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Catching Up with LLS 2024 5-Star Pitcher Aubrey Wurst (Maryland Signee)

Chief of Evaluations • May 15, 2024

Story by Elizabeth Perez, Legacy & Legends Softball

Catching up with Legacy & Legends Softball 2024 Grad Class, 5-Star pitcher Aubrey Wurst on what’s new with her, and what her suggestions are for kids after they commit / sign.


First Aubrey, tell us what led to your decision to flip your commitment to Maryland?

Oh geeze, that’s a good question. I guess it started when I got the call that Coach Papa retired and UNC (University of North Carolina) was hiring a coach from outside the program. At that point I just wanted to meet the new staff and be 100% sure of my decision on where I was going to call home for the next 4 years. I want to thank Coach Smith (UNC Head Coach Megan Smith Lyon) for respecting my timeline and my decision to explore all of my options before making a final decision on my commitment.


It all happened very quickly. I visited 7 schools in the span of 6 weeks, and had a bunch of calls with various coaches. When I was right at the end of that timeframe, I got a call from Coach Lauren Karn at Maryland. I was on a visit at another school and we took the call in the hotel room that night. I had always been very interested in Maryland because I have a lot of family there, they are close to Baltimore and Washington DC, it’s a great academic school, and they have a lot of opportunities for what I want to study (Broadcast Journalism). I had been to several camps there and Maryland was definitely one of my top choices for schools when the recruiting process started my junior year of high school.


When I got the call my parents and I made arrangements to get to campus later that week, and I’m SO happy I did! After spending a day on campus and talking to Coach Karn and her staff, I knew that Maryland was going to be my new home. I can’t explain it, but it was just a feeling of “this is where I’m supposed to be.”


A few days later, I called Coach Karn and told her I was going to be a Terp! I couldn’t be happier with my decision and I’m so excited to study and play at Maryland!


Tell us about your approach to softball post commitment and post signing that you think younger kids can benefit from:

Well, I had a crazy recruiting process, one that most kids will definitely not experience! With everything that happened, I basically went through the process twice and I would be lying if I said I loved all of it.


Being recruited and going through the process is really tough at times, and managing that process along with your responsibilities with school, training, competing, and all of life’s other events can be challenging. But I also think it prepares you really well for what managing your schedule in college will be like. Kids who are going through the recruiting process will probably hear “enjoy it” a lot, but don’t get discouraged if you aren’t at times. The

process is filled with constant ups and downs!


I think one thing I see sometimes is that when some kids commit or sign they think that they have reached their goal, and maybe there is a tendency to take your foot off the gas pedal a little bit. I’ve seen some kids decide to take a step back with travel ball and play more locally as opposed to nationally, which in my opinion isn’t the best decision if your goal is the start at the next level.


Committing to play college softball at any level means you now have to work that much harder. I think some people forget that when you get to college, every player on the field was a star on their high school team! Everyone can play the game at an elite level. So, when you commit or sign you are now faced with the reality that in the time between committing and when you arrive on campus, you should be dedicated to preparing yourself to compete at the college level.

Team NC - Hinde


For me, my focus after committing and after signing was to work even harder than I already had been. I want to get to Maryland and I want to compete, be a great teammate, and work my butt off to earn playing time and to help my team win any way I can. To do that, I have to be as prepared as possible when I step foot on campus. I’ve spent a ton of time in the gym over the last few years working with my trainers to get stronger. I had an umpire that I had not seen in a while recently tell me “you look so much stronger than the last time I saw you.” I love hearing that because it’s great feedback that my hard work is paying off.


College softball is a true grind. You play 50+ games in a season and then hopefully you get to play in the postseason. As a pitcher, I have to make sure my body is ready physically to throw 7 inning games multiple times in a week or weekend. So I make sure that I’m throwing not only in games, but also throwing bullpens multiple times a week in between games. I’m making sure to take care of my body as well. I’m eating a lot healthier now than maybe I was in the past. I’m not skipping that ice bath because I’m tired and want to get to bed. I’m making sure to get good sleep. I’m listening to what my doctor/treatment specialist Tatum Buckley (who played softball at Florida Atlantic University) tells me to do daily so that I’m maximizing my recovery time after games. There are things that I have to do to make sure my body is ready for the workload I’m putting on it, and I’ve learned that you cannot skip those things.


I’ve also really worked hard on my command and my approach to pitching with my pitching coach JoAnn Ferrieri, and I’ve learned so much from my travel ball pitching coaches as well Lauren Haeger and Brittany Pickett). All three of them pitched in college at a very high level and they all have given me such great feedback on what to expect as I head off to Maryland.


One thing I know for sure is no matter how I’m throwing, there is always room for improvement. When I get to the Big Ten, it’s filled with amazing hitters. Coaches do their homework, and they scout you, and hitters are smart, they know what you are going to throw. I was watching the Big Ten Tournament and the announcer said, “one sign of a great pitcher is that she can basically tell you what she’s throwing, and she still gets you out.” I think that was a great comment and it just shows how much work goes into being successful at the next level. I can’t wait to get to campus in August and start working with the girls and with Coach Karn in the bullpen, because I know that I’m going to learn so much more about pitching when I get there.

American Heritage High School (Florida)


You just finished up a pretty awesome high school career. Can you tell anyone anything about

your experience and give any advice to younger kids?

My experience playing high school softball was probably a little different than a lot of kids. This year we only had 4 healthy high school age kids come out for the softball team, but we did have a bunch of middle school kids who were interested in playing middle school ball. Since we are a K-12 school, we were able to field a varsity team with a lot of young kids who really didn’t know much about softball.


I didn’t have a team filled with future college softball players or kids who even really prioritized softball, but I wanted to play my senior year and I didn’t want to leave my school to do it. I definitely acted as more of a coach this year, and to be honest I really enjoyed the season. I learned a lot about being a good leader and a role model for some of the younger kids, and about being patient, when at times it was tough to do that. All my teammates worked really hard, and that’s all that mattered to me. Personally, I grew as a player because I called my own games this year. That experience made me a better pitcher as I continued to learn what to throw in situations and I could work on specific pitches when the situation allowed. This was a rare opportunity and I used it to my advantage. We ended up having a pretty successful season which I’m not sure anyone expected when the season began.


I have a point in all of this I promise!! As I’ve mentioned I want to get into the broadcasting field and would like to be a sideline reporter or news reporter. One thing that drove me to picking my high school (American Heritage) is that it has a phenomenal media program. I actually would come to school early and take a period zero every day, because we have a media room/building where we would broadcast the morning announcements live to the entire school. My school gave me the chance to do live morning announcements as the news anchor, to travel to national competitions, to attend and work at the local Emmy awards, and to do special media pieces on our school’s athletes.


I was nominated for a national award for a piece I did on our football kicker Jake Weinberg (Florida State signee), and I got to learn so much as a high school student about the broadcasting and news industry, which would not have been available to me

at other schools.

Aubrey's Senior season ended after a 12 inning, 100 strike, 24K, 0 BB, no earned runs outing


I definitely could have transferred to try to win a State Championship, but when I really gave it some thought I decided that my education and what I could learn at American Heritage was going to do so much more for my future. Much more than winning high school softball games.

So, for the kids out there who worry that your high school team may not be super strong, or that you won’t get recruited because of it, don’t be. If you have a chance to go to a school where you can put yourself in a better place for your future academically, don’t hesitate to do it. As I’ve said before, play competitive travel ball and go to camps, and GET GOOD GRADES!!!


That’s the key. I would never tell someone to leave a great high school situation just for softball.


Thanks so much for checking in on me and for always supporting me! And most importantly thanks for all you are doing to continue to promote softball and all the kids who love playing this beautiful and magical game.


Story by Elizabeth Perez, Legacy & Legends Softball, May 15, 2024

Lalia "Cheese" Mejia: A Top 2029 Softball Prospect

By Allen Goodwin • March 4, 2025
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.

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