Atlanta Premier 06 Gets it Done with Unselfishness, Small Ball

Atlanta Premier Fastpitch 06 Ray

by Kyle Parmley – Fastpitch Network

Charlie Ray’s Atlanta Premier 06 team won’t be mistaken for the 1927 Yankees, but they can sure beat you in a variety of ways.

“We’re quick and small with some power,” said Ray, who plans to coach this team all the way through its 18U years. “We can steal bases top to bottom. We don’t hit a lot of home runs, but we dent the fence pretty good.”

Despite not hitting a ton of long balls, the team’s offense can look like poetry in motion when it’s clicking on all cylinders.

Atlanta Premier Fastpitch 06 Ray
Atlanta Premier Fastpitch 06 Ray
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Carolina Elite Prepares Players For The Next Level

by Rachel Pfeiffer – Fastpitch Network

Carolina Elite produces top-notch softball players through rigorous coaching and relentless networking. Tony Genovese coached the first 14U team in 2007. Soon after that he brought Dana Fusetti on board. The organization has grown from there, now with teams from 8U through 23U.

Fusetti believes the organization’s greatest strength is the connections that she and coaches Genovese and Shaun Gleason have with college programs.

“We work really well together from a coaching standpoint to help get kids recruited. If a Carolina Elite coach has a player on their team that wants to go to a particular school, and that coach does not have a relationship with one of the coaches from that program, he can reach out to Tony and me. It’s not a competition by any means. We have the same goal: get the kids recruited,” Fusetti says.

Carolina Elite – Original Elite Grads
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“Jasoni Beachum Shows Strong Performance In Offense And Defense, Commits to Florida State”

Jaysoni Beachum #23 Florida State Commit

by Ross Jacobs – Fastpitch Network

Jaysoni (Jay) Beachum comes through for her team in the biggest moments, whether a big hit is needed or a game changing play in the field.

The 16-year-old class of 2023 talent plays for the U18 Mojo Danley squad and is one of the best players in her class – ranking as the #6 corner infielder and 49th overall player on Fastpitch and 12th ranked player on Extra.

Beachum is a complete player – swinging a big bat, while being a smooth fielder and possessing an upbeat personality off-the-field that teammates gravitate towards. Her number 24 has a special meaning. It was her grandmother’s number when she played softball and as Beachum explains, “she sounds like she was the real deal from back in the day.”

Mojo Danley
Mojo 2023 – Danley
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Ruthless Rises Above with Elite-Level Training

Ruthless Softball w Crystl Bustos

by Tracy Yoder – Fastpitch Network

Ruthless knows how to rise above any challenges that are thrown their way. While adversity occurs both on and off the field, Ruthless athletes learn to meet the challenge head on.

The Ruthless logo, a Phoenix, demonstrates the organization’s strength and resilience to overcome. The logo predominantly displayed within the Ruthless organization, was created and designed by Crystl Bustos herself, a three-time Olympian, two-time Gold medalist, and Olympic home run record leader.

Ruthless Softball launched in 2013 as a local training facility and a 10U team. Now with nearly 35 teams spanning the nation from California to the Midwest and all the way to the east coast, Ruthless fields teams from 8U to 18U with national teams competing at the 14U, 16U, and 18U levels.

Ruthlesssoftball.org
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Editors Note: *National Pro Fastpitch announced the suspension of league operations Aug 1, 2021.

Texas Blaze’s Vision Stays the Same through Success; Growth

Texas Blaze Fastpitch Club

by Kyle Parmley – Fastpitch Network

JB Slimp began the Texas Blaze softball club program in 2003 with a 14U team his oldest daughter was on.

“Like a lot of dads, I had been coaching her in all sports,” Slimp said. “We had a team in 2003 and at that time, my vision was to create a great atmosphere for these kids to get better and be a competitive team in our area.”

That mission was accomplished. The team began having more success and with each passing year, Slimp became passionate and informed about the recruiting process for softball players hoping to play at the college level.

Texas Blaze www.texasblaze.org
Texas Blaze www.texasblaze.org
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Kylie Edwards Relies On The Details

Kylee Edwards , Indiana Magic Gold - Kleiner

by Ross Jacobs – Fastpitch Network

Kylee Edwards is a perfectionist. She also works extremely hard at softball and everything she does, so it should come as no surprise that she is among the top ranked players in the 2023 class. As the #7 ranked middle infielder and 48th ranked player overall for Fastpitch Network, Edwards is one of the best shortstops/middle infielders in the country.

The Indiana Magic Gold 16U team are off to a strong start having beaten several of the top teams in the country this season. Head Coach Stephanie Kleiner, who has coached for 15 years, this year merged her team with 5-6 players from another Indiana Magic team and thanks to players like Edwards, the results have been encouraging.

“The team has come together really well,” said Kleiner. “Kylee is a special player and she’s had no problems continuing relationships with the players she came over with, while also making new ones. She’s a team player who leads by example and gets very excited when her teammates make good plays.”

Kylee Edwards, Indiana Magic Gold 16U 2023
Kylee Edwards, Indiana Magic Gold 16U 2023
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Sorcerer’s Ava Conti Works Hard With a Purpose

Ava Conti (Right) Sorcerer Fastpitch 2023

by Tracy Yoder – Fastpitch Network

Ava Conti dominates the pitcher’s circle with confidence and poise – she’s all business, according to her coach Mike Faulstich with Sorcerer Softball. A 5’8” 158lb right-handed pitcher and first baseman from Redwood City, California and Carlmont High School, Conti is known for her tenacity and competitive spirit.

“Ava brings a wealth of experience to Sorcerer,” states Faulstich and “we love her demeanor and controlled fire she plays with.” Conti is ranked as the No. 19 pitcher in the 2023 class, according to Fastpitch Network, and likely to push the rankings this season.

“She refuses to be outworked in anything she does,” states Faulstich, and always working daily on her physical and mental game. Her personal mantra is “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard” and Conti displays a true grit mentality, competitive spirit, and a sense of determination that is one of a kind.

Sorcerer Softball Logo
Sorcerer Softball Logo
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DaNia Brooks Strong Bat Helps Team

Denia Brooks In the Circle

by Ross Jacobs – Fastpitch Network

If you see DaNia Brooks, she likes to keep it simple. She likes to smile and puts a premium on having fun, which drives her and her team on the softball field.

The 15-year-old, rising Junior for the Tampa Mustangs 16U squad primarily plays the hot corner and pitches for her coach Rene Ciccarello Jr., whom she’s played for since 2014.

“She is a remarkable player, and probably the toughest out to get on the field,” said Ciccarello. “You throw her a change up and you wish you didn’t. You throw her a rise pitch and she gets  her barrel on it. DaNia has always been a tremendous athlete with incredible strength and hand-eye coordination.”

Denia Brooks Tampa Mustangs Rene
Denia Brooks Tampa Mustangs Rene
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Sorcerer Faulstich Promotes Learning and Growth Opportunities

Sorcerer Softball Logo

by Tracy Yoder – Fastpitch Network

Power and speed define Sorcerer Faulstich, a 16U team based out of Fairfield, CA. Formerly known as Universal Fastpitch, Mike Faulstich joins Sorcerer Softball with his talented group of athletes from all around northern California.

Faulstich has coached travel ball for the past 20 years and will be in his fifth year coaching alongside Brian Sullivan and Dave Garcia this season. “We’ve all had our daughters play the game and now we’re on a mission for this group of talented athletes,” states Faulstich.

Sorcerer Faulstich “has an incredibly balanced attack with power and speed,” with a strong line-up of 7 lefties in the roster of 15 players. “We have to have one of the best outfields in the country,” states Faulstich, and “our five pitchers complement each other extremely well as they bring different components to the circle

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Sorcerer Softball Logo
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Beverly Bandits DeMarini-Yates Growing Up in Many Respects

Thomas Ryleigh pitching Beverly Bandits Demarini Yates

by Kyle Parmley – Fastpitch Network

Jim Yates has watched his team grow up before his eyes, in stature as well as ability.

The majority of his Beverly Bandits DeMarini 16u team is composed of players that have been playing together for many years, even before they became a Bandits team at the 12u level.

That first year as a Bandits team, Yates took them to the PGF Nationals. So, he’s known for a while he’s got a group of girls with plenty of potential. Not only are they talented and becoming better by the day, but Yates has long been impressed with their love for one another.

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Beverly Bandits Logo
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