March 5, 2025
Umatilla Softball Player Mittie O’Brien Excelling In Senior Year with 5.2 GPA
By Kyle Coppola
Umatilla Softball Player Mittie O’Brien Excelling In Senior Year with 5.2 GPA
UMATILLA, Fla. — Mittie O’Brien has never been one to shy away from a challenge. A senior at Umatilla High School, O’Brien is a three-sport standout, balancing softball, volleyball, and basketball while excelling in the classroom with a 5.2 GPA. Now, she’s preparing for the next chapter in her athletic and academic journey after signing her commitment to play softball at Lake-Sumter State College.
O’Brien has wasted no time making her mark in her final high school softball season. Through just nine games, she boasts a staggering .533 batting average, collecting 16 hits, 10 runs, and 17 RBIs. Her power at the plate is evident with six doubles and three triples, making her a key contributor to Umatilla’s offensive success.
(Mittie O’Brien is a dual threat. She is a great batter and can also get it done on the pitchers mound. She has 31 strikeouts in just nine games played. Photo Credit – KD Photography.)
But O’Brien is not just a force with the bat—she’s also a dominant presence in the pitching circle. Leading the team with 21.1 innings pitched, she carries a 3.61 ERA, the lowest on the squad. Her command has been outstanding, recording 31 strikeouts—accounting for one-third of the batters she has faced—while surrendering only four walks and 11 earned runs.
Earlier this year O’Brien decided to player her collegiate softball at LSSC. “I am beyond blessed to announce my commitment to Lake-Sumter State College to play college softball,” O’Brien shared in a heartfelt statement. “I would like to thank every coach who has helped me get to where I am! Thank you, Coach Paul, Coach Alex, Coach Sean, Coach Kevin, and Coach Charles, for helping me grow throughout my recruitment process! Thank you, Coach Jet, Coach Josh, Coach Jimmy, and Coach T, for helping me get through some of my toughest times in my sport! And thank you to Coach Miller for giving me this special opportunity to play softball at the next level.”
(As a team captain Mittie talks to her teammates. She offers not only baseball advice but life advice. She is a true student-athlete and a leader in every sense of the word. Photo Credit – KD Photography.)
O’Brien also expressed deep gratitude toward her parents, family, and faith, crediting her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for guiding her through life’s challenges.
“Without Him, we’d be nothing but dust,” she said.
Lake-Sumter State College head coach Jay Miller knew from the moment he saw O’Brien at a camp that she was a player he wanted on his roster.
“Mittie was a kid who I didn’t know, but as soon as she walked on the field at our camp, it was clear we had to make it happen! Her bat is great, she’s got potential as a top-tier pitcher, but her personality is second to none! I cannot wait to see the impact she has for us,” Miller said.
With her stellar final season at Umatilla still unfolding, O’Brien remains focused on leading her team and continuing to elevate her game before she transitions to the collegiate level. For now, she’s embracing every moment on the field, knowing that her hard work has paved the way for a bright future with the Lakehawks.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
