One of Deschanel’s cherished memories is making it to the Elite 8 at the Alliance Nationals, a moment that stands out in her early career. Her favorite player, Jordy Bahl, serves as an inspiration, motivating Deschanel as she continues to push herself.

Currently, Deschanel’s goals are focused on committing to a Power 4 school and making the Canadian Women’s Olympic team, reflecting her ambition to excel at the highest levels of the sport.

The Alliance Fastpitch recognizes Deschanel Donovan as Player of the Month, celebrating her outstanding contributions to the game and her dedication to both personal and athletic development.

What is the Alliance Fastpitch Player Recognition Program?

The Player Recognition Program was built to recognize and spotlight our individual players in each Member League. Each month, registered Alliance Fastpitch coaches can nominate a player from their age division. League Leadership will review nominations and a monthly stats report from AthletesGoLive (AGL) to determine the League’s Player of the Month.

Following the announcement of each League’s Players of the Month, the Alliance Fastpitch will recognize a National Player of the Month. To be considered for Player of the Month, your team must score League games in AGL so your stats will be included in the League’s monthly report.

The post Deschanel Donovan Named NWFL Player of the Month for July appeared first on Northwest Fastpitch League.

One of Nevaeh’s most cherished memories is reaching the championship game in the Arizona Last Blast tournament, a testament to the hard work and determination she and her teammates put in to get that far.

Her favorite player is Montana Fouts, who inspires her on the field. Off the field, Nevaeh enjoys going to the beach and binge-watching movies, balancing her competitive spirit with relaxation and fun.

Currently, Nevaeh’s goals include winning the Washington 3A State Championship, earning straight A’s in school, and becoming the Gatorade Player of the Year. Her dedication to both her sport and academics drives her to achieve excellence in every aspect of her life.

The Alliance Fastpitch recently recognized Nevaeh as Player of the Month, celebrating her exceptional contributions to the sport and her unwavering commitment to personal and athletic growth.

What is the Alliance Fastpitch Player Recognition Program?

The Player Recognition Program was built to recognize and spotlight our individual players in each Member League. Each month, registered Alliance Fastpitch coaches can nominate a player from their age division. League Leadership will review nominations and a monthly stats report from AthletesGoLive (AGL) to determine the League’s Player of the Month.

Following the announcement of each League’s Players of the Month, the Alliance Fastpitch will recognize a National Player of the Month. To be considered for Player of the Month, your team must score League games in AGL so your stats will be included in the League’s monthly report.

The post Nevaeh Haagen Named NWFL Player of the Month for July appeared first on Northwest Fastpitch League.

 Chloe Bailey’s softball journey begins with her mom, who played the sport and inspired Chloe to follow in her footsteps.

A cherished softball memory for Chloe is playing in the Little League World Series.

Chloe’s favorite player is Kelly Barnhill. Outside of softball, she enjoys working out and hanging out with her friends.

Chloe’s current goals are to play Division I softball and become a physical therapist or athletic trainer. The Alliance Fastpitch commends Chloe on her well-deserved recognition as Player of the Month, acknowledging her outstanding contributions to the sport and her commitment to personal and athletic growth.

Her coach, Kayla Jordan Davis, describes Chloe as a hard worker, leader, and true competitor on the field. Chloe continues to increase her velocity and spin rate in the circle, with the ability to throw to all four quadrants. She fields her position extremely well and usually plays first or third base when not pitching. Chloe generally hits in the middle of the lineup with a powerful swing. She had an amazing spring pitching for Niceville High School, compiling a record of 10 wins and 2 losses, while striking out 139 in 93 innings. She was recognized by NWF Daily News as 6A Pitcher of the Year. Her success continues this summer in the circle, compiling 49.2 innings, with an ERA of 1.128, BAA of .163, and 80 strikeouts. Chloe is a leader and a hard worker.

What is the Alliance Fastpitch Player Recognition Program?

The Player Recognition Program was built to recognize and spotlight our individual players in each Member League. Each month, registered Alliance Fastpitch coaches can nominate a player from their age division. League Leadership will review nominations and a monthly stats report from AthletesGoLive (AGL) to determine the League’s Player of the Month.

Following the announcement of each League’s Players of the Month, the Alliance Fastpitch will recognize a National Player of the Month. To be considered for Player of the Month, your team must score League games in AGL so your stats will be included in the League’s monthly report.

The post Chloe Bailey Named NWFL Player of the Month for June appeared first on Northwest Fastpitch League.

Jessika Jennings’s softball journey begins at age 7, inspired by her dad’s baseball background. Her father signs her up for little league, marking the start of an amazing adventure. By 9, she loves playing 10U softball. When she reaches 12U, she decides to become a catcher, wanting to follow in her dad’s footsteps. Despite her dad’s tough initiation, which involves blocking balls until she cries, Jessika’s determination shines through, and she commits to catching. This experience becomes one of her core memories with her dad. As she moves to 14U with the Bandits, she is asked to pitch for her team. Although she had only pitched for fun, Jessika’s talent is nurtured by her pitching coach, Larry O’Toole, who becomes both her coach and therapist. She juggles pitching and catching throughout 14U, but when she transitions to 16U, she decides to focus solely on pitching. Despite her dad’s initial resistance to her catching, he feels a pang of sadness at her decision. Now a full-time pitcher and hitter, Jessika credits her dad for instilling grit and hunger in her from that initial training session.

A cherished softball memory for Jessika is placing 3rd at the 2023 TC World Series after playing six games in 100-degree heat, pitching in all six games.

Her favorite player is Kylee Magee, a former ASU player now at Nebraska. Outside of softball, Jessika enjoys participating in JROTC at her high school, reading, working out at the gym, riding horses, listening to music, and working at a swim school.

Jessika’s current goals include attending a four-year college to study chemistry while playing softball and participating in ROTC. She aspires to join the Army as an officer and become a chemical engineer.

The Alliance Fastpitch commends Jessika on her well-deserved recognition as Player of the Month, acknowledging her outstanding contributions to the sport and her commitment to personal and athletic growth.

Her coach, Curtis Elliott, describes her as a great teammate who works hard both on and off the field, which is evident in her play and academics. His favorite memories are of watching her grow in her pitching and hitting over the past year, developing into a top-level player ready for the next level. He confidently believes that good things are in store for her.

What is the Alliance Fastpitch Player Recognition Program?

The Player Recognition Program was built to recognize and spotlight our individual players in each Member League. Each month, registered Alliance Fastpitch coaches can nominate a player from their age division. League Leadership will review nominations and a monthly stats report from AthletesGoLive (AGL) to determine the League’s Player of the Month.

Following the announcement of each League’s Players of the Month, the Alliance Fastpitch will recognize a National Player of the Month. To be considered for Player of the Month, your team must score League games in AGL so your stats will be included in the League’s monthly report.

The post Jessika Jennings Named NWFL Player of the Month for June appeared first on Northwest Fastpitch League.

More often than not, we hear about dual sport athletes facing massive problems. How can you keep pace with the player whose pure focus is softball and only softball? Eliana Van Horn had some contradictions to that statement. Van Horn is a part of Shorewood High School’s 2026 graduation class and pitches for the KB Fastpitch 16u team. Recently, Van Horn had been selected as the NWFL Player of the Month in January, something chosen among numerous nominations based on leadership and statistics; she also earned a badge in the Alliance’s new trophy case. Van Horn enjoys going to Alliance tournaments because it’s a “great opportunity to showcase different people who are succeeding.” Since each team has to qualify to attend these tournaments, Van Horn knows she’ll get to play high-caliber talent and looks forward to “(grinding) out” each win.

Van Horn started playing softball because of her brother. She grew up going to his baseball games and enjoyed being on the sidelines. After watching for a while, Van Horn decided that she wanted to play too. She started out playing for a summer baseball team, then started playing softball when the opportunity was available. From there, she grew into a leader on and off the field. Coach Joe Hauck, the head coach of the KB Fastpitch team, says part of their team culture is to lead in “whatever field they choose,” and provide empathy for teammates. “(Van Horn) checks off” these boxes. After giving softball a shot, it just stuck for Van Horn, and she fell in love after that.

She finds joy in the game and the people around her within it. She remembers going to Alliance Nationals in Indianapolis, a weeklong tournament. She enjoyed the high-caliber competition, but the length of the tournament also provided opportunities for team bonding. Van Horn remembers going “for frozen yogurt millions of times” and doing karaoke when they weren’t playing. Everyone acknowledged they were getting obnoxious and noisy, but Van Horn says it was “fun because it was like they were in their own little world.”

Van Horn is passionate about softball, but what does she do outside of softball? Van Horn is a wrestler. Her brother also inspired her to wrestle. When she started in eighth grade, he had already been wrestling for three years (five years today). Van Horn went into eighth grade trying to think of something to do outside of softball, and that’s when her brother pressured her to try. When she started wrestling, she went into it with the mentality of “If I don’t like it, I don’t have to continue doing it.” After continuing to wrestle in ninth grade, though, these thoughts changed from a “we’ll see” attitude to enjoying the sport. Van Horn loves the girls she’s surrounded by and feels like she’s in a “tight-knit community.” Considering there aren’t many women in the sport, “It’s such an empowering atmosphere,” Van Horn said. “If you can survive on the mat, you can put up with anything put your way.”

She saw this empowerment in their regionals match last year and their district title match this year. Last year, they won the regional title, something her school had never done before, let alone the girl’s wrestling program. Van Horn thought it was “really cool to be a part of something” like that, especially since it was an achievement that increased the perspective that girls are capable of wrestling. This achievement pushed Van Horn and her teammates to continue taking steps forward, as seen in their district title match this season. It was a tough match and Van Horn thought it was “awesome to see everyone ban together…(to grind) out through tough matches.” After winning the match, Van Horn claimed it felt like a relief. They had worked extremely hard to reach that point and to “see their work was for something…was really cool.”

There’s plenty of conflict when it comes to dual sport athletes. As far as Van Horn’s case, there were plenty of time overlaps between softball practice and wrestling matches; they were fortunate that wrestling season didn’t conflict with tournaments. Van Horn is immensely grateful that Coach Hauck is very understanding. She did “have to miss days of wrestling for travel ball,” but she also had “to miss some days of (softball) practice for wrestling.” Van Horn appreciates that her coaches are accommodating and allow her to do both. Because of this, she feels she’s able to change priorities for what’s most important for her at that moment. Whether it’s softball, wrestling, or simply taking care of her physical health, Coach Hauck has been very understanding. Part of why they’re so understanding, though, is the competitive benefits they gain from her participation in wrestling.

“Every kid is on their own path.” Coach Hauck said. “The kid needs to determine what’s best for them.” He doesn’t get immensely strict with practice with his dual sport athletes, especially when he can notice the positives. Through wrestling, Van Horn works more on her strength and her endurance. Because of wrestling, she spends more time in the weight room. Coach Hauck has also noticed that, because of wrestling, she’s grown “into a better pitcher through velocity and endurance.” He’s also noticed a change in her mental edge. Outside of her physical improvements, wrestling has offered a one-on-one type of competition you can’t always get from team sports. The pressure of winning or losing has provided her with a different mental edge, something huge when she’s in the circle.

There are plenty of downsides to being a dual sport athlete, but the upsides can prove just as impactful, as seen through Van Horn and her journey as a wrestler.

Van Horn placed 1st in districts and 4th in regionals to make it to State during the 2024 season

The post A Mental Edge appeared first on Northwest Fastpitch League.

Ellie’s softball journey began at the age of 9, inspired by her brother’s baseball games. Growing up attending his games, she decided to try softball, drawn to the challenges that pushed her to grow and strive for improvement. The sport not only captivates her with its challenges but also provides moments of joy and excitement, especially during cool plays and comeback wins. Ellie treasures the camaraderie and friendships built with her teammates during travel tournaments and team bonding activities, both on and off the field.

While softball is a significant part of Ellie’s life, she also excels in wrestling for her high school. This season, she achieved notable success by placing first in districts and fourth in regionals, earning her a spot at the state level. Outside of sports, Ellie enjoys spending time with her family, engaging in activities like puzzles and skiing.

Current goals for Ellie include playing softball at the collegiate level and helping her high school team reach the state level this season. She aspires to continue improving in both softball and wrestling.

Coaches describe Ellie as a strong, mature young woman who is a catalyst for positive change on the team. She is known for her ability to speak her mind, hold her teammates accountable, and quickly turn around the mindset of herself and her teammates. As a utility player, Ellie is versatile, able to move around the infield and corner outfield positions. Off the field, Ellie maintains a 4.0 GPA and gives back to the sport by volunteering as an assistant coach for her local middle school’s softball team.

A standout memory for the coaches was during an 18u tournament in the past fall when Ellie showcased her pitching prowess, executing three backdoor curves in a row to the same batter for three straight strikes, reminiscent of a memorable moment in baseball history.

Ellie Van Horn’s dedication, skill, and positive impact on and off the field make her a deserving recipient of the Player of the Month honor. She continues to inspire with her contributions, leaving a lasting mark on the sport of softball.

What is the Alliance Fastpitch Player Recognition Program?

The Player Recognition Program was built to recognize and spotlight our individual players in each Member League. Each month, registered Alliance Fastpitch coaches can nominate a player from their age division. League Leadership will review nominations and a monthly stats report from AthletesGoLive (AGL) to determine the League’s Player of the Month.

Following the announcement of each League’s Players of the Month, the Alliance Fastpitch will recognize a National Player of the Month.

To be considered for Player of the Month, your team must score League games in AGL so your stats will be included in the League’s monthly report.

The post Ellie Van Horn Name NWFL Player of the Month for January appeared first on Northwest Fastpitch League.

Izzy’s softball journey began at the age of 5, starting with the local little league. As she got older, her passion for the game grew, leading her to play in Little League, travel softball, and school ball simultaneously. The special bonds formed with teammates each year are what she loves most about softball. The Bandits organization, with its abundance of talent, pushes Izzy to be the best version of herself both on and off the field.

A favorite softball memory for Izzy is her recent Grand Slam at the Las Vegas Best of the Best Showcase in January. It marked her second home run of the season, and the hard work, both physically and mentally, that went into that moment is immeasurable. Through softball, she has learned valuable life lessons – the importance of hard work, surrounding oneself with believers, and never giving up.

When asked about her favorite softball players, Izzy couldn’t pick just one. Having University of Washington softball season tickets, she admires Gabby Plain for her pitching, Sis Bates for her defense, Sami Reynolds and Baylee Klingler for their offense, and Brooke Nelson for her all-around grit.

Outside of softball, Izzy enjoys playing basketball and soccer for her school. She also loves camping, swimming at the lake, and spending time with her two dogs.

Current goals for Izzy include fine-tuning her pitching skills and continuing to work on her hitting. Having earned 1st Team league honors as an 8th grader last year, she aims to repeat the achievement this year and lead her team to State. Academically, Izzy aspires to finish the year with all A’s. Additionally, she plans to volunteer at her local little league, where her own softball journey began, to inspire the next generation.

Izzy Blase’s dedication, skill, and passion for the game make her a deserving recipient of the Player of the Month honor. She continues to inspire with her contributions both on and off the field, leaving an unforgettable mark on the sport of softball.

The post Izzy Blase Name NWFL Player of the Month for January appeared first on Northwest Fastpitch League.

Ava’s softball journey began at the age of five when she started playing little league, immediately falling in love with the sport. Her early club team experience with the Boise Blast set the foundation for her growth as an athlete. The transition to the Racers brought her back together with old friends, and playing for Dave Dwyer marked a transformative period that enhanced her love and respect for the game. Ava has spent the last three seasons under Dwyer’s guidance, creating cherished memories on the diamond. In March of the previous year, she verbally committed to play for Fairfield University, eagerly anticipating the opportunities her softball career has in store.

A standout softball memory for Ava occurred at the Triple Crown Nationals tournament in July of 2023. Facing elimination in the knockout rounds, Ava delivered a game-changing hit in extra innings, extending the season and providing a heartfelt moment with her senior teammate and best friend, Penny.

Ava’s favorite softball player is Michaela Edenfield, a catcher for the Seminoles. Beyond her skills on the field, Ava admires Edenfield’s unique pre-game ritual of sharing elaborate makeup videos, embodying Ava’s life-long motto: “Look good, feel good, play good.”

Outside of softball, Ava enjoys activities such as going to the gym, skiing, rafting, and spending time in the great outdoors.

Current goals for Ava include savoring every “last” experience in her senior year, from school days to softball games. Long-term aspirations involve owning her own gym and becoming a personal trainer, combining her passion for fitness with a fulfilling career.

Ava Armuth’s dedication, skill, and passion for the game make her a deserving recipient of the Player of the Month honor. She continues to inspire with her contributions both on and off the field, leaving an unforgettable mark on the sport of softball.

The post Ava Armuth Name NWFL Player of the Month for January appeared first on Northwest Fastpitch League.

National Team takes the Pitcher’s Duel in Third Annual Alliance All-Star Game

Powered by Under Armour

JULY 24, 2023 – The National Team takes a 3-1 victory over the American Team in this year’s All-Star game in front of a standing room only crowd.

The third annual Alliance All-Star game was played at Cal State Fullerton’s Anderson Family Field and powered by Under Armour. Every coach and player at the event were given a world class experience-outfitted in full Under Armour gear. In a groundbreaking move, the All-Star game was called by a four person, all female umpiring crew provided and outfitted by 3N2 Sports. In addition to Anderson Family Field being packed, many watched the game from home, streamed live by AthletesGoLive with a multi-camera production and announcers calling the game. These sponsors helped put together a memorable day to give these female athletes the experience they deserve in the areas of recovery, training, and competition.

This year’s teams featured star-studded coaching line-ups.  The National Team was led by Tiare Jennings (Oklahoma, 3 Time National Champion), Olivia Dinardo (Arizona, PAC 12 Freshman Team) and Jen Schroeder (Former UCLA Catcher, Founder of The Package Deal). The American Team was coached by Jodie Legaspi-Kiaha (Orange Coast College Coach, UCLA National Champion), Megan Grant (UCLA, All-American), Natasha Watley (UCLA, OLY) and Carol Bruggeman (Executive Director and Future Hall of Fame member of the NFCA), 

The beginning of the game was all pitching, starting with future Longhorn Teagan Kavan striking out the side in the top of the first. Pitching has certainly been a theme over the last two years, as 2022’s game was headlined by starting pitchers NiJaree Canady (Stanford) and Sydney Berzon (LSU, All-America), both of which are coming off of incredible freshman campaigns. 

Tori Edwards, committed to LSU, helped the American Team scratch one run across on an RBI single in the bottom of the inning, but the score stayed stagnant from there until the fifth.  

The National Team tied it up with a monster home-run from Ella Parker, a swing certainly indicative of her upcoming move to Norman. The Oklahoma commit blasted the only home run of the night with a Demarini whisper, the official bat of the Alliance All-Star Game. 

An impressive pitching performance from future Oregon Duck, Taylor Spencer, held the American Team to one hit and no runs through 3 innings, keeping the score the same through five. 

In the 6th, the tie was broken on an RBI single from Makenna Mitchell of the National Team, putting them up 2-1.  The National Team would tack on one more before heading to the 7th inning. 

After no runs and no hits from either squad, the National Team rushed the field in a 3-1 victory over the American Team. The win put the National Team back on top of the all time win column of the All-Game. 

The All-Stars joined their teams today as the hunt for an AFCS Championship begins in southern California.  

11 of this year’s NFCA Top 25 Freshman of the Year List were 2022 Alliance All-Stars. Be on the lookout for every one of these stars in D1 NCAA Softball next season.

The post National Team takes the Pitcher’s Duel in Third Annual Alliance All-Star Game Powered by Under Armour appeared first on Northwest Fastpitch League.

“I love the small town I grew up in, and I love Michigan.” 

Coming from a small town, family is everything to Alliance All-Star Ella Stephenson. Even now, when she’s in a house divided.

Ella certainly isn’t the only athlete in the Stephenson family. Mr. Stephenson is a Michigan State Baseball alum, and so it took some time to get him ready for the stands at Alumni Field. 

“At first my dad was a little hesitant rooting for the maize and blue, but as soon as I got him some gear that said the word ‘softball’ on it (of course), he was all on board.” 

Her two older brothers are also Division I baseball players, and they’ve been her biggest inspiration for as long as she can remember. Growing up watching them at the ballfield gave Ella the chance to find the sport she loves. 

“If I wouldn’t have seen them play… I don’t know if I would’ve picked up a softball. As I grew up, I saw how hard they worked, how much fun they had, and how they got everything they put into the sport… It influenced me to get after my dreams.” 

Being close to home was a big factor in choosing the University of Michigan for Ella, and knowing that she’ll get to look to the stands every day and see her family was a non-negotiable. 

“It means everything to me. It really does. The thing I hold closest to my heart is my family. 

While she was falling in love with softball, Ella Stephenson was also falling in love with Michigan. And of course, when you think of Michigan Softball, you think of Hutch. 

“I look at the program Hutch has built… I see the way she has advocated for her players and for women’s sports…. I was truly inspired and gravitated to being a part of a program like that. I am beyond excited to continue the legacy she’s built.” 

Ella will be joining the Michigan Softball Program under the leadership of Coach Bonnie Tholl, who played for Hutch and is going into her second year as head coach. 

“I am pumped to play under Coach Tholl… [She] has been in the game a long time, and she knows what it takes for our program to succeed to our highest potential.”

Ella plays for the Turnin2 organization, and is incredibly proud of the team she’s played for the last seven years, and the way that softball is growing in Michigan. 

“I’ve stayed with the same team since I was eleven, and having a great relationship with my coaches and teammates is something I value tremendously.” 

Even playing at home, she never had to sacrifice playing against the best. Ella’s team traveled out of state frequently to see great competition, and the Alliance format has been another way to prepare for the next level. 

“I really enjoy how Alliance sets up the national championship tournament like the WCWS (Women’s College World Series)/NCAA Tournament. It’s super cool to get a taste of what the future could be like in making it to the postseason in college.”

For smaller organizations in the North, there are a specific set of challenges when facing recruiting.  The location, weather, and travel can provide unique obstacles for players from those teams. Unlike many other players who play with out-of-state teams during the summers, Ella chose to stay, and she’s never regretted her choice.  

“I wouldn’t do anything different… I love Michigan, and I’m so excited to continue playing in my home state.” 

Stephenson will play in the Alliance All-Star Game July 23 prior to her team competing in the AFCS. 

The post I love the small town I grew up in, and I love Michigan appeared first on Northwest Fastpitch League.