By: Madison Feldhahn
The Top Gun Indoor Invite returns to St. Joseph, MO on March 9th and 10th to kick off the Top Gun Events spring season. This highly anticipated event brings together sixteen elite softball teams from Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Minnesota.
The round-robin style tournament will take place at the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex. The 16u and 18u divisions have been combined into a high school division. All teams will play five games. Top Gun ’08 vs. Select Fastpitch Reese and NE Echoes Madsen vs. Primetime Koozer will start the tournament at 8:00 AM Saturday. Games will start every eighty minutes with the last games starting at 9:20 PM on Saturday. The tournament will restart at 8:00 AM Sunday and run until 6:40 PM.
Gate Fees:
Children (1-12): $5.00
Teens & Adults (13-64): $10.00
Senior (65+): $5.00
Military: $5.00
As coaches and players finalize their preparations, let’s take a closer look at some of the teams joining us.
Louisville Lady Sluggers VanBoxmeer
Coaching Staff: Ashley VanBoxmeer & Andy Paalhar
Team Social Media: @louisvilleladysluggers16u_VB (IG) & @Sluggers07VB (Twitter)
2023 Summer & Fall Successes:
-Ranked 14th in the country
-3rd place at Triple Crown Nationals
-17th place at Colorado Sparkler PP
-Alliance Nationals Top 25
-Top Club Invite Runner Up
-Team 1 Spring Invite Champion
Key Players: This isn’t our full team due to spring high school season, but we are excited to break up the practice routine and get some games in.
Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Continue improving our softball IQ and skill development in preparation for a challenging summer schedule against the best in the country!
MN Waves Beech
Coaching Staff: Daniel Beech (Owner/Director/Trainer/15U National Head Coach)
Team Social Media: MN Waves 15U National (Facebook)
2023 Summer & Fall Successes:
-Champions of the Lexi Kretsch Invitational
-Champions of the USSSA Great Lakes National Championship
Key Players:
-Harper Chappuis (CF)
-Auden Anderson (P)
-Sydney Klar (P)
-Kaitlyn Trask (3B)
-Evelyn DeRock (LF)
-Molly Walker (P/2B/RF)
Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We are maturing as a club and expect to compete with second-year 16s at a regional level. We have the most challenging schedule we’ve ever had – Top Gun Invitational (MO), S&C Showcase (MN), Top Gun Patriot (IL), Firecracker Showcase (IN), 15U Nationals (IA), and World Fastpitch Championships (SD). Our Waves program was invited to the 18U I.D.T. this summer in Colorado so we will go in 2025.
NE Echoes Madsen
Coaching Staff: Brad Madsen, Brandon Brink, Abigail Brink & Jeff Rasmussen
Team Social Media: @bradm198 (Twitter) & NE Echoes 18U National Madsen (Facebook)
2023 Summer & Fall Successes:
-52-19-4 in summer
-Runner-up at Memorial Day USA 16U
-6-0 in fall
-CIS Winner
Key Players:
-Teya Speltz
-Charlie Pryor
-Teygan Rasmussen (new addition)
-Brianna Kutschkau (new addition)
Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: As a 1st year 18U team, the plan is to keep competing at a high level. Be that team others don’t want to see on their schedule.
Nebraska Gold Jarzboski
Coaching Staff: Edward Jarzobski (9th year coaching competitive softball), Maurice Anderson (10th year coaching competitive softball, NE Gold coach Team Anderson and Softball President MUS) & Dave Hobza (7th year coaching competitive softball)
Team Social Media: @negold18u (Twitter)
2023 Summer & Fall Successes:
-6 seniors went on to play in college (1 D1, 1 D2, 1 D3, 3 NAIA)
-All 12 of our current seniors are committed to play in college (2 D1, 4 D2, 6 NAIA)
Key Players:
-Mackenzie Groniga
-Emi Waldow
-Katelyn Jarzobski
-Addy Hobza
-Kriestyn Linn
Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Goal is to finish top 4 Top Gun Viper and top 10 in Top Gun Championship
Nebraska Gold Waller
Coaching Staff: Kelli Waller (Head Coach), Steve Hinrichs (Assistant Coach) & Chad Villwok (Assistant Coach)
Team Social Media: @NEGold08_Waller (Twitter) & nebraskagold08s_Waller (Instagram)
2023 Summer & Fall Successes:
-3rd place finish PG National Qualifier KC
-2nd place HS Division Spring Fling
-8th place Top Gun Spring Invite
-6th place USA SB Invite
-3rd place Top Gun Swing into Spring
-3rd place Top Gun Thunder/Gold Invite
Key Players: Lots of great athletes who will be key players this season. Covering multiple positions, we will be challenging our players to get comfortable playing uncomfortable roles.
Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: A young 15U team looking to compete against some of the best teams in the HS divisions. All players coming off very successful fall HS seasons and are ready to get back on the dirt this spring. We will be playing a very challenging schedule of Top Gun Events, USA Invites, and Triple Crown. This team thrives off competition and being the best teammates, and we are looking forward to this translating to game time.
Nebraska National Taylor
Coaching Staff: Brett Taylor & Kirsten Dargy
Team Social Media: @NENational08 (Twitter)
2023 Summer & Fall Successes:
-42-29-3 playing an elite level schedule last season
-1st Place at Top Gun NE National Tourney
-2nd Place at Top Gun Thunder/NE Gold Tourney
-2nd Place at USSSA 16) Swing into Spring
-3rd Place at Top Gun Swing into Spring Tourney
-4th Place at USSSA SEC National Championship
-7 Top 4 finishes out of 10 tournaments (not including rain shortened/cancelled tournaments)
-14U PGF Nationals at large bid (Platinum Division)
Key Players:
-Maizey Carpenter
-Reese Pearson
-Toria Rother
-Lauren Schneider
-Alexa Taylor
Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We are an improved team over last year. Our goal as coaches is to continue to develop our players to help them reach their potential.
Nebraska Thunder Fox
Coaching Staff: William Fox (returning to the head coach position after 3 years as an assistant) & Brent Wonder (10 years of head coaching experience in both baseball and softball)
Team Social Media: NeThunder Fastpitch (Facebook), @nebraskathunder18u2024 (IG), @Nethunderf (Twitter) & 18U Thunder Gold (Fox) (SportsRecruits)
2023 Summer & Fall Successes:
-Our 4 graduating seniors committed and continued their athletic careers at the collegiate level (Barton College, Chadron State, Northwestern College and Highland CC)
-Fall resulted in 2 additional commitments (Concordia & Central CC)
Key Players:
-Ayla Mathney – committed to Calumet College of St. Joseph, a leader in the circle
-Joslyn Sargent – junior at Ashland High School, new to our roster, she looks to make a statement at SS and in our lineup
-Kaylee Tanuis – senior from Papillion-LaVista Class A State Champions, she is a vital and diverse player on our roster
-Macey West – multi-sport athlete expanding her abilities and strengths as a UTL
Expectations for the 2024 Spring Season: With 3 returning players, we are looking for a season of growth and development. Develop a new team culture, drive athletes to become competitors, teammates, and family, achieve player goals on and off field, and continue the tradition of collegiate commitments
Primetime Koozer
Coaching Staff: Head Coach Todd Koozer & Assistant Coaches Kelsey Koozer and Alyssa Grewcock
Team Social Media: @Primetime_Kooz (Twitter) & primetimesoftball06.com
Key Players:
-2024 Kaidence Dumas – Quincy University commit, powerful hitter who will pitch, play 3B and 1B
-2025 Makala Koozer – Uncommitted, great speed, slapper/power slapper, OF
-2024 Avery Gossett – Fort Hays State commit, great athlete, really good power at the plate, OF
-2024 Morgan Stock – College of St. Mary’s commit, very fast, versatile hitter, OF
-2025 Sydney Atkins – Uncommitted, pitcher & has become a good hitter
-2024 Joslyn Policky – Southeastern CC commit, catcher, SS, 3B
Expectations for the 2024 Spring Season: As a team, we have always prided ourselves on developing kids and getting them prepared for the next level by using a team first mentality and competing against high level competition. This team was created with the purpose of having fun, while still being able to accomplish those high goals and expectations.
Select Fastpitch Reese
Coaching Staff: Krista Reese (Head Coach) & Jason Bailey (Asst. Coach)
Team Social Media: @StLouisSoftball (Twitter) & Select Fastpitch-16U STL (Facebook)
2023 Summer & Fall Successes:
-Finished in top 16 of Power Pools in Scenic City Summer
-Finished 3rd at Savvy Softball Elite Summer Invite
-Finished in top 16 in Alliance Open Nationals
-Finished with a record of 5-2 at Tulsa Elite Summer Invite
Key Players:
-Sarah Rizello (P) led the team in wins with 10, SO with 85, and ERA 2.756.
-Abby Kritete and Elia Cabo anchor the outfield. Kriete led the team in Fielding Percentage at 0.988 and is second on the team in batting avg. with a 357 avg. in the fall and 556 avg. leading into this spring. Cabo is leading the team in avg. leading into the spring with an avg. 0f 750.
-Kaylee Brock (SS) locks down the left side of the infield. She batted 377 last season and her range and exceptional arm strength anchor the infield defense.
Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Select Fastpitch, formerly St. Louis Softball Club, looks to build on the success they had in 2023 with a qualifying bid to the Alliance Championships in Indianapolis. We expect to have all of our 2025 graduates signed by the end of the season, and we are excited for what the future holds for our 2026 grabs and expect several commitments in the fall.
Top Gun National 2027
Coaching Staff: Head Coach Stephanie Kim & Assistant Coaches Matt Griffin & Amanda Schuster
Team Social Media: @topgun_skim (Twitter), @coachstephkim (TikTok) & Top Gun 2027 NTL (Facebook)
2023 Summer & Fall Successes: Last season, as a 13U team, our proudest finish was placing 9th at the IDT. We were champs of Top Gun Discovery, runner up at the Alliance Super Cup this fall in Clear Water, and finished Top 3 in a 16u Perfect Game Showcase and Savvy Summer Shootout. Our team hit 50+ homeruns in spring/summer of 2023 and ranked #45 in US Club Rankings. Four of our players earned 3rd place in Missouri State Championships as freshman. Three of our freshmen earned All-State honors and five earned Academic All-State.
Key Players: We have multiple players already receiving Power 5 interest. Some of our top producers include:
-2027 Bryli Seifert (MIF/OF) – Earned starting SS as a freshman and went on to receive 1st Team All-State honors and Academic All-State. She hit .548 AVG, 1.592 OPS with 5 HR, 4 3B, and 9 2B. On our team last summer, she hit 19 2B, 2 3B and 10 HR. She is one of our top offensive producers and is Top 3 in most categories on our team.
-2027 Bailey Barnett (SS/3B/C) – She led our team this summer in nearly every offensive category: homeruns (16), batting average (.469), hits (83 in 75 games), doubles (19), RBI’s (74), and runs (66). She broke her high school’s home run record as a freshman, earned 2nd Team All-State and Academic All-State, and helped her team secure a 3rd place state finish.
-2027 Holly Munson (LHP/1B) – 5’9 strong pitcher with intense presence on the mount. Top 100 in 2027 Extra Innings. She lead her high school team to a 3rd place finish as a freshman, earned 1st Team All-State honors and Academic All-State, and had 96 K with a .968 ERA. She hit 4 HR. Last summer, she had 160 K and hit .500 with a 1.726 OPS.
-2028 Addison Ellis (LHP) – 5’9 long levers, very spinny, and misses a ton of barrels throwing in the low 60s. In our last tourney this fall (Clearwater Alliance Super Cup), she pitched 15 IP and 25 K with a .457 ERA and only gave up 3 hits.
-2027 Zariya Mabion (OF/UTL) – Z is one of the most athletic players in the 2027 class. She is ranked Top 25 in the 2027 Extra Innings. She tore her ACL in June 2023 and had already hit 16 HR, 6 triples, 11 doubles, drove in 44 runs, scored 65 runs, and stole 29 bases. Finished her season early from injury with a .469 AVG and a 1.569 OPS.
Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: It’s about exposure and opportunities for these young women. Our expectation is to play and COMPETE against the best competition in the country, As a second year 14u team, we will be playing up in 16u until June. Once June hits…it’s on. Our summer recruiting schedule includes: Hotshots Summer Exposure in TX, Top Gun Invitational-Maverick in KC, and then we head to Colorado for the Patriot Games, Super Cup, and IDT. We come back to KC to play in the Top Gun Elite Championships to prepare for PGF Nationals to finish out our season.
