Breaking News: Extra Inning Softball Expands Into Combines, Powered by 4Flames Athletics
BOISE, Idaho — Extra Inning Softball and 4Flames Athletics have announced a groundbreaking partnership that brings advanced athlete testing, verified performance data, and standardized on-field evaluations to the fastpitch softball recruiting landscape.
The collaboration marks Extra Inning Softball’s official expansion into the combine space, powered by 4Flames Athletics—a fast-growing performance testing and data collection company based in Austin, Texas and led by JB Slimp, founder of the Blaze Organization.
Under the leadership of CEO Bonnie Holland, who has spent two years transforming EIS into the premier fastpitch rankings and content platform, this initiative extends the organization’s mission to Empower. Inspire. Support.
A Two-Layer System
Athletes have the opportunity to be evaluated through two distinct but equally important scoring systems:
Tournament Ranking Score
Athletes receive a proprietary event ranking tied directly to Extra Inning Softball’s national rankings framework. This ranking score reflects performance within a competitive, comparable environment related to the tournament.
Combine Metrics Ranking
Each measurable is tracked, validated, and scored to create a complete athletic profile. Not only will players receive their combine stats but will receive a unique ranking score specific to their combine measurables.
Through this partnership, the organizations will launch a series of high-tech softball combines and tournament testing environments designed to provide athletes with measurable, objective data—while offering college coaches verified performance analytics that integrate directly into EIS’s nationally recognized rankings ecosystem.
4Flames Athletics brings more than six years of experience collecting and analyzing player performance metrics. The organization’s leadership team has extensive backgrounds in athlete development, training, recruiting, and coaching.
By combining 4Flames’ data collection expertise with Extra Inning Softball’s national media platform and recruiting influence, the initiative creates one of the most comprehensive player evaluation systems in the sport. Among those supporting this initiative is Stacy Tamborra, President of Athletics Gold, who emphasized the value of combining data-driven evaluation with real-game performance.
“What excites me about the collaboration between Extra Inning Softball and 4Flames Athletics is the opportunity to support a more comprehensive and well-rounded approach to athlete evaluation. Incorporating high-tech combine testing into tournament settings provides organizations and evaluators with objective performance data while still allowing athletes to be evaluated in real-game competition. Together, these perspectives create a more complete picture of each athlete while expanding opportunities for players to gain visibility and recognition for their abilities.”
To hear directly from CEO Bonnie Holland and Founder JB Slimp on the vision and impact behind this partnership, watch the exclusive interview below.
Tournament Expansion
In addition to supporting athletes and coaches, the partnership will work with tournament directors nationwide to enhance event experiences by integrating standardized combines into select tournaments.
With the number of softball tournaments continuing to grow, the partnership aims to provide greater transparency and meaningful data that helps athletes showcase their abilities while assisting college coaches in the recruiting process.
To inquire about hosting a combine at your event, reach out HERE.
“I am excited to see Extra Inning Softball and 4Flames Athletics move into the combine space. This move will provide opportunities for athlete metrics to be validated through real-time data.” — Chad O’Neal, Co-Founder and President of Armor Elite
The initiative represents a major step forward in the evolution of softball recruiting—combining performance analytics, verified data, live video, and national exposure into a single platform. 
The Technology Behind the Testing
Every Extra Inning Softball combine runs on a professional-grade testing infrastructure designed for one purpose: producing verified, repeatable data that college coaches can trust.
VALD Timing Systems measure 10-yard, 20-yard, and 40-yard sprint times with electronic precision—eliminating stopwatch error and giving coaches a true read on game speed, first-step burst, and baserunning acceleration.
Bowers Timing System captures the 5-10-5 Pro Agility Shuttle, isolating lateral quickness and change-of-direction ability—the movement pattern behind every defensive reaction on the diamond.
Just Jump by Probotics records vertical jump height from a force mat. Vertical jump is one of the strongest indicators of lower-body explosiveness, which directly fuels bat speed, throwing power, and first-step acceleration.
Pocket Radar delivers exit velocity and overhand throwing velocity readings accurate to within 1 MPH. Exit velo remains the most sought-after hitting metric in college softball recruiting. Throwing velocity measures arm strength across every defensive position.
Blast Motion sensors capture bat speed independent of exit velocity—giving coaches insight into swing mechanics and identifying athletes with high bat speed but developing contact, which signals coachable upside.
Grip Dynamometer measures functional grip strength—a direct indicator of bat control, throwing accuracy under fatigue, and upper-body durability.
Broad jump and rotational medicine ball toss round out the base testing protocol, measuring horizontal explosiveness and core rotational power—the engine behind every swing, every throw, and every pitch in softball.
PitchLogic powers the pitcher-specific evaluation module, capturing velocity, spin rate, spin efficiency, horizontal and vertical movement, and spin-to-velocity ratio across multiple pitch types. This data runs as a separate track from the base combine score, giving pitchers a detailed, standalone performance profile.
All testing is conducted using standardized protocols and calibrated equipment—ensuring that a 40-yard dash time recorded at a June combine in Texas is directly comparable to one captured at a September showcase in Chicago. To learn more about our combines, performance categories, and the technology behind the testing, view HERE.
Standardized Performance Model
Combine rankings are built on a comprehensive, standardized evaluation system structured across three primary performance indicators. This model ensures every athlete is measured consistently and compared meaningfully across all events.
| OPI | SPI | API |
|---|---|---|
| Exit Velocity | 10-yard sprint | Broad Jump |
| Bat Speed | 20-yard sprint | Vertical Jump |
| Rotational Med Ball Toss | 40-yard sprint | Grip Strength |
| 5-10-5 agility | Wingspan | |
| Overhand Throw Velocity |
Real-Time Data, On-Site Access
All data is collected in real time on-site using dedicated mobile devices with redundant cellular connectivity—ensuring zero data loss in any tournament environment.
Athlete results flow through Virtual Combine, which powers real-time scoring and live leaderboards throughout the event.
Coaches, players, and parents can access scores instantly by scanning a QR code on-site, while digital leaderboards are displayed at the venue—creating a competitive, data-driven atmosphere that keeps athletes engaged and gives recruiting eyes immediate access to verified performance numbers.
What Athletes Receive
Every athlete who participates receives a comprehensive performance report detailing their results across all testing metrics.
Reports include an individual combine ranking—showing where the athlete placed within the event—as well as a national ranking that compares their performance against athletes tested at all EIS / 4Flames combine events throughout the season.
Because every event uses identical equipment and standardized protocols, rankings are consistent and comparable regardless of location or date.
All data collected through the initiative will be made available free to college coaches, giving programs direct access to trusted, verified athlete performance metrics.
“We are excited to see Extra Inning Softball continue pushing the game forward with data-driven opportunities for athletes with this rollout. Combining tournament play and verified measurements will be a great tool for both players and college coaches. Looking forward to seeing the impact it will have.” — Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier Leadership Team
“Big news for the softball community! Using measurable performance and objective evaluation, athletes now have a powerful way to showcase their abilities to college coaches. When we raise the standard for how players are seen and supported, the entire game grows. This is going to be an incredible resource for both players and college programs.”— David Dwyer, Head Coach — Idaho Batbusters National Dwyer 18U
The Future of Verified Evaluation
Extra Inning Softball’s expansion into the Performance Data Combine space—powered by its partnership with 4Flames Athletics—creates a clear advantage: there is no better organization to measure athletes than the one already trusted to rank them nationally.
By combining 4Flames Athletics’ data-driven testing with Extra Inning Softball’s proprietary scoring and ranking system, this model delivers evaluations that truly carry weight.
Through partnerships with tournament directors nationwide, athletes benefit from both a unique tournament ranking and a proprietary combine ranking, alongside verified performance measurables.
Together, this integrated model establishes a new national standard—where verified data, real-time visibility, and trusted evaluation converge to redefine how athletes are measured, ranked, and recruited.
We look forward to seeing you at one of our elite combines and partnering with tournament directors nationwide to bring this vision to life.
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