Once told she was too small to play college softball, Alexia Garcia will now take her game to one of California’s premier junior colleges.
The former Española Valley High School softball catcher will attend Feather River College in Quincy, Calif., next fall.
“I don’t want to name anybody, but I had a coach who told me I’d never be able to play in college,” Garcia said. “It feels so good to prove him wrong.”
Garcia’s father, Juan Montoya, agreed with the comment his daughter made.
“I really think it was the motivating factor behind it all (to her success),” he said.
Softball has been an influential part of her life since she began playing in the third grade, but it wasn’t until last fall, while playing for the Fusion Gold travel team that she caught Feather River’s attention.
Fusion Gold coach Jonathan Gandert held a showcase event in Belen, where he invited college coaches from all over the southwest. Feather River assistant coach Marco Aragon was among those who attended — specifically focusing on catchers, when Garcia caught his eye.
From that point, she fell in love with what the Golden Eagles’ program had to offer.
“They’re just awesome people,” Garcia said about the coaching staff. “They were so welcoming — they made me comfortable and feel like I was with family.”
New Mexico native
They aren’t exactly family, but Aragon was born and raised in Las Vegas, N.M., and coached high school baseball for six seasons throughout the state before moving on to the college level, where he expanded to softball.
His wife, and Feather River head coach, Meredith Aragon, also has a connection to New Mexico, as she played softball for New Mexico Highlands University.
Garcia will be the third player from the Land of Enchantment to play under the Aragons’ staff.
“We have always loved the grit, mental and physical toughness that New Mexico players have,” Meredith Aragon said. “Alexia is a great kid who comes from a very nice family and she’s going to bring great character and leadership to this program.”
Garcia admitted that she hasn’t always been known to speak up and act as a leader among her team, but Lady Sundevils’ head coach Robert Garcia helped mold her in to that kind of player.
“Not only did he help me become a better catcher, but he taught me to talk more on the field and be a leader,” Alexia Garcia said. “It took a lot of time for me to get to that point, because I was the youngest catcher for so long, but I’m glad I did.”
Besides being outspoken, she also did a lot of talking with her game this past season.
Alexia Garcia led the Lady Sundevils with 41 hits, two home runs, 13 doubles and had a batting average of .488.
“Despite her batting, I still think her best asset is stealing,” Montoya said about his daughter’s offensive game. “She’s able to play with the pitchers’ minds and always grab their attention.”
Feather River has improved its record each season during Meredith Aragon’s four-year stint as head coach.
The Golden Eagles had a 32-5-1 record in 2018 and were the No. 2 seed in the California Community College Athletic Association’s Northern California playoffs, but were upset by the No. 15 seed, Sacramento City College.
The junior college level only provides athletes two years of eligibility, but the Golden Eagles have a proven track record of sending players off to four-year universities to continue their careers.
It’s just one more attribute of the program that Alexia Garcia could not ignore.
“Coach Marco (Aragon) told me that all of their players who want to go on to a four-year college work very hard toward that goal,” she said. “I want to do the same.”
Alexia Garcia said she will study criminal justice at Feather River.