RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
This week, Extra Inning Softball is updating our Extra Elite Eighty 16U Club Rankings… you can Click HERE to see the schedule.
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We first noticed Camille Hayes and her PA Strikers team two years ago when, on Field 4 at the Huntington Beach Sports Complex, the visitors from the Keystone State pulled off a huge comeback win over one of the best—and most favored-teams in the age division—at the PGF Nationals.
The little-known club team from the Northeast would win five consecutive bracket games to advance to the Final 4 and put itself on the national map of teams to watch.
Now a second year 16U team with all but two returning players from that special season, the PA Strikers National Team spent the Fall of 2019 playing at the 18U level to prepare for a super competitive 2020 summer season and another shot at a PGF National Championship.
As a 2nd year 16U team made up of all 2003 birth year players, the Strikers played the 2019 Fall season at the 18U level with a record of 12-3-2—the ties being against Tampa Mustangs TJ and Gainesville Gold 18U.
“Our young team has earned respect from playing competitively against powerful 18U opponents such as the Tampa Mustangs TJ, Jersey Intensity National KOD, PA Chaos Gold Spina, Rhode Island Thunder Wilson and Gainesville Gold 18U McFadyen to name a few,” Coach Hayes explains.
Recipe for Success
Based out of Morgantown, Pennsylvania, the Strikers recipe for success is a bit different than most, Hayes believes.
“It’s not just the players’ athleticism, talent and strong pitching that makes them so competitive,” the excitable coach explains. “There’s a magical chemistry about this team because they have played together for years and have the unique and rare advantage of practicing and training together on a weekly basis.”
“They know how to compete, they take the game seriously and they train hard; but the secret ingredient to their success is that they play for each other and they always find a way to keep the game fun.”
Watch the PA Strikers play and you will see secret handshakes, dancing between outs, coded body language, lots of smiles and hear plenty of laughter… and very likely even some singing.
“It’s their way of letting each other know things are good no matter what and it’s their way to keep enjoying the game they love to play so much,” Hayes continues.
“A college coach from a prestigious D1 University wrote the following in an email sent to one of our players after watching our team play in Clearwater, Florida:
“We love to watch you guys compete and get after it, (you’re) one of the few teams that seems to really have fun playing together!”
The team loves to play together and even when Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate, the team looks to find other ways to get on the field.
“We flew to St. Louis for the DeMarini Fall Invitational only to have it completely rained out,” the Strikers coach adds. “The players approached me at team dinner and asked to add a tournament to our schedule to make up for the last games in Illinois. At their request, we added the Bolts 5-Star.”
“These kids love to play and that is just one example of how much they enjoy it,” Hayes concludes. “I love it! It’s all about keeping it fun for the PA Strikers, as it should be for all teams who just love to play together!
THE SUMMER OF 2019:
The 2019 summer schedule was certainly an endurance test that included strong competition for the first year 16U PA Strikers as their summer season started with a mid-June undefeated finish at the NJ/PA PGF National Qualifier, including a championship game win and an earned berth to the 16U Premier division of PGF Nationals.
From that weekend, there were no breaks in the schedule. The Strikers went to Ohio for three days to successfully complete against stiff mid-west competition that included the Michigan Finesse Dreher/Lesko, Indiana Magic Gold, Ohio Outlaws Lucas and the Ohio Outlaws Schmeiser; and then to NJ to play to the semi-finals of the Team NJ Summer Showcase that included the Ohana Tigers and the Washington Lady Hawks.
With only a two-day break to go home and rest, the Strikers boarded a plane on June 30th and headed to Colorado to play in the always exciting Louisville Slugger IDT Tournament where the team won its first five games before a tough loss to the SoCal Choppers Fausett during eliminations.
From Colorado, the Strikers flew straight to Illinois to play in the DeMarini Summer Invitational co-hosted by the Beverly Bandits and the Illinois Chill. The competition as this event was as good as it gets with almost every team there also heading to PGF Nationals a week later, including the Indiana Magic Gold Rudd who the Strikers bested at this event, but would later fall to in a low-scoring first round game of PGF Nationals in California less than a week later.
The Strikers picked up wins in California at PGF Nationals against TN Mojo-Lewis and the always talented West Bay Warriors Gold. Their second loss of the double-elimination National tournament was a tight game busted open late by a strong Corona Angels 16U Howard team.
After the season ended in early August – the team had just a few short weeks to enjoy the rest of the summer before starting back up again to prepare for the 2019 Fall Season.
FALL 2019:
The PA Strikers National Team spent the 2019 Fall season playing at the 18U level and used every weekend of the of the NCAA recruiting calendar as an opportunity to play in front of college coaches.
With a record of 12-3-2 going into their final event of the season, the Strikers “gained valuable experience and proved we are a top club team capable of playing at any age level,” according to Coach Hayes.
SUMMER 2020 PROJECTED SCHEDULE:
- June 19-21st: Ohio Outlaws Summer Invitational, North Ridgeville, OH
- June 24-27th: Top Club National Championship, Oklahoma City, OK
- July 1-5th: Louisville Slugger IDT, Boulder, CO
- July 8-12th: DeMarini Summer Invitational, Glen Ellyn, IL
- July 24-August 1st: PGF Nationals
TEAM PLAYERS
The PA Strikers National Team returns all but three players from their competitive 2019 Summer. Here’s a scouting report on the team with comments from Coach Hayes…
KEY RETURNERS
RHP/SS Brianna Peck (2021, uncommitted)
The 2019 PA Gatorade High School Softball Player of the Year, two-time PA All-State 1st Team Selection, Extra Inning 2019 All-American High School 1st Team, #81 in the 2021 Extra Elite 100 by Extra Inning Softball– the list goes on for this pitcher/shortstop who amassed a 16-1 PIAA 6A high school pitching record that included 160 strikeouts and an ERA of just 0.80. And while Peck also leads her travel team from the circle with similar successful statistics, it’s her slick play at the short-stop position that has drawn big attention from Power Five and all D1 schools who watch her play.
At 5-foot-10, she’s a big and strong power hitter with bat speed in the high 70s. She led her team in HRs and RBIs in the 2019 Summer season, including outstanding performances at the Louisville Slugger IDT where she batted .625 with a whopping on-base percentage of .677 and at the Team NJ Summer Showcase where she finished with a .500 batting average and an on-base percentage of .572. She is currently batting .405 this fall. “A five-tool player no doubt,” says Hayes, “Peck is so much fun to watch because everything about her is incredibly quick, instinctive and aggressive.”
UT Dani Hayes (2021, Penn State)
Another five-tool and versatile utility player who can both pitch and catch if needed, Hayes adds such value to the team defensively because of her ability to play so well in all positions.
Handling the job mostly at short-stop or from centerfield for the past two seasons; Hayes also delivers power in the batter’s box, speed on the bases and has an innate game sense that make her a dangerous offensive player as well.
Hayes went into the 2019 summer season with a team high batting average of .413 and an OBP of .517. Impressively, 58% of her hits resulted in extra bases. At the 2019 PGF Nationals, she batted .444 with an on-base percentage of .474. A 2019 PA All-State high school player, she also received 1st Team All-Area honors, was named to her area’s 2019 All County Team and was ranked #70 by Extra Inning Softball in the 2021 Extra Elite Class.
Taylor Posner (2021 3B – Syracuse University)
Posner is her team’s lead-off hitter because, according to her coach, she just sees the ball so well. She’s got the power to drive the long ball over the fence – but her strength is in her ability to just send powerful shots through the gaps and get on base. She finished the 2019 Summer Season with a .410% OB% and led the team in runs scored.
Her bat was on fire at the 2019 NJ/PA PGF National Qualifier where she batted .636% with an OB% of .667%. More than 50% of her hits resulted in extra bases. Defensively, Posner is a fearless third baseman who isn’t afraid to get up in the face of any batter – often single-handedly taking away the small game from teams who try that strategy. A natural team leader both on off the field, Taylor’s high-energy is contagious and is a key ingredient to the success of her talented team.
2B/OF Kayla Tauber (2021, uncommitted)
Tauber knows how to read a defense, put the ball in play to get on base for her team or move runners when needed. She ended the competitive 2019 Summer season with a team high batting average of .411 and an OBP of .450. At the DeMarini Summer Invitational, Tauber batted .588 and she currently leads her team this Fall with a .462 batting average and an OBP of .533. “Tauber is such a smart batter and can keep even the best defensive teams off balance because she has the ability to hit line drives for extra bases, hit chop shots through the gaps or drop perfect bunts when the opportunity to do so presents itself,” says Hayes. Kayla has offers from a few D1 schools and we will most likely see her name added to the verbal list within the next few months.
OF Charlie “Sketch” Skonieczny (2021, uncommitted)
“We call her ‘Sketch’ because no one can pronounce her real last name (Skonieczny) but this 2021 has totally blossomed within the last two years and has proven that she has what it takes to play at the highest level,” believes her coach. With a current 2019 Fall batting average of .400 and an OBP of .444, which includes an impressive .455 batting average /.500 OBP showing at the Clearwater Fall Classic, Sketch has “been turning her line drive singles into powerful line drive doubles and is really racking up the RBIs from the critical second half of the line-up.” After attending several late summer camps, the junior has earned attention from prestigious Northeast schools.
C/1B Delaney Smith (2022, uncommitted)
Ranked #85 by Extra Innings in the Extra Elite Class of 2022 (as well as #27 Catcher in the Class of 2022), this natural left-handed power hitter (sister of All-American and UVA home run record holder Lacy Smith) has every bit of talent necessary to follow in her sister’s footsteps. A line-drive, gap-to-gap hitter, Smith always comes up big with runners in scoring position and batted .550 in the Colorado IDT Showcase with a .571 OBP. She also hit for .500 at the 2019 Team NJ Fall Showcase. A 2019 PIAA 6A All-State Selection her high school Freshman year, Smith also received 1st Team League Honors as well as being named Offensive Player of the Year by her high school. Defensively Smith has a quick snap powerful arm and throws runners out form her knees. “This young catcher’s biggest asset behind is the plate is the rapport and trust she maintains with her pitchers and her ability to call the game so they never lose their effectiveness or momentum,” according to Coach Hayes. Smith has attended camps at Virginia, Maryland, Louisville, North Carolina, Towson and Penn State.
UT/1B Morgan “Fargo” Farthing (2022, uncommitted)
Farthing is a diverse utility player who can successfully play defense just about anywhere on the field. Nicknamed “Fargo,” she stands over 6-foot and has added value to her Strikers National team by taking over the role at first base this fall. Her middle infield experience has paid off in this new role as “she sees the ball quickly off the bat and is able to scoop up anything hit her way, no matter how hard.” Offensively, Fargo is an aggressive power-hitter with a bat speed in the mid-70s. She batted .429 with an OBP of .500 in the recent Clearwater Fall Invitational with half of her hits resulted in extra bases. A five-tool player, she’s ranked #131 on the 2019 Extra Innings Extra Elite Class of 2022s. “This kid uses her long legs for speed and is fearless on the bases. Her aggressiveness creates defensive chaos that often results in extra bases for her or her teammates,” explains her coach. Her size, speed and power has drawn quite a bit of attention from college coaches.
UT Meg Wolfe (2022, uncommitted)
Wolfe is a multi-sport athlete and is currently getting attention D1 softball and D1 volleyball coaches. A versatile utility player who can successfully play all over the field, she pitched the final innings of the 2019 PIAA 3A State Championship game as a closer and led her undefeated Pine Grove Area High team to a 2019 PIAA 3A State Championship. Her Freshman season success earned her Rookie of the Year honors selected by coaches and sports writers from her Schuylkill County League. A powerful line-drive hitter, Wolfe is a consistent contributor to her team’s strong offense. She batted .412 with an OBP of .444 at the 2019 Team NJ Fall Showcase with almost half of her hits allowing her to chalk up extra bases. Wolfe has impressive speed and uses it aggressively on the bases. Several college coaches have her on their radar screen because of her natural athleticism.
Marissa Rapino (2022, uncommitted)
Rapino is a “natural triple-threat, left-handed batter who also knows how to pick apart a defense because like Tauber, she can drive the long ball with a full swing, slap through holes and gaps – or place the perfect bunt when the defense least expects it,” says Hayes. She comes up big with runners in scoring position and batted an outstanding .444% with a matching OB% in the competitive 2019 DeMarini Summer Invitational. Defensively, Rapino uses her speed to track the ball right off the bat and has a strong outfield arm to hold runners from scoring off of base hits to the outfield. Rapino’s impressive GPA and top of her class scholastic ranking add value to her resume and have caught the eye of coaches from high academic universities.
KEY PICK-UPS:
MIF Courtney Eyler (2021, Penn State)
“We are super excited to have 2021 PSU commit and slick MIF Courtney Eyler join us for the 2020 Summer season,” an excited Hayes says. “She’s an outstanding athlete known for hitting long balls and extra base hits and is another five-tool player who brings a big stick to the top half of our line-up.” Her speed on the bases, strong arm, softball instincts and MIF experience in big games gives the team added defensive options and make her a perfect fit to the infield. “We love everything about her style of play and can’t wait to have her onboard for training in January,” Hayes adds.
RHP/OF Karlee Smith (2021, uncommitted)
With the loss of 2020 riseball ace Lexi Merkel (no longer 16U eligible) who threw close to 129 innings in 39 of 47 games played over the 2019 Summer season, the missing ingredient to the PA Strikers 2020 16U Summer team appeared to be pitching. Coach Hayes states, “The Strikers struck gold when our paths crossed with Jersey Shore, New Jersey native Karlee Smith at the University of Pittsburgh. At 5-foot-2, Smith may be petite in stature – but don’t let her size fool you. Like a stick of dynamite, this RHP packs quite a punch and throws with power and movement.” Up until the last game of her Fall season, Smith’s ERA was a 0.13. Offensively, she is a lefty slapper with good ball placement and excellent speed. She finished her 2019 Fall season with a .435 batting average and an OBP of .460.
KEY LOSSES:
RHP Lexi Merkel (2020, East Stroudsburg University), C Erin Fennessy (2020, uncommitted) and 1B Morgan Twaddell (2021, uncommitted).