I knew I wanted to compete at the next level. But I think I knew that softball was the sport for me when I started travel ball at eight years old. I did T-ball with my siblings and cousins. Q: How old were you when you started playing softball, and when did you know it would be the sport to take you to the next level?Ī: I started softball when I was around six years old. Anthony High School in Long Beach and played club with Firecrackers - Rico/Weil. Malau'ulu, a left-handed hitting infielder, prepped at St. I’m excited about the college experience and playing at a high level, one of the highest levels in softball.The 12th installment of "Getting to Know…" features Thessa Malau'ulu, a freshman on the softball team. I want our team to be the best in the country. “I’m excited about the championship culture,” she said. The focus now is to get ready for the upcoming season, as Pola hopes to not only make an impact on the Bruins, but also to help them win a national championship. It’s always softball, softball, softball. “(It's) something we’ve always done and worked hard for to get to college for all of us. “It’s actually a really big deal because it’s basically been our whole lives,” she said.
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Softball has meant everything for Pola and her family. “It was amazing because I always had her to talk to or help me with anything because she was my big sister.” “I loved playing with her because we just had this connection while we were on the field,” she said. Savannah was able to play with Keana in high school and travel ball for several years, which was an experience she’ll always remember. Her youngest sister, Kendyl, currently plays in high school at Godinez. Keana, who played at Nebraska in 20, is now medically retired. Selene, who is her oldest sister, played at Long Beach State as a pitcher. Pola’s match with Malau’ulu has helped her settle into the program as the team prepares for the 2022 season.Īway from UCLA, Pola has some real sisters who have played softball as well. The big sister program at UCLA is a way of matching the younger players with someone who has more experience on the team. (She answers) any questions I have and is just there for me.” “And she’s really helped me out with a lot of stuff. “Now that I’ve gotten here, she’s taking me under (her wing) as a big sister,” Pola said. After knowing each other for a while, the two are connecting once again, but this time, as “big sisters.” Sophomore infielder Thessa Malau'ulu grew up just 20 miles from where Pola lives. I just want to help in any way I can.”Įarning playing time with a UCLA team that retains most of its roster from last season will be difficult in 2022, despite Pola being the highest-ranked freshman for the Bruins.īut that's out of Pola's control, and for now, she's just focused on getting better and continuing to develop relationships with her new teammates. If I’m in the lineup, I’ll do anything that’s asked of me.
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“Wherever they need me I’ll go and honestly it doesn’t matter.
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“I’m either going to help in the infield or outfield,” she said. Her versatility in being able to play in the infield or outfield is what makes the Southern California-native an intriguing option for UCLA this season. 707 with 30 RBI and five home runs in 13 games played. In her senior year, Pola hit an eye-popping. “I’m so grateful to be here and it just feels like a dream.” “I feel really honored that I get to play with such an amazing team with people that have experience of winning a national championship and coaches that have also won national championships,” Pola said. Growing up less than an hour north of UCLA, it was always Pola's dream to play for the Bruins. 10 in SA's 2021 Top 100 recruiting rankings. That player is Savannah Pola, a left-handed hitting infielder and outfielder from Godinez Fundamental High School in Santa Ana, Calif. But there is one player who stands out among the rest. UCLA’s freshman class may not be as flashy this year as others it has had in the past.