What started with a phone call about a Fall showcase tournament, turned into an opportunity for some talented young athletes.
Back in March of 2022, the Extra Inning Softball #53-ranked ESP Elite 07 team was coming off a very successful 2021 campaign but were lacking depth on their roster which was at 10 or even nine players most of the time.
ESP Elite was having success, but injuries and longer 7-inning tournaments were wearing down their smaller roster. Beverly Bandits head Bill Conroy identified ESP Elite 07 as an already talented team, but one just needing a little help.
The championship-winning organizational head believed he had a handful of athletes that could bolster and expand the ESP roster, strengthening their lineup and pitching staff, while wearing the Bandit name.
Some of the focus Bill and Coach Bryan Page were looking at were speed, left-handed bats, and more pitching to tandem with blue-chip pitcher, Alaina Peetz, the #11 Extra Elite 100 ranked pitcher in the Class of 2025.
Additionally, the coaching staff was strengthened by adding David Trackwell, who had coached in the Bandits organization the previous five years with a lot of success.
“David brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the staff,” Page believes.
The roster already had seven ranked athletes in the Extra Exite 100 rankings, but adding more specific skill sets to win games was key as the girls are ageing up to the 16U division.
“We have been playing great and winning with 10 of our core athletes, but were sometimes wearing down in the 7-inning tournaments in 100 degree heat,” recalls Coach Page.
“We also never could find that prototypical leadoff hitter to set the table as we plated just one left handed hitter in the last six years and we knew that adding this skillset to the lineup strengthens our team and makes us dangerous on the base paths now in tighter games.”
Adding the pieces that were needed finally got the team where Page and Conroy wanted it to be.
“The team is stepping up in both division and quality of play,” begins Bill Conroy. “The team is built around their pitching primarily, Karly Meredith and Alaina Peetz. Bryan’s group has added a few athletic players to help create some pressure on opposing defenses and I think this team will go as far as the pitching and defense will take them.”
Page agrees and feels this is a rare opportunity that was presented to players to achieve their life goals.
“They are honored, thankful, and know there is no finish line to this journey,” Page adds, “as they are working 24/7 to represent the Orange and Black on the field and at home.”
Coach Trackwell says he’s equally excited to get back with the Bandits program, one he knows after playing against it for several years.
“I couldn’t be more thankful for another opportunity to represent the Beverly Bandit brand,” Trackwell begins. “A huge thank you to Bill Conroy for the constant communication over the past year, when we decided to take a step back, for inviting us to come onto an already amazing coaching staff and a core group of girls and families that he has built over several years!”
“Bryan and I have competed against one another now for about four years and I am beyond excited to coach alongside him and this group of athletes!! I know with our competitive drives and collaboration we will build another National Contender for Bill Conroy and the Beverly Bandits program. I can already see so many great things with this group and they are only going to get better and stronger.”
Bandits 16u – Page will be at the Easton Rawlings Showcase (IL), Top Gun Fall Invitational Qualifier (KC), and Scenic City Showcase (TN) this fall amongst other PGF events.
Follow them on Twitter: @Bandits16uPage
@ExtraInningSB @Los_Stuff @LegacyLegendsS1 @StriveSoftball #nofinishline #fearthewoo pic.twitter.com/uCatnhqLDU
— 16u Coach Page (@16uPage) July 30, 2022
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Here’s a player by player look at the Bandits – Page team including the five new players added to the core team….
2022-2023 Additions to the Bandits 16U Page Roster
Karly Meredith (P/U) 2025
Karly is a premier pitcher out of the state of Wisconsin. Karly helped lead her high school team (Kaukauna High School) to a state title by achieving 1st team All-State and winning the Post Crescent/Fox 11 POTY as a freshman going 15-0 and in 94 innings pitched had a 0.223 ERA, a .458 WHIP, 131 strikeouts in her Freshman season. Meredith also has a big bat with a wiry strong frame. Overall, she’s an outstanding athlete who can pitch, hit, and run. Her sister is currently an FIU commit and a Beverly Bandit.
Paige Bodenheimer (OF/2B) 2026
Paige came over from the Wisconsin Bandits program and he brings a left-handed slapper skillset along with extreme quickness and speed. Paige has exceptional bat control on bunts and 0-2 counts as well high OBP%, but can also put one over the fence. She covers ground extremely well in the outfield and will be attending Kaukauna High School along with Karly Meredith (teammate).
Dionne Owens (2B/OF) 2026
Dionne switched over from the Chicago Cheetahs organization to join the Bandits and Coach Page. She plays 2B and also OF and is another left handed bat added to the roster. Dionne is a speed demon, getting down the line at 2.7 sec. She’s also a great contact hitter with an on-base mentality, but can pull one into the RF corner or steal a base. Dionne also brings a leader mentality to the dugout, which is extremely valuable.
Ella Fink (SS/UT) 2026
Ella came over from Bill Conroy’s 16U PGF Runner-up team from this past season where she played the speed role on his championship roster providing athleticism, base running awareness, and off the charts speed. Fink bats from the right side, but has transitioned over to the left side to maximize her skillsets (speed kills). She has great athletic movements and arm and can play anywhere on the field outside of the catcher position. Ella adds versatility to the lineup.
Addisyn Trackwell (3B/OF) 2026
Addisyn brings a seasoned veteran to the Bandits roster. She came over from a one-year stint with TN MOJO, but is back with the Bandits organization now. She has played for the Bandits (Trackwell) team since 9U and has played in the PGF national championship game as well as seen many other big at-bats. Addisyn has a big athletic frame from the right side, a plus arm, and a high softball IQ. She is an Extra Inning ranked player coming in at #17 overall in 2026 to add to the lineup.
2022-2023 new Bandit athletes that joined from ESP Elite 07
Alaina Peetz (P,U) 2025
Alaina stands at 5-foot-11 with an exceptional wingspan slinging pitches in the 60+ mph range with tailing action. Her 326 K’s over the 2021-22 travel season led her team (ESP Elite) to multiple titles and finals appearances. She has a strong sense for the game as well as ballfield awareness and is a poised teenager with natural feel for setting up hitters. Alaina snaps off a stellar screwball and drop curve and stays in and around the zone with a 13-1 K/BB percentage ratio. She’s a bulldog-type competitor but is also a humble and hardworking teammate. Alaina also plates a .448 average helping her team win anyway she can. “Alaina goes on the attack the moment she steps on the mound,” says Coach Page of the athlete who has a 4.6 GPA with honors and is also a D1 prospect for basketball (her mother played Big East hoots at DePaul and her father ran track
Lilly Burda (SS, 2B) 2026
Lilly was the best hitter on ESP Elite (70-18), point blank, and there are no arguments as to who the most dangerous hitter in their offense is. She is the youngest ESP rostered player, but “Big Game Lil” always comes up with the big hits in the gap or over the fence for ESP to win game. She commands the SS position and carries a .900 fielding percentage along with a .980 throwing assist accuracy percentage which helps ESP shut down offenses. She’s an innate hitting talent, stands at 5-foot 7 with a wiry strong frame, hits to both power allies with pronounced load and furious bat whip. Lilly led the way is most offensive statistical categories and is a staple of what the Bandits are about.
Savannah Page (3B, OF) 2026
Savannah is a versatile defender, can play all of the outfield spots, has great speed and high motor, and solid athletic build. Page is a contact hitter looking to shoot pitches right back up the middle or into gaps, but can also put one over. She shows great pitch recognition and strike zone awareness with natural power to both allies. “Savy” has exceptional footwork which targets lefty slap hitters every weekend, focusing on shutting down offenses from the small ball side of things. She is also ultra-athletic and has a great softball IQ with a GPA of 4.0 in Honors classes.
Sonia Ruchala (2B, OF) 2025
Sonia brings a solid work ethic and drive that has all arrows pointing up over the last year with her manning second base for ESP Elite. She stands at 5-foot-8 in an athletic frame and has eye popping exit velos with wicked cuts from the plate that that gives her an edge on the field. Sonia thinks line drives first, allowing power to come naturally. She also drives outer–half pitches to the opposite field gap and can pull her hands in to yank premier fastballs. Sonia fights off tough pitches when behind in the count and owns a cannon arm to execute throws from different areas of the field. She is an intricate part to her team’s success winning multiple titles and playing in numerous finals. Her softball IQ on defense plays a critical role with executing sets. “She has that edge to her during the game that you can’t teach which brings great energy to our team,” says Coach Coach Page.
Vanessa Kates (C,1B) 2026
Vanessa is your prototypical clean-up hitter that every team wants. Standing at an athletic 5-foot-8, she ambushes pitches with incredible bat speed to the power gaps. Vanessa extends through contact for max power and is a dangerous high ball hitter. She can hit both gaps with power and runs the bases well. The backstop and first baseman led her team in home runs and slugging percentage each of the last few seasons. Vanessa is an RBI machine leading with (54). With the glove, she has natural defense awareness at first base, with hundreds of putouts in complex defensive schemes. Vanessa brings excellent footwork skills and is an adept receiver of the ball behind the plate with good pop times. She can play the corner outfield spots as well. Vanessa’s numbers included a .420 batting average and a .450 OPB percentage vs. elite competition. She also carries a 4.0 GPA
Riley Silvers (C, U) 2025
Riley has established herself as the leader on the field commanding the catching position for her teams. She stands at 5-foot-8 in an athletic frame and has good spring out of the catching position with strong pop times. Riley has soft hands and solid pop times while making outstanding steady contact, allowing her power to come naturally. She has a selective eye at the plate and always produces competitive at-bats. Riley controls the bat barrel expertly for consistent line drive production. She sprays the ball all over field and brings a sharp softball IQ to the team that enhances play and shows great leadership qualities behind the plate. Her hard work and off-season drive have placed her in the mix of elite catchers to watch for 2025. “Riley’s game management behind the plate and her confidence separates her from a lot of other players, she’s a gamer,” says Coach Page.
Natalie Utrata (OF, 2B) 2025
Natalie is a “run through a wall” girl you need on every team. She brought pop and speed at the plate for ESP over the last seven years. Natalie had an on-base percentage over .400 for ESP in 2021. She is also a blood hound in center field and is the outfield captain. Natalie aka, “Deuce,” can blast a home run, steal a base, or make that game-saving gap catch all in one day. She brings a lot to the field which makes her extremely valuable as an athlete. “Deuce is one of those girls I have known and coached for seven years, she checks all the correct boxes for a coach,” adds Coach Page. “You wouldn’t know if she was 0-3 or 3-3.” Academically, she has a 4.5 GPA
Kacie Sisk (3B, P, OF) 2025
Kacie is a versatile defender who can play the hot corner, left or right field, and also pitches. She stands at 5-foot-8 with an athletic frame and has good exit velocity and the skills to barrel up the ball well, spraying to all parts of the field “Kacie is always on point with her competitiveness. You need girls to have that edge, and she does,” Page adds. Over the summer, Kacie played in the Top Gun Invite and the Colorado Sparkler for ESP Elite 07. A multi-sport athlete, she also has a 4.0 GPA.
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Here’s more on each player for the new Bandits 16U team…
