Opposing pitchers can breathe a sigh of relief: Sophia Prudholme is considering hanging up her bat and glove after the Malibu Little League (MLL) season concludes later this month.
The 12-year-old Braves first baseman said she is thinking about just playing her first athletic love: soccer.
“I’m just really ready to focus on soccer and excel at it even more than I have been,” Sophia said. “That’s what I want to continue with the rest of my athletic career.”
The Oaks Christian School student plays soccer for her school and the Los Angeles Galaxy Conejo Valley club team, but her success on the diamond for the 8-8 Braves has earned her the title of The Malibu Times Athlete of the Week.
Sophia went two-for-two with three runs and a walk in the Braves’ game last Saturday.
Heading into the MLL majors division’s playoffs, which begin this weekend, the seventh-grader has a batting average of .639, 23 hits, 10 RBIs, 18 runs and nine walks. She has four strikeouts as a pitcher.
Sophia, a right-handed batter, also has an outside-the-park homerun under her belt, which came during a loss to the Blue Jays.
Sophia said when she hit the ball toward left field, she didn’t realize it was on its way over the fence.
“I just started running really, really hard,” she said. “When I got to second base, my coach yelled, ‘It’s out.’ I stopped and looked. I was really happy and everyone started clapping.”
Steve Prudholme, Sophia’s dad and the Braves’ coach, said Sophia hit a homer during practice earlier in the season, but added that hitting a homerun in batting practice is different than hitting the ball out of the park in a game.
“To hit it off one of the best pitchers in the majors division was just outstanding,” he said. “When she hit it, I thought, ‘Oh, my! That’s gonna go way out,’ and it landed over the fence in the bushes. I was so proud of her.”
The ball player’s mom, Sharon Segal-Prudholme, said she was excited for Sophia and that she had a feeling Sophia was going to hit a homerun this season.
“She has been hitting really well,” Segal-Prudholme said. “I loved that after she hit it, all of her teammates came out of the dugout and went to home plate to congratulate her. I thought that was great.”
What makes Sophia’s homerun and play this season even more monumental is that she is one of a few girls playing baseball in the little league. Sophia is the only girl playing in majors level, which MLL’s oldest kids compete in.
Sophia said playing baseball with boys is normal to her.
“I have been playing since I was seven,” she said. “It’s not really weird. I’m comfortable with it.”
Segal-Prudholme said enjoys watching Sophia on the diamond.
“Baseball is extra exciting for me because she is the only girl in majors this year and she is better than a lot of players,” she said. “When she goes up to bat, she is a threat. As a woman, that makes me extra proud.”
Steve said his daughter is vital to the Braves’ success.
“As one of our coaches said, ‘we go as Sophia goes,’” he said.
Sophia’s play on the diamond began as a five-year-old T-ball player. Along the way, she has won four MLL titles and played on two travel all-star teams.
Sophia prefers soccer over baseball, though. The young athlete said she enjoys the ball movement of the game.
“I love passing it to teammates, scoring and the excitement of the game,” Sophia said. “I love all the different plays that we do.”
Sophia plays all most all year, including during the MLL season and has learned to balance her athletic time.
“Usually, I might have to miss practice for one or the other,” the mid-fielder said. “Let’s say I have game for soccer coming up, so I will go to soccer practice because it is more important at that time.”
Sophia has also begun to run track. She said keys to being a successful athlete are practice and effort.
“I only play the sports I love,” Sophia said. “If I’m not having a fun time then I won’t do it. Having a passion for the sport and having a fun time, effort, and practice are important.”
Steve said Sophia is a blue-collar worker and perfectionist as an athlete and baseball player.
“Meaning she’s very hardworking and has a knack for picking up things very quickly,” he said.
Segal-Prudholme said Sophia, also a straight-A student, excels at whatever she focuses on.
“I’m so proud of her,” she said.
