This is Brentt Eads of Line Drive Softball… 

In our “Throwback Thursday” series, we revisit articles that I’ve done previously, be it 15 years ago or five weeks ago. The purpose is to bring back an article that is significant or important, we believe, for our readership.

Today’s trip to the past is a very recent article–from last month–where we look at the impact of the new Fastpitch United (FPU) organization.

As you’ll read below, the FPU was created with the “sole purpose of uniting fastpitch softball to promote, develop and grow the sport,” according to legendary softball figure Dr. Dot Richardson. 

Fastpitch United is doing something unique: producing events that cover pro, college and travel ball and unite them all together.

Yesterday, we broke the news of the EvoShield All-American Games, which will take place this summer and is an exclusive invite-only event for top high school-aged players in the Class of 2025, 2026 and 2027.

We at Line Drive Softball are excited to be involved with Fastpitch United and fully support its goal to bring the sport together at all levels and will be doing a lot of pre-event, on-site and post-event coverage.

*****

Originally published Jan. 24, 2025 on Line Drive Softball.

Dr. Dot Richardson, one of the all-time greats in softball, has always had a vision of how to tie all levels of softball together. 

And that vision looks to become a reality this year. 

The current head coach of the Liberty Lady Flames, two-time Olympic gold medal winner (Atlanta, 1996 and Sydney, 2000) and three-time UCLA All-American is a key part of a new professional organization called Fastpitch United (FPU) which was created with the “sole purpose of uniting fastpitch softball to promote, develop and grow the sport.” 

The new organization will feature two divisions—Professional and Amateur—that will overlap and cover all ages… from youth up through high school, club and college through pro and international competition. 

“I am extremely excited to be a part of Fastpitch United and serve as the Pro Division Executive Advisor,” Richardson said this week. 

“FPU brings an open invitation to unite all softball governing bodies, organizations, teams, players and fans to grow and support the sport of fastpitch softball at all levels,” she continues.  

The softball legend feels that the new approach will unify the sport, from youth level play up to the pros who continue to compete post college. 

“I hope the invite of the Fastpitch United is embraced by all professional and amateur organizations,” Richardson says, “because we are more powerful together than fragmented.” 

“Under FPU, each organization keeps its independence, yet works together for the promotion, betterment and growth of the sport. If we come together through Fastpitch United, we can develop a long-lasting exponential growth at all levels of the game, including the professional level.” 

The Bradenton, Florida-based company will feature two key areas of emphasis: 

• The Professional Division is comprised of independently owned pro teams and will provide many opportunities to unite professional and amateur teams such as Pro-Am Series tournaments, Camps & Clinics, Meet & Greets, Pro-Am Teaching Academy, and more. Click HERE to see who’s on the Professional Division Advisory Council.
• The Amateur Division consists of collegiate, travel ball and youth leagues as well as amateur softball governing bodies. FPU will provide a “central hub” to promote all softball organizations. Click HERE to meet the members of the Amateur Division Advisory Council. 

“Teamwork makes the dream work,” Dr. Richardson believes. “Every girl should be able to dream of being a professional fastpitch softball player, just like every boy can dream of being a Major League Baseball player.  

Leading the ongoing growth of FPU will also include Ryan Moore, the owner of the Florida Vibe pro team and the American Collegiate League, who will serve as the Executive Director, and Caylan Arnold-Elliott, who will be the company’s Director of Operations. 

Arnold-Elliott, who played softball at Florida State before becoming a TV analyst and member of the Florida Vibe pro squad, will also host a podcast twice a month where she will interview key figures involved with the Fastpitch United program. 

“I’m so excited to be a part of Fastpitch United and I look forward to everything that we’re going to accomplish this year,” she told Line Drive Softball.  

“We’ve been working very hard behind the scenes to make all of this happen! It’s going to be a blast bringing together different players on all levels of softball and providing more opportunities for the professional girls.”  

“I can’t wait to start hosting the podcast and chatting with coaches, players, sponsors, and people from all across the world of softball. I’m very blessed that I get to continue to be a part of softball in my everyday life.” 

A key mission for the Fastpitch United organization will be to connect amateurs and pros, with all financial revenues to be shared with athletes along the way to success. Another benefit: FPU will give college coaches an opportunity to advise athletes who are moving on in softball post-collegiate careers. 

Moore adds that a key goal is to have the amateurs and professionals together on a year-round basis hosting multiple monthly events in all regions around the country.  

“Fastpitch United shares a common goal among many in the professional space, let’s build something sustainable for the test of time.” Moore says.   

“The American Collegiate League which has four regions around the country in 2025, will be a bridge between the collegiate and professional space with college summer leagues one day becoming the ‘minor league’ system of the professional space,” Moore adds 

The Summer is already filled up with events, including key ones in June such as the Top Gun Invitational andFlorida Vibe Pro-Am Tournament & Showcase, in July another Florida Vibe Pro-Am Tournament & Showcase and in August the Fastpitch United Amateur Tournament & Showcase.

“We encourage travel ball organizations and teams to register now for any of the events to reserve your team spot now,” the FPU Executive Director adds.

“If you are a travel team support member, your clinic will be free at any and all Fastpitch United hosted events throughout the year for your entire team.”

More calendar events for 2025 and 2026 are underway for different parts of the country (go to to www.fastpitchunited.com for all event postings, membership information and more). 

Collegiately, top regional leagues in the American Collegiate League—including the Florida Gulf Coast League, the Scenic City Collegiate League, the Golden Bay Collegiate League (Calif.) and the Lone Star State Collegiate League—will be involved. 

Arnold-Elliott is already working on locking down a half dozen more events starting in September and will have a few staff members helping her along with others behind the scenes to line up games and dates where the pro athletes can compete against college stars and other amateur players. 

The hope is to have 3-to-5 games per weekend and also offer meet and greets and clinics led by the pro athletes with the end game being to have revenue sharing and provide more players the chance to play professionally. 

“The pros, to this point, are not staying in the game for the money,” Arnold-Elliott says, “but to see the game grow. There are a lot of players who have to go oversees to places like Japan and Mexico and now we feel softball players have a chance to make a living.” 

“We see the Fastpitch United as a way for teams to do revenue sharing with the pros in multiple weekends all year round. The goal is to give these great players a chance to make a living.”  

This will also include pro athletes working at events such as camps and clinics where they will get paid to share their insights and experiences with up-and-coming youth and collegiate-aged players. 

Those interested in learning more can go to the Fastpitch United website and can continue to follow the league’s growth on Line Drive Softball. 

Dr. Richardson extends an invitation to individuals and teams to become part of the new softball landscape. 

“I encourage everyone to become a partner with Fastpitch United,” she concludes, “to make these dreams a reality and to have a viable, sustainable and impactful professional level in our sport.”