The Dynamics of the NCAA Transfer Portal

By: Madison Feldhahn

In 2018, the NCAA launched the transfer portal, enabling student-athletes to explore their transfer options and communicate with other college coaches. The portal has created a central database for college coaches to find players. It has also changed the way high school athletes and college coaches approach recruiting.

“You can’t look at the depth charts anymore and project two, three, four years down the road. It changes every year based on needs and who’s delivering, who’s not,” Brentt Eads told Top Gun Events Media. “Recruiting is changing every year. It starts all over every year. Now, you’re not just competing with kids in your class, but you’re competing with kids two or three classes older than you.”

The recruiting world isn’t as cut and dry as it used to be. College rosters have the ability to drastically change year to year now. In 2022, over 1,400 softball players entered the transfer portal.

High school athletes need to be wary of having tunnel vision with one specific school. Even if a university offers a spot to an athlete, it is important for the athlete to consider whether they align with the program’s needs. College coaches might be looking to the transfer portal rather than high school recruits to fill positional needs.

“You can’t just be myopic,” Eads said about high school athletes. “You’ve got to be looking laterally, horizontally. You have to have your head on a swivel. In terms of being a high school athlete, you just have to be aware of everything.”

When asked how the transfer portal impacts the competition within collegiate softball, Eads says it’s too early to tell for sure. There’s the potential for the top Power 5 teams to continue to run away from the pack, but it can also help spread talent down to Division 2 and 3.

“It might level the field in the sense that an SEC school loses three kids, but they go to Kent State or Ohio University and those schools are going to get better. It can make it better for the sport. There are more chances for upsets. It’s not the haves and the have nots,” Eads said. “I think it’ll be interesting to watch over a decade.”

It’s okay if you are having second thoughts about the school that you are at. It’s important for the college to be a good athletic, academic, and social fit. If you’re unhappy where you are at, sit down with your college coaches and explain your feelings to them. Talk to other trusted people in your life, including your high school and travel softball coaches.

“If it gets to the point where it’s impacting your happiness, then you have to explore your options. That’s when you have to talk to your college coaches and travel ball coaches and high school coaches and anybody that can help,” said Eads. “The travel coaches are very, very dialed in and are talking to these [college] coaches every day. You might need to lean on your travel coach more and say, ‘Here’s what I’m looking for. What are you hearing and what do you see, coach?’”

Check out a short Q&A about the transfer portal below:

How do I enter the transfer portal?

When a player decides to enter the transfer portal, they have to notify a school administrator in writing. Because the NCAA transfer portal is not publicly available, athletes are not able to submit their names into it themselves. The school must submit the athlete’s information to the portal within two business days. This information includes the athlete’s name, NCAA ID number, email, phone number and sport.

What happens when I’m in the transfer portal?

As soon as an athlete enters the portal, colleges can contact them. However, the athlete can choose to not allow college coaches to contact them. The athlete can also contact schools themselves. If an athlete is on scholarship, they will retain that scholarship for the current academic term. However, this scholarship is not necessarily guaranteed if the athlete decides to stay at their current college.

What if I change my mind about transferring?

An athlete can withdraw their name from the transfer portal and try to return to their original school. However, the original school does not have to allow them back. The athlete’s original scholarship does not have to honored either.

When can I transfer?

Softball has two transfer windows. The first one, the winter window, is open from December 1st to 15th. The second window opens the day after the NCAA tournament selections and remains open for 45 days. The second window is the more common time for transfers.

Am I limited to transferring just once?

An athlete can transfer more than one time. However, there is a one-year penalty for transferring more than once. The athlete can apply for a waiver for this penalty for three reasons:

  • their physical or mental health,
  • circumstances outside the player’s control, or
  • issues that impact a player’s ability to peruse their education.

Recruiting 2025 – Smooth Defense and Dynamite Bat Propel Watson as Catcher on the Radar

Recruiting 2025 - Smooth Defense and Dynamite Bat Propel Watson as Catcher on the Radar

By Jeff Strange

Game awareness. Softball IQ. Physical talent. Calm and collected. All are key attributes that coaches love to see from their athletes. For a catcher, it’s more than just that; being a field general that knows how to lead, gains the trust and respect of her teammates and understands the nuances of each situation is invaluable.

For Marquette (Chesterfield, MO) High School Junior Aubrey Watson, those descriptions embody her player profile.

Described by her high school coach John Meyer as similar to having another coach on the field, the 5’8” Watson has grown substantially as a standout behind the plate, in the box and on the field over the past few years. Having twice been elected Team Captain, along with helping lead the Marquette Mustangs to the 2022 5A Missouri Final Four, Watson has put together an impressive resume in her high school career. In her first three Varsity seasons, she has been awarded:

  • 1st Team All District(x2)
  • 1st Team All Conference
  • 2nd Team All Conference
  • 1st Team All Region
  • Academic All State(x3)
  • Suburban Conference Sportsmanship Award recipient
  • Marquette Team MVP.

Several years ago, Watson ventured into select softball, trying out for Coach Matt Pruett’s St. Louis Chaos team.

“I was originally a pitcher and third baseman,” said Watson. “Coach Pruett encouraged me to give catching a try and I fell in love with it. I also picked up playing first base as well.”

Through hard work and a sound mental approach, Watson’s game began to flourish as she often played against girls older than her. Her cucumber-cool mental approach to the game in the field and at the plate has helped the powerfully framed C/1B grow into a valuable presence for her teammates and coaching staffs alike.

At the plate, Watson has admitted to sometimes “singing a song in her head” to help herself stay calm and in the moment. Along with a power-packed swing that produces line drives peppered to all parts of the field, the 2025 right-handed hitter has grown into a feared run producer with a knack for delivering in the clutch.

Case in point – fall 2022. In a dogfight district semifinal game against a strong Lafayette High School team, Watson walked off the game with a bottom of the ninth sacrifice fly to send the Mustangs to the district championship (they ended up winning districts and pulled in a fourth-place finish at state).

“That’s my favorite softball memory of all time,” admitted Watson.

Behind the plate, Watson has been described as a brick wall with a deadly accurate arm that has erased countless baserunners. Her 2023 select numbers include:

  • .133 stolen bases per inning
  • .033 passed balls for inning

Now donning a new uniform playing with the Top Gun STL GOLD 18U team, Watson is eager to display her skills against top competition. With a recent final four finish at the HFL Fall Championship in November, Watson and her teammates earned a berth to the AFL Nationals Championship next summer in Indiana.

“I love to compete,” said Watson. “I’ve played for some great coaches in club softball and high school softball. I’ve had a lot of great teammates that I’ve been fortunate enough to share the field with. Softball has been a great outlet for me and I’m looking forward to what the future may hold.”

As she approaches the spring, Watson has put an emphasis on the future, with college softball being a driving force to go along with her academic aspirations. A strong student carrying a 3.9 GPA, Watson has made it clear that she ultimately loves to be on the field and plans to continue playing softball while planning to study marketing and communications. As a stout defensive catcher that brings a big bat to the lineup, along with a team-first mentality and a willingness to do whatever she can to help her squad, Watson’s options appear to be marketable.

“My goal for wherever I end up is to do whatever I can to help our team be successful,” said Watson. “My academics are very important to me. Also, being on the field playing this game, contributing any way that I can is something that I take seriously. I’m very thankful for the opportunities that I’ve had and I’m excited about what’s to come.”

Aubrey Horst Selected for USA Softball High Performance Program

Aubrey Horst Selected for USA Softball High Performance Program

By: Rob Else

Last spring, Aubrey Horst (2027 – Gretna East/NE National-Taylor) received an email from her club coach about a Team USA High Performance Program tryout in Kansas City.  She didn’t know much about the program or really what to expect, but after talking it over with her mom she decided to give it a try.

In June Aubrey attended the Regional Identifier tryout at the MLB Urban Youth Academy.  Aubrey competed against girls from a five-state region that includes Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, and Missouri.  Players were evaluated on two defensive positions, hitting, and speed.  The top athletes from the Regional Identifier would be selected for the National Selection Event.

On June 23rd Aubrey received the news she was waiting for.  She had been selected for the National Selection Event.

According to the USA Softball website, the High Performance Program is “the pipeline to the Women’s National Team.”  The top athletes from each Regional Identifier are selected to attend the National Selection Event.  After the National Selection Event it’s possible to get invited to the National Team trial.

That National Selection Event was held at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Florida. “There were so many talented players there. It was really cool to be around them and compete with them,” said Horst.  Several of the USA National Team players were also there, including Cat Osterman, Ally Carda, Gwen Svekis, and Haylie McCleney. 

At the event, the players were run through a series of athletic tests where evaluations were done every step of the way.  “Friday, I had to get all my athletic testing completed. This was the speed tests, the throwing velos, hitting velos, defensive position evaluations. There is an evaluation team at every test recording times and velos and writing evaluation notes,” said Horst.  In addition to the tests, players were provided with classroom sessions on mental health, physical preparation, social media, and Name Image Likeness (NIL).  Players also had the opportunity to show off their skills in live games in front of more evaluators. During the games, teams of evaluators were watching and taking notes on every player.

The event lasted four days and Aubrey had tons of support from her teammates and coaches back home. Several of her Gretna East and NE National teammates reached out with messages cheering her on while she was in Florida.

Overall, the experience was one Aubrey will never forget and one that will help her become a better player.  “It made me get out of my comfort zone and push myself even harder. Playing with and against all those girls was amazing. I realized what parts of my game I do well, and what parts I need to put more work into,” said Horst. It also wouldn’t have been possible without the support of her parents, family, coaches and teammates.

Aubrey plans to play college softball and has just started looking at schools.  She will be attending several college camps this year, including Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and probably a few more.

Top Players Showcase Their Skills at Power 50 Prospects Event

Top Players Showcase Their Skills at Power 50 Prospects Event

By Rob Else

Several top players from the 2025 and 2026 classes showed off their skills for college coaches at the Top Gun Events Power 50 Prospect camp.  The inaugural event, held November 18th at the Griffon Indoor facility in St. Joseph, MO, wasn’t a traditional camp that players are familiar with.  “It wasn’t a traditional camp like people are used to.  It was not an instructional camp at all it was purely a showcase camp,” said Paige Crawford, Director of Athletic Experience for Top Gun Events.

The all-day event started early with opening ceremonies and players being split up into teams, depending on their graduating class.  Following the opening ceremonies, the showcase kicked off with metric testing.  Athletes were run through several tests that college coaches use to evaluate recruits.  The tests included a 40-yard dash, the pro agility shuttle, throwing velocity, exit velocity, and pitching measurables.  All the results were posted in real-time to the Top Gun Events website allowing college coaches to pull up player performances while at the event.  

There were lots of great players, but here are a few that stood out during the metric testing:

  • Keegan Baker (2026) – Oklahoma Athletics – Fastest pitching velocity at 66 mph
  • Addison Ray (2026) – Select Fastpitch – Top exit velocity of 78 mph.
  • Payton Steuart (2026) – Epic Fastpitch – Best catcher pop time, between 1.66 – 1.90
  • Lydia Turner (2026) – Select Fastpitch – Fastest 40-yard dash time at 5.33.

You can view the full leaderboard on the Top Gun event website here: Top Gun Metrics

In addition to metric evaluations, athletes attended classroom training.  Sessions included the BMS Project talking about mental health, Tony Wylie from The Collective Engine provided information about Name Image Likeness (NIL), and Alana Vawter, a current player for South Carolina.  “I loved getting to listen in on the sessions to make me become the best player I can be, all while staying healthy,” said Cali Bentz (2026) from Nebraska Gold.

After a break for lunch, the day continued with live skills workouts and scrimmages in front of the college coaches.  “The day was long but fun! I learned a ton of new things about the NIL deals and the recruiting process,” said Avery Nelson (2026) from the SE IA Allstars. 

The event was limited to the Top 50 players in the Midwest region.  Each player was selected through an extensive process that included being nominated by their club organization.  The nominated players were then reviewed by a selection committee to determine if they met the participation criteria.  If a player was selected by the committee, then an offer to attend was sent.  “My initial reaction was very excited. I didn’t know if I would get in and getting to be one of the 50 athletes selected to go was a very exciting opportunity,” said Bentz.

Overall, the event was a success for everyone that attended.  The hope is to continue this event and make it an annual tradition.  Top Gun Events is already planning a similar event; the Top 100 Junior Prospect event will be held in January.  The event will include over 20 NAIA, JUCO, and Division 2 college coaches on hand to evaluate 2025 athletes.  It will use the same selection process for inviting players.

Savvy Softball’s Annual Easton Rawlings Elite Fall Championship Proves to be Big Draw for Athletes and Coaches

Savvy Softball’s Annual Easton Rawlings Elite Fall Championship Proves to be Big Draw for Athletes and Coaches

By Jeff Strange

The weather was terrific and the competition was top-notch on the weekend of 10/20-10/22 for the annual Easton Rawlings Elite Fall Showcase hosted by Savvy Softball. A big draw for elite level softball athletes and college coaches looking to evaluate prospective players for their programs, the Easton/Rawlings Elite Fall Showcase has become a staple event for overall exposure. We caught up with Savvy Director Dan Paulson to get his take on the busy weekend of softball, what drives him in this game and the future prospects of his events.

How long has this event been taking place?

Savvy Softball has been running this event since 2020. At the time, it was known as The Demarini. In 2021, we collaborated with Easton Rawlings and began running the event in O’Fallon and Edwardsville, IL. This was the 13th year overall that it has been ran.

How many teams were initially in the event when it became known as the Easton/Rawlings Elite Fall Showcase vs. the turnout for this fall?

We had roughly 80 teams total when we began running it in 2021. This year, we had 140 teams spread out over six complexes in the St. Louis metropolitan area – three parks in Illinois and three parks in Missouri with age groups ranging from 12u-18u.

What format do you use for your showcase games:

At 16u and 18u, its 1 hour and 40 minutes, finish the inning and 2-hour time slots. We feel that is unique – the average number of innings played this fall for those age groups was 6.3 innings. The longer game times allows college coaches to see a student-athlete hit two, three or four times in a game…pitchers get to throw five or six innings as opposed to just two or three innings in a shorter game format. We schedule the games two hours apart; this allows us to stay on schedule and makes it easier for college coaches to plan accordingly. Ultimately, it is all about getting the athletes the best opportunity to showcase what they can do and helping the college coaches know where and when they need to be to look at an athlete that they may be interested in.

Do you know approximately, how many college coaches checked in this fall?

The number of coaches in attendance was over 200; we are still figuring exact numbers, but my estimation is somewhere around 250 this year. I noticed one game last Saturday that had 39 college coaches standing behind the backstop watching. It was a very good turnout – we try to make it as appealing for them as we can by providing them with a printed booklet to go along with the digital booklet for all of the information. We provide food and beverages as well so they generally remain at the parks all day to take it all in.

Was there any difference in how the 16u/18u divisions were ran vs the 12u/14u divisions?

16u and 18u play five showcase games between Saturday and Sunday with their schedules lined out. We had teams from 20 different states and with scheduling their flights and travel; it makes it easier for them to know when they’ll be done on Sunday. For the 12u and 14u, we made it competitive with a cash prize on the line. Each team started in a box-bracket with four teams per bracket. This way they knew exactly when they were going to play their three games on Saturday. Sunday was brackets with cash prizes awarded to the top two teams in each 12u and 14u divisions.

What are your plans for the future?

For our fall event, we’ll most likely continue with a very similar format. We run a summer event that in 2024 will be our third year conducting – the Savvy Softball Elite Summer Shootout. We continue to look for other areas that might have a need for a strong tournament, but really just need to find the right venues and the right dates. We want to make sure that we use top class fields and to make sure that we have the strongest teams that we can attract to any of our events. At the end of the day, in order to maintain the number of teams that want to play in the event and to give everyone – the teams and college coaches – a good schedule that they are happy with, it ultimately takes fields that are of good quality, but are not too spread out for any coaches that may want to travel from park-to-park to see athletes and teams that they want to see.

Dynamic Addie Frank Makes Her Mark on the Baseball and Softball Diamond

Dynamic Addie Frank Makes Her Mark on the Baseball and Softball Diamond

By Jeff Strange

For Oakville (MO) High School sophomore and Missouri Bombers ’08 Gold/Arizona Peaches athlete Addie Frank, taking an annual trip to train with the USA Women’s National Baseball team in Vero Beach, FL has become a tradition over the past few years. She will be making her way back to the Jackie Robinson facility again in early November as an official prospect in the invite-only Breakthrough Series event that is conducted on behalf of USA Baseball and Major League Baseball.

Quite a prestigious honor for the left-handed hitting/left-handed throwing Frank, who has developed a reputation as one of the top youth female baseball players in the country.

However, shortly after her trip to Florida in early November for the MLB and USA Baseball backed event, Frank will find her way back to the MLB Jackie Robinson Training Center in Vero Beach to participate in the invite-only USA Softball High Performance Program National Selection Event. Often referred to as “The Pipeline to the Women’s National Team,” the USA Softball High Performance Program aims to identify a group of athletes to train, compete and represent USA Softball through national and international competition.

As an athlete that has been highly recognized for her skills in both sports, Frank has come a long ways since she was an 8-year old baseball player hitting bombs over the fence at nearby Affton Athletic Association.

“I started playing baseball because my two older brothers both played and I always played catch with them and went to their games and loved it,” said Frank. “I didn’t even think about playing softball. I just wanted to play baseball. It started being fun in tee ball when I would hit the ball farther and harder than everyone else at Affton – into the woods – and then especially when I was 8 and started pitching baseball games and everyone would cheer for me.”

As her love for baseball grew, Frank found success through various routines such as hitting in the cages, getting defensive reps in and working on her throwing mechanics almost daily. Often, it was her family members that helped build the foundation for her skillset.

“My dad was always my main hitting coach,” said Frank. “I’ve worked with other hitting instructors throughout the years, mainly to tweak little things I’m working on. My brother would hit the ball as hard as he could at me and I would make the plays. He would always laugh and get excited and try to hit it harder and harder. It was a lot of fun and it made it so that I am not afraid of the ball.”

Frank continued to play club baseball through this past summer, usually hitting in the top or middle of the order and started at 1B. She also has spent significant time on the mound, often finding herself pitching on Sunday. Currently slated to play with the Arizona Peaches all girls baseball team, Frank has hopes to one-day play on the USA Women’s National Baseball team.

Those aspirations prompted an eagerness to get onto the softball diamond a little over a year ago. As a freshman at Oakville (MO) High School, Frank tried out for the team and immediately found success, ending her first season with the following awards:

  • 1st Team All-District
  • 1st Team All-Conference
  • 1st Team All-Region
  • 2nd Team All-State
  • 1st Team All-Metro for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Despite the success with softball in her first season, there were some adjustments in the box and in the field that Frank had to initially implement to find her groove.

“At first I struggled with my timing at the plate, and it was a little weird to get used to the pitching,” said Frank. “The pitchers were so close and I was facing some of the best arms around the country and it was hard to know when to load. But then I got used to it, and the ball started looking like a beach ball to me. Defensively, I learned that everything had to be as fast as possible, and you don’t have as much time. I had to be quick.”

Frank’s approach, work ethic and willingness to adjust has also reaped benefits for her achievements.

“Offensively, I think my mechanics and intent make the difference,” said Frank. “With less than 2 strikes, I treat everything like a 3-1 count, looking for something I can hit as hard as I can. When I get two strikes, I battle. Defensively, I have worked hard on having good fielding mechanics and to have quick hands and feet. I’m always looking to get that next out. I just feel like I really understand the game and love to play it. But, I feel like I really started to become athletic when I started working out four times a week. It’s really made a difference for me. Especially in my confidence on the field.”  

In the midst of a productive sophomore campaign, Frank was slashing with a line of .565/.654/.839/1.493 with 35 hits in 62 ABs, including 3 home runs, 6 doubles, 15 walks and 28 runs scored. Perhaps her most proud stat is that she had only struck out once in 78 plate appearances upon submission of this interview.

“When I get two strikes, I battle,” said Addie. “I hate striking out.”

As the conclusion of her 10th grade softball season approaches, the class of 2026 baseball/softball standout has her eyes on her two upcoming Florida events, in addition to joining her Missouri Bombers ’08 Gold softball team and Arizona Peaches baseball team.

Her goals on the softball diamond mimic those on the baseball diamond. The combination of her work ethic and her reputation as a standout in both sports might just lead to uncharted territories.

“You have to work hard and not expect it to be easy,” said Frank. “It takes time and patience. You may not see improvements from day to day. It takes months and years, but when you finally see it, you know it was all worth it. I want to play D1 softball in college and try to play for Team USA Softball. I want to play on the USA Women’s National Baseball team as well. I think it would be a lot of fun to play both baseball and softball for the women’s national teams.”

Carlie Muhlbach Commits to Nebraska

Carlie Muhlbach Commits to Nebraska

When Carlie Muhlbach (2025) announced her commitment to Nebraska it ended a long process that she had thought about since she was 4-years old.  The Gretna High School junior committed to the Huskers on September 3rd, just two days after college coaches are allowed to contact high school juniors.  “There were various schools that I was interested in, but Nebraska was always at the top of my list”, said Muhlbach.

Nebraska felt like home and Muhlbach loved how that feeling she got when she was on campus.  The Husker facilities and coaches were also a major factor in her commitment.  “The facilities were amazing, the program was great, and the coaches were phenomenal”, said Muhlbach.  “It seemed like I had known them for years when I first talked to them!”.

Nebraska coach Rhonda Revelle and the Huskers are getting a competitive teammate that can hit for power.  Muhlbach leads Gretna, the No. 1 ranked team in Nebraska, in home runs (8) and slugging percentage (.980) while primarily playing catcher, but also filling in at various other positions.   

Muhlbach’s love for softball started at a young age.  A 4-years old she started playing T-ball and grew into playing travel or club softball from there.  She played on multiple travel teams before joining the Nebraska Gold 16u National team.  One of her fondest memories was when her Nebraska Gold team won the World’s Fastpitch Champions Tournament in Kansas. 

“The hard work, dedication, and commitment really paid off for everyone in the end! It was a fantastic way to wrap up our season”, said Muhlbach. 

Outside of softball Muhlbach throws the shot put and discus in track.  She also enjoys spending time with her dad watching movies, sports, and traveling.

 

Recruiting 2025 – The Legend of Clubb Grows

Recruiting 2025 – The Legend of Clubb Grows

By Jeff Strange

Way out west of St. Louis, MO – about 50 miles or so – lies a small, semi-rural community of about 4,800 people. Wright City, MO once claimed fame from the large Big Boy Restaurant sign off of Highway 70 and the Elvis is Alive Museum, which delved into the proposition that the King of Rock was still living.

These days, folks around these parts know well about a new hot-topic. Wright City High School Junior softball player Lydia Clubb has gained interest for her academic achievements, genuinely good-natured personality and her extraordinary athletic feats.

But who exactly is this 2025 Infielder/Outfielder starring for Wright City High School and the Missouri Bombers 18u softball team?

“She’s just a dynamic athlete,” said Brian Veselske, head coach of the Missouri Bombers 18u squad. “She’s very humble, she doesn’t boast about herself. But when she steps between the white lines, you just know that you’re going to get 110% from that kid every game.”

That blue-collar work ethic – combined with her elite athleticism – has helped propel this young athlete into local folklore that the residents of her hometown and her club coach speak in awe of.

 

 

Some True or False quizzing about Lydia Clubb:

  • Lydia Clubb once scored from second base on a passed ball?
    • Her elite speed and high-energy motor on the base paths allowed her to cross home plate in a recent High School game while on second base and a pitch getting away from the catcher.
  • A natural right-handed hitter, Lydia Clubb once turned to the left side of the plate and homered.
    • Lydia’s dad Jason taught her how to switch-hit when she was younger and she will still occasionally move to the left side of the batter’s box. She smoked a gap shot home run last fall.
  • Lydia Clubb holds records in track for her school in the 4×400 relay, the 4×200 relay, the 100-meter dash.
    • Lydia has been running track since 8th grade and has gained a reputation as one of the top runners in the state.
  • Lydia Clubb is an accomplished trapshooter.
    • Lydia has shot since around the age of 11, participating in her school’s trapshooting club.
  • Lycia Clubb is faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and able to leap over the old Big Boy sign along Highway 70 in her hometown.
    • Ok, Ok…they can’t all be true. But you get the point…this young athlete is making a name for herself. And just when you think that she’s trumped about every accomplishment that can be listed, she manages to amaze everyone in her presence with her talents.

So what drives this young athlete?

 “Ever since I was little, I’ve had a love for softball,” said Clubb. “Anytime I was at practice, I would always try to put forth 110% effort all of the time. Then after practice, I would work by myself at home. I would hit off a tee nonstop, I would just throw a ball up in the air to try to catch it or I would throw a bouncy ball off of a piece of wood. Just anything that I could think of to try to get better.”  

As she has grown as a young athlete, Clubb has learned to pick up on the finer points of the game to help set herself apart.

“She’s got outstanding softball IQ,” said Missouri Bombers 18u coach Brian Veselske. “Her approach at the plate is that she is looking for 60 feet, and always looking for the extra bag. She reads the defense well; she is an exceptional bunter but also has gap-to-gap power. As a leadoff hitter this past summer, she led our team with in home runs. If you were to watch this kid, she gets your attention. You never know what is going to happen because of her athleticism. She reads a defense and will drop a bunt. If it bounces once or twice, forget about it. Her speed is going to put her on the bag.”

With a growing reputation as an athlete that can play all over the field – she is well known for her range and arm at shortstop, but has also seen time in the outfield – and an explosive athlete at the plate and on the bases, Clubb has her sights set on the next levels beyond her high school years.

 “I would love to play college softball,” said Clubb. “My academic goals are to hopefully find a school with an engineering program that I could also have an opportunity to play at.”

Those who know her best believe in her as an athlete, a student and a person.

“She’s a country girl,” said Coach Veselske. “She works hard. When she’s not practicing or playing softball, she works with her dad on construction projects. She’s just gifted with a lot of quality attributes. She’s got exceptional speed, she’s versatile in the field, she’s always shown a great dedication to the sport and she does very well in school. She can play at the next level, there’s no doubt in my mind about it.”

Heartland College Showcase powered by Top Gun Events

Heartland College Showcase powered by Top Gun Events

By: TGE Staff

Heartland College Showcase is getting a makeover!

We are excited to announce the collaboration between USA Softball of Kansas City and Top Gun Events to bring the experience of hosting a next level elite showcase with the history and governance of USA Softball of KC bringing teams an impactful meaningful experience.  This event will have two divisions.  An open division and a division a team can enter by application or by invitation. The Open division will be running June 7th- 9th with an opportunity for those Junior and Seniors who are uncommitted to play in Spotlight Games, Monday the 10th.  The application-based division will run Saturday, June 8th- Monday, June 10th.     

With the collaboration with our two great organizations, we hope to truly give the teams an exceptional experience here in Kansas City.