KEVIN NARRO | STAFF WRITER
Entering the 2019 season, Brownsville Veterans Memorial returned 10 seniors to their club and were presented with high expectations.
One main question entering the season was who was going to replace four-year starting catcher Harley Morales.
The Lady Chargers did not have to look any further than freshman Natalie Mendoza.
Mendoza has stepped into the starting role and has thrived both at the plate and behind the dish calling the balls and strikes for senior pitcher Mia Anzaldua.
“Maybe she is too young to know how big the catching position was to fill,” said Lady Chargers coach Rayner Cardenas. “She has been working hard since Day 1 and works hard on her own. She handled the role and how she calls the pitches beautifully. She has gone above and beyond our expectations but she has worked for everything she has.”
Mendoza began playing softball five years ago and feels she got a late start to the sport.
Born and raised in Brownsville, Mendoza was bound to be a Lady Charger. She began watching her older brother Michael Mendoza play for the Chargers’ baseball team, where he too was on the varsity as a freshman.
Mendoza quickly fell in love with the idea of one day playing for the Lady Chargers.
“I grew up watching my brother play,” she said. “That is when I knew ‘Wow, this is my sport.’ I started playing softball in middle school and I played select ball with the Shockers.”
Mendoza began her career at third base and when her fifth-grade team needed a catcher, Mendoza’s father encouraged her to give it a try and she would ultimately transition.
One trait that Mendoza naturally has is her leadership, which is needed to play the catcher’s position.
“My dad knew I had the attitude to play the catcher’s position, it is definitely a leadership role and that is why I love this position so much.”
Behind every great pitcher is a great catcher and Mendoza has been behind the plate all year for the Lady Chargers, witnessing multiple no hitters and perfect games off the arm of senior pitcher Anzaldua, who has had a record-breaking year.
The two began their relationship through summer ball when Mendoza was in eighth grade.
Not only did Mendoza have to build a relationship with Anzaldua but also adjust to the speed at the varsity level.
“It is a whole different level,” she said. “I knew I had to raise my game quick, I wasn’t worried but I was just like wow, this is a whole new level but I knew it was what I was working for. I knew I had to be on point with her pitches and what pitches to call and we just grew a connection and it has been awesome. To be able to sit back there and watch Mia pitch is unique.”
While it took some time for the two to build chemistry and be on the same page, Mendoza has called the balls and strikes with mastery.
She’s also excelled at the plate.
In her playoff debut this past weekend, she notched her first playoff win, going 2-for-3 at the plate with two doubles, two runs and two RBIs.
On the year, she has produced at the plate with a .386 batting average, 34 hits, 10 doubles, four homers, 33 RBIs and 34 runs.
“We went to tournaments and we played against some really tough teams and from those games, she was our best hitter,” Cardenas said. “She is able to handle the three pitchers that we have and at that point, we knew we were going to be alright. Her game behind the plate is solid. Everything you can ask for, she has it. With her small size we were worried about her offense, but she has been our second or third best hitter this year and has been consistent.”
Mendoza and the Lady Chargers will continue their playoff run tonight at 6 p.m. when they host Calallen in Game 1 of a best-of-three series in the Class 5A area round.
“It was amazing being able to get a taste of the playoffs,” she said. “There were a little bit of butterflies in my stomach but I just wanted to get out there and play and help my team.”