The world of youth softball moves fast — and few players cover as much ground as Chloe Johnstone.

In just 16 months, Chloe—a right-handed pitcher from Milton, Ontario (Canada) has competed for Athletics Gold – Tamborra and the Beverly Bandits, two of the strongest travel ball programs in the U.S., while also playing for the top U13 team in Eastern Canada, the Halton Hawks 2012 team.

Her U.S. travel ball journey has taken the Class of 2031 standout through 13 high-caliber tournaments across the Southeast and two Southern spring trainings logging miles through Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Indiana.

Layer onto that a dozen more tournaments with her Canadian squad across Canada and the Northeastern United States and Chloe’s schedule reads like that of a seasoned college athlete — not a burgeoning 12-year-old softball player.

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A Family Background of Stick & Ball Success

The roots of that fire to compete run deep.

Her parents, Tyler and Jennifer Johnstone, were both Division I scholarship athletes — Tyler playing baseball at Connors State College, Purdue University, and Auburn University before signing to play in the New York Mets organization, and Jennifer earning Softball All-American honors at Kennesaw State University.

Their experience, discipline, and high-performance mindset shaped the environment Chloe grew up in, and it shows every time she steps onto the field.

March 2024 became the turning point.

During Spring Break, the Johnstones traveled to Atlanta after a family friend connected Chloe with Athletics Gold – Tamborra for organizations’ spring training event.

It was an opportunity to see how a Canadian pitcher would stack up against the speed, strength, and softball IQ of the Southeastern U.S.  — a region known for producing some of the nation’s top talent.

The differences were unmistakable—the game moved faster, the hitters were stronger and nearly every player looked like a true 5-tool athlete.

For Chloe and her parents — who already knew how wide the gap was between Canadian and American competition — the experience was more eye-opening than they ever expected.

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Rising to the Challenge

But rather than feeling overwhelmed, Chloe found herself craving more of that environment. 

“I just loved playing softball and to go to the U.S. to play against the best players and teams in the country was exciting,” Chloe says. “I knew it would push me to be a better player.”

Within weeks, Athletics Gold – Tamborra head coach Jamey Beck called with an unexpected offer: he wanted Chloe to pick up for the team at two elite U.S. events — the PGF Super Select Invitational in Columbia, Tennessee, and the USSSA World Series in Viera Beach, Florida.

These weren’t just tournaments—they were measuring sticks.

Chloe not only held her own, she thrived—pitching against powerhouse organizations and proving she belonged among the most competitive 10U and 11U athletes in the country.

After watching her perform under pressure, Coach Beck made it official:

“Iron sharpens iron,” Coach Beck explains, “and this is where Chloe belongs if she wants to compete at the next level.”

Despite the financial cost, the long travel weeks, and the demanding schedule, the Johnstone family didn’t hesitate: they committed fully and what followed was a season unlike any other. 

“We understand the sacrifices it will take for Chloe to become the best softball player she can be,” Chloe’s mom, who herself knows what it takes to be successful in the sport, says.

“We knew that to help her grow she needed to be challenged alongside other high caliber athletes.”

The gauntlet of sacrifices that needed to be surmounted was challenging:

• Early morning flights.
• Long drives.
• Games from 8 am to 10 pm under brutal Southern heat.
• Moments of adversity that asked Chloe to find another gear — and she did. 

Every state visited brought a new lesson and every tournament played revealed another layer of her potential.

Every lineup she faced strengthened her game IQ and her resilience.

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Bridging the Gap Between Two Softball Worlds

In Canada, the game and competition is much different—smaller balls, shorter bases, and later starts in competitive play mean Canadian players often have to work a bit harder to catch up. 

Many athletes miss out on key developmental years before they ever see elite velocity, build true softball IQ, learn advanced strategy, or even play under the same rules used in the United States.

Chloe, however, is proving that the gap can be closed — and even overcome — with the right opportunities and relentless commitment.

Against some of the toughest hitters in the Southeastern United States, she’s shown not only that she belongs, but that she can excel.

Guided by her parents’ Division I experience and sharpened by months competing across the South, Chloe has begun carving out her identity as a player capable of growing past borders, expectations, and limitations.

And the journey isn’t slowing down.

This month, she’s traveled from the Great White North, so to speak, to attend college camps at the University of Florida and Florida State — two of the premier softball programs in the country.

In the end, this is a family powered by passion and commitment, proving that with the right opportunities, athletes like Chloe—and many Canadian players following the same path—can chase their dreams on any stage. 

And when Chloe’s chapter is written, her younger sister Aubrey won’t be far behind although there may be one difference that could separate the two talented siblings.

At just 10 years old, Aubrey’s already a pitcher with the same collegiate ambitions — just maybe not the same enthusiasm for living out of a suitcase.

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball

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Line Drive Softball will be tracking Chloe’s softball journey for the next several years… here’s how to follow her progress on social media:

• X/Twitter: https://x.com/johnstonechloe3
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/softballfamily/
• Game Changer: https://web.gc.com/athlete/chloejohnstone12