Meet the TGE News Desk Writers!

Top Gun Events is excited to bring more awareness and provide recognition to the game we all know and love! In order to do so, we will be providing coverage on the regions top players, teams, coaches, as well as hot topics in our game. To assist in these efforts, we have added some new members to our team!

 

Rob Else

My name is Rob Else and I’m a cybersecurity consultant and softball dad from Omaha, Nebraska.  I first got involved with softball when my oldest daughter started playing on a club team in 2013.  Ever since then I’ve been hooked.

 Prior to my daughters playing softball, I coached 10 years of select baseball for the Omaha Gladiators.  I have also coached various softball teams throughout my daughter’s careers.  Currently my youngest daughter plays on a 13U club team.

 For the past couple of years, I’ve been covering high school softball in Nebraska with the goal of bringing recognition to players and teams.

Jeff Strange

Hailing from St. Louis, I’m a proud Midwesterner. I’ve been blessed to have been married to my wife for 19+ years and we have two amazing daughters – Aroa (16) and Annaliese (13). I’m a loyal St. Louis sports fan, diligently rooting for the STL Cardinals and STL Blues since my youth. However, my biggest passion now is being on the softball field, whether coaching my daughter’s Top Gun 2010 STL team or catching a game from the sidelines. I love the speed and purity of the game, and the passion and energy that these athletes bring is exciting to watch!

In addition to anything sports related, I enjoy music (a good live concert is soothing to the mind, body and soul), movies, cooking, traveling and reading. I’m a huge dog lover, with my German Shepherd Ruthie being a very loyal companion. 

During the day, I am a District Sales Manager for Mission Foods (in other words, a tortilla peddler) managing a network of distributors who deliver our product line of tortillas, chips and other items to your local grocery stores. I’ve been with the company for almost seven years, orchestrating and overseeing the growth of our position within the category. 

I’ve written sports articles in the past for various publications, and my love of talking softball has led me here. My hope and goals are to help provide insight into the softball world, highlighting some of the athletes, teams, coaches and feel-good stories that can help promote this game. Fastpitch viewership is consistently rising and I look forward to assisting in elevating the game!

Adam Howe

My name is Adam Howe and I have been a journalist for the better part of 25 years now.

I began my journalism career in sales. I have also been a Sports Editor, and I am now the Editor-In-Chief for two rural newspapers in midwest Missouri. I am also the host of a weekly high school football coach’s show broadcasted on the internet and do color commentary for our local high school football webcast. 

I began my journey in softball with my oldest daughter (now 19) over 12 years ago. She quickly moved through the ranks, played at the highest competitive level and is now a sophomore playing at the University of Evansville (IN). I also have a 15 year old daughter who is now also playing at the highest level and is embarking on her own recruiting trail to play collegiately soon. My son, who is 13, is a football player who hopes to also take his sport to the next level in the coming years. All three were/are 3-sport athletes.

I have been married to my wife for 20 years. In our “spare” time (when we are not chasing kids to a field or court), we enjoy the lake with friends. 

My hobbies include most all sports, fishing, playing golf, cards and reading other sports articles online. 

Class of 2025 prepares for September 1

The start of the 2025 recruiting process is nearly here. Important thing to remember, September 1st is just the start! Many opportunities will occur over the next 12-months, and it may be a rollercoaster. What happens tonight or tomorrow does not define you as a student athlete, only a small percent will be contacted over the next 10-days.

 

That being said, here is how you can prepare and enjoy the journey!

  • Phone Voicemail: Make sure you establish a professional voicemail recording that includes name and greeting.
  • Email: Check your email daily at a minimum
  • Social Media: Think before you post, I would not recommend mentioning any school or coach regarding contact.
  • Journal: I would recommend a notebook to record all contact, document the following;
    • Date
    • College
    • Coach
    • Type of contact: Email, Text, Voicemail, Call
    • Topics of discussion
    • Next step
  • Calendar: Have a calendar with your schedule for September, October, November
  • Academics: Have an idea of your intended major, your GPA through Sophomore year, and ACT or when you plan to take the ACT

This is going to make the process much easier as you will have all the information you need when reviewing discussions.

 

Keep in mind, many coaches no longer contact on 9/1, but rather wait to avoid the clutter!

 

Here is a real-life example of the process; Suzi Q was contacted by X and Y schools in September of 2022, they and others have been a rollercoaster. However, in the last 5-weeks she has been contacted by multiple schools, went on 4 visits, and has great offers from School 1, School 2, School 3, etc.

 

Enjoy the Journey!

Top Gun Ranger

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 Nationals23/53

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

Nicki G. Classic powered by Top Gun Events

Nicki G. Classic powered by Top Gun Events

Top Gun Events was ecstatic to be chosen as the host company for the Nicki G. Classic for 2023. The Nicki G. Classic honors Nicki Glatter. Glatter passed away December 9, 2014 from cervical cancer. For the past nine years, Ryan Glatter, husband of Nicki, has hosted the Nicki G. Classic on Mother’s Day in her honor and founded the Nicki G. Foundation. In the past nine years, 17 scholarships have been awarded by the Nicki G. Foundation to players competing in the event. Teams participating in the tournament will wear jerseys donning the #19 on the back in honor of Nicki G., teams are also encouraged to wear a color of their choice in representation of a type of cancer that may have impact someone on their team, or someone close to the team.

This year, the Nicki G. Foundation will host the the First Annual Nicki G. Foundation Blood Drive on Sunday, May 14th, from 9:00am-3:00pm at Westchester Fields.

The Nicki G. Classic will host some of the top teams in the region in a 14u division and a combined 16u/18u division (HS), view teams attending.

VIEW TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

16u/18u Top Gun KC Spring Invite Post-Event Write Up

16u/18u Top Gun KC Spring Invite Post-Event Write Up

April 29-30, 2023

Mid America West Sports Complex, Shawnee, KS

The 16u/18u Top Gun KC Spring Invite attracts the top teams from the top clubs year after year, and could be deemed one of our most competitive events on our schedule.

The region’s top clubs: Top Gun Academy, Nebraska Gold, Select Fastpitch and Aces Fastpitch flexed their muscles and showed why they are considered the top clubs in the Midwest Region.

16u Division

Top Gun National – JS went undefeated on the weekend (7-0-1) to finish as the champions of the 16u division. En route to the championship, Top Gun defeated Nebraska Echoes, Marek Fastpitch Academy, Nebraska Gold 15u National and Select Fastpitch – Woelbel.

Select Fastpitch – Woelbel had a dominant run on Sunday, before eventually falling to Top Gun National – JS. Woelbel’s squad scored 23 runs to reach the championship, while allowing only five, including a dominant win in the semi-finals over a solid Louisville Lady Sluggers ’07 VanBoxmeer team.

However, one of the most competitive games of the day came in top half of the bracket during semi-finals where Top Gun National – JS squeaked out a 1-0 victory over Nebraska Gold 15u National. This Nebraska Gold s          quad is a force to be reckoned with and are certainly a team to watch. Their only loss on the weekend was their semi-final loss, coming by a one-run margin, and coming away with an overall weekend record of (4-1-1) after receiving the first round bye in bracket play after going (3-0-1) in a very competitive pool.

18u

Select Fastpitch 18u Chester played a series of close games on Sunday to make it to the championship, and to come out as the champions of the 18u Top Gun KC Spring Invite. On the way to the championship, Select played Athletics Russell, Primetime Regional – Watts, Aces Fastpitch Spring and played Nebraska Gold 18u National in the championship, where they came away with a 1-0 victory in a very competitive game.

Nebraska Gold 18u National outscored opponents by a margin of 22-3 en route to the championship game, while also garnering a +10 run differential in pool play in a very tough pool consisting of Top Gun 18 National, Select Fastpitch, Aces Fastpitch and Originals ’23 Austin.

Top Gun 18 National went 3-1 in pool play to receive the first round bye and then beat Nebraska Quakes National 6-1 in quarter finals before eventually falling to Nebraska Gold 18 National in the semi-finals.

 

Thank you to all teams that participated in the 16u/18u Top Gun KC Spring Invite! We look forward to hosting your team again!