Club News: Epic Fastpitch Softball… New Organization Working Hard to Keep Top Talent in Oklahoma

Oklahoma seemed to be the center of the country when it came to softball being played this summer, especially in the club world.

There were top events including the USA JO Cup and the Top Club Nationals that brought in many of the best travel ball programs in the nation in a time when the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled many other top events across the country.

Most of the standout events in Oklahoma take place in Oklahoma City and in the surrounding areas. One of those nearby cities, Norman, Oklahoma, features one of the nicest indoor training facilities you’ll find in the club world.

It’s run by Scotty Smith of the newly created Epic Fastpitch Softball organization, which officially started two weeks ago (August 1, 2020) and already had 39 teams.

Smith’s training facility has 22,000 square feet of indoor space with 10 cages and turf areas to practice throwing and fielding drills. Epic Fastpitch also has a private trainer who works with the players on dieting and strength training in a 10,000-foot private gym next door to Epic’s facility located in a business park in the Oklahoma City area.

Smith, who has three daughters, has been coaching softball for 14 years and was the owner and partner in Gametime Stars previously. He has also been an assistant coach and recruiting liaison helping hundreds of players over the last five years get to colleges from Power 5 schools to NAIA and junior colleges.

The Epic Fastpitch website, still in development, is www.efastpitch.com; Coach Scotty Smith can be contacted at [email protected]

His coaching resume includes top finishes on some of the biggest club softball states as both a head coach and assistant in national events like PGF, Boulder IDT, USA Softball JO Cup, Triple Crown Nationals and Top Gun.

Said one coach, “Scotty is a great fundamental coach and has a high-octane motor full of positive and hard work ethics, all while teaching the proper way to play the game.”

“I believe in hard work and being rewarded for what you earn,” Smith told Extra Inning Softball this week. “My favorite saying is, ‘Let’s work!’”

The 42-year-old organization head is full of energy and says he’s especially excited to work on strengthening softball in the Sooner State.

“I believe Oklahoma is a huge competitive market,” he states. “We might not be as big as our Southern neighbors in Texas but we continually produce top athletes and my goal is to keep them closer to home. I feel too many are being asked or directed to play for out-of-state teams or organizations and with the competitive players we have in Oklahoma, we can be great. I have watched college teams at all divisions—from D-1 to NAIA—win national championships with Oklahoma kids!”

The head of Epic Fastpitch emphasizes that training and development will be key as will be  helping his athletes feel comfortable within their own skins off the field.

“I love to teach the game and work with kids to help them become all they can be,” Smith stresses. “If that Is through softball or through being a friend when they need it, we will do what it takes to help our players succeed. Our young athletes are being put through a ton these days and sometimes they need a coach with a good ear just as bad as one teaching the X’s and O’s. We at Epic will make it our goal to teach the game the correct way and stive to make each player at all levels better in softball and in life.”

One big selling point will be the stable of standout college players that will help work with the young players.

“We have an extremely strong experienced training group consisting of some of the best players in the world,” Smith says excitedly. “Players like Shelby Pendley, Keilani Ricketts, Raegan Rogers, Caleigh Clifton and many more.”

Epic Fastpitch is tied in with Easton, Ringor and Black Star Athletics as equipment providers and the coach says, “We also have a full apparel store where if you want your Epic gear you just walk in a buy it off the shelf.”

With multiple teams in every age group and “continuing to grow daily,” Smith is particularly excited about two of his national teams—Epic National 18U – Smith and Epic National 2024 – Smith—both of which he will manage personally.

Regarding the 2024 team which is loaded with many of the best players in the state and will compete in top 14U events in 2021, Smith says: “That team is absolutely stacked and has some of the best players in the country… it has pitching, hitting and everything!”

EPIC National 2024 – Smith Fall 2020 Roster 

• OF/UT Lexie Sirman (Tuttle HS 2024, Oklahoma)
• RHP/SS  Serenity Jacoway (Tecumseh HS 2024, Oklahoma)
• C/UT Jaycie Prine (Latta HS 2024, Oklahoma)
• IF/OF Addyson Brown (Stillwater HS 2024, Oklahoma)
• RHP/ UT Morgan Curry (Sterling HS 2024, Oklahoma)
• RHP/UT Talise Parnell (Stonewall HS 2025, Oklahoma)
• C/CR Ariana Torres (Mustang HS 2024, Oklahoma)
• RHP/UT Aubree Ferguson (Newcastle HS 2024, Oklahoma)
• IF/UT Kaylee Carter (Southmoore HS 2024, Oklahoma)
• CR/UT Brooklyn Lyles (Newcastle HS 2024, Oklahoma)
• OF/UT Mikaila Gilliland (Canyon HS 2024, Texas)
• IF/UT Evan Rouse (Crossings HS 2024 Oklahoma)

Here’s a video produced by the organization introducing each player on the EPIC National 2024 team: