Day 3 of the Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series (AFCS) was Wednesday; after the Indiana skies opened for a while in the early-morning hours, the AFCS schedule was somewhat-upended but games were played nevertheless. A 1.5-hour delay due to torrential rain and lightning pushed the day into a timed-games format so that everything could be played in time.
My nomadic ways took me all over Grand Park Sports Complex on Wednesday, as I took in action at every field that had softball on it. Unfortunately, there’s no FitBit to log my many (many, many) steps, but what I did have was a chance to see some really quality softball talent.
Teams started going home on Wednesday after losing true elimination games, though the AFCS itself is far from over. Even mid-tournament, there’s never a bad time for some superlative-style recognition of excellent play, right?
I knew you’d agree.
Eternal disclaimer here: These were my personal observations. The best of *what I saw* – not necessarily the absolute best out there. So far, my personal record is watching three fields at once but even then, I’m leaving something like 23 unattended at that point. It’s a certainty that some pretty impressive stuff happened without me witnessing it.
Nevertheless, onward.
Best Pitching I Saw
Izzy Kemp, Louisville Lady Sluggers-Huecker
The Dayton-signed Kemp, a 2022 prospect, was electric in the circle for her team as they picked up an initial winner’s bracket win over Corona Angels-Howard. Kemp notched 14 strikeouts and gave up just one hit, dominating the Angels and setting her team on the right track to start their four-team super regional.
Best Defensive Catcher I Saw
Emma Raye, Midwest Speed 18U National-Hall
A 2023 Wisconsin-committed utility player, I was most impressed with Raye’s presence behind the plate in the time I watched her Midwest Speed team. Raye catches and plays shortstop – not a totally-common positional combo – but she was behind the plate when I stopped by on Wednesday. On two separate occasions, Raye caught my eye – once, throwing out a base runner and a second time, throwing a pickoff behind a runner at first base. Only the first of the two went into the record books as an out, but Raye did her job in stellar fashion on both plays.
Best Intensity I Saw
Brooke Mannon, Ohio Hawks-Harbold
On Tuesday, I saw Mannon holding down center field for the Hawks and she took to the circle on Wednesday. The comment was made to me that Mannon’s intensity never wanes no matter her role, and I observed the exact same to be true. In center field, at the plate, on the base paths, in the circle, Mannon is clearly a worker who wants to get the job done. Even watching her warm up before the game, that intensity was there. It’s a trait that will serve her well once she gets to Arizona in a year’s time.
Best Speed I Saw
Gabrielle Rawls, Impact Gold Jackson 18U
Rawls. Can. Fly. The Impact Gold and Texas Tech-bound outfielder stole four bases against the Conklin Raiders, helping buoy her team to their first of two wins on the day in the winner’s bracket. An Alliance all-star at the beginning of the week, Rawls’ work on the basepaths is as good as ever in her last few days as a travel ball player.
