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 2nd 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 2nd 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 9th in the USSSA Midwest Championship, 1st Place at Under Armour Championship in KC, 1st Place in York in 16U Division, 3rd Place in USSSA Super 48 Invitational in KC, 1st Place in Blair Invite, 2nd Place at Heroes Classic in Hastings, 7th 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: 1st Place in the Jayhawk Slugfest, 2nd Place in the Kansas City Memorial Tournament, 2nd 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: 3rd place finish PG National Qualifier KC, 2nd place HS Division Spring Fling, 8th place Top Gun Spring Invite, 6th place USA SB Invite, 3rd place Top Gun Swing into Spring, 3rd 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. 1st Place at Top Gun NE National Tourney, 2nd Place at Top Gun Thunder/NE Gold Tourney, 2nd Place at USSSA 16) Swing into Spring, 3rd Place at Top Gun Swing into Spring Tourney, 4th 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 1st 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 3rd place overall finish in Overland Park, USSSA Stand UP to Cancer 3rd 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, 2nd 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!
