Our Extra Inning Softball National Club Player & National Club Team of the Week series moved into Week 6 for the 2020 summer season with today’s edition.
The Club Player/Team of the Week features great individual and team accomplishments from the past weekend along with those who were Runners-Up with similarly strong performances.
This week’s honorees are from games and tournaments in the week of Monday, July 13 through Sunday July 19, 2020 and includes performances at Nationals across the U.S.!
Scroll to the bottom for details to submit info for future candidates.
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National Club Player of the Week:
Makaley Boswell (East Cobb Bullets – Bagarose)
Makaley is a 2023 infielder/pitcher for Mike Bagarose’s 14U team which last weekend tied for 5th place in the Elite Division of the Triple Crown Southeast Nationals.
She’s from Black, Alabama and last week had 25 plate appearances, 24 official at-bats and hit .542 with three home runs including a grand slam, 12 RBIs, six steals, and 12 runs scored in the tournament. She also pitched a total of five innings during the tournament with five strikeouts, allowing six hits but picking up a huge save.
Strong numbers, but that’s only part of the story.
Makaley started the third game of the tournament and the third batter of the game hit a line drive right back up the middle; Makaley only could slightly move her head and the shot hit her on the lower portion cheek section of the facemask, knocked her down off her feet. Awake and attentive, she was stunned and said, “Coach I think it hit my glove, but obviously it didn’t because I’m on the ground!”
Makaley smiled, but was visibly shaking. Said Coach Bagarose: “It was one of the scariest events I’ve seen in person coaching this game.”
The Bullets won that game and the next one as Makaley went 2-for-3 and then in the bottom of the last inning of the 5th game, with a one run lead, and the bases loaded with no outs, Coach Bagarose called time to give the girls a break, regroup and go over the scenarios.
The coach picks up the story from there: “I walked back to the dugout and Makaley came to me, and said ‘Coach Mike, I want the ball.’ I asked, ‘Are you sure?’ I asked her again and there was a direct, ‘Yes!’”
“Makaley took the mound and her second pitch was a line drive to first base which doubled off the runner at first base,” the coach continues. “Makaley took to the pitching rubber, threw the pitch and–crack of the bat–it was line drive right back at her. As it all happened so fast, she started to squat to her knees and caught the ball for the last out of the game!”
As the pitcher began to walk off the field, her teammates ran up to her to give her a hug while she was crying–from winning the game, overcoming the fear, being scared, and giving it all for her team and overcoming the situation.
“The parents and players applause continued for a long period of time and our team stood together as we had a team prayer as God protected her in the sport she loves,” added Bagarose.
The athlete will be resting for two weeks before she begins her high school volleyball season.
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Runners-Up / National Player of the Week
* Marlee Gaskell, a 2025 P/1B for Virginia Unity 12U – Harmon/Gaskell competed in the USA Softball Eastern National Championship 12A Division this weekend in Spartanburg, SC and in the circle threw 3 complete games, compiled a 3-0 record, pitched 13 innings, faced 65 batters and had a weekend ERA of 1.125. At the plate she went 6-12 (.500 avg) with 4 RBIs, 1 double and 1 HR (over the fence). For the season she has a 7-1 record, 39.1 innings pitched, 52 strikeouts, 13 walks, 0.763 ERA and is hitting .429 with 15 RBIs batting in the cleanup spot.
* Haylie Stum, a 2023 LHP/OF for the Texas Bombers Gold Hybrid-Castilla team out of New Braunfels, Texas went 10-22 (.455 avg), 1 triple, 4 HR, 14 RBI’s, 5 runs scored in two TFL games and 8 games in Triple Crown SW Summer Nationals Elite Division. She’s batting.356 with a 1.044 OPS for the season and has 4 wins and a 2.44 ERA.
* Hailey Whidden, a 2025 P/1B for Tampa Mustangs-Henry had three starts and three wins at the PGF Southeast Region Championship 14U tournament surrounding six runs over 19 innings pitched. She also pitched a gem against Birmingham Thunderbolts–Wood, handing them their only loss at the USSSA Summer NIT in GA.
* Gabby Fakes, a 2024 P/1B for the Wisconsin Bandits 14U Gold (Horicon, Wisconsin) had a strong week at USA Elite Select World Fastpitch Championship 14U division (Kansas City, Kansas as the lefty threw 28.1 innings and gave up just 4 earned runs for a 0.996 ERA with 39 strikeouts against just three walks. She also hit .571 with three doubles and 4 RBIs.
Scroll down to see who else was honored as Runners-Up for the week & who took the National Club Team of the Week!
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How to Submit Information:
Each week during the summer, Extra Inning Softball will recognize a National Club Player & Team of the Week.
Those honored will typically be announced on Tuesdays. The cutoff for submitting the nominations for Player & Team of the Week will be Mondays at 9 pm EST/6 pm PST.
* Individually, we’re looking for standouts who excelled in the circle, at the plate or in the field so be sure to nominate your favorite performance(s) by submitting the following:
- Player Name
- Grad Year (example: Class of 2021 or Incoming Senior)
- Position(s)
- Club team name with city/state
- Stats for the week (be as detailed as possible!)
- Up-to-date season stats if possible
- Recruiting information if applicable
- Any interesting background on the player
- Action and/or head shots
- If possible, contact info if we’d like more info or quotes
* Teams to be considered should include info such as record, key wins, standout performances and more for the week.
Email your info and photos (1-4 as available) by the cutoff of Mondays at 9 pm EST/6 pm PST to: [email protected].