By: Madison Feldhahn

The Top Gun Elite 20 Futures Spring Invite took place this weekend, preserving through the severe thunderstorms in the Kansas City area. The 12u and 14u tournament was played at Central Bank Sporting Complex and Mid-America West Sports Complex.

Games Saturday were cut short due to severe weather in the area.

Select Fastpitch Gamet had the best pool play in the 12u age group, finishing 2-0. Several teams finished pool play 1-0-1, including Select Fastpitch Heinrich, Team Kansas Brown/Hays, Select Fastpitch Carr and Nebraska Gold 12u Raabe.

There were several impressive victories throughout the weekend. Select Fastpitch Gamet defeated KC Rebels 2012 Coppage 12-0. KC Rebels 2012 Coppage beat Select Fastpitch Forsythe 9-0 and Select Fastpitch Jones defeated KC Rebels 2012 Coppage 13-0. Nebraska Gold 12u Raabe won 8-0 against Louisville Lady Sluggers Fryberger.

In 14u pool play, 4 teams went 2-0 – Iowa Aries Elite Ohorilko, Louisville Lady Sluggers VanBoxmeer, Select Fastpitch Adams, and Diamond Club TC. Synergy Gold Clurman 14u and Select Fastpitch Zagozda both went 1-0-1 in pool play.

The 14u age group had a few dominant victories. Select Fastpitch Reliford won 10-0 against Kansas Renegades Enfield. ROI Fastpitch Kessler bested Nebraska Gold Michaelis 12-0. Millard Fury Gold Sullivan beat Diamond Club Craig 14-0.

Bracket play started back up on Sunday morning after being delayed Saturday evening.

Nebraska Gold 12u Raabe came out on top in 12u bracket play. The team scored 24 runs in bracket play, while allowing just 8 runs against them. The team kicked off bracket with an 8-0 win against Louisville Lady Sluggers Fryberger. Nebraska Gold 12u Raabe topped Select Fastpitch Jones 3-1 to win their age group.

The 14u champion was Iowa Aries Elite Ohorilko. Their closest margin of victory was 5-2 over Kansas Renegades Enfield and their largest victory was 6-0 over Select Fastpitch Adams. The team scored 29 runs and had just 7 runs against them in bracket play. The team beat Select Fastpitch Reliford 7-1 to win the age group.

Thank you to all of the teams who joined us this weekend!

By: Madison Feldhahn

Top Gun Events will be in Kansas City this week for the Top Gun Elite 20 Futures Spring Invite. The tournament will feature 31 teams across the 12u and 14u age groups from Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Games will be held at Central Bank Sporting Complex and Mid-America West Sports Complex.

Each team will have two pool play games before starting the double elimination bracket. The 12u age group will be split into three pools. The 14u age group will have five pools. Pool play starts on Friday at 6:00 PM. It will resume on Saturday at 8:30 AM.

Bracket play for the 12u teams will start at 12:00 PM, while the 14u bracket will start at 2:30 PM. Games will run until 7:00 PM. The bracket play will resume Sunday at 8:00 AM.

Gate Fees:

Children (1-12): $5.00

Teens & Adults (13-64): $10.00

Senior (65+): $5.00

Military: $5.00

Check out some of the teams joining us below!

12u

R.O.I Fastpitch McMullan

Coaching Staff: Joe McMullan (head coach) & Julio Rodriguez

Team Social Media: ROI Fastpitch (Facebook) & @ROIFastpitch (X)

2024 Summer & Fall Successes: 9u Midwest National Champions (Summer 2023), 10 Open – Top 5 finish in PGF-Diamond Legacy Tournament (Fall 2023), 10B – Undefeated (14-0) in USSSA (Fall 2023), 10 Open – USA World Series Runner-Up (Summer 2023), 27-7-1 Summer 2023 record & 19-4 Fall 2023 record

Key Players: Selena Rodriguez – shut down pitcher, 8-3 fall record with 106 strikeouts and 2.64 ERA; Sophia Rodriguez – brick wall catcher & power hitter with .592 batting average & .638 OBP; Autumn McMullan – true utility player, .477 batting average & .567 OBP; Ashlyn Hull – phenomenal base runner with 30 stolen bases

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We would like to play in top level tournaments such as Top Gun & PGF, not only playing in those top level tournaments, but to be able to compete. We want to grow our IQ and situational awareness. We want to mature in the game physically and mentally.

14u

Iowa Aries Elite Ohorilko

Coaching Staff: Brian Ohorilko & Kari Price

Team Social Media Handles: @Iowa_Aries (X), Iowa Aries Fastpitch (Facebook)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes:

Fall Champions of:

-Team 1/Alliance FP STL Xposure Fall Invite in St. Louis, MO

-PGF Diamond Legacy Shootout & Showcase in Broken Arrow, OK

-PG Iowa City Scouting Showcase #1 in Iowa City, IA

-PG Elite 16 Illinois Scouting Showcase in Peoria, IL

-PG Elite 16 Minnesota Scouting Showcase in Minneapolis, MN

-USSSA CIS Spooktacular in Des Moines, IA

Key Players:

-Berkley Weiland (SS/OF) – RH/Throw, LH/Hit. Slapper. Amazing speed. Great defensive player.

-Kaylan Pray (SS/UTL) – RH/Throw & Hit. Excellent hitter & defensive player.

-Ivy Ohorilko (C/UTL) – RH/Throw & Hit. Power hitter, excellent defensive player.

-Karter Price (P/UTL) – RH/Throw & Hit. Excellent pitcher.

-Leela Appeldorn (MIF/UTL) – RH/Throw, LH/Hit. Excellent hitter and defensive player.

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Iowa Aries encourages our high school players to participate in high school softball this time of year. The program will have a very light tournament and travel schedule this spring and summer supplementing our player’s high school workouts. We cannot wait to get back in full swing in the fall of 2024.

Kansas Renegades Enfield

Coaching Staff: Leeza Enfield (head coach) & Robert Thomas (assistant coach)

Team Social Media: Kansas Renegades Enfield (Facebook)

2024 Summer & Fall Successes: In summer 2023, as a first year 14’s team, we placed 5^th in Kansas-Missouri USSSA State Championship, and we went 18-11-1 for the season. In fall 2023, we had two 1^st place finishes and three 3^rd place finishes.

Key Players: Emerson Hiebert (P & INF) brings morale to this team every chance she can, playing hard and doing whatever she can for the team. Paige Stroot (C) excels at everything she does and puts everything she has into the game and promotes morale during every inning. Her bat brings a lot to this team. Jaycie Thomas (UTL) can play anywhere on the field that her team needs her to play and brings a strong bat to the team. Kylie Matthews (P) continues to improve her pitching abilities.

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We expect to continue to play many exceptional teams this spring. In doing so, we will be challenging ourselves so that we can improve our game and be the best version of our team. We will instill the love of the game by cheering each other on that way we can succeed on and off the field.

Synergy Gold Clurman 14u

Coaching Staff: Cam Clurman (head coach), Willie Dean (assistant coach) & Jeremiah Feurt (assistant coach)

Team Social Media: Synergy Softball Organization (Facebook), & synergysoftballorg (Instagram & TikTok)

2024 Summer & Fall Successes: 2^nd place at Road to the Beach 12A Nationals in Destin, FL

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Competing in Top Gun Events, PGF Stars and Stripes, 13A Nationals in Nashville, TN

Wasco Diamonds 14u JE

Coaching Staff: Jason Edwards (head coach) & Kristyn Crawford (assistant coach)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: Finalist at the NAFA Mom’s Day Rock tournament, consistently showed determination and resilience in tough games

Key Players: Every player on our roster possesses the ability to excel in multiple positions. Our athletes approach each role with the same level of commitment and dedication, knowing their contributions are vital to the team’s success.

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Beyond wins and losses, the primary focus remains on fostering a culture of learning, growth, and personal development, both on and off the field. Players are encouraged to push beyond their limits, embrace challenges, and strive for continuous improvement.

By: Madison Feldhahn

The Top Gun Elite 20 16u/18u Spring Invite took place this past weekend at Blue Valley Recreation in Overland Park, KS. The 16u age group featured four pools and the 18u age group had two.

In the 16u age group, Select Fastpitch Reese finished pool games 4-0-0. Both KC Phoenix Bock and Iowa Premier Fastpitch Paz were 3-0-1 in their pool. Nebraska National Taylor, Epic Fastpitch Burnett, and Nebraska Gold deMontel went 3-1-0 through Friday and Saturday. Select Fastpitch Reese scored 46 runs. Firecrackers Wildey scored the next most runs with 36. Top Gun ’08 and Nebraska National Taylor scored 34 and 30 runs, respectively.

Notable wins for the 16u age group this weekend include a 17-0 victory for Firecrackers Wildey over American Freedom 16u Courson. Select Fastpitch Reese defeated American Freedom 16u Courson 18-0. Oklahoma Blaze Gold 16u topped CO Royals Loya 19-3.

Nebraska Quakes Jonas was the only 18u team to go undefeated through pool play. Select Fastpitch Jones, Top Gun National Turner, Iowa Premier Fastpitch Sandstoe, Select Fastpitch Chester, and Diamond Club National 2025 Page all finished pool play 3-1. Both Nebraska Quakes Jonas and Select Fastpitch Chester scored over 30 runs this past weekend, with Quakes Jonas scoring 35 and Select Chester scoring 31.

In the 18u age group, there were a few large wins. Select Fastpitch Chester defeated Marek Fastpitch Academy Nash-Archdekin 10-0. Nebraska Quakes Jonas beat Diamond Club National 2025 Page 11-0. Marek Fastpitch Academy beat Nebraska Thunder Fox 13-1 and Iowa Premier Fastpitch Sandstoe beat Nebraska Gold Jarzobski 12-1.

Bracket play began on Sunday. This was a single elimination bracket.

Epic Fastpitch National 09 Smith was the 16u champion. The team was dominant in bracket play. Their closest win was 6-3. Their largest win margin was a 9-1 against Epic Fastpitch Burnett. Epic Fastpitch National 09 Smith defeated Top Gun 2027 National 6-0 to claim their championship.

In the 18u age group, Select Fastpitch Jones was crowned champion. The team did not allow any runs against them in bracket play. Their closest bracket game was 2-0 against Nebraska Gold National Perkins. In the finals, the team defeated Top Gun National Turner 12-0. This was their largest win of the tournament.

Full Event Results

Thank you to all of the teams who joined us this weekend!

By: Madison Feldhahn

Top Gun Events collaborated with USA Softball of St. Louis to host the Cardinal Invite this past weekend. The two day event featured age groups 14u, 16u and 18u.

In the 14u age group, 5 teams finished pool play undefeated – Wisconsin Lightning Eichholtz, The Hitting Center Clayton, Top Gun Strange 13u, St. Louis Chaos Premier Gill 14u, and Iowa Elite Force. Both Wisconsin Lightning Eichholtz and St. Louis Premier Gill 14u scored 43 runs this weekend. The Hitting Center Clayton and Top Gun Strange 13u scored 39 runs, and Iowa Elite Force scored 34.

There were several large margins of victory in the 14u age group. Wisconsin Lightning Eichholz beat Top Gun Rains 14u 16-0. St. Louis Chaos Premier Gill 14u beat KC Rebels 2027 National – Olsen 11-0. St. Louis Chaos Premier Gill 14u beat MO Fury 2010 Henkelman 10-0.

The 16u age group had just one pool. Select Fastpitch Alvarado finished pool play undefeated. The team scored 38 runs and allowed just 3 runs against them. Louisville Lady Sluggers Clark 16u finished pool play 2-1-1.

In the 16u age group, there were a few dominating victories. Naturals Regional Wigger defeated Midland Bandits 08 Thompson 16-9. Select Fastpitch Alvarado beat Missouri Mariners National 10-3 and beat Midland Bandits 08 Thompson 14-0.

The 18u age group also had just one pool. St. Louis Heat Gold and Louisville Lady Sluggers Arnold finished pool play 3-0-1. St. Louis Chaos 16u National Roth, Defiance Elite Herweck/Romeril, and MO Bombers Veselske were all 3-1-0 through pool play.

Large victories in the 18u age group include a 16-4 win by Defiance Elite Herweck/Romeril over STL Comets Beatty and a 14-6 win by Louisville Lady Sluggers Arnold over St. Louis Heat Stitching.

Bracket play took place on Sunday. This was a single elimination tournament.

The 14u champion was Wisconsin Lighting Eichholz. They defeated ROI Fastpitch Hull to win their age group. The Lightning started off bracket play with an 11-0 win over MO Fury 2010 Henkelman. They had another impressive victory over Top Gun Strange 13u 8-0.

The 16u champion was Select Fastpitch Alvarado. The team topped Missouri Mariners National 13-3. They defeated Naturals Regional Wigger 10-0 in their first bracket play game.

St. Louis Chaos 16u National Roth defeated St. Louis Heat Gold to become the 18u champion. The team had key victories over Louisville Lady Sluggers Clark 18u, 6-3, and Louisville Lady Sluggers Arnold, 4-1.

Event Results

Thank you to all of the teams who joined us!

By: Madison Feldhahn

Top Gun Events is headed to St. Peters, MO this weekend. TGE is hosting the Top Gun Events Cardinal Invite in collaboration with USA Softball of St. Louis. The event will feature 32 teams from Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

Pool play begins Saturday at 8:00 AM for all three age divisions. 14u and 16u games will run until 8:15 PM. 18u games will run until 6:30 PM. Bracket play will kick off Sunday at 8:00 AM. The championship games for 14u and 18u will start at 3:00 PM. The 16u championship game starts at 1:15 PM.

VIEW SCHEDULE

Let’s take a closer look at some of the teams joining us.

14u

American Freedom Waggoner

Coaching Staff: Head coach Robert Waggoner and assistant coaches Kyle Kohlberg, Jason Harrell & Kris Juelfs

Team Social Media: @AFSTL2K10 (X), American Freedom Stl2k10 (Facebook) & americanfreedomsports.com

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: 4 USSSA first place finishes, 5 USSSA top 3 finishes, total record of 46-19-3, ranked #9 in state, ranked #17 nationally

Key Players: Addyson Juelfs (#17, P/SS/OF, 2028), Annie Alsop (#5, P/1B, 2029), Braylee Davis (#23, OF, 2029), Kylie Kohlberg (#16, C/3B, 2029), Molly Sullivan (#25, P/3B/OF, 2029), Khloe Harrell (#3, 2B/OF, 2029)

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Continue to develop while learning to compete at a national level

Black Widows 28/29

Coaching Staff: Head coach Alex Kolakowski and assistant coaches Heather Lessman & Josh Weller

Team Social Media: Black Widows Softball Association- ’10 (Facebook)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: 2^nd place at 2024 JP Frozen Ropes Frenzy USSSA Bettendorf IA 14u, 5^th of 114 teams at 2023 Road to the Show Oklahoma City, OK USSSA, 1^st place at 2023 Shamrock Shake Burlington, IA Perfect Game, 2^nd place at 2023 Spring Blast STL (12u playing 14u), 5^th of 14 teams at 2023 Missouri East State (12u playing 14u), 1^st place at 2023 Angel on our Field USSSA

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: The goal for this season is to play a competitive schedule, compete and get better along the way. We would like to finish the year above the .500 mark.

Carterville Crush 

Coaching Staff: Head coach Eddy Henriksen and assistant coaches Rich Dyer, Ben Seig & Michael Crickman

Team Social Media: Carterville (IL) Crush (Facebook)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: 2022-23 season: 12A – Our team was the 12u A USSSA IL State and Regional Points Champions. Summer 2023: We took 1^st place in 2 USSSA events and 2^nd place in 2 events. Fall 2023: 13A – We played 3 tournaments and got 3^rd place in the Mascoutah Tournament.

Key Players: Our team is full of multi-sport athletes that are capable of playing multiple positions at a high level. Our pitching staff is composed of 4 high-level pitchers who go out and give us an opportunity to win every time we step on the field. We can hit up and down our order, and pride ourselves on being a strong base running team.

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Our expectations for this season are to compete with the best competition in the area and the country each weekend. We would love to win some tournaments, but our focus is on developing our girls and preparing them to play at the next level. We seek out the best competition and want to be in a competitive game, win or lose.

MO Fury 2010 Henkelman

Coaching Staff: Head coach Brian Henkelman and assistant coaches Mike Manion, Jeffrey Brown & Jimmy Graham

Team Social Media: MOFury2010 (Facebook) & @MOFury2010 (Instagram & TikTok)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: We started the Fall off hot, taking 1^st and 2^nd place in our first two tournaments. In our first tournament in March, we played up in a 16u tournament and tied for 3^rd place, which gave our girls some confidence as things heat up in the spring.

Key Players: McKarra Graham, who was coming off a stellar 2023 season in the circle, was off to a strong start this season before being sidelined with an injury. Makenze Harrison and Alyna Price have been a “two-headed monster” and battled for the Fury in McKarra’s absence. This will be McKarra’s first tournament back. Olivia Manion and Lizzy Mound lead the way with OBP and stolen bases. Reese Corwin and Taylor Schultz have produced the power in the middle of the lineup. Harper Brown has played shut down defense in the outfield. Peyton Henkelman and Colsie Lange have impressed with timely 2 strike hitting. Total team effort every weekend.

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Our expectation for spring is to have these girls challenged and ready to compete every tournament. We would like to win a few tournaments, be above. 500 for the season and have a good showing at Nationals this year. Our focus this year is DEVELOPMENT and making sure these girls are just as strong mentally as they are on the field.

St. Louis Chaos Premier Gill 14u

Coaching Staff: Rachel Gill, Dustin Deckerd & Jason Donnelly

Team Social Media: St. Louis Chaos 2010 (Facebook) & @STLChaos2010 (X)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: Overall 2023 spring/summer record 57-20-4, overall 2023 14u fall record 20-8, currently ranked #1 in Missouri for USSSA in 13u & #2 in the Midwest. Summer 2023: 3^rd place at Team 1 Show Me State (Columbia, MO), 1^st place at PGF Top Gun Ranger (KC, MO), 1^st place at HuSTLe City Invitational, 17^th out of 80 at PGF Super Select 12u Championship (Columbia, TN), 2^nd place at Team 1 Elite Invitational (KC, MO), 3^rd place at PGF Top Gun Patriot (Peoria, IL) & 4^th place at USSSA National Championship 12u A (Des Moines IA). 2023 14u Fall: PGF Gladiator (Columbia, TN), 1^st place at Strike Out Cancer (O’Fallon, IL), 2^nd place at Strike Out Cancer (O’Fallon, IL), 1^st place at Pitch for the Cure, HFL Fall Championships – Alliance. Spring 2024: Top 10 finish at PGF Bandits Power 80, 1^st place at Easter 1-Day Classic.

Key Players: Kaelyn Deckerd (#31, 2028, P/INF/OF) – pitching speed 62 mph, can throw to both sides of the plate with a curve ball & screw ball along with a rise ball, currently working to master her change up, bat exit velocity 70 mph, fall 2023 BA .373. Maddie Robinson (#10, 2029, C/INF/OF) – pop time 1.77, overhand throwing velocity 64 mph, fall 2023 BA .462, slg .738, 6 2B, 6 triples, 14 stolen bases. Natalie House (#46, 2028, C/INF/OF) – pop time 1.87, fall 2023 BA .442, 6 2B, 12 stolen bases.

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: As a first year 14u team, we plan on this year being challenging because we will be playing older girls in our age group and will be playing 16u in some tournaments, which is exactly what we want. This will be a big year for development and growth. Regardless of the opponent, this team competes until the very last pitch!

The Hitting Center Clayton

Coaching Staff: Skip Clayton & Bryan Edmonson

Team Social Media: Hitting Center 2010 (Facebook) & @2010hittingcenter (Instagram)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: The Hitting Center shows great strides in achieving player development every year. It also continues to improve through every element and aspect of the game. We’ve finished within the Top 10 of the toughest and most competitive tournaments in the country on a consistent basis.

Key Players: Kendall Edmonson (#17), Jaelyn Moritz (#15), Carly Clayton (#12), Jemma Lamb (#11) & Nicole Ekhoff (#5)

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We would like to continue to develop confidence in ourselves, our teammates, and our overall success within the game. This Hitting Center has already been a major contributor to us reaching our highest caliber as a team and educated us beyond expectations. There is only room for more growth in the upcoming 2024 season.

Top Gun Graf

Coaching Staff: Head coach Brian Graf & assistant coaches Jason Dennis & Mike Kasper

Team Social Media: @TopGunSTL_Graf (X), Top Gun STL 28/29 (Facebook) & topgunstlmach10 (Instagram)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: We went 41-22 last season as a 12A team, playing mostly 14u tourneys. We won 3 tournaments last season, including a 14A tourney. In the fall, we had quite a few girls have successful middle school seasons and went 4-1-1 in our only tourney of the fall at Pitch for the Cure.

Key Players: This group of players have played together since they were 5 years old in tee ball. 9 of the 11 players will play at Troy Buchanan High School. We will be looking for our pitchers to continue to progress with spins and speed and hitters demonstrate more power.

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We are excited to challenge our players with a higher level of competition as we prepare for most of our girls to enter high school ball this fall. We are looking for our girls to take big steps this season in all areas of the game.

Top Gun Rains 14u

Coaching Staff: Angie & Ryan Rains and Alex Linck

Team Social Media: Top Gun 09 STL (Facebook), topgun09_stl (Instagram) & @topgun09stl (X)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: 2023 summer was focused on challenging ourselves and seeking out the best competition. As a team, we hit .303 with 176 RBIs, 315 total hits, 67 for extra bases, 6 home runs. Fall 2023 was our first fall that a majority of our team playing high school softball, so our schedule looked a bit different only playing 9 games. We added some key additions to our team for the 23/24 season that will be extremely instrumental in our successes for 2024!

Key Players: Rylie Van Cleve & Aubrey Grimm in the circle; Kaylee Daniels plays 1B and hits in the middle of the lineup. She is one of the leaders on our squad on the field, at the plate and in the dugout. Jill Abegg – centerfielder

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We are playing a schedule that will once again challenge our squad. We are looking to compete in every game we play both locally and outside of St. Louis. These girls have worked so incredibly hard in the offseason preparing for this season. They have grown so much both mentally and physically. They are truly willing to do whatever it takes! We have set the expectations for ourselves that we will find ourselves in the top group of every event we play. Go out every game, celebrate the little things, compete and get better every pitch, every at bat, every inning and every time we walk off the field, we are better than when we got on it. That is our overall expectation!

Top Gun Strange 13u

Coaching Staff: Jeff Strange, Dennis Swinford, Scott Dixon & Dave Watson

Team Social Media: Top Gun 2010 STL (Facebook) & @TopGun2010STL (X)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: 3 tournament championships, Top 9 finish at USSSA Midwest 12a Nationals

Key Players: Our roster as a whole has girls capable of contributing in any capacity. We feel confident in our upside and firepower in the circle, at the plate, and in the field,

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Ideally, we want to compete in every event this season at a high level while continuing to develop our fundamentals, instincts, and softball IQ as we move into our advanced age-seasons. We kicked off our season with an impressive undefeated tournament victory, then showed signs of continued growth but ultimately stubbed our toes in our second event. We are looking forward to a nice weekend of weather and some great competition as we start to ramp up our 2024 season.

Wisconsin Lightning Eichholz

Coaching Staff: Head coach Allison Eichholz and assistant coaches David Anderson & Jen Kreil

Team Social Media: Wisconsin Lightning 2010 (Facebook) & @2010Wisconsin (X)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: 12u record – 109-23-4 with 9 championships

Key Players: Every player on our team is valued. They all work endlessly to perfect their skills and provide more for the team. Each player can play more than one position to give us the depth that we need to be successful.

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Our current record is 51-14-4 for the 13u season with 4 championships. They recently traveled to FL and came home as champions for the PGF Show Me The Money Tournament. I anticipate this team to keep learning and growing at a very elite level. Each and every player brings a full plate to the table. They are all putting the working in at practice and outside of practice. They’re a very special group who really believes in Mudita.

16u

Defiance Elite 16u Granquist

Coaching Staff: Head coach Kristen Granquist

Team Social Media: @defianceelite (X, Facebook, Instagram & TikTok)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: #1 ranked 14u team in USA Softball St. Louis, Finalist at Perfect Game STL Showcase (March ’24)

Key Players: Brookley Ware (2027 Parkway South, SS) – our X-factor, Izzie May (2026 North Point, INF/C) – our consistent contributor, Morgan Murphy (2026 Liberty Wentzville, C/INF) – our long ball threat, Gwen Newton (2027 St. Francis Borgia), Kenzie Ellison (2026 Francis Howell, RHP) – our workhorse

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We have high expectations for our team this season. We’re compromised of the strong core of our 14u team from last year, plus two of our best performers from last year’s 16u team and three newcomers to the club. Our schedule is packed with numerous HFL events and we look forward to seeing how this team can compete with some of the best competition around.

18u

Illinois Esprit McManus

Coaching Staff: Head coach Mike McManus and assistant coaches Brandon Branon, Ron Donoho & TJ Burge

Team Social Media: @18IllEsprit (X) & Illinois Esprit-18U (Facebook)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: We lost five college-bound freshman players at the end of summer of 2023. Won our first event of the fall and made the semis of three other events.

Key Players: Mo Hance (2024, CF, Eastern Illinois commit), Ryle Branon (2024 P/UTL, Southwestern Illinois College commit), Lauren Burge (2025, P/UTL, uncommitted), Kaitlyn Drew (2024, P/UTL, Danville Area CC commit) & Sophie Donoho (2024, P, Kaskaskia College commit)

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: This team consists of three of our full-time players and then we added eight girls who, for various reasons, opt not to play spring school ball. We are young – seven of our girls are 16u eligible. So, we are getting to know them and they us. We like what we have, but we very much are a work in progress. Many of these young women are seeing this level of competition for the first time. We just want to compete and give ourselves a chance to win at the end.

By: Madison Feldhahn

Thirty-three teams are joining us at the Top Gun Elite 20 16u/18u Spring Invite in Overland Park, KS this weekend. The three-day event will feature teams from Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Colorado and Kansas.

The 16u age group will have four pools and the 18u age group will have two. Pool play starts Friday with games at 6:00 PM and 7:45 PM. Games will resume Saturday at 8:00 AM. The last pool play games will start at 8:15 PM.

Bracket play for the 16u teams will start Sunday at 9:00 AM and the championship game will start at 5:45 PM. The 18u teams will begin bracket play at 10:45 AM. Their championship game kicks off at 5:45 PM.

View Schedule

Gate Fees:

Children (1-12): $5.00

Teens & Adults (13-64): $10.00

Senior (65+): $5.00

Military: $5.00

Take a look at some of the teams joining us below.

16u

KC Phoenix Bock

Coaching Staff: Jen Bock (former JCCC & UMKC player) and Russ Endsor (former player, long time coach, ling time coach, former college coach)

Team Social Media: @KCPhoenix_JB (X)

2024 Summer & Fall Successes: Ended the season 26-17-2 on a season where we tackled our first TG events and invitationals. Were 4-1 in the Team 1 Club Challenge (rained out), USSSA Memorial Day 18A champions, Jayhawk HAS runner-up, tied for 17^th in the WFC in KC with unfortunate injuries

Key Players: Shelby Callahan (2027 MI/OF), Enslie Dreyer (2026 P/1B), Mandia Bock (2027 P/MI/UT), Gracie Cox (2026 C), Mattie Marchetti (2027 OF), Makayla McConnel (2026 3B/UT) & Evey Atkinson (2027 OF/MI)

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We have all talented multisport athletes so spring will be a season of versatility as we learn to ‘next girl up’ when someone is missing at a position for track, soccer, lacrosse, basketball and even band competitions. We will really focus on softball IQ overall so that we can handle moving positions and still compete. No doubt that we are growing coachable, athletic players who are learning. Spring is all about reps and growth – competing at higher levels and we’ll shift more focus on ‘winning’ this summer.

Louisville Lady Sluggers

Coaching Staff: Head coach Joel Lovelady and assistant coach Joe Shearer

Team Social Media: @ladysluggersred (X), Louisville_sluggers07_lovelady (Instagram) & Louisville Lady Sluggers Lovelady (Facebook)

2024 Summer & Fall Successes: In the spring of 2023 and fall season, the Lady Sluggers Lovelady played a challenging schedule, traveling throughout the Midwest and continued to push their ladies vs great competition.

Key Players: The young group of Sluggers are made up of several familiar faces with returners like 2025 uncommitted Emma Downing and 2026’s Carsen Lovelady, Ora Prichett, Tori Shearer, and Addie Schneider. Fall added talent with the addition of Brailyn Fox, Hunter Anderson-Jones, and Addison Snyder. The ball will be in the hands of Downing, Snyder, Fox, and Anderson-Jones. The defense will see Lovelady, Shearer, Schneider, and Snyder display their versatility moving around the field.

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: The Sluggers expect to compete on every pitch, trust the process, and get better every day. The Sluggers will continue to improve as the season continues and Gracie Abercrombie and Kinsey Bebb return following their HS seasons.

Nebraska Gold deMontel

Coaching Staff: Head coach Jimmy deMontel and assistant coach Jake Douglas

Team Social Media: @NEGoldDeMontel (X)

2024 Summer & Fall Successes: 37-14-4, runner up USA Memorial Day 16 Gold division, 5-0 Top Gun Spring Invite Viper division, 6-0 Top Gun Patriot, Top 8 finish in USSSA WFPC KC

Key Players: Amanda Gibilisco (2025), Tarisa Frans (2025), Bridget Whitney (2025), Makenna Watkins (2025), Haley deMontel (2025), Lily Rowe (2025), Miley Rowe (2025), Ashley Duis (2025) & Avery Wolfe (2025)

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Expect a strong pitching staff with depth to carry us deep into tournaments this summer

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

-1^st Place at Top Gun NE National Tourney

-2^nd Place at Top Gun Thunder/NE Gold Tourney

-2^nd Place at USSSA 16) Swing into Spring

-3^rd Place at Top Gun Swing into Spring Tourney

-4^th Place at USSSA SEC National Championship

-7 Top 4 finishes out of 10 tournaments (not including rain shortened/canceled tournaments)

-14U PGF Nationals at large bid (Platinum Division)

Key Players:

-Maizey Carpenter

-Toria Rother

-Lauren Schneider

-Elli Ridgley

-Alexa Taylor

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We are an improved team over last year. We have a great group of girls and parents. Our goal as coaches is to continue to develop our players to help them reach their potential.

Nebraska Quakes Schueth

Coaching Staff: Head coach JJ Schueth and assistant coaches Jamie Anderson, Carolyn Anderson & Kim Leggott

Team Social Media: @QuakesSchueth (X)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: Great season playing super competitive schedule, won a couple tournaments and finalists

Key Players: Our pitching staff in the circle – Abby Leggott, Anna Taylor, and Sammie Brodersen. These girls are great competitors and when they are on their game, it makes us a better team. At the play, we are looking for our lefty’s to really get us rolling – Kaylee Taylor, Hannah Heuton and Reese Kuiken. When these girls get on base, it really fires up the team!!

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Play as a team, have success at the plate and play to the highest level. When these girls are having fun and working together, they are hard to beat. We want these girls to play their absolute best, win or lose. Be able to learn from their successes or struggles and use that as fuel to help them and their team get better.

Nebraska Thunder Johnson

Coaching Staff: Head Coach Bruce Johnson & Assistant Coaches Alana Crollard & Antonio Torrez
Team Social Media: @nethunder22 (X) & @nebraskathundergoldjohnson (IG)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes:

-Top Gun NE Memorial Day Classic Champions in Omaha

-USSSA Big Opener Runner-ups in Minnesota

-USSSA Angels for Autism for Runner-up (HS Division) in Omaha

-USSSA Easter Egg Strikeout Champions (HS Division) in Omaha

-USSSA Season Opener GG 3^rd place overall finish in Overland Park

-USSSA Stand UP to Cancer 3^rd place overall in Kansas City

Key Players:

-Ada Jantzen

-Kendall Johnson

-Kinnley Wehrle

-Peyton Johnson

-Ava Crollard

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We expect to compete for championships at all of our tournaments and start to make a name for ourselves nationally.

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 3^rd 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) leads the team with 51 strikeouts in 26.2 innings. She has an ERA of 2.1 so far this spring. Elia Cabo and Abby Kriete anchor the outfield.   Cabo has a batting avg of .515 which leads the team while batting leadoff.  Kriete is batting .406 with 11 RBI in the two hole. Kaylee Brock (SS) locks down the left side of the infield. She’s batting .474 this season and her range and exceptional arm strength anchor the infield defense. Baylie Roetemeyer does an exceptional job behind the plate and at 3B.  She’s batting .421 on the season and her defense and strong arm limit the opponent’s run game.

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 2027 National

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 9^th 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 3^rd place in Missouri State Championships as freshman. Three of our freshmen earned All-State honors and five earned Academic All-State. In March, we kicked off the season with a strong showing in the Top Gun Indoor Invite 16/18 going 5-0. We outscored opponents 41-5 with a team .894 ERA and .390 AVG.

Key Players: We have multiple players already receiving Power 5 interest. Some of our top producers include: Bryli Seifert (2027, MIF/OF) – 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 (2027, SS/3B/C) – She led our team this summer in nearly every offensive category. Molly Munson (2027, LHP/1B) – 5’9 strong pitcher with intense presence on the mount. Top 100 in 2027 Extra Innings. Addison Ellis (2028, LHP) – 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. Zariya Mabion (2027, OF/UTL) – Z is one of the most athletic players in the 2027 class. She is ranked Top 25 in the 2027 Extra Innings. Back from an ACL injury.

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.

18u

Nebraska Gold Jarzobski

Coaching Staff: Edward Jarzobski (9^th year coaching competitive softball), Maurice Anderson (10^th year coaching competitive softball, NE Gold coach Team Anderson and Softball President MUS) & Dave Hobza (7^th 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 National Perkins

Coaching Staff: Chad Perkins, McKenna Nixon, Jesse Waller and Bill Heard

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: Top Club Spring Champions, Top 8 finish Colorado, WFC winner

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Will play a strong schedule. Hope to be competitive.

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

Top Gun National Turner

Coaching Staff:  Bob Turner, Joe Sciara, Brent Wilhelm, David Rocha, Allen Curtis

Team Social Media Handles: @TGA_Turner / @TGASciara

2023 Summer & Fall Successes:  18 National finished 3rd in US Club Rankings after taking 3rd at Triple Crown Nationals, 5th in CO Sparkler Power Pool, and 5th at USA Gold Nationals

Key Players:  Sydney Boulaphinh (Stanford), Taylor Troutman (Miss State), Abby Wilhelm (Missouri), Kennedy Diggs (Kansas), Lorin Boutte (Miami of Ohio), Carrie Green (So Miss), Anna McGowan (NC State), Kam Munson (NC State), Gretta Grassel (Miss St), Macie Hunolt (North Florida), Grace Shaw (North Florida), Nat Kenyatta (Michigan State), Jordyn Thurman (Mizzou), Sophia Camacho (Florida Atlantic), Gianni Torres (2026), Sage Rodmyre (2025 Undecided), Hayden Kurtz (Southern Illinois), Sierra Persinger (UNC Wilmington)

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Expectations are another tremendously competitive season with an elite schedule, helping this outstanding group of seniors prepare for their freshman seasons in the fall.  Looking forward to pursuing a national championship this summer with a special group of players and families.