Top Gun Events brings to you this weekend the Top Gun Ranger, for teams of ages 10U through 18U. This event will take place Friday through Sunday (May 19-21) and is located in Overland Park, Kansas at Blue Valley Recreation Sports Complex.
The Top Gun Ranger is a first-year event and for many teams, will be their first Top Gun Tournament. These teams are looking forward to taking the next step into elite level softball and Top Gun Events is excited to assist them in doing so.
Teams include:
12U
Team Name: Ankeny Xtreme 12u black
Coach Name: Kelli Ott
Twitter Handle: @Ankeny_AGSA
2022 Nationals Results: 16/54 11u open
2022 Fall Successes: 3rd place in 12A State. We have lost in bracket play to a team from Peasant Valley Iowa in our last 2 state tournaments. Finally earned a hard fought 1-0 win against them earlier this month.
Key Players:
- Pitcher – Meryl Sandholm – good speed, hitting 53-55mph? Incredible change. Opponent BA .142
- SS – Breeze Bentz – Team leader and great athlete.
- P – Cailey Horner
- C – Emmy Ott
- OF – Reagan Hogan
- IF – Tenley Heidemann
- OF – Kenlee Faber
Expectations for the 2023 Spring/Summer Season: This team is a “city” team that has played together since 8u. All these players attend school in Ankeny, Iowa. Ankeny Girls Softball only has teams through 12u. Next year will bring changes for these girls, whether they move on to club ball or school ball. They want to show they can hang with any of the club teams around the Midwest – and got a glimpse of their ability last year at Nationals. They made the Gold bracket and finished in the top 16, though their goal was top 8. This year they bring a little more size and have worked hard in the off-season – especially on their hitting.
Team Name: Nebraska Storm 12U
Coach Name: Cory Bachman – Assistants: Channon Oseka, Tony Eitzmann, Laura Marsh
Twitter Handle: @NEStorm12U
2022 Nationals Results: USSSA Midwest Nationals — 23/53
2022 Fall Successes: We spent the greater part of the fall of 2022 ushering in four new kids and integrating them into our team. We had two second place finishes in 12U tournaments and competed very well at the 14U age level. Throughout the fall the girls created a very close relationship, began to understand roles and function as one. Overall, the girls did a phenomenal job of creating some great chemistry which has led us to a successful start to our spring/summer season.
Key Players:
- Averi Bachman C/Utility
- Alex Ballard P/SS
- Skyla Whitten C/1B
- Kourtney Dowding P/3B
Expectations for the 2023 Spring/Summer Season: As a coach, I would love for them to continue to grow both physically and mentally throughout the game. When these girls play selfless, fast and aggressive the ceiling is extremely high. The girls have a lot of talent and ability, both of these will only get you so far. We are working to teach them proper mindset, utilizing every girl’s drive to help them become the best version of themself on and off the field. As a team, we look to continue playing deep into the weekend, every week pushing to achieve and attain goals set from within. Most importantly, we truly and wholeheartedly want these kids to create memories and have fun, enjoying the time with one another.
Team Name: Synergy 12U Clurman
Coach Name: Cameron Clurman
Twitter Handle: No Twitter (Synergy Softball Organization, LLC for Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok)
2022 Nationals Results: 7th 11A Nationals
2022 Fall Successes: 2nd Place 12A Showcase
Expectations for the 2023 Spring/Summer Season: 100% Focus on Attitude and Effort with an improved record in 12A, Gold Flight Finish in all major events, and a Top 10 finish at 12A Nationals in Florida.
14U
Team Name: Athletics Russell 09
Coach Name: Sophia Lopez and Sydney Cure
2022 Fall Successes: 11-10-2 record
Key Players:
USA All American Selections (12u):
- KP Pierson
- Hayden Young
- Tania Thomas
USSSA All American Selections (12u):
- Addison Coffey
- Sophie Young
Expectations for the 2023 Spring/Summer Season: Team is building towards making their Colorado Sparkler Debut in June.
Team Name: Originals 08
Coach Name: Jason Moss
Twitter Handle: @Original2008
2022 Nationals Results:
- Top Gun Invite-Maverick- 12th place out of 44 teams. We were the last first year 14U team left before eliminated.
- Midwest Nationals 9th place out of 51 teams
- PGF Regionals Championships 5th place
2022 Fall Successes:
- PGF National Qualifier-5th place
- Perfect Game November KC Fall Showcase-1st place
Key Players:
- Pitchers- Lucia Trevino, Maci Ann Cass, Katie Stephenson, Haylee Wait
- Top Hitters: Katie Stephenson, Jacie Gentry, Maci Ann Cass, Riley Hollister, Brynlee Johnson, Tayah Garringer
- Top Defense: Riley Hollister, Haylee Wait, Brynlee Johnson, Jacie Gentry, Alesa Kastle
- Speed: Alesa Kastle, Allie Goble, Kyndall Hay, Lucia Trevino
Expectations for the 2023 Spring/Summer Season:
- 14 TG Spring Invite: Record
- 5-1; 3rd place
- Easton Ghost Series: Record 6-0; 1st place
- Top Gun Heritage: Record 5-3; 1st place
- PG Elite 40 Scouting Showcase-16/18U: Record 5-2; 3rd place
Future Tournaments:
TG Ranger
USA Memorial Day Invite
Tulsa Elite Summer Invite
Top Gun Invite
Colorado Sparkler Supplemental Power Pool
World Fastpitch Championship
Team Name: Team Kansas Elite 14U – Hays 14U
Coach Name: Patti Hays
Twitter Handle: @TeamKansasHays
Team Name: St. Louis Chaos 2010
Coach Name: Rachel Gill
Twitter Handle: @stlchaos2010
2022 Nationals Results: Top 10 USSSA
Key Players:
- Kaelyn Deckerd P/SS .404 BA 635 SLG
- Teresa Hutchcraft P/1B
- Maddie Robinson SS/C .483 BA 672 SLG
- Natalie House C/3B .417 BA
Expectations for the 2023 Spring/Summer Season: As a second year 12u team we have played all but 1 tournament at 14U thus far. We have won one and placed 2nd in another. This team is full of talent, and it has an incredible pitching staff.
16U
Team Name: Defiance Elite 16u Granquist
Coach Name: Kristen Granquist
Twitter Handle: @DefianceElite
2022 Nationals Results: Top 10 Finish, USFA Nationals
2022 Fall Successes:
High School Accomplishments (MO)
State Finishes–
Genny Greiwe (2024), 2nd Place MSHSAA Class 5 (Francis Howell HS)
Kenzie Ellison (2026), 2nd Place MSHSAA Class 5 (Francis Howell HS)
Ella Lause (2024), 3rd Place MSHSAA Class 4 (Washington HS)
Kiera Daniel (2025), 4th Place MSHSAA Class 4 (Warrenton HS)
RHP Evvie Blankenship (Sullivan HS, 2025)–
#3 in STL in Games Pitched (28)
Top 5 in STL in Complete Games (22)
Top 10 in STL in Shutouts (6)
Top 15 in STL in Strikeouts (156)
Top 25 in STL in ERA (2.47)
Top 25 in STL in Ks/Game (7.57)
RHP Emma Dixon (Winfield HS, 2025)–
Top 15 in STL in K/BB ratio (5.86)
Top 20 in STL in WHIP (1.03)
Top 25 in STL in ERA (2.58)
Top 35 in STL in Ks/Game (7.30)
INF Izzie May (North Point, 2026)–
Top 50 in STL in Runs Scored (34)
Key Players:
Our pitching staff has been one of the major keys to our success this year.
RHP Evvie Blankenship (Sullivan HS, 2025)– ERA: 2.1 // WHIP: 1.31 // K/INN: 0.85 // OBA: .237
RHP Emma Dixon (Winfield HS, 2025)– ERA: 0.86 // WHIP: 1.29 // K/BB: 7.0 // SAVES: 3
RHP Kenzie Ellison (Francis Howell HS, 2026)– W-L: 3-0 // K/INN: 0.98 // OBA: .250
Also, we have a great core of 2024’s who are looking to commit to play in college at some point this summer/fall.
INF UTL Ella Lause (Washington HS, 2024)–
State Championship 2021
CF Rachel Ross (Parkway North HS, 2024)–
Home to 1st: 2.85 // AVG: 0.412 // OPS: 1.006 // RBI: 8 (9 games)
INF Raina Ross (Parkway North HS, 2024)–
Home to 1st: 2.84 // SB: 4 (9 games) // AVG w/ RISP: 0.333
OF Genny Greiwe (Francis Howell HS, 2024)–
OPS: 1.700 // SLG: 1.200
Last weekend, Genny hit 2 HR in one game! Check our @DefianceElite TikTok page to see them!
C Brooklynn Kittrell (Pacific HS, 2024)–
OBP: 350 // – // Pop time: 1.84 sec // CS%: 40% // PB (27 inn.): 1
OF Morgan Braun (Sullivan HS, 2024)–
State Championship 2020
And the spark plugs of our team are…
INF Izzie May (North Point HS, 2026): AVG: 0.318 // OPS: 0.757 // Contact %: 86.36%
C/INF Lily Delmain (Eureka HS, 2025)– PB (21 inn.): 1 // OBP: 0.409 // OPS: 0.830 // RS (9 games): 7
INF Kiera Daniel (Warrenton HS, 2025)– Home to 1st: 2.84 // FPCT: 1.000 // BABIP: 0.667
OF Kiersten York (Liberty Wentzville HS, 2025)– Home to 1st: 2.69 // FPCT: 1.000 // OF Assists: 2
Expectations for the 2023 Spring/Summer Season: Our team is entering its second summer with the majority being returners from last year. Having played 4 tournaments already this spring, 2 getting rained out for Sunday, we’re happy with how we’ve grown up to this point. A few weeks ago, we finished top 3 in an HFL qualifier after earning 1st place in pool play.
This is a team of very competitive, driven players. I can honestly say I’ve never been a part of another team that has each other’s backs more and also holds one another accountable for the standards we have set.
Our team culture words our players chose for this season are Competitive. Relentless. Dedicated. United. And it is clear that they work every day as a team to uphold these traits.
Team Name: KC Bombers Gold Adkins (KC Bombers 16u)
Coach Name: Jamie Adkins
Twitter Handle: @KCBombersAdkins
Key Players:
- Ps: Addison Cole, Trinity Krause
- OFs: Hannah Winburn, Lindsey Green
- IFs: Joselyn Gartner, Madison Dudok
- Cs: Taylor Tessman, MJ Hoosier
Expectations for the 2023 Spring/Summer Season: Continue growing as a team and achieve a winning record in every tournament we attend.
Team Name: KC Phoenix 16U – DP
Coach Name: Drew Page
Twitter Handle: @16UPhoenixKC