Mia De Los Santos signing

Mia De Los Santos (center) signs her letter of intent to play softball at Texas Lutheran University, Monday afternoon at Victoria East High School. (Gabe Myers/Victoria Advocate)

Victoria Eastòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Mia De Los Santos made her softball future official Monday, signing her letter-of-intent to play at Texas Lutheran University.

De Los Santos proved to be a breakout star for the Titans throughout the 2024 season. The power-hitting catcher led the team in average (.477) and home runs (11) while sporting a perfect fielding percentage behind the plate.

òòò½ÊÓƵœI really didnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t expect to have that good of a season,òòò½ÊÓƵ De Los Santos said of her junior year. òòò½ÊÓƵœIt was a big surprise, and I didnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t how well I did until after the season. But now I know I have to set the bar high for myself.òòò½ÊÓƵ

De Los Santos has parlayed that success on the diamond into an opportunity to continue her career with TLU in Seguin. De Los Santos was so pleased with how she was recruited by the Bulldogs, that she decided to make a decision before her senior season even begins.

òòò½ÊÓƵœMy visit went so well, I just felt at home and I was ready to make that decision,òòò½ÊÓƵ De Los Santos said. òòò½ÊÓƵœI wanted to get the stress of the recruitment process over with before the season and just have fun.òòò½ÊÓƵ

Texas Lutheran has been a fixture in the Division III softball tournament over the past decade. The Bulldogs have been in the tournament 10 straight years.

TLU even won the national championship in 2019 and played for the title again in 2021. De Los Santos hopes for the opportunity to contribute to continuing that success right away.

òòò½ÊÓƵœI know that Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™m definitely going to have to earn a spot because those girls are really good,òòò½ÊÓƵ De Los Santos said. òòò½ÊÓƵœIòòò½ÊÓƵ™m excited to get over there and I think coach (Wade) Wilson will help me get better and push myself.òòò½ÊÓƵ

De Los Santosòòò½ÊÓƵ™ work at the high school level is not done yet. Her breakout junior season helped lead the Lady Titans to the postseason for the first time since 2014. While De Los Santosòòò½ÊÓƵ™ output earned her district offensive player of the year honors.

Her aim in 2025 is to top the output of her junior campaign.

òòò½ÊÓƵœI just want to do better than I did last year, so Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™m going to keep putting in the work,òòò½ÊÓƵ De Los Santos said. òòò½ÊÓƵœI know our team can do well as long as we keep on the path weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re on.òòò½ÊÓƵ

— Myers can be reached at gmyers@vicad.com.

Gabe Myers is a sports reporter for the Victoria Advocate, where he works to cover all athletics happening the area.