I was at a big-time tournament towards the end of last year and was talking with an SEC head coach.

We were talking about the 2015 class and the coach brought up the Hot 100 list for the senior players.

“Your list is pretty good,” the SEC coach said, “but one you’re missing is Matty Moss. She has the potential to be a great one.”

Matty is a senior at J. L. Mann High in Greenville, S.C. and signed with the Univ. of Tennessee last November. The Vols were her dream school since she was nine years old when she saw Tennessee great Monica Abbott pitch in the Women’s College World Series.

A two-time Class AAAA All-State selection, Matty isn’t afraid to take a path a bit different than others: she’s skipped high school ball the last two years to focus on club play and in this first-person account explains why she’s decided to play this year for the So Cal Athletics-Richardson team out of Southern California, the program headed by Bruce Richardson that has won four of the last five PGF 18U Premier National Championships.

Here’s what Matty sees her next few months looking like as she prepares for SEC play next fall…

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My last summer at home will certainly be a busy one. But it will be worth it.

Living in South Carolina and playing for a team in California brings some challenges and opportunities!

My last travel ball season holds so many opportunities. I get to play with four Tennessee commits and so many other great players. I also have the pleasure of playing for the So Cal Athletics’ coaching staff, who I believe will help prepare me for college.

My final summer season will be hectic, but I want to go out with a bang.

Now balancing, all this will be tough, but not impossible. I still need to work out, practice and have some rest. I prefer to throw 3 times a week, attend my yoga class and lift twice a week with Tony Genovese at Premier.

I’ve been raise on this philosophy: “When you aren’t practicing, someone else is.” 
I also will be training to run a mile in eight minutes, which is required by the Univ. of Tennessee to even put on a jersey.

The biggest challenge will be the flying.

On the plane rides I can get tight and if I fly and then play the same day, it creates for a long and thorough warm-up. And sometimes I don’t have that kind of time. If the plane is delayed, well that’s just more challenges. But I am up for it!

My plans are to fly out twice before the season starts to practice with the team and get some bullpen in with my coaches. My GPA is steading at 4.8, so Ill be packing my books too to get my studies in!

My family has been instrumental in my success as a pitcher. They have carted me around since I was nine years old and now they are making a even bigger sacrifice to fly me out to California to play ball.

All my tournaments will require a plane ride, but we are all very excited!

— Matty Moss