By: Jeff Strange

Upon completion of a challenging and successful 2023 spring/summer campaign, Coach Rhett Reliford was positively optimistic as his Select Fastpitch 13u squad entered the fall season. Although technically a “first year” 14u team, the athletes had been exposed to 14u competition throughout the course of 2023, playing up in multiple 14u tournaments as a 12u team. One key highlight for the 2023 spring/summer season was bringing home the Championship at the PG 14A Elite 40 KC Showcase last May, going 7-0 overall in the event enroute to the title.

Coach Reliford’s optimism was rewarded with a 26-6 fall record as Select FP added some additional talent, expanding to a larger roster. It was in late October that Reliford believes that his squad really came together.

“I feel that the key to our fall was finishing up the season out in Chesterfield, MO going undefended 5-0 at the Fall 14U St. Louis Softball Showcase,” said Reliford. “The offensive potential of our lineup really came together, putting 45 runs across the plate. Seven girls hit over .400 for the event, with multiple girls putting the ball over the fence. We were able to produce overall consistent production and power throughout the lineup. The offensive production was paired with excellent pitching and a stingy defense that only allowed eight runs. There were a lot of great individual performances and highlights from the fall – from walk-off homeruns to run saving throwdowns from the outfield – but this tournament was a great example of the team’s potential. We have had an aggressive offseason development schedule and are excited to get back on the field and build on how we ended the Fall this Spring.”

Now looking ahead to 2024, we caught up with Coach Reliford on his thoughts for the upcoming season:

Can you give some background information on your coaching staff and coaching styles?

“We have a group of coaches with various degrees of knowledge and experience. Some came from a baseball coaching background and have been with the team since the beginning. We have coaches that have gone through the recruiting & college exposure process with older players that can provide some guidance as to what coaches are looking for at the next level.

Our coaching style has always been about player development. We believe in developing on the field skills, mental toughness, and a personal drive in our athletes that will translate outside the game of softball. We strive to install a “Do Damage” mentality at the plate and always a strong emphasis on basic fundamentals for each position. Our staff continues to drill the basic glove work/footwork drills and the attention to detail is evident on the field.”

Does your team face any challenges with schedules? If yes, how do you manage that?

“We recently acquired a pair of talented players from the Omaha area, and we also have a girl from mid Missouri that makes the 2.5-3 hour drive to practice. With team practices at a premium, we are very focused on our practice plans and maximizing our time together as a team. Overall, we have a great group of athletes that have a strong work ethic. They’ve fully bought into the mindset of embracing the grind and that the work doesn’t stop once our team practice is over. So before we even have the chance to remind them to put in the work, these girls have already laced up their shoes, got some dirt on their gloves and our Do Damage mentality at the plate has focused individual hitting work built in.”

What are your primary goals and objectives for your team?

“Our primary goal has multiple layers, and each one is built in a way where the ultimate objective is for them to be able to move on to play at the collegiate level. But first and foremost is to establish a strong foundation of skills that will allow them to be ahead of their peers when they hit the high school level. Then we keep building on that skill set by increasing their softball IQ and introducing more advanced techniques.”

In your opinion, what traits make your organization unique?

“Select Fastpitch has grown a lot the past few years but hasn’t lost its primary focus of player development. Eric Jones has built a culture based around the player and providing each player opportunities to grow, develop and leverage years of experience throughout the organization. The opportunity that our girls have with being able to learn from older athletes that play at the highest levels has been very impactful on their passion for the game and development.”

Can you give some analysis/perspective on your team for 2024?

“We have a strong core of talented athletes that have played together for years, and we have been fortunate to continue to add additional talent every year, creating an environment that provides healthy competition at all levels of the team. Offensively, we focus on our Do Damage mentality and have multiple girls with out of the park power. With speed throughout the lineup, we focus on aggressive baserunning and putting pressure on defenses. We are excited to have a deep pitching staff with four pitchers that bring a lot of talent and experience to the circle. Our pitching staff will allow us to attack lineups and matchups in different ways and paired with a talented group of catchers we expect a lot of great things from this group. Defensively we are blessed with a very talented infield that has great range and multiple big arms that are able to make the hard plays. Our outfield has really developed over the past year and their speed and talent has been a major factor in our success.”

What are your short-term goals for your team?

“To stay focused on player development and foster a love for the process, hard work and mental toughness it takes to play at a high level. From a schedule standpoint, we want to continue to push the team to play the best competition.”

What are your long-term goals for your team?

“To prepare our athletes so that they can have an immediate impact at every level as they progress throughout their softball journey. Eight of our 13 athletes will start High School ball in the Fall, so that is a major focus.”

By: Jeff Strange

As we approach the kickoff of our 2024 season, I’ve taken some time to reflect upon some memories on what has stood out and helped define us…

I’ve been fortunate enough to watch many of these young ladies develop over the years; some have been with me only a short time, while others have been playing with me since they were six and seven years old. It has been a great honor and delight to be a part of their development.

We’ve enjoyed many high points over the years, along with enduring some lessons learned. Last summer, we hit a tough stretch that tested us mentally. However, we rebounded well to cap off our season with a very strong showing at Nationals that showed the grit and demeanor of our core nucleus.

Looking ahead to 2024, I have many reasons to be excited about our squad and what lies ahead. So here it goes…my thoughts on our 2024 Top Gun 2010 STL team….

Can you give some background information on your coaching staff and coaching styles?

“Dennis Swinford and I have been coaching this team together for the past four years. Prior to that, I ran a team with some of the athletes from this team. Scott Dixon has joined this season to help out as well; he previously coached with another organization and has stepped in seamlessly with our squad.

Our coaching approach is to maximize each athlete’s development and prepare them for the impending high school levels and beyond – while making their experience as enjoyable as possible. We put a strong emphasis on fundamentals for each position on the field, working in proper footwork and glovework elements that translate to the diamond. We also highlight understanding situational awareness on the field so that our athletes comprehend what’s at stake at any given moment during competition. Allowing the girls to challenge themselves with high risk, high reward plays is additionally an aspect that punctuates our approach to defense.

From an offensive standpoint, we stress “hunting our pitch” and looking to do damage. We are blessed with lots of firepower on our roster – both power and speed – and we seek to overwhelm the opposition with our approach at the plate and on the bases.

In the circle, understanding that we control the tempo and the pace is a big focus for us. We are blessed with four exceptional arms in the circle and we try to instill in our pitchers that while their stuff is unique, understanding how to attack each hitter while also understanding the situation in play is a big key. We aim for our hurlers to have a strong mental approach while also instilling in them that it’s perfectly acceptable for them to carry a confident swagger while they are working their craft.”

Does your team face any challenges with schedules? If yes, how do you manage that?

“We have many multi-sport athletes and a few out of area athletes that we coordinate schedules with. Team practices are paramount and utilizing the time that we have together to make for a fun and constructive experience is key.

Ultimately, all of our athletes understand that while they may miss practices from time to time, in order to achieve their goals, they are willing to put in the necessary time to help develop themselves on their own time. Our parent group does a fantastic job with their daughters in helping them along the way. It takes a village to build this dream and we are blessed with a group that has bought into this mentality.”

What are your primary goals and objectives for your team?

“Ideally, we are aiming to prepare these girls to be ready for the highest levels that we come across – whether that is the competition level that we see now, high school-aged level of play and/or ultimately preparing them and helping them get recruited into college. Along the way, we want the girls to enjoy this unique experience that they have as scholar athletes and help develop leadership attributes that can translate into their respective futures.”

In your opinion, what traits make your organization unique?

“Top Gun Fastpitch has a great college recruitment platform in place that I believe will be beneficial as move closer to navigating that element for our athletes. In the meantime, we have received strong support from our sister squads in the organization that helps set the bar high for our girls. And quite frankly, our organization is blessed with one of the top pitching coordinators in the country (Randi Shanks) that helps set us apart from other organizations.”

Can you give some analysis/perspective on your team for 2024?

“I’m very excited about our roster as we move into 2024. We return nine players while picking up three. As mentioned before, our roster features lots of firepower. Comprising our roster for 2024:

• Lorelai Kellner: RHP/2B – High powered arm in the circle with nasty stuff. Big bat in the lineup and a key defensive player in the field. The definition of explosive athlete.
• Caroline Moore: RHP/1B – Another power arm in the circle with a big, strong frame. Sizable power at the plate.
• Ava Dixon: RHP/3B – A newcomer to our squad this year. Exceptional spin in the circle with a power repertoire that cooks. Excellent glove in the field and a line drive bat that shows good pop.
• Lola Seawel: RHP/UTL – Another newcomer to our team. Huge upside. Long and whippy with premium velocity and spin in the circle. Very athletic and quick; versatile in the field with a bat that has come a long way since the fall.
• Sydney Bonzo: C/3B – Exceptional defensive catcher. Receives well and blocks everything. An authentic field general. Massive power at the plate with premium exit velocity.
• Maggie Neally: C/1B – A true titan on the field. Big, strong frame. Receives well behind the plate and features a bazooka arm. Scary power at the plate. High-upside athlete.
• Ella Heath: 1B/OF – Tall and very athletic. Moves exceptionally well for an athlete her size. Natural born hitter with big power. Clutch performer that comes up big. Great glove at 1B.
• Maycie Lesinski: MI/OF – Exciting athlete with exceptional speed. Very versatile defensively. Gives a tough AB and can cause chaos with her bunting ability.
• Anna Strange: MI/OF – Electric athlete. Quick bat with pop. Strong bunter, good speed. Powerful arm and extremely quick feet and hands, capable of making the acrobatic play. Versatile defensively.
• Avery Watson: MI/OF – Another electric athlete. Outstanding softball IQ; can play just about anywhere on the field. Ballhawk in the OF with a strong arm. Good pop at the plate and a burner on the bases.
• Olivia Borgmann: OF – Lefty slapper with outstanding speed. Wreaks havoc on defenses with her ability to read the field and play the short or power game. Strong defensive OF with a very good arm.
• Kayla Swinford: OF – Sparkplug athlete. Strong defensive OF capable of playing all three OF spots. Good speed on the bases and a line drive bat that can also put down a bunt.

What are your short-term goals for your team?

“To continue to develop this group and challenge them with strong competition along with instilling a work ethic that can help maximize results – all the while making this a fun and positive experience.”

What are your long-term goals for your team?

“Educating the girls on what it will take to succeed not only in this game, but in their futures as well. Additionally, we aim to help them take the necessary steps to showcase their skills in tournaments, camps and communications with schools that are of interest to each respective athlete.”

By: Madison Feldhahn

Olathe West is the reigning 6A State Champion, and the team is poised to defend that title. Top Gun Events caught up with head coach Cynthia Adams to get some insight on her Owls program.

The Owls had a dominant season from start to finish, going 24-1. They defeated Olathe North and Derby on their way to the title. The title game against Washburn Rural lasted just five innings, and the Owls scored 10 runs, including two home runs from senior third baseman Madison Walker.

Turning to this season, Adams knows the Owls are following in big footsteps. The program is looking to defend its title while having lost six seniors who played key roles on the team.

“Those six seniors did a great job preparing this team to be able to compete and know what it’s like to grind day in and day out for the high school season,” said Adams. “I think that we have big shoes to fill, but I think that they’re going to be ready to compete and be able to fill those shoes.”

Adams is excited for returning players to step into the upperclassmen roles and embrace the team’s mentality. Junior pitcher Brevyn Kellepouris is one of those players. The University of Central Arkansas commit allowed just two hits in the final 12 innings of the Owls’ title run. Adams also highlighted junior Maliyah Warren as a key piece. Warren, committed to the University of Central Florida, plays shortstop for the Owls. Adams has just one senior on her team this year and is excited for her to lead the younger girls in buying into the program.

The young Owls program is focused on the day-to-day grind and finding their stride as a team. With the high school season running from the end of March to the end of May, Adams wants her team to focus their efforts on building team chemistry and learning to mesh together.

“Since I started here four years ago, that’s been my number one goal – to drive that we play pitch by pitch, inning by inning. We don’t focus too much on individual stats. We are working as a team. We win as a team. We lose as a team,” Adams said. “We really focus on everybody giving their all every single day. If you do that, good things happen.”

Preparation is going to be key for Olathe West. The program has spent a lot of time scrimmaging and going through live reps during the preseason practices. In addition to these live reps, Adams is hoping to purchase a Hack Attack pitching machine for the program. The Owls raised $9,000 in a fundraiser this off-season.

The Owls are headed to Wichita to face the 5A State Champions Valley Center and the 5A State runners-up Eisenhower High School. The trip is going to provide the team with plenty of team bonding experience and put them to the test on the field.

“I’m excited because [Valley Center] is our first game, and it will just be a really high expectation from the start. I think the girls will have fun regardless, win or lose,” Adams said of the trip. “They get to travel, stay overnight, and have a little team bonding. The stuff they definitely need. It’s before conference starts so it’ll be a nice win-win.”

Olathe West opened in 2017, and this is just the sixth year of existence for the Owls’ softball program. The team has been able to accomplish a lot in such a short period The Owls have a great community, and Adams credits the support from parents and coaches for their rapid rise to glory.

“It just proves more to the point of how hard the girls work and how much they want it,” said Adams. “The girls are great. We’re surrounded by a great support system. They all buy into this program. I think they have so much potential, and they can definitely make a run at it again this year.”

Olathe West travels to Wichita to face Valley Center on Friday, March 22. The Owls will start conference play against Olathe East on March 26.

By: Jeff Strange

It’s not often that you run across a highly successful team that has maintained a core group of athletes that have been together since a very young age, but that recipe has proven prevalent and productive for Coach Chad Moran’s Beverly Bandits 16u squad.

With a portion of the Bandits athletes coming into the program at the 8 or 9u level, this group has found their way to the PGF finals at both the 10u and 14u levels (covid kept them out of California at the 12u event). Throughout this Beverly Bandits squad’s time together, they have churned out many big victories, while getting the opportunity to play at some great venues.

For Coach Moran, one recent memory that stands out is last summer’s Show Me the Money event in Gainesville, FL.

“This team was very short-handed due to high school ball and injuries,” said Coach Moran. “All toll, these ladies ended up playing four games on the final day, with the championship game being played at the University of Florida softball complex. This was a great event to kick off our season as it was also the first weekend that college coaches could be out. And quite honestly, it’s always fun for the Midwest teams to play in Florida.”

With the 2024 season approaching, we caught up with Coach Moran to get insight and perspective on his 16u Beverly Bandits squad:

Can you give some background information on your coaching staff and coaching styles?

“Our Coaching Staff consists of Chad Moran, Pat Morris, Lauren Sackett (Junior at Indiana State) and Sarah Stone (Junior at Indiana). Coach Chad and Coach Pat have been in Travel ball for over 35 years combined, with the last 11 coaching together without a daughter on their teams (both daughters played at JMU from 2014 through 2017).

As a staff, our main focus is preparing the girls for college. The athletes with the Bandits can be spread out, so we do not have as much time with team practices as others may. Ultimately, we try not to force our hitting styles, pitching styles, etc. on our players. We choose to focus on the things we think they can do to improve their chances at being successful at the next level. For us, we try to coach the little things as much as possible so that they are one step closer to being college ready.

Coach Sackett and Coach Stone are great at helping the girls through all the ups and downs that come with being a high-level student athlete. Both are very good at uplifting our players when needed but also letting them know when something they are not doing will not work at the next level.”

Does your team face any challenges with schedules?

“Having kids from several states is never easy but all of the Bandit families know what they are getting into when they join our program. Most years, our older teams are attending most of the same established tournaments – Show me the Money in FL, the Top Gun Invite in KC, the So Cal invite in California, the IDT in Colorado, the Easton-Rawlings in Chicago and the PGF nationals in California. Along the way, we put together friendlies that we host in the Crown Point, IN area.”

What are your primary goals and objectives for your team?

“Our goals very seldom change; we want to make sure all our players are doing the right things to prepare themselves for college recruiting and to be playing our best ball at the end of the season. At the Bandits, most years you are judged by how high your team finishes at PGF nationals.”

In your opinion, what traits make your organization unique?

“I think the Beverly Bandits are unique because the athletes bring the out the best in one another. The Bandits – like other top clubs across the country – usually have loaded rosters filled with girls going to all different D1 schools. In a lot of cases, some players have a harder time cracking their Bandit team lineup than they do when they get to college. So the competition amongst each other really pushes players to put in the work and get better in their off time.

Years ago, Bill Conroy had to change the name of our friendlies to the Bandits “not so friendly.” The Bandits are all under one umbrella; we don’t franchise, so although we all have each other’s back and help each other as much as we can, we all want to be the best Bandit team.”

Can you give some analysis/perspective on your team for 2024?

“We have a team this year where we have no excuses; we are lucky enough that I do not feel we have any holes on our team that will keep us from competing at a very high rate. We are led by our pitchers:

• Ava Lorenzatti is one of the top pitchers in the ‘26 class and is drawing interest from top college teams.
• Thea Staten is new to our squad and is a fast-rising pitcher in the ‘26 class who I think will really help our team.
• Gianna Hillegonds (‘25 – Bradley commit) is the ultimate change of pace pitcher.
• Addy Poe (‘25 P/UT coming off a knee injury) is our Swiss Army Knife; she pitches, hits, runs and plays the outfield all at a high level.

The remainder of our roster includes:

• Ava Ratliff (‘25 South Carolina commit) is definitely in the conversation as the best hitter to ever play for the Bandits.
• Infielder Kiley Carr (‘25 Michigan commit) is a top left-handed hitter and plays a very solid 3rd base.
• Addy O’dell (‘25 Louisville commit) plays SS and Catcher and is a top athlete in any sport that she would choose to play.
• Olivia Fischer (‘26) is a power hitting 3B and 1B who we expect big things out of this summer.
• Addy Ware (‘26) is a 2B/OF who has great speed from the left side and is really hitting the ball well for us.
• Sydney Herrmann (‘25 Dartmouth commit) has great size and power and is a great student.
• Addison Fanter (‘25) is a 1B/OF power hitter who really can swing it for us.
• Brooke Stang (‘25 Illinois commit) is a hard hitting lefty.
• Ava Hensley (‘25 Akron commit) is a do it all athlete who can run it and play outfield.
• Hannah Simko (‘25) has been this team’s leadoff hitter and plays her best when the lights are the brightest.
• Paige Bodenheimer (‘26) is a fast outfielder who has great bat control.

What are your short-term goals for your team?

“We will be in Top Gun, Crown Point, IDT in Colorado, Easton Rawlings in Chicago and then PGF nationals. Our goals are to finish up recruiting and compete at nationals.”

What are your long-term goals for your team?

“Our 16u teams merge with the 18u teams every year, so this is the last year this group will be fully together. However, the goal is always to produce in college to help younger Bandits down the road.”

By: Jeff Strange

Coming off an injury riddled 2023 campaign, the Millard Fury Gold ’07 squad was saddled with adversity throughout the course of the season. Some tournaments proved difficult to compete in as the roster was sometimes depleted with athletes fighting through various injuries.

However, the response to the challenges faced by the core group of the Fury Gold ’07 squad in 2023 resulted in a tighter knit nucleus with a stronger mentality as they closed out the season. Incoming coach, Brad Westley, and his staff have been involved with this group for the past 2-3 years and have a positive outlook for this squad.

Case in point: the close of the 2023 season. This was a turning point, according to coach Westley.

“We knew we had a special core of athletes when they played in their last showcase tournament in Beatrice, NE,” said Westley. “In this tournament, the girls played for the team and for each other. You could see that they were having fun during the course of that weekend. The team ended up taking second in this tournament, running out of gas in the championship game. While they weren’t happy with the outcome, you could sense that they had proven to themselves that they belonged.”

The success of this event led many of the athletes of the Millard Fury Gold ‘07 squad to churn out successful high school campaigns in the Fall. The anticipation of the team uniting for the fall was full of excitement for Westley and his staff.

“After high school season concluded in the fall, we were lucky enough to get one of our tournaments in,” said Westley. “We were only able to get one practice in, but the girls played beyond our expectations. Unfortunately, we lost our first bracket game to the team that ultimately went on to win the whole thing by a score of 1-0. Not bad playing a team that had played together all Fall, and us coming in after one practice and trying to fit the new pieces in.  Ever since that weekend, we’ve been anxious to get back out between those two white lines.”

As we move into 2024, we caught up with coach Westley to get insight into his outlook for the Millard Fury Gold ’07:

Can you give some background information on your coaching staff and coaching styles? 

“2024’s coaching staff is new to this team but has been involved with the returning core group of girls for the past 2-3 years. Coach Brad Westley has been involved in softball at Millard United Sports for the past 10 years. April Epley brings a wealth of experience not only in coaching but playing at a high level from travel ball to college. Chad Mattox has been a mainstay in the York softball community as an Assistant Coach for York High School as well as their youth programs.  Katie Wageman as a graduating senior is able to bring a player perspective and is able to easily relate to the players on the team.

Our team and coaching philosophy is “I’m with you…” We want the athletes to know that each and every coach and player is there to support them and their goals both on and off the field. We want to build that “family” feel with the team. Knowing that your team and coaches believe in you as a person and player boosts their confidence and allows them to grow in ways they may have never otherwise known. We focus on developing players through fundamentals and mental training to make them well rounded athletes. Each player trains at multiple positions to ensure they’re prepared for whatever situation may arise to call upon their skill set.

Most importantly, the team knows how to have fun, but also is down to business once they cross that white line. After all, this is a game!

Does your team face any challenges with schedules (drawing athletes from multiple states, perhaps)? If yes, how do you manage that?

“The majority of our team is from the Omaha metro area, but we do draw from across the state of Nebraska. We’re able to manage Winter schedules by practicing on weekends. The difficult time is in Spring, especially early in the season with having multi-sport athletes in Spring High School sports; schedules can get tricky to get everyone at practice.

However, the girls know the expectation set by themselves and coaches for working on their own outside of normal practice sessions. This outside work helps us to build accountability and integrity in understanding the work ethic needed to succeed in softball, as well as life.

There are times that due to family engagements or injury that we may have to pull from other teams in our organization or other friends to help in a pinch. This wonderful game of softball has provided all of us with the opportunity to make friends outside of our normal circles.

What are your primary goals and objectives for your team?

“Our team has two main goals or themes as well as some other more specific goals around fielding and hitting.

Each time our team steps on the field, we want to have fun while competing. The fun usually comes at my expense, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. We want our competition coming out of the game remembering who we are – leaving nothing left on the field and playing deep into the day on Sundays.

Second, many if not all of our athletes have their own individual goal of playing in college. Not only from a softball skills perspective, but through help being prepared for and navigating the recruiting process has become fun and rewarding. Seeing these young ladies get an opportunity to live out their dreams is rewarding. Each athlete is there for each of their teammates to help drive and push them to be their best versions on and off the field.

From a defensive perspective, we want to have a fielding % of over 0.900. We’re also targeting at least two what we call ESPN Top 10 Plays, where our athletes do their thing. We believe our team defense is one of our strengths.

Offensively, we’re striving to “create chaos,” as I saw one Power 5 program state it. We want to have a “Quality at Bat %” around 0.500. We want to battle each time at the plate and ultimately put the ball in play. We also have a new point system for offensive plays that we’re beginning to track. As we determine our baseline in the early season, we’ll further challenge ourselves to generate more “points” per inning. It’ll be a fun way to track if we’re battling or not.”

In your opinion, what traits make your organization unique?

“Our parent organization – Millard United Sports – is the largest youth sports entity in Eastern Nebraska, outside of the YMCA. We offer recreational and select programs in softball, baseball, football, and cheerleading.

One advantage of having both a recreational and select program is the ability to work with players and coaches at a very young age, even before select softball begins. We’re able to leverage our select program’s knowledge and bring that to the recreational clinics. Our athletes at a very young age are taught proper fundamentals, which allows them to transition seamlessly from our recreational program to our select program if that is a goal.

Our program is built to find the right fit for any athlete – be that playing recreational ball and just having a blast in the Summer with your friends, to being a road warrior traveling all over Midwest and country with your teammates, we’re able to make that dream come true for all athletes.

The Millard Fury Gold program is built to compete at a local and regional level. Building the culture of each of the teams older or younger while helping each other become better. Our team particularly is playing throughout the Midwest this year.”

Can you give some analysis/perspective on your team for 2024?

“The team for ’24 is built around a core group of girls from the ’23 season with some great pieces added in the offseason. We’re an athletic group, that can take away what would normally be a hit defensively. As stated earlier, at the plate our plan is to “create chaos.” We don’t have an abundance of power, but we boast speed, and a group that lives on doubles in the gap. The ability to use our speed to get on base, then hit that gap will produce runs in any situation.

Our pitching staff is anchored by returner Lauryn Mattox. She is joined in the circle by Ava Fessler, who is returning after an injury. Rounding out our primary staff is Karli Farritor, who is jumping back into pitching. We’ll also be joined by a couple of pitchers who play with us from time to time as their schedules allow.

Our catching staff is comprised of Alexa Epley and Kaycie Dai getting the majority of the innings behind the plate, with Mady Wall filling in when needed.

Our corner positions are anchored by Emma Renner, Karleigh Rowley, Kaycie Dai, Lauryn Mattox, and Alexa Epley.

Our middle infield is an athletic speedy bunch with Madi Eich, Brooke Westley, Ava Fessler, and Mady Wall.

Just like our middle infield, our outfield is full of speed as well. Our outfielders are Hannah Wageman, Kameryn Lawson, Karli Farritor, Brooke Westley, Emma Renner, Mady Wall, and Madi Eich.”

What are your short-term goals for your team?

“Our short-term goals are for the girls to gel on the field and off as we have quite a few new pieces. If our Fall and practices are any indication, this won’t be a problem.

This year’s schedule will challenge the girls in ways they haven’t been before. Our group is poised to take the next step, and we’ll do just that increasing the competition at the tournaments we’ve chosen to participate in.”

What are your long-term goals for your team?

“Long-term the goal is get every athlete on our team that wants to play at the next level in college, to achieve that opportunity.

The schedule beyond ’24 will continue to be challenging in order to get our athletes either noticed or continue to prepare them to be contributing members of their high school and college teams.”

By: Jeff Strange

Coming off a highly successful 2023 campaign that featured an overall record of 63-20, the Originals 26/27 put together an impressive list of accomplishments to punctuate their season. Highlights included:

• A 1^st place championship showing at the Top Gun Heritage Championship in Bixby, OK
• A 7-0 showing to capture the title at the Top Gun Ranger in KC
• Tied for 5^th out of 58 teams at the World Fastpitch Championships, going 7-3 overall

The success of those performances provided many proud moments for this Originals squad. However, assistant coach Sara Hollister believes that it was this groups’ showing at the Top Gun Invitational that provided the key point of their successful season.

“The highlight of our 2023 season took place at the Top Gun Invitational at Blue Valley in KC. We were tied for 1^st in the Maverick Division. We went 5-1 that weekend facing insane talent from across the US. We picked up big wins over the MI Firecrackers-Renne 3-2, SO Cal Athletics Marinakis 14u National 11-2 and the TX Athletics Mercado-Bonola 4-2.”

Top Gun Events Media caught up with assistant coach Hollister to get her feedback on several key elements for the Originals 26/27 squad’s 2024 season and beyond:

Can you give some background information on your coaching staff and coaching styles?

“Head Coach Jason Moss has 30 plus years of competitive coaching experience. He favors a strategic and motivational coaching style.

Assistant Coach Tony Austin has 20 plus years of collegiate and competitive coaching experience. He is very strategic in game planning and coaching each player to their strengths.

Assistant Coach Matt Johnson has 23 years of collegiate and competitive coaching experience. He brings a transformational and developmental coaching style.

Myself – Assistant Coach Sara Hollister has 20 plus years of competitive coaching experience. I primarily focus on player IQ and the mental side of the game.”

Does your team face any challenges with schedules? If yes, how do you manage that?

“The challenges we face as a team mostly pertains to our roster coming from about a 4-hour radius for practices. The girls and their families are dedicated in making sure they get to all the workouts they can. There are many zoom meetings to cover other things outside of the physical practice portion of our workouts.”

What are your primary goals and objectives for your team?

“Our primary goals and objectives are to keep the girls hungry and motivated. This allows them to strive to continue competing with themselves and each other to prepare them for play at the next level.”

In your opinion, what traits make your organization unique?

“We are family oriented. Earl Turnure founded the Originals organization in 1983. We are old school in our approach of developing players and Stacey Moore, who is the head of our organization, preaches that the Originals stand on the principle that there are more options for college than the D-1 or bust mentality.”

Can you give some analysis/perspective on your team for 2024?

“We are entering our “down” year as a first year 16 u team with three 2027’s. We are playing an elite schedule, so we will have our hands full every weekend, which is exactly what the girls need to continue to grow. We are traveling more than half of our schedule, which is taxing on our players and their parents. We have added 3 girls to our 2024 roster from the Select Organization who have a season of 16s under their belt; they will provide excellent guidance to our team.

• Kennedi Casey/OF (’26 Kearney High School)
  • Defense: Plus first step and angles to the ball. Average arm that has shown improvements in arm strength. CF footwork/corner OF arm.
  • Offense: Gap hitter with flashes of power to all fields from the left side. Keeps hands inside the ball well and above average strike zone awareness. Handles the bat well in hitting situations.
• Jesenia Solis/UT (’26 Lees Summit High School)
  • Defense: corner defender with quick first step. Quick hand and release. Average to above average arm strength.
  • Offense: left handed hitter with good bat control and strike zone awareness. Keeps hands inside ball well and good barrel control.
• Jazmyn Brown/P/OF (’26 Holden High School)
  • Defense: Plus speed in the OF that can develop into a strong CF. Above average arm.
  • Offense: Slap hitter with plus bat control. Strong bunter with plus speed on the bases.
  • Pitcher: Above average velocity with command of four pitches that can be thrown in any count. Developing stamina for later innings. Athletic on the mound.
• Jacie Gentry/OF (’27 Lathrop High School)
  • Defense: CF with polished angles to the ball and range. Plus arm with quick release and carry.
  • Offense: Power bat with a big swing. Pull side swing that is developing opposite field power. Improving strike zone awareness.
• Kyndall Hay/C/OF (’27 Blue Springs South High School)
  • Defense: Developing catcher with strong arm. Needing improvement on glove handling but showing growth.
  • Offense: Pull-side power hitter, free swinger. Plus foot speed.
• Brynlee Johnson/C (’26 Park Hill High School)
  • Defense: Plus softball IQ and a field general. Above average arm behind the plate with quick feet and hands. Plus framing and feel behind the plate.
  • Offense: Gap hitter that has developed the ability to drive the ball out of the park. Plus strike zone awareness with high contact and hands inside the ball from the left side.
• Haylee Wait/3B/P (’26 Fort Osage High School)
  • Defense: Quick hands and reaction at 3B with developing quicker release. Average arm velocity.
  • Offense: Contact hitter that puts ball in play to opposite field. Handles the bat well on bunts and situational hitting.
  • Pitching: Strong 3 pitch mix with plus control. Average velo with plus spin rate.
• Lucia Trevino/P/UT (’26 Blue Springs High School)
  • Defense: OF with good range and above average arm.
  • Offense: Plus speed from the left side. Gap power and developing increased contact.
  • Pitching: 3 plus pitches that command the zone well. Ability to control the inside part of the plate. Above average to plus velo.
• Katie Stephenson/UT/P (’26 Belton High School)
  • Defense: Plus arm, great lateral foot speed, can play middle but better suited on corners. Quick release.
  • Offense: Combination of power and contact. Puts ball in play, work power and plus strike zone awareness.
  • Pitching: Average to above average velo. Command of two pitches with 3rd right behind. Competitor in the circle with plus athleticism.
• Riley Hollister/MI (’27 Blue Springs South High School)
  • Defense: Plus softball IQ, ability to play both middle positions. Above average arm, quick hands and release.
  • Offense: Gap hitter that has started to develop power. Handles the bat well and keeps hands inside the ball and on plane from the left side.
• Tayah Garringer/UT (’26 El Dorado Springs High School)
  • Defense: Corner IF and OF with above average arm and quick first step at both positions. Her ability to be versatile allows her to be in the lineup at all times.
  • Offense: Gap power swing that has the ability to hit the ball out of the park. Quick hands that stay inside the ball well and drives the ball to opposite field with power.

What are your short-term goals for your team?

“We preach to the girls that our goal this season is to compete against the best of the best and use those games to keep getting better. Our team goal this season is to qualify for the 2024 Alliance Fastpitch National Championship.”

What are your long-term goals for your team?

“We want to continue developing our girls to prepare them for college. Travel ball is expensive – we want to build them up, get them the exposure they need and help them acquire as much scholarship money as possible…a little thank you to mom and dad!”

By: Jeff Strange

“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins Championships.” It’s a quote that coach Ashley VanBoxmeer of the Louisville Lady Sluggers 16u – VB holds in high regards for her nationally ranked squad.

For VanBoxmeer’s squad, 2023 featured many key highlights, including:

• Runner-up at Top Club Invite – Oklahoma
• 3rd place at Triple Crown Nationals – Dalton, GA
• 17^th in the Colorado Sparkler POWER POOL Division – Colorado
• Top 25 at the Alliance Nationals in the Tier 1 Division – California

Coach VanBoxmeer attributed much of her team’s success in 2023 to their persistent approach to compete at the highest levels.

“One thing about championship teams like this one is that they’re resilient,” said VanBoxmeer. “No matter what is thrown at them, no matter how deep the hole, they find a way to bounce back and overcome adversity. We play the toughest schedule week in and week out from the end of May to the end of July in the biggest events, on the best fields, against the best of competition. As a first year 16u team, this group earned the respect they deserved and are currently nationally ranked as #14 in the country.”

Now looking ahead into 2024, Coach VanBoxmeer and her Louisville Lady Sluggers 16u – VB squad are eyeing another season of challenges and success. Top Gun Events Media caught up with Coach VanBoxmeer to get her feedback on several key elements for her team’s 2024 season:

Can you give some background information on your coaching staff and coaching styles?

“Andy Paalhar is one of the very best coaches in the Kansas City area. He handles all of the outfield and scouting and also assists in the offensive strategy. He is always investing in his knowledge of the game, to not only benefit himself but also the players. Andy gives 110% to each of the girls and is either staying after or coming early to get the girls extra reps. The amount of time and energy he spends on this team is a huge reason why we are so successful.

I have played and competed at the highest level, under the best coaches and trainers in the world. I have been coaching for almost 10 years now and am a full time coach/instructor. I have been there and done that, which is a huge benefit to my players as both a mentor and coach.

To me coaching is taking a player where she can’t take herself. You have to have a sense of confidence about what you are building. You have to get your players, particularly your leaders, to believe in what you are trying to accomplish on and off the field. I view the softball field as a character-building arena. I consider building the character of the person just as important as developing the skills of the player. I teach my players through my words and actions the values of respect, resilience, empathy, teamwork and sportsmanship that will benefit them long after their playing days are over.”

Does your team face any challenges with schedules (drawing athletes from multiple states, perhaps)? If yes, how do you manage that?

“No, we don’t have any challenges with out of state players. Players from all over the country see what we are doing, how we are doing it and want to be a part of it. However, not just anyone can make it on this team. We look for a very specific type of athlete and family. Yes, a certain skill level is required to compete at this level, but mostly we look at the knowledge, work ethic and personality of the athlete. Finding the passion, commitment and love for the game is something you can’t teach and is what matters the most to us.”

What are your primary goals and objectives for your team?

“Our team always has one goal – “Hustle, Compete, WIN.” We focus on our purpose and process, which then leads to the results. Individual success comes from the success of the team. Especially during the recruiting process, which can add a lot of stress, we stay focused on our #1 goal and each player’s responsibility to contribute to that goal. The rest takes care of itself.”

In your opinion, what traits make your organization unique?

“I think the finished product that we put out into the world is what makes us unique. We don’t define our organization’s success by the amount of players we have put into college, or the individual achievements our athletes’ produce. Is this exciting, expected and valuable? Absolutely, but it is not what makes us unique. We produce amazing young women who are not only prepared to compete as freshmen on the softball field and in the classroom, but young ladies who are organized, respectful, smart, disciplined & confident. They are great leaders and teammates who make anyone around them better and will do the same when their playing days are over and as they enter their next chapter of life.”

Can you give some analysis/perspective on your team for 2024?

“We have added some big time talent to our already talented team! We are very well rounded in all areas of our game and we feel like we do not have any areas of weakness. Our goal is still the same – Hustle, Compete, WIN!”

What are your short-term goals for your team?

“To stay consistent on our developmental path and focused on the task at hand, both as a team and as individuals.”

What are your long-term goals for your team?

“To help them achieve greatness, continue to grow and evolve as young ladies, and prepare them for the next level and challenges life brings.”