Club Spotlight: PGF Futures High All-American Game Sees the Sophomores Double Up the Juniors 6-3

The first-ever PGF Futures High School All-American Game saw the Junior class (2022 grads) take on the Sophomores (2023’s) and for the first half of the game it looked like pitchers would rule the night.

Junior Ruby Meylan (Nebraska Gold, Washington commit) clad in the blue PGF All-American jerseys pitched two scoreless inning, giving up just one walk while striking out one and her counterpart for the red-dressed sophomore team, Keagan Rothrock (Lady Dukes- Lamar, Florida) faced a half dozen batters in the first two innings and struck out five of the six she faced.

Following the starters, Taylor Tinsley (Georgia Impact – Lewis, uncommitted) impressed for the sophomore team as did Ashtyn Danley (P, Tennessee Mojo 2023, Florida State), not allowing a hit in their innings of work.

The first hit of the game wouldn’t come until the top of the 4^th as Isabella Torres (UT/IF, Hotshots Premier – Nelson, Texas A&M) singled up the middle and would end up scoring the first run of the game as well on a one-out RBI double by Danley.

The Juniors took the lead in the bottom of the 5^th inning as OF/MIF Cassidy Kettleman (Beverly Bandits – Richards, Indiana) would start the inning with a flair single over third and come around to score on a one-out RBI triple by C Maddie Frey (Tampa Mustangs – TJ, Florida State).

Frey would come in to score as IF Kennedy Powell (Hotshots Premier – Nelson, UCLA) ground the ball to second base for a fielder’s choice and the go-ahead run for the Juniors who took the lead for the first time of the night.

That lead seemed like it would provide the winning margin of the night heading into the top of the 7^th but the dam caved in for the upperclassmen as two infield errors allowed the sophs to blow open the game and score five runs to go up 6-1.

Highlighting the offensive outburts was a two run RBI single by 3B/C Katie Flannery (Birmingham Thunderbolts – Roberson, uncommitted) and another two-run double by Danley that would give her a 2-for-3 night with three RBIs along with her no-hit inning in the circle.

The Juniors had one last gasp in the bottom of the 7^th as Powell would flash her great speed with a leadoff triple and eventually scored on a passed ball, but that would do it as the Sophomores doubled up their underclass opponents 6-3.

Rothrock was selected as the Extra Inning Softball Pitcher MVP of the Game and Danley would receive the PGF MVP trophy for her strong night, especially at the plate.

After the game Danley commented on how, after suffering a torn ACL a year ago, “At the time I never thought I’d be here” and how the recovery was “mentally hard.”

Here is the complete interview with the future Florida State signee: