Oh, the weather outside is frightful…. in many parts of the country right now… and Christmas 2024 is just two weeks away, but that doesn’t mean those in the softball world aren’t looking ahead and planning for the Summer of 2025.

Nate Eaton, the long-time club coach and events director, is dialed in to one particular weekend next summer, June 9-11, 2025, when he will be busy producing two highly anticipated fastpitch events back-to-back.

Eaton is the co-founder of Diamond Direction Events and will be spearheading not one, but two, popular softball events in Kansas City—the invitation-only club team event called Sweet 16 Presented by Bownet to run June 9-10 and the one-day player camp titled Connect Kansas City to be held June 11.

The two events, which will be held at the Mid-American Sports Complex in Shawnee, Kansas, are already drawing heavy interest from top club teams and top college programs alike, Eaton says.

They’ll be right in sequence before two other big summer events in KC—the Top Gun Invitationals and the Team 1 Elite Invite—both of which run concurrently right after the wrap-ups of the Sweet 16 and the Connect Camp KC.

“Hosting the Sweet 16 and Connect in June 2025,” he begins, is an absolute no brainer because the majority of college softball will be in Kansas City the week after the Women’s College World series to scout and recruit the top youth talent in the country.  Kansas City attracts so many top teams, we couldn’t say ‘no’ when this opportunity presented itself.”

Here’s a closer look at the first two events that week…

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Sweet 16 Presented by Bownet

The tournament kicking off the weekend is invitation only and will feature just 16 teams in each of the 18U, 16U and 14U age divisions. The attending teams list is not yet finalized but already includes top programs such as the Beverly Bandits, Lady Dukes, Hotshots, Lady Dukes, Nebraska Gold, Select Fastpitch, St. Louis Chaos and Team North Carolina.

The title sponsor is Bownet, which will provide nets, balls and tees for all the teams so they do not have to travel with any equipment.

Each age division will play for a $5,000 prize and the top club overall will win $10,000.  The idea, Eaton explains, is for club organizations to send their best 14U, 16U, and 18U teams.

“We will have a point system and the club with the most points will win the $10,000,” he continues.

“My intention here is to create camaraderie among clubs in this event.
It will be rewarding if each team is able to watch the other teams within the org compete and get to know one another. In my opinion, this is something that is not happening as much as it used to among clubs and is a really special part for the athletes to take part in. It builds team chemistry and organizational pride.” 

BASICS: Sweet 16 Presented by Bownet

• Dates:  June 9/10, 2025
• Location: Mid-America/Mid America West Parks in Kansas City area (Shawnee, KS)
• What Is It? An invitational tournament for 18U, 16U and 14U squads with 16 teams per age division.
• Tournament Structure: Three pool games into a single-elimination bracket. 
• What Travel Teams Will Be There? Click HERE to see the teams/clubs confirmed to date (click on Teams Attending button)

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Connect KC Camp

The KC Connect camp is one of a series that also includes Connect Chicago on July 9 and Connect Carolinas on August 9-10, 2025.

“What we have heard from our college coaching partners,” says Eaton, “is that Connect has allowed them to not only identify new talent but also has allowed them to stay connected to the athletes they already know throughout the summer months when they would normally just get to watch them play.”

“This feedback from our partners has been so universal that it pushed us to create Connect in KC,” he continues. “We now have Connect KC, Connect Chicago and Connect Carolinas and this will allow the top athletes and our college coaching partners to stay connected in the most critical times of the season—June, July and August.” 

The captured data of each athlete will be useful for those who can watch or get the data sooner or later.

Says Eaton:

“This is great info for the athletes as well as they can share with coaches that are not in attendance.”

BASICS: Connect Camp – Kansas City

• Date:  June 11, 2025
• Location: Mid-America/Mid America West Parks in Kansas City
• What Is It? A one-day workout with over 120 college coaches in one location on one day
• Benefit: All Power 4 schools and campers can completely customize their camp day so attendees can be seen by 4-5 college programs in one day.
• Length: Each camp session is 75 minutes with a max of 16 athletes per session.  
• Pitching & Catching Battery Spotlight: Pitchers and catchers will have their own session for one hour and 40 minutes where all schools will be present to work with and observe these athletes.
• What Colleges Will Be There?  Click HERE to see list of all contacted schools to attend (scroll down page).
• Benefits: Top Gun Metrics will be captured on all athletes and will be shared with all coaches so they can use this data to help them scouting. 

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Events Locations

The tournament and camp will take place at the Mid-America/Mid America West Parks in Kansas City which are considered as state-of-the-art facilities for softball events.

“Mid America is virtually a brand-new complex—all redone in the last two years,” Eaton adds, “and Mid America West was completely being redone while we were there and will be all turf by June.”

“We will have the top collegiate programs in probably the nicest two complexes in the country,” the long-time coach explains, “all while having some of the nation’s best talent all in one place for the Sweet 16 and Top Gun tournaments.”

“Even if an athlete’s team isn’t attending one of the two events, they can’t afford not to attend in my opinion,” the long-time coach and event leader concludes.

“There’s just too much value in coming to a Connect event.”

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball