Hi Lalia, can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your journey in softball? What inspired you to start playing? Well, as you know, I’m Lalia Mejia. I go by “Cheese” (a nickname I’ve had since I was seven years old). I’ve been playing softball for about nine years, starting when I was four, and I’m a catcher. My journey through softball has had its highs and lows, just like everyone else’s. I moved a lot when I was younger and attended eight elementary schools because my dad was an active-duty Army pilot. I remember the first time I felt truly inspired and knew I wanted to play competitively was during my first travel ball tryout. I was about six years old and attended the second day of the tryout. I didn’t make the team, but that experience uncovered my passion for the game. That point of failure marked the beginning of much hard work that fueled my success! 2. You play both catcher and middle infield. Which position do you feel most passionate about, and why? Between the two positions, I’d consider myself more passionate about catching, but I’m more than willing to play or learn to master any position my team needs. Catching has been my primary position for years now, and I’ve really created a connection with it. I feel most comfortable and confident behind the plate. I’ve logged over 1,000 innings there, which has significantly built my confidence. Achievements and Skills: 3. What achievements are you most proud of so far in your softball career? The achievement I’m most proud of is my 1.59 pop time. It truly reflects all the hard work I’ve put in and continues to motivate me. I strive to lower it even further. This accomplishment showed me that with enough dedication, I can achieve anything. Competitive Edge: 4. What do you believe sets you apart from other players in the 2029 class, especially as a catcher? What really sets me apart from other players is my relentless work ethic and effort. My softball IQ, competitiveness, and desire to win are also significant differentiators. A strong understanding of the game is crucial as a catcher—knowing situations, making pitch calls, and deciding what plays to call on the field. I take pride in my “softball IQ” and continuously work to improve it. I treat every game seriously and feel a strong need to win. Nobody cheers louder than I do or hates the thought of losing more. I’ll do everything I can to help our team win and keep all my teammates engaged. 5. How do you handle pressure during crucial moments in games? Can you share a specific instance where you thrived under pressure? When I find myself in a pressure situation, I take a deep breath to calm myself. Then, I think about past situations where I successfully executed what I needed to do, such as clutch hits or plays. A good example was during an elimination game when we were tied in extra innings with the bases loaded. I was behind the plate, and the batter had reached base in her last at-bat. I knew I needed to execute any chance I had to get her out. I recalled a previous game where I successfully prevented a runner from scoring, which boosted my confidence. The next pitch was a popped-up bunt that I dove for and caught to end the game! 6. Are there any particular skills or areas of your game that you’re currently working on to become even better? The biggest area I’m currently focusing on is my mindset. I want to improve my ability to bounce back and maintain positive thoughts in pressure situations. Having the right mindset is crucial in softball; it doesn’t matter how skilled you are if you can’t recover from mistakes. This game is filled with failures, and the players who understand and embrace that while continuously working hard are the ones who succeed. Team Dynamics and Leadership: 7. How do you contribute to your team atmosphere both on and off the field as a leader? On the field, I strive to be vocal, whether it’s communicating situations or keeping energy and positivity high. I also check in on my teammates and offer support whenever they’re feeling down, whether on or off the field. I make an effort to keep the team united and positive, regardless of the circumstances. Vision and Goals: 8. What are your immediate goals for the upcoming season with the Lady Dukes, and what long-term aspirations do you have in softball? An immediate goal for my upcoming season is to win PGF Nationals. I plan to contribute to my team in every way possible to achieve that goal. I want to be the catcher in the championship game, the one who catches the last pitch to win it all. I’m going to work hard to reach that goal and help my team get there. My long-term aspiration is to be the starting catcher for a program that values great leadership, culture, and team atmosphere. That has been my long-term goal since I began playing travel ball, and all my efforts are dedicated to achieving it. Influence and Inspiration: 9. Who are your role models in softball or sports, and what qualities do they possess that you admire? My role models include Morgan Zerkle and Marissa Young. I admire Coach Zerkle for being an amazing leader, always working hard and setting a great example for her players. Coach Young inspires me by leading the way for women of color and creating a successful softball program in such a short time, all while being there for her family. In baseball, I look up to Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto. Bryce Harper’s journey and dedication to his career fascinate me; his hard work and sacrifices inspire me. As for J.T. Realmuto, many consider him one of the best catchers in baseball. His receiving skills and throwing mechanics are nearly perfect, and I strive to use them as a standard or goal. 10. What message do you hope to convey to other athletes who aspire to play at a high level? I hope that any player understands that anything is possible with enough hard work. No dream or goal is unrealistic or unreachable if you have genuine passion and are willing to put in the effort to achieve it. There may be sacrifices along the way, but just like I do, believe that it will all be worth it in the end. Anyone can reach the top with the right drive, work ethic, and attitude. Public Perception and Rankings: 11. How do you feel about the current rankings in your class? What do you think should be considered when evaluating a player’s potential? I believe rankings are generally fair, but one thing people might not consider is that rankings don’t determine your exact future or potential. Additionally, not every great softball player focuses on rankings. Just because you may not like your current ranking doesn’t mean you can’t work hard to improve it in the future. At this moment, I think the rankings are doing well, considering all the relevant statistics. 12. What would you like to say to the softball community regarding your skills and why you believe you deserve to be ranked in the 2029 class? I want everyone to know that I work incredibly hard. Nothing is handed to me; I earn and accomplish everything through dedication. My metrics have significantly improved, both in-game and in terms of numbers. I wake up early, stay up late, and do whatever it takes to get better. I give my best effort in everything I do. I’m a leader on the field and strive to motivate my teammates. There are many aspects that set me apart as a catcher: my pop time, blocking defense, and ability to receive and win strikes for my pitcher. Offensively, I focus on my plate vision, discipline, and power. Ultimately, anyone can be ranked number one if they put in the necessary work and effort, along with passion, a good attitude, and being coachable. There are many talented players out there, and I’m honored to be considered among them. Closing Thoughts: 13. If there’s one thing you want people to remember about you as a player, what would that be? I want to be remembered for my tireless effort. I work hard and do whatever I can to achieve my goals. Along with my passion, I want anyone who knows me or comes to know me to recognize my strong love for this game, as it drives me. Sometimes things can be tough, but that passion keeps me going. The desire to play for a top D1 program motivates me through challenging times. Wrap-Up: 14. How can your fans and supporters follow your journey as you continue to excel in softball? For anyone who’d like to follow my softball journey, please follow my Twitter and Instagram @CheezeMejia (same for both) 15. Thank you so much for your time, Lalia! Is there anyone you would like to thank or acknowledge for supporting you in your softball career? There are so many people! My dad, my catching coaches Jackie Cornelius and Brian MacNamee, the P413 facility and all the coaches there who train me, REB Baseball for the throwing program, Erik Jung and Brian Whatley from the Padres for catching and throwing instruction, 5 Tool Connection and Danny Rodriguez from Orion Sport for strength training, Gradum Gswing and Scott Bray for hitting instruction, and my first travel ball coach, Jim Miller, for giving me a chance to start my career with the Canes. I also want to thank Alesha Perry and Tina Madison for the opportunity to earn my spot with the Bandits, and of course, Coaches Burden, Meadows, and Lamar for the opportunity with the Lady Dukes.

Congratulations to the Legacy & Legends Softball Top 200 Nationally Ranked Recruits from the 2024 graduation class. Those listed are...