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.

To contribute information, insights, thoughts or content ideas, email us at carlos.arias@linedrivemedia.com, DM at @los_stuff on Twitter or text (949) 606-3602.

Here’s our TFP for Monday, Oct. 28, 2024:

*****

The Ray Seymour Invitational in Florida is one of the top showcases of the fall season, drawing many top teams from the Southeast and East Coast. This weekend was no different. Here’s what some of the coaches in attendance had to say:

RAY SEYMOUR INVITATIONAL REPORT

*****

In 18U:

*****

Kevin Hinde of Team NC-Hinde, whose team went 4-1 in the 18U division:

What was your biggest takeaway from the Ray Seymour Invitational? We had multiple players out this weekend on visits, state all-star game, etc. this weekend that were unable to attend the event that include: (Florida State-committed) Anna Hinde, (Florida State-committed) Averi Dockery, (LSU-committed) Gradie Appling, (Virginia-committed) Hannah Weismer and (Furman-committed) Kate Lovett.

Our players that were able to attend performed at a very high level even when they may have been out of their natural position at times. We played in Pool A of the 18U division, which consisted of some of the best teams in the country such as Fury Platinum X-Higdon, Top Gun National, Birmingham Thunderbolts (Premier), Tampa Mustangs-Rene and LLG DPS-Corn. We went 4-1 on the weekend with many college coaches in attendance. We were also able to play the game vs. Top Gun National at the University of Florida, which was a great experience.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (North Carolina-committed 2025 CF) Sahara Wilson drove in several runs and had multiple hits in key situations. Sahara’s stats: .462 AVG, .467 OBP, 1.236 OPS, .769 SLG, 2 triples and 5 runs scored. With a 2.62 home-to-first time, she puts a tremendous amount of pressure on any defense. She also played outstanding defense in the outfield.

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? (2026 RHP) Avery Ramey was solid all weekend with one win and one save. Avery’s stats: 9.2 IP, 1.448 ERA, 1.862 WHIP and she also went 1 for 2 at the plate. She made a difference in the circle against some top competition.

(2027 MIF/C) Benny Powell was solid at the plate, but also made some ridiculous plays in the middle infield on defense in some critical situations.

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? The second pitcher we faced from the Birmingham Thunderbolts was very impressive. She had great up spin and kept hitters off balance with different speeds.

Which team most impressed you and why? Fury Platinum X-Higdon impressed us as they were all around competitive with great pitching. They challenged us on the defense with both their power and short game. Their pitchers did a good job of keeping our hitters off balance at the plate.

*****

John Corn of LLG DPS-Corn, whose team went 4-0-1 in the 18U division:

What was your biggest takeaway from the Ray Seymour Invitational? Quality competition at this event. Pool A was full of talent and some quality games. Looked like there were several teams in Pools B and C that could have or should have been in the A Pool. Sparks Elite and IMG-Green definitely could have been in A Pool. 

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? Syracuse-committed (2025 MIF) Kendall Gaunt was our offensive spark plug, hitting .636 with three extra-base hits and three stolen bases. Along with Coastal Carolina-(committed 2025 MIF/CF/3B) Leah Kendall at .500 for the weekend. And on the mound, Florida Atlantic-committed (2025 RHP) Makenna Lee was most impressive, striking out 17 with 0 walks and a 0.913 ERA and 0.522 WHIP for the weekend. 

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? Keep your eyes out for 2027 OF/lefty power hitter Chloe Wools. She possesses one of the best lefty bats in the country. Also making her debut with LLG DPS is 2028 C Kylee Warehime, (who) had a strong weekend behind the plate and held her own against a strong field.

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? Alabama committed (2025 RHP) Victoria Moten was extremely impressive. Heard she was guest playing Birmingham T-bolts Premier. She had electric stuff throwing in the upper 60s with strong up movement. 2025 3B Sage Rodmyre (of Top Gun National) was also impressive at the plate, collecting two hits against our pitching. 

Which team most impressed you and why? Honestly, the way the schedule matched up, I  didn’t get to see anyone play outside our pool, so I would say LLG DPS was impressive. With many strong matchups, we weathered the storm of some heated foes to come out on top for the weekend. 

*****

These Cheetahs had an impressive weekend at the Ray Seymour Invitational going 4-0-1 taking the 1️⃣ spot in our pool! Way to play ladies! Next up….Scenic City 🏝️➡️ 🌄@ray_seymour @SbCheetahs @BoDomeBville pic.twitter.com/gDUqfTf9kp

— Chicago Cheetahs 18U BB (@BullockChicago) October 27, 2024

Brian Bullock of Chicago Cheetahs-BB, whose team went 4-0-1 in the 18U division:

What was your biggest takeaway from the Ray Seymour Invitational? It was great to see our team go to FL and compete with teams out of the South. Midwest teams that aren’t named Bandits or Chill don’t get the respect they deserve until they go to an event like Ray Seymour and show not only (they) can the girls compete, but they can dominate at this level.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (2026 CF) Ella Bonk hit .700 with a 2.450 OPS. She had two HRs, five runs and seven RBIs. She also made some great throws from the OF preventing runners from advancing, which doesn’t show on a stat sheet.

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? We have five uncommitted players that should be recognized by coaches:

(2026 CF) Ella Bonk;

(2026 2B/UT) Zoey Bullock did not have the best stats at Seymour, but (she) is the team’s most consistent hitter as well as the most indispensable defensive player on the roster. (She) can play anywhere and is one of the best defensive second baseman you will see at this level;

(2026 SS/3B) Addison Yurchak hit .444 for the weekend with a 1.455 OPS and an HR. (She) played a lock down SS all weekend;

(2026 LHP) Corina Miller (‘26 P) and (2026 RHP/IF) Audrey Bullock. These two lead our team in the circle. Both can be dominating at times but keep their team in every game. There are not two better pitchers when it comes to mound presence. These girls do not get rattled and have each other’s back every tournament.

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? Georgia Southwestern-committed 2025 C/3B Baelee) Garland from Texas Glory (Venice). Our pitchers were unable to figure her out. (She went) 3 for 3 with a double against us.

Which team most impressed you and why? Florida Storm-Otero. (They are a) scrappy younger team that gave our team fits, getting out of tough situations all game.

*****

Marty Rhodes of Top Gun National AR, whose team went 4-0-1 in the 18U division:

What was your biggest takeaway from the Ray Seymour Invitational? The Ray Seymour was one of the best ran showcases we have attended in the past couple of years.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (2026 RHP/UT) Sylvia King led us at the plate, hitting.500 on the weekend. She also had 9 innings with a strong performance of 2.68 ERA.

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? (2026 RHP/OF) Noah Heggemann also hit .500 with a 0.00 ERA. (2026 MIF/UT) Dakota Rhodes had a solid weekend at the plate, hitting.455 and held down short for us.

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? Player from another team was (uncommitted 2025 3B/RHP/UT) Elle Hildreth from Clearwater Lady Bombers Mason (was) most impressive.

Which team most impressed you and why? Most impressive team we played was Florida Gold 18U-Torres coached by Alex Torres. Great team coaching staff and players, all-around great group.

*****

Coty Meadows of Unity-Meadows/Johnson, whose team went 4-0 n the 18U division:

What was your biggest takeaway from the Ray Seymour Invitational? The biggest takeaway from the Ray Seymour Invitational seems to be the impressive level of competition, particularly with the participation of high-quality players and numerous strong travel softball teams, especially fromthe South. Additionally, the presence of many college coaches highlights the event’s significance as a platform for player exposure and recruitment.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? 1. Duke-committed (2025 OF/C/UT) Adelyn Mathews: With a phenomenal performance, AD hit .667, including one double, three triples, one HR, seven RBIs and 13 runs. She also showcased her speed with eight stolen bases;

2. (Uncommitted 2025 OF/MIF) Aly Henry: Contributing significantlym Aly hit .562 with three RBIs, scoring nune runs and demonstrating her patience with three walks and reached on two errors, along with seven stolen bases;

3. Georgia Southern-committed (2025 MIF/UT) Kennedy “KK” Shea: KK hit .429, contributing with a double, a triple, seven RBIs, seven runs along with five BBs and four stolen bases;

4. St. John’s-committed (2026 1B/3B/UT) Jazmine Ramos-Merced: Jazz also had a strong showing, hitting .385 with three doubles, one home run, seven RBIs, four runs and two walks.

These players were instrumental in our success during the tournament.

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? Aly Henry from West Orange High is a standout 2025 uncommitted outfielder, who deserves recognition. As the leadoff hitter for the returning PGF (16U Platinum) national champion, Unity-Meadows/Johnson, she excels is setting the pace for a powerful offense. With impressive speed on the bases and a patient approach at the plate, she has been able to consistently put up impressive statistics for a national-recognized team and program. She hit .562 at the Ray Seymour tournament where she totaled three RBIs, nine runs, three walks and seven stolen bases. A leader both on and off the field, Aly maintains a strong GPA of 3.8, showcasing her dedication to academics and athletics. She’s definitely a player to watch.

*****

Pat Affrunti of Tampa Mustangs-Affrunti/Hancock, whose team went 3-1-1 in the 18U division:

What was your biggest takeaway from the Ray Seymour Invitational? Teams came to compete.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (2026 OF/IF) Elena Friedman (.583 AVG, .750 SLG, 1.438 OPS).

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? (Florida Gulf Coast-committed 2025 C/3B) Heather (Robertson) going to FGCU from Rock Gold-de Leon, (an) athlete of a player.

Which team most impressed you and why? Birmingham Thunderbolts (Premier). They took care of the ball, did the simple things and hit the crap out of the ball.

*****

John Klinefelter of Clearwater Bullets-Klinefelter, whose team went in the 18U division:

What was your biggest takeaway from the Ray Seymour Invitational? It was a well-run event with a loaded talent pool. Tons of college coaches present to watch the girls play.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (2027 SS/3B) Brianna Shephard went .500 on the weekend with a .556 on-base percentage. She had three RBIs and 2 sac flies as well.

(Eastern Florida-committed 2025 P/1B) Aliyah Lai led us defensively with a 0.913 ERA in the circle. he had one earned run through 7.2 innings.

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? Bri Shephard (see above). The kid is a 2027 that has the grit and fight that every coach wants.

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? (2026 Maya) Drennon from LLG Premier. She went 2 for 2 with a walk against us.

Which team most impressed you and why? LLG Premier impressed me. They are well-coached and approach the game with respect for all involved.

*****

In 16U:

*****

John Vigue of Clearwater Bullets-Vigue, whose team went 3-1-1 in the 16U division:

What was your biggest takeaway from the Ray Seymour Invitational?    You gotta be on the main fields (Champions Park for this one) to really have a chance for your girls to be seen by colleges.  It’s a great event and tons of schools present, but if you aren’t at the right complex, you have to contact these coaches and get them to come over to the other sites to see you and hope they do.  I’m not sure how to get on those right fields, but to maximize their exposure, you gotta get on those fields.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? The player with the biggest impact for our club this weekend was (2028 RHP) Morgan Spinner. She pitched in all five games, going two wins, one loss and recorded a save. She started the weekend throwing a perfect three innings, nine up and nine down, striking out all nine. She threw 11.2 total innings, only gave up six hits, holding opponents to a .140 batting average, striking out 20 and had a 2.40 ERA on the weekend (all four earned runs in (the) last game of (the) weekend).

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? (2028 RHP) Morgan Spinner should be highlighted for people to know across the country. She is 6-foot-1, a straight-A student and throws consistently between 63-65 mph and is only 14 years old.

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? The best team we played was the Fury Platinum-Bianco club. They were a solid team and played us well. Their pitcher is what stood out to us, (2028 LHP/3B/OF Aubrey) Vital #3. She pitched very well against us, not allowing a run and only giving up three hits.

Which team most impressed you and why? The best team we got to see from the sidelines was the Unity-Amsler/Johnson team. They played between our first two games on Saturday. They have a great mix of power and speed and have several solid pitchers.

*****

Great weekend down in FL @ray_seymour went 5-0. Girls competed hard all weekend. Scored 39 runs and only allowed 7. Swung it well🔥🔥🔥💜💛💜⚡️@BHMBoltsOrg @ConnectSports_ Heading to Scenic City next!

— Virginia Thunderbolts- Cassedy 2026 (@VA_Bolts2026) October 28, 2024

Jessica Kennedy of Virginia Thunderbolts 2026-Cassedy, whose team went 5-0 in the 16U division:

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (2026 OF/UT) Jordynn Carter (.583 AVG, 7 hits, 7 RBIs, .615 OBP, 1.365 OPS, .750 SLG), (2026 MIF/UT) Natalie Marvin (.583 AVG, 7 hits, 6 runs, .643 OBP, 1.476 OPS, .833 SLG), (2027 MIF) Meeraf Kemahu (.600 AVG, 6 hits, .600 OBP, 1.200 OPS, .600 SLG), (2027 MIF/UT) Lauren Wolf (.462 AVG, 6 hits, .923 OPS), (2027 C/1B/3B) Abby Burns (.455 AVG, 5 hits, 1.136 OPS), (2026 P/1B) Jaidyn Tingen (.454 AVG, 15 IP, 3 runs, 2 ER, 24 Ks) and (2026 1B/P) Ari Pitts (.444 AVG, 10 IP, 4 runs, 4 ER, 14 Ks).

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? (2026 P/B Morgan) Banks (of) Team NC-Kobziak. Mixed her pitches really well and kept us off balance. She competed every inning.

Which team most impressed you and why? Team NC-Kobziak 18U was really impressive and played hard. Had a really good pitcher, who really challenged our team at the plate. 

*****

Clint Chaney of Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2026-Chaney, whose team went 4-1 in the 16U division:

What was your biggest takeaway from the Ray Seymour Invitational? I was really impressed with the number of college coaches from all over the country at the event. Seeing these coaches helped motivate the girls as we kicked off our fall season.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? I can’t single out an individual because my pitching staff as a whole was our standout. Over five games and 30 innings, our pitchers finished the tournament with a 0.70 ERA and a .171 (BAA). My pitchers include (2026) Kadyn Bush, (2026) Sophia Sheidler, (2026) Mallarie Beagle, (2027) Autumn Ingle and (2026) Aleah Burgy. 

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? I have a few uncommitted players that I would like to highlight. Based on performance from this tournament and only being able to choose one, I’d like to highlight (2026 RHP) Mallarie Beagle. Mal is a 2026 pitcher from Spanish Fort, AL. Her drop ball and change-up consistently keep batters off balance. In this tournament, she pitched six innings with one BB, one hit, nine Ks, 0.00 ERA and a .136 BAA.

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? I would say (2028 RHP/3B) Paisley Hernandez (of) Tampa Mustangs-Klein. (She) impressed me the most. She had great command of her pitches and spun the ball very well.

Which team most impressed you and why? Tampa Mustangs-Klein was the most impressive team we played. They were fundamentally sound and had a good combo of pitchers.

*****

Roger Bennett/Jeff Goddard of Indiana Magic Gold-Bennett/Goddard, whose team went 4-1 in the 16U division:

What was your biggest takeaway from the Ray Seymour Invitational? This was our first time attending the RS Invite and we are glad we came. We had a perfect start with (Virginia Tech-committed 2026 P) Grace Swedarsky and (uncommitted 2026 P) Chelsea Bennett combining to throw a 6-inning erfect game. Overall, we are right where we want to be in the team’s development (14-3 so far this fall – dropping one game in each of the three weekends we’ve played). The biggest takeaway for us is that with an incredibly talented second-year 16U team, we are well positioned to make a deep run again next summer. When we are firing on all cylinders in the box, on the field and in the circle. We can compete with anybody in the country.

Team Stats: 4-1 on the weekend, won our pool, outscored opponents, 23-11, had a .981 fielding percentage as a team and our pitchers combined for a .196 BAA. PERFECT GAME.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? It’s hard not to highlight (Virginia Tech-committed 2026 P) Grace Swedarsky, who pitched 7.1 innings for us and compiled a 0.00 ERA, .273 WHIP, held opponents to a .043 BAA and struck out 2/3 of the batters she faced. RS Stats: 7.1 IP, 24 BF, 16 Ks, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, .043 BAA.

On the offensive side, (2027 P/SS) Jenna Mannon led our squad with a .636 AVG (.750 AVG w/RISP) and 1.273 OPS, driving in nine RBIs and scoring three runs, followed closely by (Indiana-committed 2026 SS/UT) Alexa Iwema with a .500 AVG (.714 AVG w/RISP) and 1.245 OPS, driving in five RBIs and scoring three runs.

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? We are going to focus on our remaining uncommitted 2026 players. We have several standout 2027 uncommitted players, who are already well-known around the country and we’d be happy to highlight them sometime later this fall if you’d like.

OPTION 1: (2026 P) Sophia Cain is new to our squad this fall, coming over from Top Gun National. Her attitude is fantastic and she has quickly fit right in. We knew she had the accuracy and spin to be effective on our team, but have been positively surprised at how good she is and, more importantly for potential college teams, how good she can be. Standing 6-feet tall, Sophia is controlling games from the circle, often facing several kids already committed to P4 programs. RS Stats: 8 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 7 Ks, 1.750 ERA, 1.125 WHIP, .241 BAA. Fall Stats: 33 IP, 39 Ks, 1.485 ERA, .727 WHIP, .165 BAA, 31 percent K rate.

OPTION 2 (We have a couple standout 2026 uncommitted players that performed well at the RS Invite and are currently way too far under the radar): (2026 P) Sophia Cain, information above.

(2026 OF) Kayla Benthall. “KB” set the table for us this weekend at the RS Invite, leading off and achieving a .500 OBP. She scored seven runs (led our team) and added two SBs. KB is electric with her speed and should definitely be on P4 short lists. RS Stats (5 Games): .455 AVG, .955 OPS, 7 R, 2 SBs, 1.00 fielding percentage. Fall Stats (17 Games): .447 AVG, 1.026 OPS, 21 R, 17 SBs.

(2026 1B/OF) Baylee Huth. Baylee, or “B” stands an intimidating 6-feet tall, but plays the game like a 5-5 MIF. She is super strong, hitting lasers and rarely striking out (2 Ks in 36 PA so far this fall). In the field, she has a huge catch radius at 1B and also can track balls down in the OF. RS Stats (5 Games): .400 AVG, .855 OPS, 1 BB/1 K, SB, 1.00 fielding percentage.

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? (2027 OF/RHP/slapper) Madison Rider from Tampa Mustangs Rene-Pynes impressed us as the only batter (out of 24 BF) who got a hit off Grace Swedarsky.

Top Gun National’s Villanova-committed (2026 RHP/UT/1B) Felicia Connolly also stood out.

*****

These girls showed up @ray_seymour going 4-1.

Yes we bang it but this 2027 pitching staff of @KayleeHodges14 @Caycee_Wilson27 @paizleiross was lights out combining for 25 innings, 10 hits, 4 runs, and 43 strikeouts. 👀💙👊
See you coaches @ Scenic City pic.twitter.com/PoWgBzxMGm

— Team North Carolina Bowman (@teamnc_bowman) October 28, 2024

Brian Bowman of Team NC-Bowman, whose team went 4-1 in the 16U division:

What was your biggest takeaway from the Ray Seymour Invitational? The Champion Park complex makes it an up-close-and-personal experience for coaches, players and families that is tough to match at any event throughout the country.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? Our 2027 pitching staff of Kaylee Hodges, Caycee Wilson and Paizlei Ross combined for 25 innings, 10 hits, four runs and 43 strikeouts.

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? We are blessed this year to field the best roster of all uncommitted 2027/2028 that Team NC-Bowman has ever fielded. The ability to not only win in the circle, but combine speed and power on the offensive side of the ball makes us a popular follow for coaches at all levels across the country.

Which team most impressed you and why? Ray Seymour continues to deliver an experience paired with quality, national-level teams that has made this event a must do for us over the past three years. See you next year.

*****

Steve Cornett of EC Bullets-Cornett/Garza, whose team went 3-2 in the 16U division:

What was your biggest takeaway from the Ray Seymour Invitational? The amount of college coaches that were in attendance and how well it was all organized.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (2026 C/IF) Karley Boone is a DH that can hit for average or power. She led the offense this weekend, (batting) .500 (with a) 1.295 OPS (and) five RBIs.

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? (2026 C/UT) Ava Garza has played for EC Bullets for three years and been the primary catcher for the team. Ava also plays second base when not catching. Ava is a gritty player, who is not afraid to get dirty, and as the vocal leader of the team, she also bats leadoff, motivating and setting the table for the bigger hitters. Ava hits for power as well, hitting three home runs this fall. Ava was 1st team All-Region catcher for Brentsville High in VA this past high school season. At Ray Seymour, she batted .333 with a couple doubles as a leadoff and many walks as well as timely hits with RBIs. (She) caught over 14 innings with 0 past balls and only had one steal attempt against her, throwing out that runner, giving (her a) 100 percent caught stealing rate. At second base, she had 0 errors and four putouts, two being dynamic plays.

(2026 1B) Riley Thomas has been with the team for over three years and the team’s (No.) 4 hitter. Riley is a great defensive first basemen, making picks at first base with ease. Riley was 1st Team All-District at Lightridge High in VA this past high school season. She is (a) power hitter that can take balls over the fence with ease. During Ray Seymour, Riley moved from 4 hitter to top of order, drawing over six walks with her great at-bats, giving her an OBP of .429. Riley also added several RBIs and hit a monstrous home run over center field Sunday morning.

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? (2027 P Taliah) Murria from Unity Luke 26/27. She is very tall and throws very hard. She had seven Ks against us and only gave up two hits.

Which team most impressed you and why? Fury Premier 2027(-Robinson). (a) young team that plays with fire and is very good. (They) had four pitchers that all located well and threw hard (and) threw a combined no-hitter against us.

*****

Leslie Robinson of Fury Premier 2027-Robinson, whose team went 4-1 in the 16U division:

What was your biggest takeaway from the Ray Seymour Invitational? This was our team’s first 16U tournament. We have worked very hard to be prepared for this moment and I feel like our hard work paid off. I am very proud of the way our team came out and competed. Ray Seymour is always an exciting tournament with so many coaches at the backstop. (I was) uncertain of how our girls would perform with this volume of coaches in attendance. I couldn’t be more proud of their performance as a team. Ray Seymour is always a great tournament and we love playing in it!

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? Our pitching staff worked as a true staff and came out strong. In seven games, our pitchers held opponents to a .193 batting average, striking out 50 over 38 innings.

On offense, our team batting average was .408. I was very proud of our offensive approaches and the way we made the most of every opportunity.

Overall, we scored 53 runs and allowed 13. I was very proud of our performance on both sides of the ball.

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? Unity Luke 2026 pitcher Ava Twilley was effective and held our lineup.

*****

In 14U:

*****

Ryan McCallum of Fury Platinum National 2028-McCallum, whose team went 5-0 in the 14U division:

What was your biggest takeaway from the Ray Seymour Invitational? The Ray Seymour event was a bright spot in the Sunshine State! Despite the uncertainty post-hurricanes, our participation aimed to support the local economies. Not only did all (of) our games start on time, but we also experienced no significant delays. The two-umpire crews communicated effectively, and the strike zones were appropriate for high school players. Every challenge was taken seriously by the crews. I left with confidence, knowing that the umpires were dedicated to making the correct calls for the players.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (2028 MIF) Jaiden McCallum, Middle Infielder shone brightly for our team this weekend. Over 15 plate appearances, she posted a .429 batting average and a .467 on-base percentage with six hits, three doubles and 6 runs scored out of our total 29 in five games. Initially slotted in the top four, Jaiden’s performance earned her the lead-off spot by the end of the weekend. In her first at-bat against EC Bullets Jackson/Travis 14U, she ripped a gap shot, landing on third to kick off the game; a complete tone setter and momentum taker for our team.

Jaiden’s defensive skills were equally impressive. In the Unity-Jones 14U game, Jaiden made a stunning backhand play, executing a “Derek Jeter throw” that most players her age wouldn’t attempt. This spectacular play set the tone for the rest of the game and was instrumental in our 14U pool win.

Do you have an uncommitted player we should highlight, that people around the country should know about? (2028 RHP/SS) Anna Hurst was stellar in the circle for us this weekend. Over 14 innings, she faced 57 batters and threw 192 pitches and had two complete games by herself! Her control was impressive with just four walks, four earned runs and seven strikeouts. She’s made significant progress in the circle for us as she expertly keeps hitters off balance with a devastating change-up and a drop ball that our catchers have grown to love working to get her the strike calls! With only two earned runs and a 1.21 WHIP, Anna’s performance was instrumental in helping our team win our 14U pool.

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? (2029 RHP) Rylee Swilley (of Santa Fe Inferno-Humphrey) never fails to impress. Although, I haven’t seen her play in years, she’s still the powerhouse pitcher I remember from when my Weston Explosion team faced her in 10U. After our games finished, she walked out of the park with me on Sunday with a bruised knee and calluses on her fingers, still as gritty and humble as ever. Beyond her talents, she’s just an incredible person, supported by a huge network on the East Coast. Her stats speak for themselves: 10 innings pitched, 12 strikeouts, two walks, a WHIP of 0.8, and an ERA of 0.7. Not to mention, she hit .538. Unreal.

Which team most impressed you and why? Everyone might focus on the Thunderbolts excelling in a less competitive pool, but the standout performance by Mojo (2010)-Lovelace caught our eye. They secured a victory over arguably Florida’s top 14U team, Clearwater Bullets-Schultheis, with a 1-0 win. I mentioned how our final game of the invitational against them would feel like a championship match, anticipating that we’d need to score at least three runs to secure a win, given their strong pitching lineup. Interestingly, they were the first 14U team I’ve seen using electronic devices to call pitches.

*****

Jeff Humphrey of Santa Fe Inferno-Humphrey, whose team went 5-0 in the 14U division:

What was your biggest takeaway from the Ray Seymour Invitational? (In) 14U, the three pools were fairly weak. Whoever made the schedule did not get all the top teams in the same pool.

Which player made the biggest impact on your team for the tournament? (2029 RHP/hitter) Rylee Swilley (.538 AVG, 7 hits, 7 runs, 10 IP, 12 Ks, 0.70 ERA, 0.80 WHIP)

Which player (from another team) most impressed you and why? (2029 P) Emma Ruiz (of) Florida Gold (29/30 Weston). She was best pitcher we faced all weekend. She moved the ball up and down well (and) mixed in a nice change-up.