Photo Blog: It was a Hot Time at the Hotshots Invitational in Houston Last Weekend!

By @BruntjensElla

A Bombers 14U – Wilmore batter faces Isabelle Hooper, the Extra Innings Class of 2026 #37-ranked pitcher, in the circle for Sudden Impact 14U – Seneca.

It was hot in Conroe, Texas this past weekend for the Hotshots Invitational tournament that saw many of the premier club teams not just in the Lone Star State, but also across the South and East, compete in the first big weekend of travel ball this summer.

The mid-90 degree heat, however, didn’t slow down the event—which was loaded with talented players and teams from top tier organizations such as the Bombers, Firecrackers, Sudden Impact, Dirt Divas, Prolific, Marucci Patriots, Lady Dukes, Peppers and many more—from playing in front of more than 30 college coaches from around the nation.

The Texas Riptide was the winners of the 14U Gold bracket.

When the dust had settled, the following teams were the winners:

Gold Bracket
14u: Texas Riptide
16u: Prolific Fastpitch
18: Hotshots National Nelson

Platinum Bracket
14u: LA Bombers Gold Savant
16u: Texas Sting
18u: Lady Dukes 2023/2024

Coach Mel Dumezich, the VP of Operations for the Hotshots program and the head coach of the 18U team, was pleased with how the Invitational played out.

“The feedback about the event was positive from both team and college coaches,” she told Extra Inning Softball. “There was a lot of talent in one location, and everything needed was close by: hotels, parks, restaurants, etc. and the set-up was nice with a five-seeded pool playing into a single elimination premier bracket.”

Mel Dumezich (left) of the Hotshots organization, is pictured with Coach Gerry Glasco, the head coach at Louisiana-Lafayette.

Here are more photos of the weekend taken by Extra Inning Softball correspondent Joy Roeder who captured the action on and off the fields before, during and after the games…

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