Softball fans, get ready to meet the rising star who's catching the eyes of college coaches across the nation - Laci Martinez, the talented outfielder hailing from North side High School in Columbus, Georgia. As we delve into Laci's journey and prospects for the future, it's evident that this young athlete is destined for greatness on the diamond.
Laci Martinez
Class of 2026 Junior at Northside High School
Athletics Gold Tamborra 16U
Outfield / Utility
• NHS State Champions in '22 & '23
• '23 1st Team All State & All Region
• '21 USA All American
High School Stats: 404 Batting Average, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 4 HRs.
Spring/Summer Stats: .388 Batting Average, 61 Hits, 9 HRs, 18 Doubles
Getting to Know Laci !
Laci Martinez isn't just another player on the field; she's a force to be reckoned with, exhibiting skill, determination, and a passion for the game that sets her apart. She was able to find time to discuss her game, things that are important to her and potential colleges standing out to her prior to the contact period opening up .
When we discussed her goals, they were heavily academically related as she stated, "This upcoming school year, I loaded up on my AP and dual enrollment classes. I plan to do the same senior year to hopefully finish all my classes early in December." That ties hand in hand with one of her accomplishments she is most proud of as she detailed, "My proudest accomplishment would be from last year (2023). Playing close to 100 games with my travel team (Athletics Gold Tamborra) and coming in 2nd in both IDT and PGF Nationals. Then immediately after, I played high school ball (Northside) and we won our 2nd state championship title in a row, and I still finished the school year with a 4.2 GPA. It was a long year, but I accomplished so much."
Unleashing the Power of Focus and Fun in Softball
When I asked her to describe her game, she replied, "I'd say it’s a mixture of me being locked in and having fun at the same time. Being locked in is what helps me focus, be aware of my surroundings, and get the job done. I also need to have fun at the same time, like sharing a little laughter with my teammates in the outfield, trying new cheers in the dugout, and attempting to make our coaches laugh when it’s appropriate during games. I like to be sharp in every at-bat and every play in the outfield. I think having some fun can remove some tension and help me be the best I can be."
On what strengths she feels make her a great athlete, she said, "I work out with a trainer during my off-season and always find a way to work on my game, even in my off time. I also watch game clips to pick up new things and add them to my game." She expanded on that thought, "I watch clips of myself and my team to identify areas where I or we can improve. Also, if I made a mistake on a play, I try to see what I could’ve done differently to have a better outcome. Now, when the college softball season begins, I always catch up on some games as well so I can see plenty of highlights and clips to add to my game."
I asked her to recall a moment when she felt unstoppable and she detailed "In Patriot Games (Fort Collins, Colorado) I almost hit a homerun cycle with 3 home runs in a game (6 RBI) with over 20 college coaches watching our game. I felt great and to do it in front of college coaches made me feel unstoppable." On what drives her in softball "I love the game so much! The intensity, the speed of the game, my teammates, my coaches, the traveling, new people I meet at camps, the compliments, and even the long lectures from my dad when I have a off game drives me to do better. "
Exploring Laci's College Softball Preferences and Influences
On her camp experiences she added "I’ve been to over 20 camps in this recruiting process, so each one is unique and has stood out to me in good way. However, since I’ve been to LSU, Duke, Pitt, Georgia, and NC State multiple times I’m very familiar on how things are ran so these school stood out the most to me."
Since it's still early in the process for Laci, I inquired about whether she has a preferred program and if there are any schools that pique her interest even prior to the commencement of the recruitment process.Laci states "I practically grew up watching LSU softball due to Aliyah Andrews. She was my favorite player in softball during her time at LSU and was one of the biggest reasons why I transitioned to the outfield in 12U. Also, my mom went to Southern University and a lot of her family lives in Baton Rouge. My mom’s entire family are huge LSU fans, so I have always been around the LSU atmosphere. I still root for a lot of other programs especially the underdogs. I was also cheering on my former high school teammates teams (Claire Cahalan at Missouri and Savanna Bedell at LSU) during the Regionals, Supers, and College World Series."
Family Support: The Driving Force Behind Her Softball Journey
Who is her inspiration in her softball journey, she states "My parents. They are doing everything they can to help me fulfill my dreams of making it to the next level. Seeing them juggle their hectic work schedules and spend majority of their vacation time at the ball field says a lot about them. All those long drives to practices, lessons, tournaments, flights across the country, and early mornings will never go unnoticed. I work hard for them and do my best to make them proud." When I asked what was important to her she says "God, family, friends, and school are very important to me. I’m very passionate about all of them."
She said when she has down time "I try to catch up on my TV shows, hang out with my friends and family, and I love home cooked food so I catch up on new things in different cook books to perfect my cooking. "
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