Get on board with Line Drive Media’s regular feature, The Final Pitch!

We are scouring the Internet and Social Media and keeping our ears to the street for the latest going on in the softball community.

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Here’s our TFP for Thursday, July 4, 2024:

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PATRIOT GAMES REPORT

The Patriot Games featured some of the top programs in the country from June 27-29 in Windsor, CO. Athletics Mercado-Smith, Texas Bombers Gold-Serie and Athletics Mercado 09-Tidd won the 18U, 16U and 14U titles, respectively. We talked to coaches in the various age groups to get their thoughts on the prestigious tournament. Here’s what they had to say:

JOEL GARCIA (Aces Fastpitch National 14U)

What’s your biggest takeaway from the Patriot Games? Players have to compete and give their best every single pitch. This competition keeps players mentally engaged the entire week. You are playing the best pitchers, hitters, fielders in the country.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (2027 MIF/OF Ava) “Tootie” Garcia, offensively, she performed well. More importantly, she came up with some big defensive plays at second base. Didn’t commit a single error this week while making key stops and turning a huge unassisted double play on bracket Sunday. She had the most defensive chances and ended with a 1.000 fielding (percentage). (She batted) .385 (AVG with) 1 HR, 6 runs, 4 SBs (and) 1.115 OPS.

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight? Tootie Garcia missed the fall with a back injury. She got healthy over the winter and has come on strong this summer. She’s leading the team in the following offensive categories through 18 games this summer: .465 ACG, .566 OBP, 1.589 OPS, 1.023 SLG, 5 triples, 4 HRs, 15 RBIs and 18 runs.

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? (2027 P) Macie Bryant (of) Impact Gold 2K9 (National). Ability to control a game. Strong presence in the circle and attacks hitters. Displays confidence and wants the ball.

Which team most impressed you and why? Athletics Mercado (09)-Tidd impressed me the most due to their discipline and ability to make routine plays. Very sound defensively and coached very well.

JOE SMITH (Colorado Batbusters National-Smith 18U)

What’s your biggest takeaway from the Patriot Games? We had a great experience at the Patriot Games. The competition was incredible and every college you can imagine was there recruiting.

Do you have an uncommitted player/players we should highlight? Two uncommitted kids we would like to highlight are (2025 RHP) Tessa Ivy and (2026 SS) Lucy Thompson.

Ivy got two big wins for us. She started and got the win against Top Gun National(-Turner) and came on with three shutout innings of relief to get the comeback win against Texas Glory(-Shelton). (She had) 7 IP, 4 hits, 2 walks and 5 strikeouts in the two games.

Our phenomenal (SS) Thompson hit .444 for the week and continued making one ESPN highlight, defensive play, after another.

Which player/players made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (Colorado State-committed 2025) OF Alex Graham 2025 (was) 3 for 5 with a HR, (Towson State-bound) P/1B Olivia Trombley (batted) .333 with (a) HR (and a) pitching win and (Colorado State-bound) 2B Jac Smith hit .333 and great defense at 2B.

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? (Utah-bound C/OF) Kennedy Proctor from Firecrackers (Select-)Rico/Brashear had two big hits against us in bracket and was impressive.

Which team most impressed you and why? Tough one because (there were) so many talented teams out there, but I would say Athletic Mercado(-Smith). They played great all week.

STEVE APPEL (Arizona Storm National-Appel 16U)

What’s your biggest takeaway from the Patriot Games? The competition was outstanding, getting the best teams together in a small format to play, really brought out elite competition. Not to mention seeing over 75 different college coaches watching our athletes was tremendous exposure.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? We had a lot of kids really shine, but (2026 3B/OF) Taylor Hampton put everyone on notice that she is here to compete. In six games, she hit .667 with 10 hits, 15 RBIs and 5 home runs.

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? Again, there were so many special players we (saw), but this young lady), 2026 1B/OF Charli Calas of Athletics Mercado-Hovermale), hit a ball about 270 feet of us.

Which team most impressed you and why? Texas Bombers Gold(-Serie) 16U. They eliminated us, but top to bottom well-coached and fundamentally sound. We knew it would be a war because last year we eliminated them to get to the (Triple Crown) Sparkler Power Pool TV game. We play to play the best every time out and they definitely are one of the best out there.

JESSICA BILZ (EC Bullets-Schnute/Bilz 16U)

What is your biggest takeaway from the Patriot Games? Just being a part of this event was amazing. From David McCorkle and his staff to the organizations present, it was a true honor to have our team be invited. From a coaching standpoint in our 16U groups, it was refreshing to be around coaches from other organizations that hold themselves to a higher standard and truly do this for the girls. From a player standpoint, our girls got an opportunity to compete on the same field with the best players in the country and share their love for the sport in front of coaches from the top college programs in the nation.

Which Player made the biggest impact on the team for the tournament? 2026 OF Lauren Jordan. She is our leadoff batter and sets the tone for our team by bringing the energy. “LJ” uses all of her tools in every at-bat, showing bunt, tap slap, slap and can hit for power. Her sheer speed creates chaos for defenses. She reached base three of our five games in that leadoff role and continued to get stronger in each at-bat. She batted .364 overall and .667 with RISP, along with an OBP of .500 and her OPS was 1.045, collecting 4 hits, 1 triple, 3 RBIs and walk three times with only two Ks.

Do you have an Uncommitted player we should highlight? Yes, I have two! 2026 IF Gabriella Gopie was a key player for us both defensively and offensively. She is a leader on the infield, switching back and forth from 3B and 1B for us and helped turn three crucial double plays to get us out of tough innings. She also batted .400 in the box, collecting 4 hits and 3 RBIs.

2027 IF Jenna Rapp was our offensive power in the box with over 60 percent of her at-bats being quaility at-bats with an OPS of 1.175. Jenna had 3 hits, 2 being absolute monster HRs, collecting 7 RBIs, walking two times and only two Ks.

Which player most impressed you and why? Texas Bombers pitcher (2026 Reise Flood) that pitched vs. us. She did an amazing job vs. us, spinning the ball well and keeping our batters off balance. Being a former pitcher myself, I appreciated her presence in the circle. She was confident in her pitches and threw with intent. Fun player to watch.

Which team most impressed you and why? Texas Bombers Gold(-Serie) 16U. From the coaching staff to the players, they were top notch, respectful and just fun to be around and play. I wish GA and TX were closer, so we could scrimmage the Bombers’ teams, continue to grow the sport the right way and help develop these young athletes. By far my most favorite game of the weekend.

JUSTIN SIEGEL (Impact Gold National-Siegel 14U)

What is your biggest takeaway from the Patriot Games? We played incredibly well for three full games and dominated all but the last inning of each of the last two games. If we finish, we’re still playing. 😂

Which player/players (from another team) most impressed you and why? Impact Gold 2K9 (National 2027 RHP) Macie Bryant (throws) mid 60s velo with a plus, plus change-up that she threw for strikes in any count.

(Texas) Bombers Gold(-Malpass 2028 MIF/C) Michaela Landers. (A) speed player with an incredible understanding of the strike zone and her bat angle.

BRYAN CLOSE (Central Cal Dirtdogs-Close 18U)

What’s your biggest takeaway from the Patriot Games? The competition was top notch. Every time you step on the field you have to bring your A game.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (William Jessup-bound 1B/3B) Emily Rempp had to move from first base to third base due to injuries. She came up big in our game against Strykers National-Esparza to get our first win on the board. She hit a go-ahead HR in the last inning, then made a diving play down the line to make the third out to win the game. Overall, (she went) 4 for 13 with an HR and a double.

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight? 2025 (MIF) Alexis Alvarado. (She hit the) game-tying HR vs. (OC) Batbusters-Lara, which eventually led to an extra-inning win. She was also robbed of an HR vs, Strykers National-Esparza. Overall, (she went) 6 for 15 with 4 doubles and an HR.

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? (San Diego State-bound) OF (Kiara Cisneros) from (OC) Batbusters-Lara. She was the toughest out for us. Every at-bat was a tough one. She led the game off with a double, then followed with an HR in her second at-bat.

Which team most impressed you and why? Birmingham Thunderbolts (Premier-)Rocky. I would say was the most well-rounded team we faced. On the mound, their (Florida-bound) pitcher (Katelynn Oxley) dominated and every at-bat was a tough out.

JOE SCIARA (Top Gun National-Sciara 16U)

What’s your biggest takeaway from the Patriot Games? Every team in the tournament was a high level, high quality team…There are several ways to construct a roster, and all can be successful at a high level.

Which player/players made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (Uncommitted) 2025 RHP Kenna Moore (has a) 62-64 mph riseball (and a) curve change-up with 1,600 revs of true rise spin. (She threw) 8.1 IP, 14 Ks, 4 BBs and an 18 percent swing-and-miss percentage.

2026 (MIF/CF) Liv Keiter (batted) .636 (with a) .733 OBP, 4 RBIs, 4 runs (and) 3 SBs.

2026 (MIF/3B) Sydnee Wagner (batted) .545 (with a) .615 OBP, 1 double, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, 5 runs and a perfect fielding percentage, turning three double plays.

Which team most impressed you and why? Texas Glory-Shelton was (the) most impressive team top to bottom. Kevin (Shelton) does a great job with his group. They play tough and he teaches them to be respectful of the game, officials and competition

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? There was a kid, (2026 OF Laci Martinez), on Stacy Tamborra’s team that hit three HRs against us. One was a beautiful pitch below her knees and another was with two strikes on a rise almost in her eyes.