At just 15 years old, Izzie Dieter has emerged as a star in two of the nation’s fastest growing women’s sports, women’s baseball and flag football. In recent years, both sports have seen an expansion in opportunities available to players that have allowed them to take their games to the next level. Dieter is the epitome of what these opportunities can produce. On the flag football field for Torrey Pines High School, Dieter earned honors as Prep Pigskin Report’s Flag Football Player of the Year, won a CIF San Diego Section Open Division Championship, and played on the USA Flag Football Select Bowl Team. On the baseball diamond, she is a part of the prestigious MLB Develops program where she earned MVP honors. She has achieved all of this while just entering her sophomore year of high school, making her journey a prime example of what’s possible for the next generation of female athletes.
Credit: Scippix Photos
Dieter began her flag football career at age seven playing with her friends in a recreational league in Carmel Valley’s Friday Night Lights program. Growing up she played every position, but during one game, after completing a long pass to a teammate, she realized that quarterback was the position for her. Dieter continued playing in the league until she entered high school.
Dieter’s first high school season was nothing short of amazing. As the only freshman on the varsity team and the starting quarterback, she ranked third in San Diego with 4,820 passing yards, amassed a 121.7 passer rating, and led the Falcons to their first-ever CIF San Diego Section championship.
When asked if it was hard to step into an important leadership role like quarterback as a freshman on a team heavily dominated by upperclassmen Dieter said, “It was definitely challenging at times, but once I got the hang of it, I just had confidence in myself and trust in myself to make the right passes, make
the right reads, and once I got used to that, it . . . became pretty simple because our team just meshed together. So yeah, I wouldn't say it was easy, but I would say it got easier as I played with the team more.“ Dieter’s confidence showed up in her play style and was crucial to the Falcons’ success.
After a stellar first season with Torrey Pines, Dieter had the opportunity to participate with the USA flag football program, a multi-level development program where athletes can progress through tiers. The top level is a roster spot on a USA national team. Many athletes like Dieter start by competing at a USA Football Identification Camp. If an athlete excels at the camp, they are invited to join the National Team Development Program where they can compete in national showcases and events. Dieter attended an Identification Camp with around 80 other girls. After a great performance she was invited to advance to the next tier, which eventually gave her the opportunity to partake in the Select Bowl in June in Los Angeles.
Girls flag football is growing quickly, and when asked about what it is like to be a part of that first wave of growth Dieter said, “Honestly, it's so good to see that girls' flag football is just becoming so big, and like nationwide, it's becoming such a big sport. I've been playing for such a long time … and I never imagined it would get to this point. It's only going to get bigger from here, but it's really exciting to be a part of it, and I'm really happy to see how big it's going to get in the future.”
Dieter is a magician on the flag football field, but she actually got her start in sports playing baseball.
Dieter’s entire family played baseball or softball so she comes by her success honestly. Although she originally started playing softball, she switched to baseball at Del Mar Little League when she was ten because she wanted to throw overhand and pitch.
Dieter is also part of the exclusive MLB Develops girls program. Similar to USA Flag Football, MLB Develops is also a multi-level development pathway for both boys and girls who play baseball, with the highest level being a spot on the USA National Team. In order to be a part of the program, prospective players must apply by showcasing all of their skills on a video and sending it to MLB Develops. From there, MLB Develops accepts around 90 girls to take part in the Trailblazer Series. At the Trailblazer Series, girls ages 12-14 travel to the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Florida for three days of training and playing.
Dieter received Most Valuable Player Honors at the Trailblazer Series in 2023 when she was 13 years old. “That tournament, something just clicked for me,” Dieter said. “[The] ball was coming off my bat really well, and I was pitching really well. … They announced my name, and I went up there and received the trophy. I was just kind of shocked. … It was just such an honor to win it
because I got to show everyone who I am and my skills, and I look forward to doing more of that in the future.” Dieter is still a part of MLB Develops, and has the goal of progressing all the way through the program.
Now at the high school level, Dieter plans to play softball for Torrey Pines this spring. She already plays AAU softball for Athletics Mercado, a California-based team. When asked about the transition back to softball she said, “It is pretty difficult. … I'll be honest. I'm still trying to get the hang of the timing and the exact spot to hit the ball. But other than that, it just takes repetition and you know, just fix your swing a little bit, and you'll be good for the transition.”
Her experience as a multi-sport athlete has allowed her to develop skills that translate from the field to the diamond and vice versa. “When I played flag football, I noticed throwing the football made my arm stronger,” said Dieter. “I could throw the baseball faster … and that translates into fielding in baseball or softball. You field it, move your feet and throw. That translates back into football. So it's kind of all correlated … For me, it definitely translates a lot. … That's where I get the same skill set from going from the baseball field or softball field onto the football field.”
Credit: Scippix Photos
Fun Facts:
Outside of sports, Dieter loves going to concerts and the beach. Her favorite spot is 15th Street in Del Mar.
She loves listening to Electronic Dance Music and house music before her games.
In addition to flag football, baseball and softball, Dieter also plays varsity basketball for Torrey Pines and even scored 22 points against Rancho Buena Vista High School.
Dieter is an avid pickleball player.
Her favorite moment from last year’s flag football season was completing a Hail Mary pass in the CIF semifinal against Mission Hills High School to advance to the CIF championship.
If you want to catch Izzie Dieter and the rest of the Torrey Pines Falcons Flag Football team in action, they have a home game this Saturday against Huntington Beach High School.
The Falcons will also be playing in the upcoming MaxPreps Flag Football Showdown at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center September 11 and 12. This tournament will feature premiere talent from all over the United States.
Website Top Photo Credit: MLB (left) and Prep Pigskin Report
