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Club News: Bombers Exposure Weekend Report (Nov. 12, 2024)

By Carlos Arias

November 12, 2024

Club News: Bombers Exposure Weekend Report (Nov. 12, 2024)

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Bombers Exposure Weekend this past weekend in in Houston area, TX, draws many of the top programs in the Southwest. This weekend was no different. Here’s what some of the coaches in attendance had to say:

BOMBERS EXPOSURE WEEKEND REPORT

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Kevin Shelton, program director for Texas Glory:

What was your biggest takeaway from Bombers Exposure Weekend? it was great competition throughout. We appreciate the opportunity to play among and against some of the top teams. (I) thought Dave McCorkle, Kristi Malpass and the whole Prospect Wire team did a great job managing the schedule given the Friday weather. It was dynamic and they did well.

It was some of the best exposure for all our athletes, 18O-14U. Plenty of coaches out.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? Hard part in the data is such a small sample size.  We only played 4 games and batted 17 kids in each game.  But here were the top 18u Texas Glory hitters.

All our young ones did well even if the stats don’t show it. The speedy (2026 OF) Brianna Cesario reached base in half her plate appearances, causing productive havoc as usual. She scored three times and stole a base. (2027 C/IF) Hutton “Lulu” Adrian was solid at the plate. (2027 C/IF) Emily Souders had a big, two-out hit against the Lady Dukes to drive in two runs. Kansas-committed (2026 MIF) Mackenna Jackson and Texas Tech-committed (2026 RHP/OF) Avery Howerton both did well driving the ball to right-center.

Though (2027 OF) Finlee Williams, considered by many colleges coaches as one of the top OF in her class, didn’t have a great offensive weekend, she has been tearing it up this fall and had multiple highlight-reel catches this weekend as she continues to make CF a “no-fly” zone.

In the circle, we pitched each of the three pitchers — Howerton, (Texas-committed 2026 RHP) Madi Doty and (Iowa State-committed 2025 RHP) Olivia Palumbo — one inning in constant rotation starting each game where we left off in the rotation. Entire staff was excellent allowing just four ER in four games against some really solid competition.

Our top 16U Texas Glory athletes on the weekend (were): (2028 OF) Rhymee Rutherford, (2027 MIF) Alani DeLeon, (2027 MIF) Evelynn Swartzlander, (2027 OF) Jordan Young, (2027 C) Daphne Palumbo, (2028 MIF) Vivian McKernan, (2027 MIF) Briley Byrnes, (2027 OF) Julia Harper and (2027 C) Lauren Robinson.

(2027 RHP) Abby Atkinson showed very well again in the circle.

14U Texas Glory Gold’s (top players were): (2028 RHP/IF) Addy Watson, (2029 OF/MIF) Maryn Munoz, (2028 C/IF) Landrie Thomas, (2029 OF/MIF) Berkley Graham and (2029 OF/MIF) Brinkley Wing.

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In 18U:

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EK Smith of Impact Gold-Jackson at the 2024 Bombers Exposure Weekend. Photo provided by KC Jackson.

KC Jackson of Impact Gold-Jackson 18U, whose team went 3-1 in its pool:

What was your biggest takeaway from Bombers Exposure Weekend? Our team played well against some really solid competition. We saw some good pitching, giving our hitters good pitches to look at. Our pitchers did well against some quality hitters. This weekend helped us prepare for Clearwater (this) weekend.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (Oklahoma-committed 2026 RHP/1B) Ella Kate “EK” Smith and (Sam Houston-committed 2025 C/OF) Sophia Lundstrom were out top players this weekend.

(Smith Stats): Hitting — .727 AVG, 8 H, 3 2B, 6 RBIs; Pitching — 2-0, 0.875 ERA, 8 IP, 1 R, 16 Ks.

(Lundstrom Stats): .636 AVG, 7 H, 2 2B, 7 R, 6 SBs.

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? (2026 MIF) Ali Rios (Stats): .750 AVG, 3 H, 2B, 3B.

(2025 P) Caylee Gaytan (Stats): 5 IP, 4 K, 0 R, .182 BAA.

Which team most impressed you and why? All the teams we played were really competitive. It was fun to play against some of the best players.

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Colorado Batbusters National-Smith 18U at the 2024 Bombers Exposure Weekend. Photo provided by Joe Smith.

Joe Smith of Colorado Batbusters National-Smith, whose team webt 4-0-1 in its pool:

What was your biggest takeaway from Bombers Exposure Weekend? Enjoyed a great weekend of competition and seeing our kids play well for a second weekend in a row after finishing HS. Looking forward to a great year with this talented group

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (Uncommitted 2025 SS/CF) Lakyn Wilkinson (hit) .667 with four runs, four RBIs and three SBs. Lakyn is just so versatile defensively and brings a combination of speed and power. She is a 5-tool player. Incredible student with 4.0 GPA and 1,480 on SAT.

(Uncommitted 2026 C) Izzy Eisenmann (hit) .714 AVG with two runs and ywo RBIs.

(UNLV-committed 2025 LHP) Lauren Fettic 2025 (had a) 0.60 ERA, 11 IP, 11 Ks and 0.90 WHIP.

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? Wilkinson (see stats for weekend above).

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? (LSU-committed 2025 C) Braelyn Daniels (of) Texas Bombers (Gold-Smith).

Which team most impressed you and why? Texas Riptide-Campbell. I thought they were very athletic and swung the bats really well.

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Texas Blaze Gold-Damiani 18U at the 2024 Bombers Exposure Weekend. Photo provided by Tom Damiani.

Tom Damiani of Texas Blaze Gold-Damiani 18U, whose team went 4-0 in its pool:

What was your biggest takeaway from Bombers Exposure Weekend? My team went 4-0 (and) outscored opponents, 18-2.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? My pitchers — (SFA-committed 1B/OF/P 2024) Kai Hudson, (George Mason-committed 2025 1B/2B/CF/P/SS) Alyssa Rangel and (Temple College-committed 2025 (P/1B) Izzy Garcia had a combined 0.389 ERA on the weekend.

(Angelo State-committed 2025 C/MIF/UT) Amiya Jasso batted .667 on the weekend!

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? (Uncommitted 2027 OF/SS) Avery Rodriguez batted .833. She definitely deserves a spotlight for up-and-comers to look at.

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Impact Gold National NTX 18U at the 2024 Bombers Exposure Weekend. Photo provided by Jeff Martin.

Jeff Martin of Impact Gold National NTX 18U, whose team went 3-1 in its pool:

What was your biggest takeaway from Bombers Exposure Weekend? We really enjoyed playing the Bombers event this weekend in College Station. I want to applaud the Bryan/College Station Parks crews for getting the fields in playable shape after so much rain the night before. We enjoyed the umpire crews and felt they did a very consistent job. This event stood out this fall with lots of college coaches viewing all of our games.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? We had two players stand out for the event. Offensively, I would like to mention (Eastern Ketucky-committed 2026 MIF/OF) Abby Wiley, who is our leadoff slapper and she batted .889 with a .917 OBP for the Bombers event, including eight hits. Defensively, I would mention our 5-10 (2026 LHP) Jordyn Simons, who is uncommitted at this time, and had 13 strikeouts in seven innings of work for us at the Bombers’ event. Jordy is currently throwing in the 59-61 (mph) range.

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? We have two uncommitted players to mention with great offensive performances for the Bombers’ event. (2026 C/UT) Maddy Whitmire, (who) hit .417 for the event and traditionally hits .420 and jumps to the mid .500s with RISP. Another uncommitted player to highlight is 2026 (2B/OF) Addison Golightly, who hit .444 for the Bombers’ event, including a HR over the 225-foot fence. Addison has hit 34 home runs in the last 13 months.

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? The player we were most impressed with was the SS from the Corona Angels-Coleman team. She was intense, loud with her communication and all over the place with great range for her position.

Which team most impressed you and why? The opponent that most impressed us was Corona Angels-Coleman 18U out of the San Antonio area.  We put a lot of emphasis on a pre-game warmup that shows college coaches our kids defensive skill-set. The Coleman team likewise had an impressive pre-game. Their team was very intense and high energy from start to finish, something we require in our culture as well.

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Eli Ginnis of Arizona Rising-GNR 18U, whose team went 4-0 in it pool:

What was your biggest takeaway from Bombers Exposure Weekend? Bombers invitational Super Elite Division was loaded. Biggest takeaway was Davis Diamond Texas A&M field is amazing. There were tons of college coaches in attendance everywhere. We played our games at central fields and every Power 4 school was walking around.

Arizona Rising-GNR went 4-0 on the weekend, scoring 25 runs (and) only allowing 4 against. 

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? Highlighted player would be (Army-committed 2025 1B/3B) Mia Gutierrez, (who) batted .750 (with an) .818 OBP (and a) 1.875 SLG).

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? Uncommitted player (to) highlight is
(2025 LHP) Lilly Russo, (who) pitched great all weekend, giving up only four hits and two runs in four games. Lilly was injured last season and, unfortunately, lost some recruiting opportunities. Lilly has offers from Miami OH and (UC Riverside) currently.

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Hotshots Naudin National-Villegas 18U at the 2024 Bombers Exposure Weekend. Photo provided by Mike Zimmer.

Mike Zimmer, assistant coach of Hotshots Naudin National-Villegas 18U, whose team went 4-0 in its pool:

What was your biggest takeaway from Bombers Exposure Weekend? The biggest takeaway of the Bombers Exposure event is the impressive turnout with numerous national teams participating and a strong representation of college coaches in attendance.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (New Mexico-committed 2025 RHP/OF) Caitlin Benningfield was strong on both sides of the field. She hit .556 with a double and (a) HR and she pitched 12 innings with 1 earned run, two walks and 16 strikeouts.

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? (2026 MIF) Eliana Villegas is the leader of our defense. Her softball IQ is off the charts. She had a walk-off, two-run double for one of our wins.

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? The CF from the (Washington) Ladyhawks(-Simpson) made a great diving catch over the fence to rob us of a three-run HR. Unfortunately, we don’t have her name list and I can’t find them in GC.

Which team most impressed you and why? The (Washington) Ladyhawks(-Simpson) impressed us the most. Every batter hit the ball hard and we knew if we missed a pitch, it was being put out of the yard.

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Kip Taylor of Georgia Impact-Taylor, whose team went 4-0 in its pool:

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (Uncommitted) 2027 (RHP) Braylee Spence went 2-0 on (the weekend), pitching nine shutout innings (and) giving up only three hits and one walk with (eight) strikeouts. Braylee just wrapped up her high school season, leading her Lone Grove (High) team to the Oklahoma 3-A state championship.

(Oklahoma-committed 2025 C/3B/1B) Kendall Wells hit .400 on the weekend with a homer, (a) triple and (a) double.

(Florida-committed 2026 CF/SS) Shayla Bahr hit .545 for the tourney with a double and a triple.

(Auburn-committed 2026 C/UT) Taylor Surratt had a .667 average at the Bombers’ event with a triple and was great behind the plate, throwing out the only runner trying to steal on her.

(LSU-committed 2026 RHP) Addison “Addie” Rackley went 1-0 in the circle, giving up one hit and striking out six in 6.0 IP. She also hit .444 on the weekend with two doubles and a triple.

(2027 RHP/OF) Hannah Demarcus went 1-0, striking out 11 over eight innings pitched.

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In 16U:

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Mojo-Lewis 16U at the 2024 Bombers Exposure Weekend. Photo provided by Brittany Lewis.

Brittany Lewis of Mojo-Lewis 16U, whose team went 4-1 in its pool:

What was your biggest takeaway from Bombers Exposure Weekend? Bombers Exposure was a great event that allowed our team to see PGF Premier talent in the fall. Coming off a very successful summer where we won PGF, it is a great weekend to get the new pieces together with our returners and truly see what we have against the best of the best. Our team finished 4-1 at the top of the Elite Division in 16U, so overall it was a very worthwhile trip for us.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (Columbia-committed 2026 RHP/IF) Jo Young hit .600 on the weekend while (Georgia Tech-committed 2026 MIF/3B/UT ) Summer Castorri, (Tennessee-committed 2026 MIF/OF) Halle Bailey, (Missouri-committed 2026 3B/MIF/UT) Audrey Cathey, (2027 C) Janie Goldin and (2027 RHP/CIF) Addison DeRoche all hit over .400.

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? We have three uncommitted 2027 pitchers that led us this weekend in DeRoche, (2027 RHP/UT) Molly Davi and (2027 RHP/1B) Lillian Tillier.

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OC Batbusters-Fernandez 16U at the 2024 Bombers Exposure Weekend. Photo provided by Saul Fernandez.

Saul Fernandez of OC Batbusters-Fernandez 18U, whose team went 4-1 in its pool:

What was your biggest takeaway from Bombers Exposure Weekend? The Bombers Exposure Weekend in College Station was a fantastic opportunity for our players to be seen by a wide array of college scouts and coaches. This marked our third year participating in this event and we value the chance to showcase our talent in front of a diverse mix of college programs, ranging from powerhouse D1 schools to competitive D2, D3, NAIA and junior colleges. The variety of programs allowed all of our players to gain visibility and connect with schools that align with their abilities and academic goals.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? During the Bombers Exposure Weekend in College Station, both (Colgate-committed 2026 1B) Shae McMorrow and (uncommitted 2026 MIF) Ruby Miranda delivered standout performances.

McMorrow batted .714 with an on OPS of 1.635. Her consistent hitting and ability to reach base were pivotal in driving our offensive momentum throughout the weekend.

Miranda also made a substantial impact, recording a batting average of .500 with a HR and 6 RBIs

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? (2026 3B) Harper Vandermolen made a remarkable return to showcase play after being sidelined for most of 2024, making an immediate impact with 6 RBIs, a home run and a double. Her performance highlighted her resilience and high-level readiness, reaffirming her status as one of Southern California’s top power bats over the past four years. Known for her ability to hit for both average and power to all fields, Harper is a standout player with untapped potential. For college coaches seeking a powerful hitter, Vandermolen would be an exceptional, under-the-radar addition to any program.

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? (Uncommitted 2026 OF/MIF) D’Yami Meredith from Lady Dukes-Lamar/Perkins was the most impressive player in the tournament. She is one of the fastest players I have ever seen and an absolute terror on the bases.

Which team most impressed you and why? The team that stood out the most was Lady Dukes-Lamar/Perkins. Their combination of speed and athleticism was truly remarkable. The team showcased consistent offensive pressure with no weak spots in the batting order, as each player brought a high level of aggression and skill to the plate.

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Rhode Island Thunder National-Lotti 16U at the 2024 Bombers Exposure Weekend. Photo provided by Dave Lotti.

Dave Lotti of Rhode Island Thunder National-Lotti 16U, whose team went 4-1-1 in its pool:

What was your biggest takeaway from Bombers Exposure Weekend? The event was exceptionally well-organized and ran smoothly despite a Thursday weather delay. The turnout was impressive with top coaches from across the country in attendance, making it, as always, a high-caliber showcase.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (2027 RHP) Julia Caruso has progressed through the Thunder program and is now a first-year 16U player. Standing at 6-feet tall, she’s a right-handed pitcher who consistently throws between 64-67 mph. This past weekend, she pitched in four of our six games, recording 22 strikeouts and posting a 1.95 ERA. She went 2-0 with a 1.88 (ERA) and was a key contributor to our 4-1-1 record, helping us tie for first place in our pool. Julia’s future is incredibly promising and she’s already drawing significant interest from major P4 programs.

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? We have two standout uncommitted players, who definitely deserve the attention they’re getting from college coaches around the country and for their efforts this past weekend: (2027 RHP/CIF) Alexis Nisyrios and (2027 C/SS) Bella Bourque.

Alexis Nisyrios had an outstanding weekend with a .417 batting average and a 1.417 OPS, including three extra-base hits and a home run. She played CIF all weekend and pitched in three of our six games, earning a 1-0 record with 13 strikeouts. Alexis was clocked between 65-67 mph by college coaches. She’s been tearing it up this fall with a .438 BA, 12 extra-base hits and 7 home runs — an elite two-way player with tremendous upside.

Bella Bourque is a true 6-tool player and our leadoff hitter. Known for her exceptional power and versatility, Bella batted .357 with a .471 OBP this weekend and hit 1.0000 with runners in scoring position. She’s having a phenomenal fall season, hitting .441 with a 1.400 OPS, 11 extra-base hits and five home runs. As a catcher and shortstop, Bella’s well-rounded skill-set and clutch performance make her one of the top players in her class.

Both players are making waves this fall and any major college program would be lucky to have them!

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? (2026 3B) Tegan Tripp (of) Illinois Chill 16U really stood out during our only loss. She impressed me with her ability to hit the ball consistently, showcasing both power and a solid approach at the plate. Her performance was a key factor in her team’s success. 

Which team most impressed you and why? The Hotshots National 16U Naudin really impressed me with their all-around play. We only managed three hits against them, the fewest we had all weekend, and they played a clean, error-free game with exceptional baserunning. There were no major mistakes on either side, which made it a well-executed matchup. It was a back-and-forth contest. Alexis Nisyrios gave us an early lead with a two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the 1st (inning), but the Hotshots quickly mounted a comeback to take a 3-2 lead. However, (Virginia-committed 2026) Ava Papaleo delivered a clutch three-run homer to center field in the bottom of the 4th (inning), giving us a 5-3 lead. Lyla Hollingsworth and Grace Ely both reached base during that rally, helping set the stage for Ava’s big hit. Julia Caruso then pitched excellently, not allowing any more runs. We won 5-3, the Hotshots’ execution and consistency stood out as they played a well-rounded game.

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Arizona Rising-Appel/Hamel 16U at the 2024 Bombers Exposure Weekend. Photo provided by Jon Hamel.

Jon Hamel of Arizona Rising-Appel/Hamel 16U, whose team went 4-1 in its pool:

What was your biggest takeaway from Bombers Exposure Weekend? This is a must-attend event in the recruiting window. The opportunity to play great competition from around the country is hard to match. The college coaches take the time to prioritize this event with the level of play and quality of the teams. Great facilities and well-run event every year.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (2027 MIF/UT/C) Alessia Velazquez hit .500 (with a) 2.042 OPS, 2 HRs, (a)triple, (a) double, 7 RBIs and 7 runs.

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? I did not have a player against us that jumped off the page as we pitched very well for the weekend with my pitching staff having a sub-2.00 ERA.

We did watch USA Athletics-RML play a few games (as we played them in Phoenix the prior weekend). I reached out to them for stats on two players that every time we were watching were doing big things and asked them for stats on the weekend especially since they are 2026 uncommitted kids. 

(2026 SS/CF) Julianna Alberto: Overarm speed of 67 mph. (Stats): .667 AVG, .667 OBP, 1.556 OPS, 2 doubles. Julianna is a dynamic athlete, with a high softball IQ and polished mechanics. She is coachable and always looking for ways to help the team compete at a high level. She has great lateral range and consistently makes plays in the 5/6 hole, while showcasing her strong arm across the diamond. Julianna attends EM Speed and Power school where she trains four days a week, which has elevated her game and brought a new side of power and speed to her arsenal.

(2026 OF) Choyce Chambers (has a) 2.85 home-to-1st. (Stats): .545 AVG, .615 OBP, 1.252 OPS, 1 double, 3 RBIs, 8 runs, 3 stolen bases. Choyce is a hard out once she’s on base. She is fast, aggressive and always looking for the extra base to take. Currently, in 32 games, she has stolen 17 bases. While she’s in the outfield, it’s a true no-fly zone. Choyce consistently robs hits for her pitchers and her team. She limits runners from taking extra bases and she’s not afraid to run through a wall for an out.

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In 14U

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14U Texas Glory RWB at the 2024 Bombers Exposure Weekend. Photo provided by Maia Wark.

Maia Wark of 14U Texas Glory RWB, whose team went 2-1 in its pool:

What was your biggest takeaway from Bombers Exposure Weekend? Our biggest takeaway this tournament and what helped us become better as a team was the competition we played. We played talented teams every game and that helped us play to a level that we were never able to achieve until this tournament.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (2030 RHP) Caydence Perales.

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? (2028 MIF) Riley Hickman, the 4-hole hitter.

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? (2030 C/3B) Ellis Daniels (of Bombers Gold Futures 14U). She played an amazing 3B and got on every time against us (no matter what location we threw to her).

Which team most impressed you and why? Impact Gold NTX National 14U, because they never gave up. We went back-and-forth throughout the game and they battled every inning.

Carlos Arias, Line Drive Media (Follow Carlos on Twitter @los_stuff)

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