Downey teen travels internationally to play softball
Giana Castillo-Flores has played softball since age six. (Photos by Alex Dominguez)
DOWNEY — Watch her play, and you may notice that Giana Castillo-Flores has one of the more eye-catching gloves out on the softball field, adorned in green and red with the Mexico flag embellished across the top. But more than just a tool for play, her glove serves as a symbol; a representation of the journey to play for the Mexican 13U national team.
Castillo-Flores, 13, has been playing softball since she was 6 years-old. Always athletically inclined, she began learning what became her main sport playing Ponytail at Independence Park.
“I started off playing multiple sports. I did horseback riding, soccer, all those things.,” said Castillo-Flores. “My mom asked me if I wanted to do softball, and that’s what just stuck for me.”
While Castillo-Flores has remained occupied playing travel ball and for Doty Middle School, her talents recently earned her a spot on the U-15 Mexican team, playing in the Pan American games.
Castillo-Flores – along with her teammates – were expected to train on their own before traveling to Mexico for just a few short days of team practice. Then, it was off to Peru for the tournament.
Mexico performed well-enough to make it to the championship round, however ran into a buzz-saw in the form of a tough USA team for two back-to-back games.
“The first game, all of us were just super excited because we get to represent our country,” said Castillo-Flores. “The following games we kept getting more and more excited.
“I wanted to play the USA personally; some of the other girls were like, ‘Oh no, USA!’ Some of the [USA] girls are from California, so I know them, so I wanted to play them.”
Despite the frustrating ending to the tournament, the teams’ efforts still earned them a silver medal, and an invite to the inaugural WBSC U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup.
Soon, Castillo-Flores and her teammates will travel to Japan on two separate occasions, once for another tournament, and then again for the World showcase for which they qualified.
Ask her what her favorite part of playing softball is, and Castillo-Flores will humbly reply that it’s the comradery and sisterhood with her teammates.
Her play on the field tells a different, much more competitive story.
“I’d say I’m a pretty good pitcher,” said Castillo-Flores.
But that’s not all.
Along with her role inside the pitcher’s circle, Castillo-Flores also has experience in the middle infield, playing either shortstop or second base. For those who may not be aware, that means that when the game doesn’t rest on her shoulders, she’s one of the commanders of the infield.
And she likes it that way; she’s reluctant to give either position up.
“Throughout the week, I’m super busy,” said Castillo-Flores. “Monday, I have pitching. Tuesday, I have hitting. Wednesday, I have fielding because I still want to keep that middle-infield position, so I work Wednesdays. Thursdays, I have hitting and weight training…
“I think it’s because I know that pitchers, they always have this title that, ‘Oh, they’re only pitchers’ or they can pitch, and if they have a good bat they can hit. But I love [shortstop], and I want to work for it until they tell me I can’t.”
Down the line, Castillo-Flores hopes to one day trade in her red, white, and green Mexico Jersey for that of Washington Husky purple and gold.
“I really liked the shortstop when she was there. She already left, but her name is Sis Bates,” said Castillo-Flores.
Castillo-Flores says that she will never forget her first pitch representing Mexico. With more high-stakes play just around the corner, she remains working hard, dedicated, and – considering the Pan American games outcome – fully motivated with team USA still firmly locked in her cross hairs.
“They’ll be there,” she said.