By: Madison Feldhahn
The Top Gun KC College Prospect Series is being played this weekend in Overland Park, Kansas at Blue Valley Recreation. This event features 38 teams from six states – Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, and Texas – in three age groups.
This unique event allows athletes to experience being coached by college coaches. College coaches will join travel ball coaches in the dugout and on the field. This is a single elimination bracket with a pre-determined bracket.
Gate Fees:
Children – $5
Teens & Adults – $10
Seniors – $5
Military – $5
Take a look at some of the teams joining us below!
14u
Iowa Aries 14u CE Fire
Coaching Staff: Coach Ashley Blackburn
Team Social Media: x.com/iowa_aries m.facebook.com/100094042287155/
2024 Summer Successes: In Iowa, high school softball is played in the summer. Our club’s primary season is in the fall (mid Aug- mid Nov). This team consists of many players that will play for their respective high schools. Teams and players had tremendous success in club programs prior to joining Iowa Aries for college exposure program.
Key Players: ’29’ Estella Bowman is dominate in the circle throwing with great velocity and excellent spin. The catching platoon will be the best of any 14U team in the event with ’29’s Leah Clark, Averi Bachman, and Brylynn Petek. High level catchers that are very tough outs. ’29’ pitcher Aurora Widlund is a strike-out style pitcher that will perform well. ’28’ Aubrey Richeal is a talented athlete that is fun to watch.
Expectations for 2024 Fall Season: This team will play at the highest level for 14u this fall in our program. It consists of many of the top players and will compete in a number of showcase and exposure events across the Midwest.
16u
Blue Army Gold Wilbur
Coaching Staff: Travis Wilbur Head Coach, Jared Swilley assistant coach
Team Social Media Handles: Blue Army – Wilbur Facebook, @bluearmy_wilbur X
2024 Summer & Successes: Stryker 16O Champions. 22-15 record in Topgun Showcase events
Key Players: Bracyn Landers SS, Whitney Wilbur P, Emily Freeby P, Lauren Swilley C, Kendyl Acker 1B/C, Madilyn Harris 2nd.
Expectations for 2024 Fall Season: To compete every pitch of every game and showcase the talents of our players for college coaches.
Iowa Aries 16u National:
Coaching Staff: Coach Brian Ohorilko and Kari Price
Team Social Media: x.com/iowa_aries
m.facebook.com/100094042287155/
2024 Summer Successes: In Iowa, high school softball is played in the summer. Our club’s primary season is in the fall (mid Aug- mid Nov). This team consists of many players that played varsity as underclassmen for their respective high schools. Teams and players had tremendous success this high school season with some playing in the high school state tournament and being named to All-Tournament teams.
Key Players: ’28’ Sophia Schlader will highlight the circle. She may be the top ’28’ recruit in the country. ’27’ Karter Price and ’28’ Peyten Speigel are very talented pitchers who have earned all-tournament honors in events in this fall. ’28’ Ivy Ohorilko and ’27’ Kailee Thamontri are high level catchers and excellent hitters who have earned all-tournament honors in events this fall. ’27’ Alexa Guyer will dominate the outfield with tremendous speed. She will be a tough out at the plate.
Expectations for 2024 Fall Season: The Iowa Aries 16U National team has won one event and has two runner-up finishes out of four events this fall playing against older and elite competition around the Midwest.
Select Fastpitch 316 Elite Arion 16u
Coaching Staff: Kaitlyn Arion and Mackenzie Cline
Team Social Media Handles: Twitter: @ArionSFP, Instagram: selectfastpitch.arion
2024 Summer Successes: Our success this past summer was a 21-13-1 season finishing first or second in our pool for every tournament we attended. We finished second in the Perfect Game Regional in Peoria, IL and Emmie Cooper walking away from the tournament named MVP. We completed extremely well and returned 10 of our 12 player roster for this upcoming season.
Key Players: Some of our key players are Lilly Clements, Alexis Butler, and Liv Miller. Lilly is a true utility player and was named team captain last year. she earns that title every second she plays on the field in practice or in a game. She brings energy and fire to the team dynamic. She is an amazing player and an even better person. Alexis is our starting short stop. She has a ton of power! Her knowledge of the game and calm command of the infield is incredible. Liv Miller is a force. She is our starting catcher and a four hole hitter through and through. She is a tough out, a wall behind the plate, and a really big smiler. She impacts the team is such a positive way, it’s hard to believe we could ever lose with her behind the plate.
Expecations for 2024 Fall Season: Our expectations for this fall is to get better and win some ball games! We feel like we are one of the top teams and we will never stop learning and growing as a whole. We want top three finishes for all of our tournaments this fall!
18u
Central Iowa Riptide Elite Glade
Coaching Staff: Douglas Glade 18u, Ethan Hohenadel 18u, Lee Byrd 16u, Matt Keske 16u
Team Social Media: @IowaRiptide X, Central Iowa Riptide Softball Club Facebook, @central_iowa_riptide_softball_. Instagram
2024 Summer Successes: Most girls played school ball this past summer.
Haley Glade 18u, Ava Hohenadel 18u, Addilyn Banks 18u, Karagyn Whelchel 18u, Sydney Goheen 18u, Mallory Byrd 16u, Madison Keske 16u, Haylie Devries 16u, Ila Keuning 16u
Expectations for 2024 Fall Season: Expectations for 18u is to get all my seniors recruited and continue to get better. I have some younger girls in the team this year that will be their first time playing at this level. Want to see them grow and help them get ready for their high school teams next summer.
Iowa Nationals Gold Lavorato
Coaching Staff: Ryan Gripp, Head Coach / Jody Reed, Assistant Coach / Nick Lavorato, Assistant Coach
Team Social Media Handles: X: Iowa Natonals 18u Gold: x.com/nicklav2015?s=11
2024 Summer Successes: 51-4 -4 overall record. Multiple championship upper level wins
Key Players: Lauren Hagedorn, Tessa Gripp, Sam Gripp, Kari Rose, Sophie Goerish, Tessa Jones, Geneieve York, Sophie Reed
Expectations for 2024 Fall Season: continue to develop, exposure for the players
Kansas Renegades Gold Paull-Forney
Coaching Staff: Bobbie Paull-Forney Head Coach, Kerry Burns Assistant Coach/GM, Jesse Sandoval Assistant Coach
Team Social Media Handles: X – @KSRenegades_BPF Facebook – Kansas Renegades Paull-Forney
2024 Summer Successes: 2024 Triple Crown Texas State – Bronze Champions; 2024 Team 1 Summer Invite – Tier 2 Champions
Key Players: Ally Orth (2026 RHP / OF), Liberty Lewis (2026 RHP / OF), Taylin Tabor (2025 MIF), Kiley Thornquist (2026 MIF / OF). Ava Lay (2025 C / 3B), Kyplee Jacobson (2025 C / OF)
Expectations for 2024 Fall Season: team unity, hard work, compete, college exposure, love the game
Legends Fastpitch National Teters
Coaching Staff: Shawn Teters and Linnie Malkin
Team Social Media Handles: Legends National 2026 (Facebook) & @LegendsNatl2026 (X)
2024 Spring Successes: Top 32 in the Open Division at Sparkler, 2nd place in the top bracket of the MS Bombers Invite
Key Players: Kennedy Smith – hitting .473 with 5 HRs and 23 RBIs, Macie Ramsey – hitting .533 with 5 HRs and 33 RBIs, Hope Konkler – hitting .466 with .551 OBP, Ava Stimis – hitting .426 with 13 doubles and 5 HRs. Alyssa Lovell, Hope Konkler, Bryley Bratcher – going into the Sparkler, they had a combined 3.01 ERA and 1.0 WHIP
Expectations for 2024 Summer Season: To put our girls in position to accomplish their athletic and academic goals while continuing to set the standard for development of talent.
Team Kansas Denning
Coaching Staff: Nick Denning (Head Coach); Austin Lago (Assistant Coach); Patti Hays (Assistant Coach)
Team Social Media Handles: @TeamKansas16A
Key Players: Alannah Hodge (2025; C/UT; Uncommitted); Abby O’Connor (2026; SS/CF; uncommitted); Ava Yokley (2026; P; uncommitted);
Good luck to all the teams this weekend!
