Good afternoon,

I would like to address the tragic passing of an umpire who collapsed on the field over the weekend in South Carolina. Many of you have reached out upon learning that he had previously worked with a Top Gun organization.

We want to clarify that this incident occurred during an event operated by Top Gun Sports, a separate organization from ours. Nonetheless, this heartbreaking news affects the entire youth sports community.

Each organization has their own set of protocols and procedures to protect officials, athletes, fans, and staff at their events. At our organization, as well as any, the safety of our umpires, players, and staff is always our top priority. We follow strict guidelines aligned with NFHS standards, including the use of Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) and heat index monitoring to make informed decisions about weather and playing conditions. Extreme heat is a serious concern, and we urge everyone to take precautions – stay hydrated, seek shade, and know the signs of heat-related illness.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Huggins family during this incredibly difficult time. We extend our deepest condolences to all who knew and loved him.

 

Sincerely,

Devin Luce

National Umpire Coordinator for Top Gun Events

By: Madison Feldhahn

Top Gun Events travelled to Nebraska this weekend to host the Nebraska Thunder Swing into Spring Powered by Top Gun Events. This three-day event in La Vista, Nebraska featured 54 teams.

In the 12u age group, Nebraska WAVE Gold Kroll 11u finished atop Pool A with a 3-0-0 record. Nebraska Quakes Pearson had the best record in Pool B, going 2-1-0. Nebraska WAVE Gold Kroll 11u started the tournament with an impressive 11-4 victory over Nebraska Thunder Wilcox. Nebraska Quakes Pearson began their pool play with a 9-5 win over Prime Beach 11u.

Most of the games in the 12u age group were close, but there were a couple of dominating victories. Nebraska Gold Naughton beat Nebraska Quakes Borgeson 12-0 and also defeated Nebraska Thunder Wilcox 10-5.

There were four pools in the 14u age group. NE Storm Prime Bachman 13u and Nebraska Gold Gillis won their pool with 3-0-0 records. Nebraska Gold Michaelis won their pool with a 4-0-0 record. Nebraska Quakes Gold Carson and Millard Fury Gold Vance both finished with a 2-0-1 record in their pool.

Nebraska Gold Michaelis defeated Fury Gold Ethen 11-0 and High Plains Diamonds Hallberg 14u 14-0. Nebraska Gold Gillis beat Nebraska Quakes Chonis 13-0 and Millard Fury Gold Sullivan 8-0. Nebraska Quakes Gold Carson beat Nebraska Gold Zach 18-3.

The 16u age group also had four pools. Nebraska National Taylor 16u, Nebraska Gold Groebli, Nebraska Gold Butler/Jarose, Nebraska Gold Waller, and Nebraska Gold deMontel all finished pool play 3-0-0.

There were several dominant victories in the 16u age group. Nebraska Gold deMontel beat Nebraska Thunder Gass 14-0. Nebraska Gold Butler/Jarose beat Primetime Weis 10-0. Stinger O’Hara beat Nebraska Thunder Johnson 12-0. Nebraska Thunder Hansen beat Nebraska Thunder Gass 13-0.

The 18u age group had two pools. Nebraska Gold National Perkins won their pool with a 3-0-0 record. Primetime Select Eadus 16u and Nebraska Gold Swift both finished 2-0-1 in their pool.

The 18u age group had several large victories. Nebraska Gold Swift defeated Nebraska Thunder Fox 11-0 to open the tournament. Nebraska Gold National Perkins beat Nebraska Gold Zach 8-0. Nebraska Quakes Bowen beat Nebraska Gold Closner 10-0.

Bracket play began on Sunday, but was, unfortunately, cut short due to weather issues.

The 12u age group was able to make it all the way through bracket play. Nebraska Quakes Byrd was crowned the champion. The team defeated Nebraska Quakes Borgeson 10-5 and Nebraska WAVE Gold Kroll 11u 3-1 to make it to the finals. The team beat Nebraska Quakes Pearson 8-0 to win the tournament.

The final four teams in the 14u age group were Nebraska Thunder Piatt, Millard Fury Gold Sullivan, Nebraska Gold Gillis, and Nebraska Thunder Bennett. The 16u final four teams were Nebraska National Taylor 16u, Millard Fury Gold Westley, Nebraska Gold deMontel, and Nebraska Gold Butler/Jarose. The 18u age group had three teams remaining – Nebraska National Hoelscher, who made it to the final, Nebraska Gold Perkins, and Nebraska Gold Swift.

Thank you to all of the teams who participated this weekend!

By: Madison Feldhahn

Over the weekend, the Top Gun Ranger took place at Blue Valley Recreation Complex in Overland Park, Kansas. The three-day event featured 30 teams across three age divisions – 12u, 14u and a high school division.

The 12u age group was made up of just one pool. Select Fastpitch Gamet 11u finished pool play 4-0-0. The team started off with a bang, being Team Kansas Brown/Hays 10-2 to open their pool play. Louisville Lady Sluggers Fyrberger. This team scored 27 runs and allowed just 8 runs against during pool play. Their largest margin of victory was in an 11-7 game against Epic Fastpitch – Bond.

There were several other dominant victories in the 12u pool play. Nebraska Quakes Evans defeated KSA Klutch – Robertson 8-1. Nebraska Quakes Evans also defeated Epic Fastpitch – Bond 7-0.

In the 14u age group, there were two pools. RP Storm 2010 came out on top of Pool A, going 3-0-1. Select Fastpitch Reliford 13u finished atop Pool B with a 4-0-0 record. After tying Select Fastpitch Heinrich 12u 8-8 in their Friday evening game, RP Storm 2010 went on to defeat KC Pride Flavell 8-0, KC Rebels Lickel 13-0, and Originals Campbell 7-2. Three teams finished pool play with a 3-1-0 record – Mac N Seitz Ellsworth, Aces Fastpitch 14u Black, and Select Fastpitch Zagozda 13u.

Several teams had dominant victories throughout the weekend, including a 12-0 Synergy Fastpitch 13u win over KC Rebels Regional Olsen 14u. Select Fastpitch Reliford 13u won 13-0 over Nebraska Quakes Dailey and Select Fastpitch Zagozda 13u beat KC Rebels Regional Olsen 14u 15-0.

In the high school division, there was one pool. Both Louisville Lady Sluggers Lovelady and Firecrackers Wildey finished pool play with a 3-0-1 record. Louisville Lady Sluggers Lovelady started pool play with an 11-1 win over KC Phoenix Miller and 12-0 win over Louisville Lady Sluggers Clark 16u. Firecrackers Wildey started their pool play with a 6-5 win over Louisville Lady Sluggers Clark 18u.

There were plenty of impressive wins in the high school division. AC Fury Miller had a dominant 11-2 win over Top Gun Hooper. KC Bombers Adkins defeated Louisville Lady Sluggers Clark 16u 14-1, while Top Gun Hooper topped KC Phoenix Miller 12-2.

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

Select Fastpitch Gamet 11u came out on top of the 12u bracket. The team defeated Sass Fastpitch Hart 5-2 to secure their spot in the final. The team beat Nebraska Quakes Evans 4-2 to win their championship game.

The 14u champion was Select Fastpitch Reliford 13u. Their closest game in bracket play was a 7-3 win over Synergy Fastpitch 13u. The team defeated Mac N Seitz Ellsworth 9-0 to make it to the final. To secure their championship, Select Fastpitch Reliford 13u defeated Aces Fastpitch 14u Black 7-0.

Firecrackers Wildey was the champion of the high school division. The team defeated AC Fury Miller 8-2 in their first bracket game. This was followed up with a close 7-6 victory over Louisville Lady Sluggers. In the championship game, Firecrackers Wildey defeated Louisville Lady Sluggers Lovelady 5-0.

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

By: Madison Feldhahn

Top Gun Events has partnered with Nebraska Thunder to host the Thunder Swing into Spring Powered by Top Gun Events this weekend in La Vista, Nebraska. The event features 54 teams across 12u, 14u, 16u and 18u.

The 12u pool play will begin on Saturday at 8:00 AM. The last game will start at 3:55 PM. The pool play for 14u, 16u, and 18u all begin Friday at 5:45 PM with the last games starting at 8:55 PM. The 14u, 16u, and 18u pool play will resume Saturday at 8:00 AM. The last pool play game for all three age groups is 5:30 PM.

Bracket play begins on Sunday. 12u, 14u, and 16u will begin at 8:00 AM. The 18u bracket play will start at 9:35 AM. The 12u championship game is at 2:20 PM. The championship games for 14u, 16u, and 18u start at 5:45 PM.

The entire schedule can be found here: Thunder Swing into Spring Schedule.

Check out some of the teams joining us below!

12u

Nebraska Quakes Gold Borgeson

Coaching Staff: Rich Borgeson (head coach), Ben Grojean (assistant/hitting), Mark Stroud (assistant/fielding) & Andy Larson (assistant/pitching)

Team Social Media: Nebraska Quakes Gold Borgeson (Facebook)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: Halloween Freight Fest Champs, KS for Cancer Champs

Key Players:  Raelee Tackitt (SS), McKinley Grojean (C), Josilyn Pieper (P/MIF), Teagan Stroud (UTL)

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Looking to build confidence in all our players and compete in every game we play.

Nebraska Thunder Wilcox

Coaching Staff: HC Ryan Wilcox, AC Jared Holub & AC Ashley Wilds

Team Social Media: @NEThunder2011s (X)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: We thought the girls transitioned well into the 12u age group last season in 2023. Turned a slow start into a good summer of development as the girls adjusted and competed well all summer long.

Key Players:  Aliza Holub – has been a workhorse in the circle for us while also being a big contributor at the top of the line up. Lauren Schmidt – has taken over the leadoff spot for us and continues t make hard contact with nearly every swing she takes. Emery Jacobs – very productive hitter that will always put the ball in play, can play multiple positions for us on defense.

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We will always look to compete against the best this area has to over and continue to develop as a team.

Nebraska WAVE Gold Kroll 11u

Coaching Staff: J Kroll (head coach), Jason Meents, Shelly Custor, Zac Venema & Jess Roberts (assistants)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: 2024 Boo Bash Champions gold bracket, 2023 Battle in the Burbs Gold bracket champion

Key Players: Tatum Buckley, Millie Krueger, Bryn Meents

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Lots of travel tourneys out of state (KC, Des Moines, Sioux Falls, OKC)

14u

Millard Fury Gold Rivera ‘09

Coaching Staff: Head coach Rick Rivera, assistant coaches Ann Naidas & Nick Rivera

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: First year 14u team that finished 2^nd in several tournaments including Odd State. Finished in the top bracket at the 13u Nationals. Combined summer/fall record of 41-20-3.

Key Players: We have a well balanced team with hard working players who all contribute offensively and defensively. So far in 2024 our record is 12-5-1 and we have finished 2^nd in both tournaments we entered. Megan Kelly leads in batting avg & slugging percentage. Olivia Rivera leads in hits, runs scored & stolen bases. Violet Hanlon leads in doubles. Adele Thompsett leads RBIs. Yessenia Cuevas has the lowest ERA London Garcia leads in strikeouts & innings pitched. Addie Hruska has given up only 4 walks in 21 innings.

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: The primary objective continues to be player development in a positive environment where we inspire each player to develop a growth mindset and love of the game.

Millard Fury Gold Vance

Coaching Staff: Mark Vance, Ryan Boozikee & Charles Starkovich

Team Social Media Handles: @FuryGoldVance (X)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: Finished the year 56-25. NE Class B USSSA State Champions, USSSA Midwest Nationals Open Silver Bracket National Champions. Finished the year off winning the 14U Boo Bash in Lincoln, NE

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: For 2023-24, we have changed organizations to provide better exposure for our players and enable us as coaches to assist those that want to play college softball. We are playing a very tough schedule at A and Open level and, with the move to the new organization, we are getting opportunities to play against better competition to help our team grow. We have very big goals for the year and it might not show at the end of the year in our record. But we, as coaches, wanted to challenge our girls and we have seen them step up already through winter workouts. We have never had a more cohesive team and such a great group of girls from attitude to effort across the board.

Nebraska Quakes Chonis

Coaching Staff: Don Chonis (Head Coach) & Assistants Karlie Chonis, Casie Volkmar & Bryan Nielsen

Team Social Media Handles: @NEQuakesGold13U (X), nequakesgold_13u (Instagram) & Nebraska Quakes Gold Chonis (Facebook)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: New Team

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: To compete at the Class A/Gold level & get ready for the jump to high school

Nebraska Quakes Gold Carson

Coaching Staff: Jen Carson (Head Coach) & Assistants Lynn Griffis, Susan Stagid & Sarah Gutschow

Team Social Media Handles: @NEQuakesCarson

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: Tied for 9^th in the USSSA Midwest Championship, 1^st Place at Under Armour Championship in KC, 1^st Place in York in 16U Division, 3^rd Place in USSSA Super 48 Invitational in KC, 1^st Place in Blair Invite, 2^nd Place at Heroes Classic in Hastings, 7^th Place at USSSA 16U State

Key Players: Paityn Spencer, Alex Finley, Lexi Skradski, Hope Stadig, Liv Wenz

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We are looking to challenge ourselves each time we step foot on the field. We want to compete with the best teams locally and out of state. Win or lose, we seek to get better each game and practice to develop as a team, as individual players, and as humans.

Nebraska Thunder Bennett

Coaching Staff: Jenny Bennett, Kurt Pohlmann & Jake Bergren

Team Social Media Handles: @NThunderBennett (X)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: 1^st Place in the Jayhawk Slugfest, 2^nd Place in the Kansas City Memorial Tournament, 2^nd in the Nebraska State Tournament

Key Players: Kaylee Huffman, Addalynne Bergren, Allie Bergman, Aurelia Gramd

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We are looking for our girls to compete with confidence, have fun and continue to love the game.

16u

Hastings HEAT

Coaching Staff: Matt Rossow (14 years competitive softball & baseball coach with the Hastings HEAT), Sean Kratzer (11 years youth softball coach), Kayla Koenen (8 years’ experience assistant coach) & Billy Hudson (pitching instructor)

Team Social Media: @08_heat (X), Hastings Heat (Facebook)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: Runner-up 2023 Ringneck, Champions of Heroes Classic, Top 8 finish in 2023 TGE Discovery, competed in several regional tournaments

Key Players: Adrienne Waller (2026 P), Audrey Rossow (2026 P), Paisley Mangers (2026 C), Emily Krazter (2027 IF), Alexa Jacobsen (2026 OF), Emily Drackley (2026 C/OF/3B), Lainey Murphy (2026 SS/2B)

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We have a young team and a lot of new faces in 2024. We are committed to playing a tough schedule, working hard to improve daily, and have fun along the way.

Millard Fury Gold Cannon/Tatreau

Coaching Staff: Sean Cannon (co-head coach, 5 years of coaching experience), Mike Tatreau (co-head coach, 9 years of coaching experience), Bob Cannon (assistant, 15 years of select & 10 years at a collegiate level) & Brian Stuhr (assistant, 6 years of coaching experience)

Team Social Media: @FuryGold15u (X), furygold.15 (IG)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: 7 tournaments played at 16A & HSO with 3 second place finishes & 2 third place finishes

Key Players: Cota Barmore (#13, SS/C), Isabell Stuhr (#38, P/SS), Shea Tatreau (#12, P/OF/2B), Kellyn Underwood (#27, 2B), Taylor Cannon (#23, P/1B), Dylan Chessareck (#44, OF/1B)

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Continue to play in showcase and HSO tournaments, challenging our younger girls to play at top 18A levels and compete at the highest level. Showcase individual talent for coaches at the next level.

Nebraska Gold Bulter/Jarose

Coaching Staff: Nicole Butler (head coach), Katie Heard (assistant coach), Justin Jarose (assistant coach) & Larry Swift (NE Gold recruiting director)

Team Social Media: @negolds15 (X) & ne_gold_15u_national (IG)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: 45-20-4 last summer as a 14u team playing a highly competitive tournament schedule at both the 14U & 16/18U levels

Key Players: Our team is made up of 14 talent young women who all have and will continue to contribute to the success of our team. Everyone has a role to play (which can change game to game or tournament to tournament) to help us build towards being the team we want/need to be to achieve our goals.

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We will be playing in some of the very best tournaments in the Midwest this spring/summer and our goals/expectations are to compete on every pitch, play the game the right way, and represent our team and organization the way others in NE Gold have before us. We understand this is a big summer for our group in terms of exposure and opportunities and are focused on ensuring that we put ourselves in positions to succeed both on and off the field.

Nebraska Gold Waller

Coaching Staff: Kelli Waller (Head Coach), Steve Hinrichs (Assistant Coach) & Chad Villwok (Assistant Coach)

Team Social Media: @NEGold08_Waller (Twitter) & nebraskagold08s_Waller (Instagram)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: 3^rd place finish PG National Qualifier KC, 2^nd place HS Division Spring Fling, 8^th place Top Gun Spring Invite, 6^th place USA SB Invite, 3^rd place Top Gun Swing into Spring, 3^rd place Top Gun Thunder/Gold Invite

Key Players: Lots of great athletes who will be key players this season. Covering multiple positions, we will be challenging our players to get comfortable playing uncomfortable roles.

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: A young 15U team looking to compete against some of the best teams in the HS divisions. All players EW coming off very successful fall HS seasons and are ready to get back on the dirt this spring. We will be playing a very challenging schedule of Top Gun Events, USA Invites, and Triple Crown. This team thrives off competition and being the best teammates, and we are looking forward to this translating to game time.

Nebraska National Taylor 16u

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 Thunder Dillon

Coaching Staff: Head coach Jesse Dillion and assistant coaches Jon Ruyle & Amanda Caradori

Team Social Media: @nethunderdillon (X), ne.thunder.gold.dillon (IG)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: 2023 was a bit of a rollercoaster due to several injuries to many of our key players. However, our team battled through the adversity and was able to still compete at the highest level. Finished 1^st place in both the CIS Gauntlet and the CIS Spooktacular.

Key Players: We have an amazing group of ladies that continue to contribute to our success and continue to grow each and every day both on and off the field.

Raegan Ruyle (OF/RHP), Taylor Schommer (RHP/ULT), Nevaeh Afaisen (OF), Ellery Dillion (1B), Gwyneth Revis (C/3B), Addilyn Foley (C), Avery Green (SS), Hailey Rasmussen (RHP), Hayden Byrne (OF)

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We are extremely excited for what our team is going to show this year. We have an explosive offensive, a solid pitching staff, and a strong defense so we expect to compete at a high level. Our goal for 2024 is that every time we step on the field, our girls continue their growth, both individually and as a team.

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.

Primetime Weis

Coaching Staff: Kaitlyn Weis, Ron Weis, Chris Barton & Dan Gudenrath
Team Social Media: @primetimeweis (X)

Key Players: Audrey Kohl – Pitcher from Missouri Valley. Emerson Anderson – Catcher/3B/Utility from Missouri Valley. Amanda Weis – SS/Catcher/Utility from Gretna East HS. Rylan Anderson – OF from Gretna East HS. Kenadie Barton – OF from Gretna HS. Cindy Xiong – Pitcher/Utility from Millard South HS

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Compete with the best and grow individually and as a team

18u

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

Nebraska National 18u Bahl

​​Coaching Staff: Head Coach Hayden Bahl & Assistant Coaches Emma Walbert & Jordy Bahl
Team Social Media: @NENational18u (X)

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: Champions of the 18u Quakes Classic, Runner-up in the 16u Nebraska Thunder Fundraiser tournament, 16u Perfect Game OKC Challenge. Team record of 33-16-5.

Key Players: We are very excited about what each player on our team is capable of, as we have seen amazing growth from so many of them!

Addison Burdorf (P/2B), Macie Wyman (3B/1B), Maycie Grant (SS/2B), Alivia Courter (C/2B), Lauren Frihauf (CF/LF)

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We are very excited about what we have seen from the team this offseason, and we love how this team has grown on the physical and mental sides of the game. The expectation for our team is that each time we step on the field, we play hard, smart, and together. While we will be one of the youngest teams in each tournament we play, we know that this team will be ready to show up and compete at a high level.

Primetime Select Eadus 16u

Coaching Staff: Mike Leapley
Team Social Media: @primetimenesb

2023 Summer & Fall Successes: Winter Warmup Champions, Eggstravaganza Champions, 2^nd Place USA Memorial Day Weekend KC, Pink Out Champions

Key Players: Hannah Miller, Hadley Hansen, Jaycee Woodard, Mace Cruse, Kennedy Drummond

Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Play at a high level and compete

Good luck to all of the teams competing this weekend!

By: Madison Feldhahn

Forty-one years ago, after making his way to Kansas City, Earl Turnure began teaching his daughter Stacey how to play softball. It started as a fun thing between father and daughter, but Earl quickly realized Stacey and her friends were good at softball. So, he created a team for them. Today, it is one of the most prominent clubs in the Kansas City metro area.

“He said, ‘Well, let’s see how good they can be,’. He took us and created a little competitive team,” said Stacey Moore. “There weren’t many of those around, so we had to play teams that were much older than we were.”

This competitive team of Stacey and her friends became the Originals, the first competitive fastpitch team on the Missouri side of Kansas City. At just 12, the Originals team had to play older girls and travel to Kansas to play in a competitive league.

Earl quickly realized his new team needed a pitcher and began teaching Stacey. The popular pitching style at the time was the slingshot. But Earl, who played fastpitch softball, only knew the windmill pitch. So that’s what he taught Stacey.

“People on, at least, the Missouri side had never seen that [pitching style] before, and so they thought it was illegal,” Moore recalled. “They were yelling at us because we were cheating, and we were awful people because we had this cheating mechanism that we were using in the game.”

Quickly, Earl realized there was one way he could improve the game – teaching people how to pitch.

Every Saturday, Earl set up shop at Fort Osage High School. From 8 am to 6 pm, he gave lessons. Anyone who wanted to learn how to pitch just had to show up. Over the years, there were some girls who excelled at pitching, and also some who learned pitching wasn’t quite for them. The player’s skill level didn’t matter to Earl, as long as they put in their best effort.

Soon, the pitching lessons weren’t enough. About twenty years ago, several people approached Earl wanting to become a part of the Originals organization. Without much fuss, he let them.

“It really was not a big deal to him. We had two teams, and then two teams before four, and four teams became one at every age division,” Moore said. “People were like, ‘Well, I want to be a part of this. We want to be a part of them.’ So, it continued to grow.”

As the Originals expanded, Earl kept his sights focused. He wanted every girl who came through the Originals organization to learn and to be given the coach’s best.

“As long as the girls are learning, as long as the girls are having fun, and as long as you are being good sports about it, and you’re teaching good sportsmanship, that’s what I want,” Moore said of her father. “He said, ‘I don’t care if they go on to play in college. I just want them to get the best from us that we have to offer them.’”

In all his years, Earl never took a cent for the coaching he did. This is something that has carried on to this day. Every coach in the Originals organization has always been – and will always be – a volunteer. Earl did it for the love of the game, and that passion has been passed on through the Originals.

“He liked to see girls be challenged. He thrived on them doing better than they ever thought they could,” said Moore.

Earl was a big believer that there is a place for everyone who loves the game. Whether it was Division 1 or NAIA, there was a right fit for his players. He gave the girls everything he could offer to help them find their perfect fit and didn’t ask for anything in return.

Above all, Earl wanted his players to enjoy themselves.

“His motto was as long as you’re having fun, the game will take care of itself,” Moore said. “In his mind, girls did not perform well when there was a tremendous amount of pressure on them. He just wanted it to be fun and to have a good time and that’s what it was. It was very fun and carefree and, at the same time, very competitive.”

When asked about her father’s proudest accomplishments, Stacey cited the growth of fastpitch softball in Kansas City. The Originals are now one of many clubs – something she says is proof to her father that he did something right. The publicity around Kansas City softball is something he would also take immense pride in.

“But at the same time, this was never about him,” Moore said. “This was always about the girls. So long as the girls are the ones who continue to reap those benefits, I think he would be more than proud to be a part of anything that puts the girls first.”

Stacey fondly reflected on the love her father had for the game and for his athletes. He would remind his girls it was just a game at the end of a tough day. And he was always there excited to celebrate the end of a good one.

“I cannot forget the smile on his face when he saw his girls excelling and just doing well or mastering a pitch that they struggled with. He would just giggle, and that smile is forever imprinted on my heart. It is his legacy. His smile. His little spot at Adair Park where everybody would come and talk to him. That’s his legacy,” Moore said. “Just being there, supporting anybody who wanted to improve their game. That’s his legacy.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Top Gun Events Brings Midwest College Classic Softball Tournament to the Kansas City Metro

Shawnee, Kansas – [March 6, 2024] – Top Gun Events, a renowned name in elite softball events, today
announced that it is hosting the Midwest College Classic Softball Tournament from February 28
to March 2, 2025, at the Mid America Sports Complex in Shawnee, Kansas. The event will be a
showcase of talent and competition for collegiate athletes from around the region and beyond.
The Midwest College Classic is poised to be a standout event in the collegiate softball scene,
featuring teams from NCAA Division 2, NAIA, and Junior College levels. With a guaranteed
five-game schedule, teams will have the opportunity to compete in a series of matchups, with
two games scheduled for Friday, two for Saturday, and one final game on Sunday.
“We are delighted to host the Midwest College Classic, an event that embodies the spirit of
competition and camaraderie in the softball community,” said Jeremy McDowell, owner at Top
Gun Events. “As a company dedicated to supporting elite softball players and female athletes,
we are proud to put on an event that provides a platform for collegiate players to showcase
their skills and passion for a sport they love.”
The tournament is expected to draw more than 40 colleges from 10 or more states across the
Midwest region and beyond, creating a diverse and competitive field of participants.

Inquiries in registering for the event, please contact: paige.crawford@topgunevents.com.
About Top Gun Events
Top Gun Events is based in Kansas City and hosts premier softball tournaments, providing a platform for
athletes to showcase their skills in a competitive and safe environment. They are committed to
promoting sports excellence and development

By: Madison Feldhahn

Even with twenty-seven years of experience coaching softball, Bill Conroy realized his impact on softball players’ lives was limited. So, seven years ago, he created Empowering Girls for Life.

“I thought that doing something, such as Empowering Girls for Life, would end up bringing more than just the athletic aspect of being the best version of yourself to life,” Conroy told Top Gun Events. “It teaches these young ladies to try to find ways to overcome obstacles as opposed to making excuses.”

Empowering Girls for Life offers young women the opportunity to meet, learn from, and talk with high profile women who have broken barriers in their respective fields. These speakers include current coaches, former players, and more. Conroy aims to find successful speakers who inspire the participants to strive for goals both on and off the field.

“Softball is great. It’s a way to help supplement a lot of your financial costs in college. But there’s forty years after the four years that you really have to look at. Ultimately, you want to end up getting your degree and have a career that you’re happy with and can do great things with,” Conroy said.

When asked about how speakers are selected, Conroy stated that he wants someone who is successful in their given field. Previous speakers have included softball coaches like Carol Hutchins, Kate Drohan, and Patty Gasso, as well as athletes like Alycia Baumgardner, Katherine Switzer, and Sydney Supple. The participants have also heard from women who were successful in other careers, such as rocket scientist Olympia LePoint, former Miss America Nina Davuluri, and astrobiologist Alyssa Carson.

In measuring the success of Empowering Girls for Life, Conroy said, “I have noticed I have a number of athletes that are focused on being engineers and doctors and nurses and are wanting a STEM career. We have a greater percentage of that now. I’m hoping that at least some of what we are trying to convey has made some sense to them.”

Conroy hopes the event is meaningful to the participants and makes a difference in their lives. He wants them to understand that they can overcome anything and not use difficult times as an excuse to quit.

“I don’t know if you could end up ever singling out a single event and saying, ‘This changed this person’s life.’ I see that it may change a person’s mindset and their thinking. It may make them more confident that they can overcome any obstacle as opposed to make it an excuse,” said Conroy. “I think that a lot of the stories are focused on that. There have been some road bumps for all these young ladies and women that speak, but you have to find a way to pull yourself through that and become the best version of yourself.”

The 2024 event will take place on August 10^th at The Westin Center in Lombard, Illinois. This year’s participants will hear from Karen Weekly, Nijaree Canady, Ellie Cooper, and Jordy Bahl. Sydney Supple will be returning to the event as an emcee.

For more information about Empowering Girls for Life, please visit empoweringgirlsforlife.com.