By Kyle Koso

The wash of uniform colors and designs at the Ballpark in Erie on Monday spoke to the enthusiasm that took root at a special feature of the Triple Crown Colorado 4th of July event.

Dozens of club fastpitch programs were represented, and about 250 athletes took part, in two sessions of the 14u Elite Camp that were designed and directed by some of the most notable Division-I programs in the nation. In the morning wing, Texas A&M, Oregon and Ole Miss each hosted a field at the complex and dug deep into their toolbox to share ideas and provide training and insight that the athletes were clearly grateful to absorb.

The sight of titantic softball coaching figures such as Jo Evans of Texas A&M, Mike Smith of Ole Miss and Mike White of Oregon, definitely kept attention levels high for the four-hour workouts.

"I just love the game, and I learned so much from the coaches. I so want to go to Oregon for softball, and to learn even more," said Jerika Fitting of the Utah Cruisers, who cut an impressive figure on the field with her speed and strong batting stroke. "I thought it was awesome - I love meeting the coaches and getting to know them more. I liked how everyone was cheering on everyone else (through the drills), and that's what we needed to do."

"I wanted to learn something new. I really love A&M, and it was to come out here and work with the staff. I learned a ton today," said Madison Applebe, a pitcher for the HotShots Nelson out of Texas who already profiles to be an impact arm, and bat, at the next level. "I watched the whole World Series and seen other games, too. I wanted to show them what I've got, and I am also working hard on some hitting aspects of the game, because that's a focus of mine as well."

Each workout had distinctive moments of conversation, where a member of the coaching staff would take a player aside and discuss a bit of technique or approach; infielders were asked to test their range on hard-hit grounders, and outfielders learned more about the right path to take on challenging fly balls.

The day provided a 10-to-1 ratio of players to coaches, much more intimate than the average 14-year-old would likely expect in the company of such accomplished college programs.

"I appreciate the opportunity to come and work with my staff; to have the Texas A&M brand here ... I'm always thrilled to be on the field if it's with players who want to get better and have enthusiasm for what they do," Evans said. "You can see the ones who have been well-coached and have that skill set you look for. I'm trying to encourage them to play hard; we should be able to hear and feel their passion. It's important they need to bring every day.

"I don't expect them to be perfect. These kids may see room for improvement, and it's great to see them out here. You work on the fundamentals; we want to give them some information and knowledge and wisdom, then turn them loose so they can show how they really play."

After the drills, the coaches were happily posing for dozens of pictures with the campers, further anchoring the moment and the memories from the 14u Elite Camp.

"It's important for us to do this. We can come to them," Smith said. "The kids get a feel for us as a staff, get to know the kind of people we are and what we expect. We are human beings, and sometimes they see us on TV and see us differently. Our job is to make this game better for the next generation. It's about skill set and to teach it the right way.
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"They have individual coaches, so they are so much better than (14u) players were years ago. With the new recruiting rules, it's going to take pressure off. They will be able to concentrate more on the physical skills of the game, and not just showcasing. That has been a stress for the players and parents, and now they can have fun and learn it the right way. When they are ready for recruiting, they will be battle-tested."

It’s our favorite time of the fastpitch season here at TC headquarters in Fort Collins, CO. We are just days away from 900-plus teams and 16,000 players invading Colorado for the 49th annual Fireworks and the 16th annual Triple Crown Sparkler and Sparkler Juniors tournaments. Our Colorado 4th of July premier events offer a platform for the best athletes around the country to go head to head with other elite clubs and showcase their skills in the presence of more than 600 college coaches.

Before the competition begins, there are numerous opportunities for players to display their talents in front of college coaches, starting with the highly anticipated TC College Camp Sunday on June 24th. This year’s slate features 15 separate camps, including 38 different schools from top-level Division I programs through multiple Division III institutions. A day later, event directors have provided a separate workout tailored to unsigned seniors and players interested in the Junior College level. For the younger athletes, the 14u Elite Camp will take place on Monday, July 25th at The Ballpark at Erie. This sold-out event features eight highly notable Division I universities.

The early part of the week will also include Organization Workouts, On Deck Camp, All-Star Games, All-Academic Games, Unsigned Senior Combine and the National Speed Combine. The goal is for players is to refine skills and develop a deeper understanding of the game, while having the opportunity to work with coaches from a particular school or group of schools.

The All-Star Games are invite-only and feature some of the best athletes in the country. They begin on Monday, June 25th and run through Wednesday at Christopher Sports Complex. The All-Academic games feature girls who meet an incredible standard in the classroom and are equally impressive on the diamond. Schools looking to fill roster spots with those who check both boxes will keep a keen eye on these games. 

What’s 4th of July week without a big celebration? The Sparkler Juniors opening ceremony will take place on Monday in Loveland and Sparkler/Fireworks will each host a Festival Night (the first on June 27th at Christopher Complex in Westminster, the next June 28th at Aurora Sports Park). One can expect a slew of vendors, pin trading, Pro/Olympic player signings, 4 the Heroes Flag Ceremony and the highly anticipated TC Idol Singing Competition where we’ll witness the intriguing entertainment talents of several softball players.

Teams will hit the diamond on Monday for two match-up games that are essentially warm-up games and don’t count toward bracket record. Later, teams will face off in two box bracket games that will seed them into elimination brackets. These four total games will be played throughout Monday-Thursday with one of those days as an "off" day so that travel teams can rest and explore Colorado. Double elimination starts Friday, and teams will battle it out over the weekend determined to reach Championship Sunday.

Throughout the week, Triple Crown Sports and ESPN3 have partnered to broadcast four games during the exciting week of fastpitch. Wednesday, June 27 at Christopher Fields during the Sparkler Festival Night, ESPN3 will bring audiences across the nation a showdown between two powerhouse 18u programs. Directly after, the “Best of the Best” game featuring the tournament All-Americans also receives ESPN3 treatment at 9:30 p.m. ET.

When the Fireworks Festival Night kicks off on Thursday, June 28th at the Aurora Sports Park, both the 14u and 16u Power Pool championship games will go live on ESPN3. The 14u Championship is slated for 7 p.m. ET, while the 16u Championship is set to go at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Below is the official TV schedule of the ESPN3 games:
Power Pool Championship (18u) 
Westminster, CO | June 27 | 6:30 p.m. ET
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Best of the Best All-American Game
Westminster, CO | June 27 | 9:30 p.m. ET

Futures Championship (14u)
Aurora, CO | June 28 | 7:00 p.m. ET

Power Pool Championship (16u)
Aurora, CO | June 28 | 9:30 p.m. ET

The countdown is on and the TCS fastpitch staff cannot wait to see you all in Colorado for the most spectacular week of the summer!