Today we profile a Northern Calif. standout catcher who’s the battery-mate on her club team of another standout sophomore, pitcher Pat Moore who has committed to DePaul.

Our spotlight player has had a huge spring at the plate and, looking ahead, knows what she wants to do for a career –working for her favorite MLB team!

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Name: SYDNEY CROSS
High School: Mount Shasta High School
City: Mount Shasta
State: Calif.
Grad Year: 2017
Club: All American Mizuno- Walker
Position(s): Catcher/third base
Height: 5-foot-5
GPA: 4.0

High School Stats: .615 batting average (4th in Northern Section and 1st in league) with 53 RBI (2nd in section and 1st in league), 11 home runs(2nd in section and 1st in league), .650 OBP, 1.087 SLG
High School Honors: SCL League MVP as a Freshman

Camps: invited to participate in OnDeck Jamboree in Stockton last year.
College: uncommitted

Recruiting Situation: “I am drawing interest from several universities and hoping to have a clearer picture of things by the end of summer,” Sydney says. “I will be playing at several showcases on the West Coast this summer.”

Coach’s Comments: “I would describe Sydney as a hard-working, tenacious competitor who puts out 110 percent effort at everything she does on and off the field. She’s a natural leader who leads by example. At the plate she hits for power and has the confidence and ability to come up with the big hit in a clutch spot.

Defensively, Sydney is among the top catchers I’ve watched play in the 10 years I have been coaching. You could not ask for a better catcher to work with any pitching staff.”
— Richard Walker, Head Coach of All American Mizuno-Walker

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10 Questions with Sydney…

FullCountSoftball.com: We hear you’re passionate about coaching younger players… how did that interest develop?
Sydney Cross: Working with my brother in Little League I have found that I love to coach younger kids and teach them how to play baseball and softball.  Recently, I have been helping coach a girls softball team with 8-10 year olds, and I just love being able to pass on all my knowledge of the game down to them, and maybe I will get a few of them to become as passionate about softball as I am!  Sometimes during the week I will also go teach some of the baseball players and my little brothers team how to catch.

FCS.com: What would you say has been the best softball experience of your young career so far? 
SC: My best softball experience was going to ASA 14U Nationals in San Diego last summer, getting the chance to play softball teams from all over the country and throwing out 8-of-10 girls who attempted to steal on me.

FCS.com: Is there a philosophy you live by?
SC: The motto I live by everyday is “Be a leader and set the example.” I not only use this motto on the softball field, I also use this during my everyday life outside of softball.

FCS.com: What are you looking for in a university? 
SC: I’m looking for a good fit academically and athletically.

FCS.com: Do you have any softball superstitions or rituals? 
SC: One ritual that I have is that I always do the same routine before every at bat; also, before every inning when my team takes the field, my pitcher and I do the same handshake.

FCS.com: What would you say are your strengths on the field?
SC: I believe I am very good at communication, leading by example, blocking, framing, understanding the subtleties of the game and recognizing the importance of the fundamentals.

FCS.com: What’s an area or two you want to work on? 
SC: I want to work on my strength and quickness behind the plate.

FCS.com: You play other sports… what are some of your bigger accomplishments in any of your sports?
SC: I also play volleyball and basketball and some of my accomplishments have been being named SCL league MVP last year as a freshmen and winning league for softball and volleyball last year.  As for my travel ball, my team won the NorCal Championships in Sunnyvale, Calif. last June and we got 33rd place at ASA Nationals in San Diego last summer.

FCS.com: Describe yourself as a softball player in one word:
SC: If I could describe myself as a softball player it would have to be “determined” because I am always striving to play my best during games and practices and I’m determined to reach my goal of being a college softball player.

FCS.com: What do you want to study or do as a career after your playing days are over? 
SC: As of right now, I’m thinking about studying sports management and for a career I want to work for a Major League sports team… preferably the San Francisco Giants!