SAN DIEGO – Head Coach MJ Knighten and the San Diego softball program have the announced the signing of three to National Letters of Intent.
 
Three California natives will join the Toreros in the fall of 2024, as Mallory Axline (San Digeo, Calif.), Sophia Pinedo (Montclair, Calif.) and Alex Riggs (San Diego, Calif.) officially joined the program.
 
"When I go out recruiting, I look for athletes who embody the competitive greatness we are building daily and these three young women fit the bill," said Knighten. "I am excited to see them push those around them as well as develop their game. We are in the adding stages of this program and these three athletes bring grit, passion and drive. I know they are going to accomplish great things when they step on campus."
 
MALLORY AXLINE
Position: Utility
Height: 5'7"
Hometown/High School: San Diego, Calif. / Cathedral Catholic High School
Career Highlights:

• Axline is a three-time All-Western League honoree and has been named to the first team twice.
• Axline finished with over 100 hits as a junior, spending time at second base and the outfield.
• In her high school career, Axline has been a key utility player for Cathedral Catholic, helping the team finish as CIF runner-up in 2022.
• Axline played her club softball for Breakers Labs Bobby 18u, where she helped lead the team to a PGF Platinum national title in 2022.

 
Other Notes:

• Axline hails from an athletic family, as her father, Matt was a swimmer at Ohio State, while her mother, Candace played softball at Ohio State.
• Her older brother, Bennett, is a water polo player at UC San Diego.
• Axline has been named a scholar athlete every year of her high school career.  

 
SOPHIA PINEDO
Position: Infield
Height: 5'4"
Hometown/High School: Montclair, Calif. / Bishop Amat Memorial High School
Career Highlights:

• A four-year varsity letter winner and team captain, Pinedo has manned the shortstop position throughout high school and excelled.
• A second team All-Area honoree and 2023 San Gabriel Valley Underclassmen All-Star, Pinedo also played her club softball with Corona Angels Howard U18 Gold.
• Corona Angels won the 2023 TCS 7 Inning Series Best of the West and also finished fifth at the 2023 Colorado IDT with help from Pinedo.
• Pinedo helped her team qualify for the CIF playoffs each of the last three seasons and won the 2021 Del Ray League.
• Pinedo also took home several academic honors, including the 2022 CIF-SS Ford Academic Award and three Varsity Softball Team Athletic Academic Awards for having over a 4.0 GPA.

 
Other Notes:

• A tremendous student who has maintained a 4.0 GPA all throughout high school, Pinedo is a National Honors Society and California Scholarship Federation member, who has taken accelerated, honors, advanced placement & International Baccalaureate level courses.
• Pinedo also won the National Hispanic Recognition Award by College Board and earned the Honors at Entrance Scholarship Award for Academics.
• In addition, Pinedo also played volleyball in high school.

 
ALEX RIGGS
Position: Pitcher/First Base
Height: 5'8"
Hometown/High School: San Diego, Calif. / Academy of Our Lady of Peace
Career Highlights:

• A gifted pitcher, Riggs has been catching national attention, as she was rated as the No. 26 pitcher in the country in 2022 by Extra Innings Softball.
• Riggs is a three-time first team All-League honoree and team captain.
• Last season, Riggs pitched to a 1.94 ERA in the circle, while hitting .517 at the plate.
• Riggs was featured in the San Diego Union Tribune as the High School Athlete of the Month back in 2021.
• In her club softball career, Riggs played for Breakers Lab Bobby and has helped the team win the 2022 Schutt Cup and 2021 TCS Presidents' Day Showcase.  

 
Other Notes:

• Riggs is the daughter of former Cal State Fullerton and NFL linebacker Bryan Riggs, who played three seasons with the Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers.
• A gifted student, Riggs has received first honors and head of school honors from 2020-24.
• Riggs also played basketball in high school and is a member of the American Sign Language Honors Society.

 
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