The Florida Vibe and New York Rise pro softball organizations announced today the launching of professional scouting departments for what is believed to be the first time in pro fastpitch history.

For Year 1, Caylan Arnold Elliott will be the National Scouting Director for the Florida Vibe and Linnie Malkin will serve in the same position for her New York Rise team.

Both National Scouting Directors—along with soon-to-be added scouting staffs—will tour the country to watch and evaluate fastpitch athletes of all ages and compile a scouting databank for each organization.

“We’re excited to find the best athletes around the country for generations to come at the professional level” says Ryan Moore, the owner of the Florida Vibe and also the Executive Director of Fastpitch United, the new organization which features Pro & Amateur divisions.

“With pro softball growing at a rapid pace, providing a true scouting department for each team to travel around the country attending amateur events and watching collegiate players will be revolutionary,” Moore explains.

“Whether it’s in the American Collegiate League over the summer or in regular season college game events, our scouts will find the softball stars of the future. It’s never been done before and allows us to keep building the professional level and culture for generations to come.”

The National Scouting Directors for each professional team will be listed on the Fastpitch United website and any fastpitch player of any age—from youth up through college— will be able to submit info for the scouting databank including the athlete’s name, school program and relevant scouting data.

*** Elliott played Division I softball at the University of Tennessee and Florida State University from 2016-2021. After graduating, she began her professional softball career by playing overseas in Italy and the Netherlands.

She also competed professionally during the shortened AUX season in 2022, and in 2023, began playing professionally for the Florida Vibe.

Elliott started working as a TV analyst in 2022 in a wide range of sports for the ACC and SEC networks, including softball, baseball, basketball, and volleyball.  She is also a pitching instructor and an FCA Ambassador in Knoxville, Tennessee.

*** Malkin recently played for the New York Rise in 2024 before retiring to join as the Operations head in 2025.

Prior to joining the Rise, Linnie played college ball at the University of Arkansas where her 50 home runs stand as the most in program history.

She was a 2022 NFCA 1st Team All-American and, in high school, was named the Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Colorado in 2016.

In addition to Malkin’s responsibilities with the New York Rise, she will also be joining the Fastpitch United scouting department, representing the New York Rise as their Scout Supervisor.

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For more information, contact Caylan Arnold Elliott at the Florida Vibe celliott@vibesoftball.com and Linnie Malkin at the New York Rise via (jeff.ahn@thenewyorkrise.com.

Subscribe to Fastpitch United to follow event updates, memberships and the scouting databank.

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball