By: Madison Feldhahn
Top Gun Events is hosting the Top Gun Ranger this weekend at Blue Valley Recreation Complex in Overland Park, KS. The event, which is in its second year of existence, is designed for up-and-coming teams who are looking to get introduced to Top Gun Events and high level tournaments. We have 30 teams joining us from Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, and Nebraska.
The 12u age group has one pool and will begin pool play Saturday at 8:00 Am. Games will run until 6:30 PM. The 14u age group has two pools. Their pool play will begin Friday at 6:30 PM. The last game will start at 8:15 PM. It will resume Saturday morning at 8:00 AM and will run until 6:30 PM. The 16u and 18u age groups have been combined into a high school division for this event. There will be Friday pool play games at 6:30 PM and 8:15 PM. On Saturday, pool play will begin again at 8:00 AM and run until 6:30 PM.
Bracket play will begin Sunday. The 12u age group will start at 8:00 AM and the championship game will start at 1:15 PM. The 14u age group will begin at 8:00 AM. Their final game will begin at 3:00 PM. Bracket play for the high school division will begin at 9:45 AM and the championship game will kick off at 3:00 PM.
Gate Fees:
Children (6-12): $5.00
Teens & Adults (13-64): $10.00
Senior (65+): $5.00
Military: $5.00
Take a look at some of the teams playing this weekend below!
14u
KC Rebels Lickel
Coaching Staff: Dan Lickel (head coach), Megan Arnott (assistant coach), Bob Waddel (assistant coach) & Mitch Hughes (assistant coach)
Team Social Media: KC Rebels 14A Lickel (Facebook) & @KCRebelsLickel (X)
2023 Fall & Summer Successes: 1st Place Swing for the Rings
Key Players: All of ‘em.
Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Top Gun Ranger, USA Memorial Day, Top Gun Discovery Showcase, Top Gun Heartland Showcase, PG Recruit Revolution Showcase, USSSA Dust & Diamonds, USA Heartland World Series
MN Moose 13u National
Coaching Staff: Led by former MLB player Dan Johnson of the Tampa Bay Rays. Assisted by Brandon Aman & Andy Wallschlaeger
Team Social Media: mn_moose_national (IG), @MNNational13u (X) & MNMoose-National (Facebook)
2023 Fall & Summer Successes: New roster as of Fall 2023. 2nd at Minnesota Fall State, 1st at Winter Bash Dome Tournament (MN)
Key Players: Excited for the addition of new players signed this fall with the existing core group from summer. Key positions: Pitching staff – Mackenzie Brooks & Reagan Wallschlaeger; catchers – Marin Aman & Kayce Jude; infielders – Ellie Johnson, Avery Crittenden, Brookyln Autrey, Katelyn Peterson & Avery Blais; outfielders – Peyton Haley, Mattie Drugg, Brooke Molitor & Amiya Polzin
Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We have a heavy schedule that includes the PG Ranger, PG Super Series, S&C Showcase, and USSSA National Championships. Expectations are to play and perform at our highest-level whole representing the Minnesota Moose National Program. Have fun, be good people, and continue to love the game.
Originals Campbell
Coaching Staff: Head coach Tory Campbell & assistants Michaela Arnzen & Scott Beard
Team Social Media: @originalskc_campbell (IG & X), originals_campbell (TikTok) & Originals-Campbell (Facebook)
2023 Fall & Summer Successes: We are a brand new team that was established in the fall of 2023. Our successes have simply been actually winning games and learning how trust each other.
Key Players: We are still meshing as a team. All 11 of our girls have been key at some point or another. Our home run hitters have been Leah Morgan, Carly Beard, and Jersey Rogers. Defensively, we rely a lot on Addy Dillon on the mound. Our outfield is super face (Kortney Johnson, Tania Thomas, Jaeda Wilson), third base has a great glove (Jersey Rogers), and our face first baseman (Chloe Ring).
Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We are looking to keep getting better every tournament. Our goal is to be playing some great softball as a team by the end of the summer to lead into our 2nd year in 14u. These girls are amazing individually, so our biggest challenge is learning to trust a brand new group of teammates and coaches to achieve our bigger team goals (not just their individual ones).
Synergy Fastpitch 13u
Coaching Staff: Cam Clurman, Willie Dean, Jeremiah Feurt
2023 Fall & Summer Successes: 2nd place Road to the Beach, 12A National Championships
Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: Compete in 14A during the regular season, compete in the 13A Nationals in Music City, TN
High School Division
KC Bombers Adkins
Coaching Staff: James Adkins, Aaron Kaden, Makena Adkins & Cody Winburn
Team Social Media: Bombers KC Fastpitch (Facebook) & @KCBombersAdkins (X)
2023 Fall & Summer Successes: As a young 15U squad, we saw a lot of development amongst our players and finished with an overall 31-31-4 record against strong competition from across the Midwest.
Key Players: Pitchers Addison Cole & Trinity Krause and hitters Madison Dudok, Joselyn Gartner & Hannah Winburn
Expectations for 2024 Spring Season: We are playing a Top Gun heavy schedule, also with trips to Nebraska and to the Southeast Bombers Invitational in Mississippi with the goal of playing competitive winning softball and providing our players an opportunity to play in front of college coaches from across the country.
Good luck to all of the teams competing this weekend!
