by Kyle Koso

WESTMINSTER, Colo. – For the 60-plus athletes who took the field Tuesday night at the Colorado 4th of July Unsigned Player Workout, there was no shortage of reasons to be optimistic.

First of all, dozens of college coaches were in motion at the Christopher Complex, all interested in assembling an answer for their lineups for this fall or perhaps 2020, hoping to see that solution pop up in the workout with a quality swing of the bat, or an impressive defensive play.

And, ultimately, the players on hand could simply take comfort in their own abilities. There are a million reasons why some players reach a college roster late in the process – injuries, late bloomers, unfortunate slumps – but the tempo and skill level on display Tuesday just proved the point that there is a lot of ability percolating down through youth softball.

“Today was about coming out here, showing my skills to the college coaches – at the moment I’m not currently committed, but I have offers from schools,” said Skylar Sabetta, 17, who plays for the Stealth out of Lancaster, Calif. “I want to play at the highest level possible, and if I can get to Division I, that’s exactly where I want to be. I’m trying to play hard and work my way up.”

Sabetta had a few solid swings during the batting portion, but she really stood out with her confident glovework and strong throwing arm, while also blitzing around the bases during speed drills. Crucially, she didn’t let a big day get too big for her emotions.

“One of the best things I try to do is to control my mind, and not let my mind control me. Positive self-talk … all the time. It helps a lot,” Sabetta said. “I try not to dwell on the negative things that happen. My offense was a little slow today, but defensively I was pretty strong and on my ‘A’ game.”

Authoring some very powerful swings during the three-hour workout was Kallieah Richerson-Cook, 17, who plays for Universal fastpitch out of Martinez, Calif. The left-hander left the yard on a couple at-bats, and also made strong throws from her spot in the outfield.

“I’m looking at going to college, and was hoping to perform well. Thankfully, I put a few out that helped me, and I got some schools looking at me, which is amazing,” Richerson-Cook said. “I’m hoping things work out.

“I was just myself with everyone – vocal, communicative, making friends with the coaches and players, putting myself out there no matter what. It’s the competition. I love watching people compete and going out there myself. It helps me become a better person and a better player.”

Deals will get done at the Colorado 4th of July event; you might even see signatures for scholarship offers happen on the hoods of cars in the parking lot. That’s why coaches work the event so hard, from daytime pool play games to these special workouts that fill up the evening hours.

“A kid earlier today caught my attention; she was on the field next to the one I was at, where I was watching another kid. She told me she was at this, so I wanted to watch some more,” said Trine University (Angola, Ind.) assistant coach Brittney Harvey. “It’s such a market that these kids are part of, and they travel a lot, and sometimes they just don’t get an opportunity to be seen. This offers a great opportunity, with coaches standing around, to get them closer to where they ant to be for their academic future.

“We recruit intentionally, looking for the right pieces to come help us out, and to make an impact. I’m excited, and very happy with what I’ve seen.”

LOVELAND, Colo. – Pitching was the name of the game in a 14U Sparkler Juniors Power Pool M matchup between Illusions Premier Cain 14U (1-0-0) and Indiana Magic Gold 04– Boteler (0-1-1)  on Tuesday afternoon. It was Illusions Premier, behind a dominant effort from starting pitcher Emily Delgado, who left the Magic guessing in a 4-0 shutout victory at Barnes Sports Complex.

“They came out really strong, made every routine play and got the runs on offense when we needed it,” said Illusions Premier coach Caityln Cain of her squad. “It’s a good tone-setter for the week."

Delgado induced an array of flyouts off the bats of Indiana Magic Gold throughout her 5 2/3 innings of work on the hill. In doing so, held the Magic to just three hits in the game and didn’t allow a runner past second base. Delgado also recorded three strikeouts on the day.

“I try to put a lot of spin on the ball,” said Delgado when asked about her results in her opening game. “She mixes speeds really well and that causes a lot people to be out on their front side; making it really easy on us on defense,” said Coach Cain.

All of the offense came in the top of the third inning, when 10-hole hitter Gracie Smith started a string of what would be five consecutive hits for the Illusions Premier that saw four runners cross by innings end. In the inning, Illusions Premier sent nine of their ten batters to the plate. That also marked the end of the day for Magic Gold starter Amanda Eaglin, who went 2 1/3 innings.

“I would have liked to see us put them on more innings that just the one,” said Cain. “But what I really liked about that inning was we executed the bunt, we executed the sac fly, we put it on the right side when we needed to. They worked together as a team to get the runs across the board, so it was a nice team inning.”

Indiana relief pitcher Erin Hoehn did her part to keep her club in it; finishing the game without surrendering another run in 4 2/3 innings work, while tallying five strikeouts in the appearance.
The 4-0 lead was more than enough room for Illusions Premier closer Sidne Peters, who sat down all four of the remaining batters she faced to wrap up the Illusions Premier victory in their tournament opener.

Outfielder Townsen Thomas and Peters both finished the game going 2-for-4 and each adding an RBI.

“Our energy was really good and took a domino effect the rest of the game and it will help us out the rest of the tournament,” said Delgado.
​
Illusions Premier Cain 14U and Indiana Magic Gold 04 – Boteler will both continue pool play on day two of the 2019 Sparkler Juniors event on Wednesday, July 3 at Barnes Sports Complex.

​Pool play has been a sturdy test for the 14u California Breeze – Fernald. Slipping by Lady Lightning Gold, 8-7, and toppling Texas Bombers Futures, 6-5, has the Breeze eying the top power pool bracket with one more game to go. 

“We play this high-level, competitive schedule all Summer,” said head coach Ryan Fernald. “It’s what we want. The response to adversity today was really impressive. 

When we jump out on teams, it’s easy to build confidence but to come from behind like we did takes a lot of character.”

The Bombers struck first in the opening frame, capitalizing on a lead-off walk and an error to score the game’s first run. California countered in the second with an RBI single from Jazlyn Fines. 

With the game knotted at one, the momentum shifted back to Texas in the third inning. Kaylee Blackledge and Kaelyn Zusi each tallied RBI and all of the sudden the Bombers had two-run lead, 5-3. 

Despite Brielle Wright keeping California within arm’s reach in the circle, the Breeze failed to muster any run support as the game drifted into the fifth inning.  

“We knew we had the ability to come back at any moment,” explained Makayla Newsom. “We just needed that one person to make a big play and do their job.”

Mia Santos got the ball rolling with a lead-off single. Newsom, merely trying to bunt Santos over, took advantage of a duo of Bomber errors and scampered all the way around the base pads, tying the game at three.

Tying the game wasn’t good enough for Fernald’s crew, though. Behind Newsom’s inside-the-park home run, Robyn Balmediano and D’Auna Johnson each collected doubles while Layla Towner notched a triple and scurried home on a wild pitch. In total, the Breeze scored five runs, taking control of the contest, 6-3. 

“I think the momentum was swinging back to us in a big way in the middle of that inning,” said Johnson. “I had been struggling up to that point. I just knew I had to stay within myself and keep the big inning going for my team.”

“I challenged them right before that inning,” Fernald said. “I asked them if they were ready to play ball yet. All of them said yes and they came out firing in that inning.”

California’s work wasn’t quite complete just yet. Even though time expired in the top of the sixth inning, the Breeze still needed to secure the final three outs. 

Texas battle back for two more runs, crawling within one, 6-5. With a runner on and nobody out, Fernald turned to Malaya Johnson. 

“I talk about these situations with her all the time,” said Fernald. “She’s a big-time pitcher and she always seems to elevate her game in these big-time moments against teams that could change the game with one swing of the bat.”

If Johnson had any nerves, no one in the stands could tell. The right-hander mowed down the Bombers in 1-2-3 fashion, completing the 6-5 victory. 

The Breeze will face the Ohana Tigers Wednesday morning in its final pool play matchup. A win would secure a place in the top power pool bracket and keep hope alive of playing in Thursday’s championship contest at the Aurora Sports Park and broadcasted on FloSoftball. 

“We just have to come out tomorrow focused and ready to play,” said Newsom. “It starts with warmups and taking every moment seriously. If we can be ready to go early, I have a good feeling about this team.”

By Michael Roley

FORT COLLINS, COLO -- Momentum is hugely important in any sport.

Basketball coaches sometimes call timeouts with the sole purpose of slowing the momentum of the other team.

And fastpitch softball is no exception to that.

“Momentum is huge in our sport,” said Allie Kelly of the Missouri Bombers 14U- Huelsing team.

It was the Bombers squad who found that critical early momentum and never relinquished it while on their way to a convincing 11-4 win over the Arizona Hotshots-McCombs in the early games of the Junior Sparkler tournament on Tuesday.

The team, whose players hail predominantly from the St. Louis area, spotted the Hotshots a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

But after that, the offense kicked in, the momentum train got rolling, and the Bombers didn’t look back. The team from Missouri received hits from nine different players throughout the five-inning contest and used a seven-run first inning to assert themselves.

Kelly drove in the Bombers’ first run of the game on an RBI double to the left. Trista Grobe ripped a single to put the Bombers ahead 2-1 and then the hit parade was on. Elly Eckrich hit a two-run double to center and by the time the inning was up the Bombers were ahead 7-1 and the top two hitters in the order, Natalee Moore and Madison Uptegrove, had registered two at-bats in the inning as the Bombers batted around.

“That’s really major in any game,” Grobe said. “Because it gets you rolling, gets you pumped up, and just gets the energy on your side versus theirs.”

After the explosive first inning, the Hotshots didn’t roll over, though. The team from Arizona fought back with two runs of their own in the second to cut the score to 7-3. But, Kelly regained the momentum for the Bombers with a lead-off solo home run in the third. Eckrich drove in another run on a sharp single to center and the lead was back to six.

The Bombers went scoreless in the third inning but scored two more in the fourth to put the game effectively out of reach. Eckrich drove in another one to bring her RBI total to four on the afternoon. The Bombers showed their ability to play small ball with multiple runners reaching on well-placed bunts and an aggressive approach on the bases during that inning and throughout the game.

Whether it was a home run, hard hit balls into the gap, or a bunt down the third base line, the Bombers’ offensive versatility proved to be a strength.

“We like to think of ourselves as a little scrappy,” Grobe said. “Somebody will hit a home run, then the next one will bunt. Then we get base hits, grounders, whatever we can get to get on base.”

“It’s nice to have a lot of tools for sure,” Kelly added.

Kelly and Kora King pitched five combined innings and despite some sporadic traffic, they were able to prevent the Hotshots from any sort of big inning that would tilt the momentum away from them.

The win put the Bombers at 2-0 on the day. They beat Illusions Gold 05 - Trojan in a close 5-4 game earlier in the morning.
​
“It’s been good,” Grobe said of their first few days in Colorado. “The first two games as a W feels pretty good.”

LOVELAND, Colo. – Although it was just their second games of the 2019 Sparkler Juniors tournament, both Salinas Storm 14U Plascencia (0-1-1) and Utah Fastpitch Club Korth (1-0-1) battled back and forth as if their tournament lives were on the line. After five lead changes and a combined ten hits for extra bases, the contest finished in an 8-8 draw after seven innings in the 14U Supplemental Power Pool bout at Barnes Sports Complex.
 
“From a pitching standpoint we need to know to keep the ball down in these situations”, said Salinas head coach George Plascencia of playing at Colorado’s altitude. “It does come into play but we know it goes both ways, and don’t use that as an excuse.”
 
Coming off a 12-3 opening morning loss in pool play, the Storm jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Marissa Martinez delivered a two-out RBI single in the first. Utah quickly answered in the bottom half of the inning when starting pitcher Kiaira Smith hit a lead-off solo shot to center to tie the game. Club Korth tacked on another run in the second inning after Kenna Cowley’s RBI single drove in Cassidy Hauptman making it 2-1.
 
Salinas wasted no time regaining the lead in the top of the third inning, highlighted by right fielder Iris Bejarano’s RBI double to right center followed by a clutch two-out RBI single off the bat of first baseman Shanelle Cavazos putting the Storm back on top 4-2. Yet again, Utah knotted things up at 4-4, taking advantage of a throwing error that scored two from catcher Arissa Ramos that went down the left field line in an attempt to catch a runner stealing third base.
 
It was then Utah’s turn to get crafty in the fourth, when Hauptman laid down a squeeze bunt to plate shortstop Julie Mayfield, who had tripled in her at-bat prior to regain the lead at 5-4. That would mark the end of the day for Salinas starter Celeste Meza, who went four innings allowing eight hits, and was replaced by Miki Hayashi.
 
The Utah lead did not last long, as the Storm responded with their largest output in an inning of four runs in the top of the fifth. It was again Cavazos’ two-out clutch hitting that put Salinas up 8-5 with a two-run frozen rope over the left field wall, capping off a 2-for-4 day at the plate with three RBIs.
 
“I have the same approach every at-bat and don’t like to change anything really; I just know that I got to do what is right for the team,” she said of her pivotal two-out hitting. “We still have some things to work on but we will come out stronger tomorrow.”
 
After chipping away at the lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth, Utah found themselves down to their final two outs in the seventh when a pair of errors at second base allowed the tying two runs to come across to even things up at 8-8 as the time limit of the game expired.
 
“We need to come in with the right mindset; I think when we come in with the right mindset, the mental game takes over the physical game,” said Plascencia. “We made a lot of errors today we don’t normally make but that comes back to our approach.”
 
Salinas Storm 14U Plascencia and Utah Fastpitch Club Korth will both look to wrap up pool play on Wednesday at Barnes Sports Complex.

By Thomas Hoffman

ERIE, Colo. -- Josh Fisher and the Tennessee Mojo came ready to play in Colorado this week. Opening its Sparkler Junior Power Pool campaign with an impressive 6-0 win over OC Firecrackers, the Mojo continued its stellar play, moving past Glory Atkins Gold, 18-4. 

“Everyone came to play today,” said head coach Josh Fisher “From the first person in the lineup to the last, everyone was ready to play.

We have players representing eight different states on this team. It makes it kind of hard to practice. Our pitching and defense were fantastic to start today. It just took a little bit to wake up the sticks.”

In the top of the first inning against Glory Atkins, leadoff hitter Jaydyn Goodwin picked up right where the team left off against the Firecrackers. Securing a single and a stolen base, Goodwin quickly put herself in scoring position as Keagan Rothrock came to the plate. Rothrock’s double scored Goodwin and ignited a four-run first inning for Mojo. 

“Every time I step to the plate, I know no matter what I do that my teammates have my back,” explained Goodwin. “My coaches and teammates have a lot of confidence in me and it translated to what I was able to do at the plate.”

Goodwin finished the afternoon 5-5 with a double, three runs scored and two RBI. 

Starting pitcher Emma Langston had the pressure taken off her shoulders as Tennessee piled up its early lead but the right-hander made certain a Glory Atkins comeback would be near impossible. Through four innings, Langston allowed just two runs and tallied three strikeouts. 

“I couldn’t be more happy with how we pitched today,” Fisher said. “No matter what the score is, I wanted the girls to treat each inning like it was 0-0. Both pitchers did a great job of staying in the game and not losing focus.”

With Langston spinning it in the circle, Mojo went back to work on the offensive end in the second inning. Two home runs from Mia Williams and Taylor Pannell highlighted another large frame for Tennessee, scoring six more runs and extending its advantage, 10-0. 

“She threw my kind of pitch, a little inside,” said Pannell. “I always do better with inside pitches so I tried to put a good swing on it.”

Mojo added another run in the third inning and waited until the fifth to explode for seven more. All 10 batters that Tennessee sent to the plate recorded at least one hit on Tuesday afternoon. 

“Everyone on this team is really confident right now,” Pannell said. “Even if one of us had a bad day, we all have each other’s back or if we make a mistake, we all know we’ll pick each other up. It’s just a really positive environment to play in.”

Leading 18-2 in the fifth inning, coach Fisher turned the keys over to Taylor Hess to close out the contest. Despite surrendering two runs, Hess forced Atkins into a game-ending double play and more importantly, placing Mojo atop Power Pool B. 

“We have a lot of goals this week but first and foremost is to make the TV bracket,” Fisher said. “We’re one more win from accomplishing that.”

Tennessee will have to wait until Wednesday afternoon for its final pool play matchup against Aces Express Futures. A win vaults Mojo into the top 14u Power Pool bracket with all eyes on the championship game, broadcasted by FloSoftball and set for Thursday night at the Aurora Sports Park.

By Kyle Koso

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- One inning into their afternoon game Tuesday, the 12u Texas Premier 06 (Temple, TX) squad cracked the door open slightly on offense, which didn't quite get the job done.

So a little later, they just decided to bust off the hinges and leave no doubt.

Texas Premier scored eight runs in the top of the third inning against Nemesis Elite-Slater after giving back all of a 3-0 lead, propelling the team to a 12-4 run-rule win to give it two victories at the start of 12u pool play at the Colorado Sparkler Juniors event. Starting pitcher Madyson Updyke reined in Nemesis (Downey, CA) after the first inning, and Zee Edmunds pitched a 1-2-3 fourth to cap the win.

"You just have to believe in your team and don't think about it too much. Just pitch and throw the ball, and let the defense get to work," said Edmunds, who put Premier up 4-3 with a perfect bunt in the third and opened the floodgates. "It always feels good to start the rally. At the end, I just wanted to throw strikes and remember my mechanics."

"It was kind of upsetting (to lose the lead), but the team will pick you up and have your back," Updyke said. "If the other team hits it, that's OK, that's what you have the defense for. All the runs gave me confidence; I was able to throw more strikes and know we had some runs to spare."

Jerica Henry and Aubrey Cortez punched in with RBI singles, and Kaidence Quinn pushed one across on a fielder's choice. Premier put the ball in play enough to push a few runs across on errors, with the final RBI of the frame coming off a single by Iliana Buitron.

Edmunds is typically a starter for Premier, but the staff wanted her to get a few throws in before the tournament heats up; she did a nice job spearing a line drive to the circle for the second out of the fourth inning.

Premier head coach Jason Yepma mirrored his team by not being too bothered about losing the early lead, what with all the capable bats and aggressive baserunning just waiting to get unleashed.

"Our bats are going to come alive, and we'll score runs. I trust the defense; we may give up a run here or there, but the bats will come through for us," said Yepma, whose team beat TX Cyclones Elite, 14-4, earlier Tuesday. "We're a team that, like the first game, we'll hit it out. Second game, we'll put bunts down. We can play power ball and small ball, and we are not a one-dimensional team."

Giana Butler drove in a run for Nemesis, as did Ava Galvan.

​Pool play for the 12u Sparkler Juniors continues Wednesday.

By Kyle Koso

AURORA, Colo. -- With the NCAA stepping in to calm the churn of drama and stress that dominated the recruiting of athletes barely in their teens, it's a different world these days for youth softball.

Now, players have to be upcoming juniors in high school before formal recruiting conversations take place, and that suddenly leaves more time and mental energy to be spent on simply getting better at the sport itself. That creates even more value in 2019 for Triple Crown's 14u Elite College Camp Monday, held on eight fields Monday at the Aurora Sports Park.

The moment, ahead of the Colorado 4th of July tournaments, was anchored by the head coaches and primary staff from high-profile programs such as Arizona State, BYU, Florida State, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas and Texas A&M. And while the environment around players from ages 12-15 has changed, much is the same, as players look for an edge and college coaches look to expand the number of athletes who can deliver on a bright stage.

"It's important for us to help continue the game grow when we have the opportunity. Even for three hours or whatever, we're happy to work with athletes from all over the country," said Oregon head coach Melyssa Lombardi. "Things have been able to slow down; players had to make decisions (about college) before they ever made a high school team. To be able to watch them develop and grow, without so much pressure, will go a long way for them.

"Fundamentally, these players have it -- that's why they are all in Colorado. I want to see the effort, if they compete. I'm here to coach them up; I treat them like I do my athletes at Oregon."

Taking her place in the Oregon session was Katelyn Heuser, 15, from Castro Valley, Calif., and a member of the West Bay Warriors. A pitcher and first baseman already blessed with height and a power arm, Heuser knows there's plenty more work to do if a spot on a top-notch program is a goal.

"I like the coaching staffs; they are very open to new drills and showing you what college softball is like. There's a level of intensity I enjoy, and I've always just loved camps," Heuser said. "Four hours out here just feels like one, because everything is exciting and new. The mental side of softball is very important, and I feel like I'm calm out there, which has really helped me a lot. When I get out there, I feel comfortable and natural.

"The (recruiting change) is good, it takes a lot of pressure off the girls. You can focus on your skills and just playing, rather than worry right now about what college to go to."

Trisha Ford and her Arizona State staff made sure each camper got what they signed up for in a high-tempo workout that even ran a bit long. Just as it was with the Oregon camp, players stood in line to say thanks to the ASU coaches and share that last bit of connection before moving on to the chores of a busy tournament week.

"Ever since I was little, I loved playing the game. New York is far from here, so when I had the chance to come out where all these camps are, I said, why not?," said Anna Cleary, 15, an Albany, NY native who plays for the Shock based in Schenectady. "It's so great; I might never get this opportunity again. I had a teammate here, and that helped, because she helped boost my confidence if I did anything wrong. Everyone here is very welcoming, and even in these (scrimmages), they will cheer you on.

"I'd love to go D-I; if I keep contacting colleges, that will help. But I just want to keep getting better and better and see where that gets me."

Ford was shouting praise at the final few batters in the scrimmage, making sure the athletes knew a trained eye was watching every move.

"It's nice to play the game, enjoy it, and allow them to be 14 years old, without them trying to figure out where they will be in five or six years," Ford said. "This is the best part of our job, to just come out and coach. You want to see how they will perform under pressure; the more they do, the better they'll get at it.

"The main priority is to see if they are playing hard, are vocal and coachable. If I'm suggesting something and they don't want to try it right away ... well, you're not going to get any better."