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Club coaches Josh Johnson (Virginia Unity), Jay Ross and Tommy Bain (TN Mojo) have announced the merger of their Top 10 ranked 14U teams: Virginia Unity 14U – Johnson (rated #9 in the Extra Inning Softball 14U team rankings) and TN Mojo Ross-2024 (ranked #1)
The new team will be called Virginia Unity – Johnson/Ross and was assembled after “several months of discussion,” according to Coach Johnson.
The youth teams have had great success with Virginia Unity-Johnson fresh off a USA 14U National Championship last week in Johnson City, Tennessee; a 4th place finish at the 2020 USA 14U Nationals and a record of 78-13 since October 2020.
Mojo-Ross also provides a strong resume of success including a 10U PGF National Championship; an 11U WFC Elite National Championship, a 9th place finish in 12U PGF, a 2020 14U Junior Olympic Cup Championship and several other National titles at younger age levels.
Johnson explains the merger is based on uniting complementary mindsets.
“The mission of the merger is simple,” he begins. “It’s to put likeminded coaches, players, and parents together; to challenge them and to prepare them for what is expected by those who want to play at the highest level. The plan is to set a platform for competitiveness within the team and create an environment where players will push themselves and their teammates to become better in preparation and in-game production.”
The timing is also important, he adds.
“With just roughly one more calendar year before the ‘critical date’ of September 1st of their Junior Year for the 2024 graduates, we feel it is vital that these kids get challenged and grow within the team as well as individually. Both of these teams have a great following from many of the top college coaches and programs in the country, and the feedback heard from many college coaches is very positive as most say they are excited about seeing the two talented rosters combine within one group to raise the bar of development among competition.”
The teams will be combined to compete in their first tournament together next week at the 14U PGF Premier National Championship under the direction of both coaching staffs with Josh Johnson and Tommy Bain handling the on-field coaching, Scott Young working with Pitchers, Jay Ross serving as Recruiting Coordinator and Joe Braden handling scoring logistics. Line Ups and Roster decisions will be a collaborative effort by the coaching staff.
The roster for next week’s PGF Tournament will consist of some of the top talent in the country in the 2024 and 2025 classes including 17 players that are ranked inside the Top 200 by Extra Innings Softball (numbers in parentheses are their class ranking):
2024 Ranked Players
- Ramsey Walker (13)
- Destiny Harris (19)
- Kamryn Radley (33)
- Kadyn Camper (39)
- Lilly Parrish (77)
- Haylee Whittemore (83)
- Mia Brown (132)
- Sydney Young (135)
- Esther White (147)
- Kate Braden (152)
- Alyssa Jones (191)
2025 Ranked Players
- Addisyn Linton (2)
- Brinli Bain (7)
- Rylie Johnson (10)
- McCall Sims (15)
- Hannah Tober (29)
- Maddie Floyd (63)
Ross says one role of the new united coaching staff will be to develop the emotional and mental sides of the players as well as the physical.
“Every player at this level has ‘individual professional instructors and trainers,’” he begins. “It is our job to take that forward and develop the competitive drive and team concepts to prepare these kids for the next level. Creating a production-based environment is what these kids will have when they show up on campus, so let’s prepare them mentally for that mindset.”
Johnson adds:
“Of course, we expect this group to be very successful on the diamond, but we are really excited to see the players’ mental and skill growth. I truly believe coaches will see players with higher softball IQs as well as better and faster decision makers. I really feel these girls want competition and the challenges of high expectations. We are excited to see where this journey takes us and ready for the next chapter together!”