Three Girls, One Dream: Mexico's Renee Murillo at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup

Mexico pitcher Renee Patricia Murillo Mendoza took the mound on Day 2 of the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025 presented by RAXUS in Tainan (TPE), striking out five. She was glad her pitches helped Mexico secure a win against Germany and hopes to keep up the great work throughout the tournament, especially since she’s the only girl on the Mexico team.

After winning MVP honours at both the Telmex U-12 in March and the 2025 MLB Cup Mexico in April, Murillo feels satisfied with how she’s performed this year. Still, she’s focused on improving and working toward even bigger goals in the future.

In the matchup between Germany and Mexico, two girls faced off on the mound with Mona Brauch throing for Germany. There are three girls total in this tournament, the other being Adriana Svoboda from Czechia. Murillo says she’s happy to see more girls at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup, because baseball demands high-level skills, and their presence proves the game isn’t exclusive to boys.

“I think Germany’s pitcher threw well today,” Murillo said. “And I believe the other girl pitches really well, too.”

To Murillo, as to many Mexicans, baseball is the King of Sports because it takes incredible stamina to play such a long game, and players need discipline and intelligence, things she finds especially appealing.

She started playing when she was just four. Her brother played, and their grandfather, Rodolfo Mendoza, who played in Liga Tecate, used to coach them both. Baseball has been her sport ever since.

A huge Los Angeles Dodgers fan, Murillo looks up to Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani. She admires both their talent and the way they carry themselves on and off the field.

“I don’t remember when I became a fan,” she said. “But I’ve loved the Dodgers all the way.”

Just like her idols, Murillo is focused and goal-oriented. Her short-term dream is to play in Mexico’s new U-15 girls’ baseball league, which gives fresh hope to girls across the country. Long-term, she hopes to make it to the Mexican Softball League.

As the only girl on her team, Renee wears a custom-made hairband every time she plays. It’s made of ribbons in the colours of the Mexican flag and features her name, her club number, and her hometown, Tecate.

“It’s pretty,” she said. “And it’s kind of my thing. When people see the hairband, they know it’s me.”

Beyond her colourful look on the mound, Murillo is all grit and fire when she plays. That intensity has earned her the nickname Perrucha, which means “aggressive little dog”, though only her mum is welcome to call her that.