OnDeck Softball Rolls Out Its Newest Development in Recruiting While Dodging SoCal Thunderstorms

OnDeck Softball, the leader in softball recruiting event production with tryouts, camps and jamborees, have evaluated tens of thousands of softball athletes since launching the Allister Report in 2002 and have helped provide the exposure for thousands to play at major universities and colleges across the country.

Extra Inning Softball is proud to partner with Derek and Joann and the OnDeck staff to provide coverage of their events and the OnDeck Measurement (“ODM”) component of their events. Last week, we reported on the latest from the OnDeck world, a new twist on what’s been working for them for the last 16 years, as an Organizational Testing Challenge was introduced…

*****

A violent thunderstorm moved into Southern California on Friday night forcing the cancellation of most high school football games due to the drenching rains and heavy lightning. The weather forecast was not promising at all for softball events, either, with rain forecasted for the entire weekend.

On Saturday morning, PGF was forced to cancel its showcase event at Huntington Beach and Irvine and later that day, Triple Crown was forced to cancel its showcase weekend too at all venues except Rosetta Canyon Park in Lake Elsinore. For some reason, Rosetta Canyon was blessed with glimpses of sunshine, brief patches of blue sky, many clouds, a bit of mist, and a whole lot of softball: two days’ worth that saw team competitions and ODM® testing.

This fortuitous break in the weather that afflicted much of Los Angeles and Orange Counties allowed for the unveiling of the newest recruiting concept from OnDeck Softball–Organization Testing and Evaluations or “OTE”– which took place inside the competitive invitation-only Triple Crown tournament.

“What an amazing event it turned out to be,” Derek Allister, the head of OnDeck Softball told Extra Inning Softball on Monday. “There were 208 of the finest uncommitted players from Southern California, Arizona, Nevada and Washington who came together to showcase their talents in front of nearly 100 college coaches from across the country.”

Coaches from all five Power 5 conferences were in attendance along with many other programs, and they were treated to an old-school competition among a strong 16-team field that saw Jeff Blanco’s high-powered Monarch team left standing at the end with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Brant Beddow’s SoCal Breakers.

Both teams ran the gauntlet to get to that final with the Monarchs beating the SoCal Choppers, Firecrackers-Arizona, Batbusters Gomes, and the Breakers. Beddow’s Breakers excellent run to the final started with wins over Athletics-Mercado, Firecrackers-Brashear and Firecrackers Rico. The list of top teams that participated also included the Washington Ladyhawks, the Corona Angels and OC Batbusters-Stith.

“It was an impressive run, to say the least,” added Allister, “and it cemented the Monarch’s place among SoCal’s finest organizations.”

The three year in the making OnDeck concept smoothly rolled out under the watchful eyes of some of the finest head coaches in the country. Among the triple digit number of college coaches in attendance were several who competed in the Women’s College World Series including Patty Gasso of Oklahoma, Tim Walton from Florida, Trish Ford of Arizona State and Heather Tarr of Washington.

“They all sat riveted throughout the day,” said Allister, “and many, many others enjoyed the competition as well.”

A “Perpetual Trophy” was presented to the Monarchs at the ceremony following their thrilling win. The trophy will rest in the care of the Monarchs for the year and next October the trophy will be brought back to Rosetta to be fought for once again.

The Monarchs took home the top prize behind a scintillating pitching performance on Sunday by 2020 Taylor Caudill and the defense of 2021 shortstop Sophia Masut, who made several sparkling plays throughout the day. The Monarchs’ 2020 utility player, Jaden Hill, was key to the Monarchs’ runs and showed why she is one of SoCal’s most elite prospects.

Brant Beddow’s SoCal Breakers were led by a slew of outstanding players including 2020 catcher/third baseman Madison Helms, 2019 pitcher Nikki Mullin, 2019 outfielder Jayden Cunningham and 2021 outfielder Jenna Mello.

“We had a great time these past two days,” said Derek Allister from OnDeck Softball. “This has been in the works for over three years, and we were excited to get it up and running with Travis Cotsenmoyer and Triple Crown. Already, we are hearing from people who want to get into this thing next year. I see nothing but great things ahead.”

Said Brant Beddow of the SoCal Breakers, “It was a great inaugural tournament and I bet there will be a lot more that jump on board next year.”

OnDeck’s OTE made an impressive first-year showing and looks to be one of the elite events on the Fall recruiting circuit in the years ahead. According to Allister, the field will be expanded from 16 to 24 teams next year when Jeff Blanco’s group will come back to defend its title. The ODM component was well-received as well and we’ll have more on the top performers at a later date.

All inquiries for the event for next year should be sent to Travis Cotsenmoyer, Triple Crown’s Southern California Director, at [email protected].