At the youth level, perhaps no organization is more on fire than the Diamond Sports Hotshots organization out of Texas.
Last year the organization won PGF 12U Premier Nationals as Nathan Nelson’s team went 7-0 and won in the championship game 5-1.
This year, Nelson’s team has moved up to 14U and one of the favorites at PGF Premier at the age level along with Troy Falterman’s squad.
And at the World Fastpitch Championship in Kansas City recently the 16U, 14U and 12U championships were all won by Hotshots teams.
This year, the 12U favorite could again be a Hotshots team, only this one is coached by Steve Jones, whose team kicks off pool action today at 2 pm PST in Harvard Park in Irvine, California against another team to watch in Tennessee Mojo 2023 led by pitcher Ashtyn Danton.
The Hotshots are led by two top pitchers who were instrumental in the team winning the WFC: Ava Brown and Sa’Mya Jones, who both throw around 60 mph and have good movement on their pitches but also can place their pitches in a way that’s not typical for hurlers at their age group. Coach Jones told Carlos Arias of SoCalSidelines: “We rode their arms to a championship.”
Ava also plays first when she’s not pitching and is a dangerous hitter as is Sa’Mya who lines up in the middle infield when not in the circle. Catching the two outstanding pitcher/infielders is Paris Kimble who adds power and drives in runs with the offense being sparked by centerfielder Moria Polar who has great speed and leads off for the Hotshots. Another player that scores a lot of runs is second baseman Maddox McKee who bats high in the line-up.