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The Northern AZ League (“NAZ”) is holding another tournament next week, the Southwest Summer Shootout running July 13-14 in Payson, Arizona.
All the games will be live-streamed using the Sports Virtual Recruiting Platform (SVRP) which includes professional streaming and announcers for an “ESPN-like” experience (instant replay, multiple cameras, softball announcers, live scoring/stats, etc.) that we highlighted in an earlier article this past month.
For college coaches looking for a virtual recruiting platform to see the action and evaluate the players as if you were at the ballpark, this is a great way to watch and even communicate with coaches and players during the event!
How?
College coaches can instant message the video coordinator during live play and request to see a certain player bat, pitch, or play a certain position.
Says Brian Georges, the head coach of the host AZ Hotshots Gold team and the Director/Founder of NAZ: “We have talked to several college coaches and the feedback is phenomenal. Every one of the teams participating has uncommitted talent that will play at the college level and this is a unique opportunity to see them play this summer.”
To watch the games of the Northern AZ League this Monday and Tuesday, click HERE; you can also find archived video highlights, past streamed games, team profiles, etc.
Below are the teams that will be participating in the Southwest Summer Shootout:
* AZ Hotshots Gold Georges (18U) (host)
* AZ Hotshots Chestnut (18U)
* Oro Valley Suncats Judge (18U)
* So Cal Choppers Keith (18U)
* CA Batbusters Bennett (18U)
* AZ (18U) Desert Thunder Fowler (18U)
* AZ Lil Saints Gold (18U)
* AZ Hotshots Captain (16U)
* AZ Hotshots Day (16U)
* AZ Hotshots Delsante (16U)
* AZ Desert Thunder Campos (16U)
Teams to Watch: 18U Division
The 18U Division is highlighted by top teams from Arizona and even California… some things to watch:
- the Oro Valley Suncats (2019 Sparkler Power Pool Champion) which includes a Who’s Who of D1 Power 5 commits and several uncommitted players,
- the OC Batbusters Bennett- a team stacked with committed and uncommitted players from across the country,
- So Cal Choppers – Keith which has qualified for PGF Premier with lots of commits and uncommitted players,
- AZ Desert Thunder – always one of the top club programs and loaded with committed and uncommitted players coached by Arizona Wildcat great Kenzie Fowler,
- Lil Saints Gold, which has qualified for PGF Platinum and Sparkler Power Pool featuring their committed and uncommitted players on the team,
- AZ Hotshots – Chestnut – a very young talented team with a few commits, a few 2021’s and lots of 2022’s.
- Last but not least is the host, AZ Hotshots Gold Georges, featuring a very talented team of D1, D2 and D3 commits with only 5 uncommitted players on the roster
Teams to Watch: 16U Division
The 16U Division is loaded with a lot of young talent (mostly 2021’s and 2022’s) and expect them all to go toe-to-toe with some of the top 18U talent in the West.
- AZ Hotshots Captain has been consistently one of the top 16U teams in the country.
- Hotshots Day and Hotshots – Delsante are younger 16U teams but already making a name for themselves consistently beating the local 18U teams.
- In addition, just like the 18U team, the AZ Desert Thunder 16U squad is loaded and always one of the top teams in AZ.
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Players to Watch (by Team):
Here’s a partial list giving examples of players to keep an eye out for…
AZ Hotshots – Georges
Alannah “A1” Rogers – 2022 is 4.0 GPA student and a multi-sport athlete (varsity wrestling and softball) who consistently shines- playing up at 18U as a freshman and sophomore with her bat (.500 career hitter), her glove (.976% fielding percentage at SS & 2nd) and her arm (2.0 ERA) against some of the best teams across the country.
Annemarie “AJ” Murphy – 2021 is a 3.7 GPA student and 5′ 10″ multi-sport athlete (varsity soccer and softball) that is a super utility that can literally play every position on the field except pitcher and catcher. She routinely hits bombs 250 to 270 yards, a threat on the base paths and one of those smooth infielders that makes it look effortless.
Maycee Hilt – 2022, is a 4.0 GPA student/athlete and the team’s hammer at 5′ 9″ is another multi-sport athlete (varsity basketball and softball). She is a power hitter that can bomb it, but also will hit the cover off the ball with line drives. Natural position is at catcher, but good speed on the base paths and plays the corners as well. Power 5 colleges have taken notice.
AZ Hotshots – Delsante
Rylee Nelson – 2021 is a 5′ 9″ corner infielder who is talking to multiple D2 programs, 4.0 GPA with a swing that translates to all levels of softball. Truly hard worker who has shown incredible improvement in arm strength and her power stroke.
Natalya Delsante – 2021 is 5′ 9″ utility player who is just as comfortable in the OF as she is at 2B and 1B, STEM student with 4.5 GPA, looking for a high academic college where she will work just as hard in the classroom as she does on the field.
AZ Desert Thunder – Fowler
Miia Campos – 2021, carries a 4.1 GPA. Miia has a strong glove and typically plays 2B/SS, but is so versatile that she can play 3B or OF. Miia has great bat control as she can chop slap and swing away with ease. Miia has been raised in a softball family so she understands the game. Her sister, Nene, is a Junior at Georgetown Univ and is a utility player as well. Miia started at Canyon del Oro High school for the last 3 years. Her favorite player is Sis Bates!
Katie Stracco – 2020, carries a 4.1 GPA with a 30 ACT and AP Scholar who plays outfield and hits for power from the right side. Katie played high school ball for Canyon Del Oro, one of the best high school programs in Arizona and she helped the team to several high school state tournaments. Katie plans to major in Criminal Justice or Homeland Security.
AZ Hotshots – Captain
Amyah Boostedt #33, 2021 is SS/2B and an athlete who can play multiple positions but makes her greatest contributions in the middle. She is smooth, strong and intelligent. Offensively she is hitting .581 with an OBP of .658, SLG of .968 and an OPS of 1.626. Her hard work in the classroom puts her GPA at 4.44!
Riley Nielson #3, 2022 pitcher has great size at 5’11” and is throwing in the low 60’s. She is effective with her curve ball, change up, screw ball and her rise ball is coming along. In the past month she has pitched 32 innings and logged 46 K’s. Academically Riley has been a straight A student since elementary school and has a GPA of 4.14.
Arizona Hotshots-Chestnut
Maddie Lung is a 2021 2B with an excellent glove, fielding percentage over .950, and a solid bat, batting average over .450. Maddie is the team spark plug and the hardest worker on the field. She is the loudest girl in the dugout and always brings positive energy to the field. Maddie is a 4.0 student with an interest in exercise science and eventually would like to run her own Club Softball Organization.
Taylor Thompson is a 2021 pitcher with an excellent repertoire of swing and miss pitches averaging over 1 strikeout per inning. Taylor wants the ball in the biggest games and never backs down from a challenge. She also does damage at the plate with a .425 batting average over the last 2 seasons. Taylor is a 3.7 GPA student with an interest in criminal justice.
Bella Williams is a 2021 Outfielder with off the charts athleticism. She covers a lot of ground in the outfield and is almost always a guaranteed run when she reaches base. Bella bats lead off and is the definition of a table setter with an on base percentage over .600. Bella is a 4.0 student with an interest in majoring in kinesiology.
AZ Hotshots – Keith
Halle Hogan 2022 is a 3.9uw/4.7w GPA uncommitted student/athlete that works as hard on the field as she does in the classroom. At 5’9” she is a strong outfielder and hits for power. She is a smart base runner and has good speed on the base paths. Halle is a right handed hitter, but can also drive in runs from the left side. She brings energy, enthusiasm and excitement onto the field and is a firm believer that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.
Raelynn Rogers #2, is a 2021 3B/2B/OF with a 3.7 GPA. Raelynn has a strong glove and has been referred to as a “ninja” at 3rd base (.948% fielding percentage at 3B/2B). With a 2.8 time from home to 1st base, she can chop slap, lay down a sacrifice bunt, or swing away into the gaps and almost always a guaranteed run when on base. Raelynn is very coach-able and loves the game.
Amber Schweigert 2021 is a 5’6” who plays mostly 2B, but can also play outfield and 3B. She is fast on the bases and quick to the ball with good mechanics. Amber is very knowleadgable about softball, performing good under pressure. Amber has a 3.8 GPA with an interest in exercise science.
Alysen Rieth, #33 -2022, is a 5’8”, left-handed pitcher with great spin and movement. She is extremely effective with her drop ball, changeup, and curve. Alysen also plays first base. She attends Lake Havasu High School and holds an accomplished 4.75 GPA. She is the first girl out of the dugout to congratulate you or pick you up if needed.
OC Batbusters – Bennett
Marisa Rubio – 2021 is a triple threat in the batter’s box is an outfielder with exceptional speed, a high softball I.Q. and 4.0 GPA.
Saige Alfaro – 2021 is a true utility that slaps and hits for power. A top athlete on the OC Batbusters Bennett 18U team, while carrying a 4.0 GPA