You couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day for softball play on Friday for the first of three showcase-filled days in Clearwater, Fla. at 2024 Clearwater Fall Classic.

Teams from across the nation in the age divisions of 18U, 16U and 14U competed in what many consider the top showcase event of the Fall Season.

One top club coach, Greg Schnute of East Cobb Bullets 18U Gold, pointed to multiple reasons why you had many of the best travel ball organizations in the country in Florida this weekend.

“You have this great weather (high of 77 with comfortable breezes), the fields are great, the time of the year to be seen by college coaches and the level of competition is fantastic.”

A great feature of the Clearwater Fall Classic is it integrates teams who normally play Alliance or PGF, working towards their own separate nationals over the summer, and rarely play each other.

One example on Friday afternoon: the Corona Angels 18U – Tyson team, one of the most successful and talent-laden programs on the Alliance side, played the Birmingham Thunderbolts led by Rocky Thompson and winners of multiple PGF National Championship and it was great to see the Angels Head Coach Marty Tyson in the third base box having conversations with Coach Rocky in the third base dugout.

The Angels won that game 5-2, by the way, and other similar battles of teams “crossing party lines” (often, the coaches of both teams asking tournament director Jim Barsalona to set up specific matchups).

*****

COACHING INSTRUCTION KEY FOR DAY 1

Fridays in the Fall the D1 college coaches are not allowed to recruit so the action yesterday allowed the club teams to work more on fundamentals and team play…. Not so much the showcasing of individual talent.

Saturday, however, will be the exact opposite as hundreds of college coaches from across the nation will be in attendance. Several coaches indicated that Friday’s more relaxed atmosphere allowed them to work on game situations and instruction.

Saturday, by contrast, will be a frenzy of great action as well as showcasing uncommitted athletes. Some teams have a lot of uncommitted players who will get much needed exposure and then you have teams like the aforenoted Corona Angels – Tyson that had only two players – Ariana Magdaleno, a 2026 infielder, and Ivy Burnham, a 2027 outfielder, who are uncommitted.

*****

TOP INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES

From sunup to sundown Friday, there were great performances by players of all ages… here are some we saw and impressed.

*** Alabama Crimson Tide fans will be happy to hear that the SEC school has two incoming pitchers who looked fantastic on Day 1.

Kaitlyn Pallozzi, recently ranked #2 by Line Drive in the 2025 class, struck out the side to kick off day in the circle and showed great speed, location and an excellent change-up.

In the second inning two runners got on base, but Pallozzi induced two pop up bunt outs to third baseman Kennedy Halverson after Head Coach Mike Wallace pulled the pitcher to the side and told her: “Know the hitters are trying to move the runners so pitch according and the bunters will pop out,” and they did.

The other future Tide pitcher who shined on Day 1 was Victoria (“Vic”) Moten, a pick-up for the Birmingham Thunderbolts – Rocky team who was dominant in the team’s 5-2 win over the Angels 16U Slye team.

In the circle, she had eight strikeouts in four innings, giving up just three hits and not allowing an earned while while also crushing a three-run homer for her team.

*** The East Cobb Bullets 18U – Schnute team defeated the Angels – Tyson team 4-3 and tied another powerhouse program, the OC Batbusters 18U – Stith team, 3-3.

The pitching was excellent for Coach Schnute’s team as 2026 right-hander Kate Brennan had 10 K’s in six innings, giving up just two walks and four hits in the 4-3 victory while Shaniyah Gibson showed the talent that allowed her to commit to Georgia Tech last weekend on a visit to the school.

Just 16 years old, she was pulled up to the 18U team thanks to her 68-plus mph heat and she actually touched 70 mph a couple times in her game on Saturday.

Shaniyah was effective in the tie with the Batbusters as she gave up just four hits, a walk and an unearned run while looking explosive in the circle.

*** I had a great time sitting and talking to Kevin Shelton of the Texas Glory, who had a pair of games late in the day with his 18U team so he spent the afternoon watching Coach Cedric Coleman’s 16U team play well in a 1-0 tough loss to Virginia Unity.

Coach Kevin said he’ll be in the game for at least a few more years as she has a promising 2030 pitcher coming up that he’s excited to work with.

“Development” is a big emphasis in the Texas Glory organization and the head of the program noted:

“Our goal is to promote the ongoing growth in the culture of our program as a while.”

An example of this is regular call-ins where coaches and parents at each age division can get on a conference call and ask questions.

*** One player who impressed for Shelton’s 18U team was 2026 middle infielder/outfielder Bri Cesario, who is the No. 2 hole hitter and just gets the job done, moving around the leadoff hitter and others who get on base before her.

From Farmersville, Texas, Bri is a major sleeper in her class who should—and will—get a lot more recruiting attention over the next few years as she does so many things well to help her team win.

Coach Shelton loved her attitude when she confidently came to him during a tournament and said: “Coach, I can help the team. Put me in the lineup and I’ll get the job done.”

And she has ever since… and earns my pick as the Sleeper Player of the Tournament, one whose stock will shoot up after her impressive play this weekend.

Click HERE to watch our Friday interview with Coach Shelton

*****

OTHERS WHO IMPRESSED:

* Pitcher Montserrat Reyes-Cardenas, a San Diego State commit, who hit her spots and had an impressive screwball for the Corona Angels – Tyson 18U team.

* Madisyn Williamson, a 2027 catcher for the Virginia Glory – Willemssen team, hit an impressive home run in her team’s game with the Strykers.

* Joe Procelli’s Empire State Huskies team looks strong in pitching and one to keep an eye on is Vivian Knott from Darien, Conn. She is getting a lot of attention from college scouts and will be one who will be watched closely this weekend.