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Softball Media: Episode 7 of Reality Series “Game Ready” Wraps Up Season 1

Episode 7 of fastpitch softball-based reality series Game Ready launched Thursday evening on YouTube and is the season-ending episode for the first year, which has been a big critical and popular success.

As in the previous six “innings,” creator, Louis (“Lou”) C. Simon, a 25-year veteran of the entertainment industry and father of Madi Simon, an Oregon State signee who is one of the top players in the 2020 class, rounds out the storytelling in the midst of the competitive spirit of these young and talented players.

Mark Campbell (OC Batbusters – Campbell)

The episode doesn’t disappoint with the storytelling of the players, with visuals and a special tribute to legendary coach Mark Campbell who unexpectedly passed away during the making of Game Ready

From real-life topics facing these players including the racism, injuries, training, college decommits and the pressure of trying to winning it all, Simon has found a way to complete these kids’ journey through a season where the unexpected happens along the way.

“Looking back at the series,” says Simon, “it’s true what they say, that anything can happen and nothing is guaranteed. It’s been an honor, a responsibility and I am humbled by the viewership, positive comments and acceptance.”

I’m not going to lie, this was very difficult in so many ways to complete, but we did it,” he concludes. “Never stop trying. Never stop giving it our all. Nobody’s perfect, but we can still try to be. I hope individuals with financial means can see the positive impact of a series as Game Ready so we can continue into another season. This has been described as an inspirational, family-driven series based on the players’ stories, their journies and their realities and I hold this to be true.”

Click HERE to watch Episode #7, “Champions
Click HERE to watch Episode #6, “This is Travel Ball
Click HERE to watch Episode #5, “Game Ready
Click HERE to watch Episode #4, “The Showcase
Click HERE to watch Episode #3, “Reflections
Click HERE to Watch Episode #2, “Final Training Day!”
Click HERE to Watch Episode #1, “Who We Are!”

Below is our initial article providing background on the Game Ready series including an interview with Simon…

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Softball Media: Must-See Softball Reality Series “Game Ready” Now Live on YouTube… & We Interview Its Creator, Lou Simon

Originally posted March 1, 2020 on Extra Inning Softball

Miranda Stoddard, a talented pitcher who is a freshman at Kentucky, plays a prominent role in Episode 1 “Who We Are.”

Wouldn’t it be cool if there was a reality TV series that focused on softball, specifically the dramatic world that is club softball?

Happily, it’s come to fruition, as the first episode of the series Game Ready is now on YouTube and it is a compelling inside look over the last few years at what makes some of the top players and travel teams in Southern California so successful, many of whom are now playing at DI programs.

As the trailer puts it, this is “A Women’s Softball Streaming Series. Their Journey. Their Stories. Their Reality.”

The producer behind Game Ready is Louis (“Lou”) C. Simon, a 25-year veteran of the entertainment industry whose vast filmmaking background in front of and behind the camera has seen him involved with 120 film and TV projects such as Jurassic Park and ABC’s For The People.

Lou got a first-hand look into the world of travel ball when his daughter Madison came up through the ranks and became a Top 30 honoree in the 2020 Extra Elite 100 as a skilled infielder and signed last fall with Oregon State.

The entertainment industry veteran saw the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the sport and, when no one would produce it for various reasons, he took it upon himself to see his dream project become a reality. Or, more accurately, a reality series.

“If all the powers that be in the softball community can work together,” Lou told Extra Inning Softball this week, “so much more can be achieved and every aspect of the sport will flourish.”

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How did the idea of a club softball reality series come about? Obviously with your daughter, Madison, being a top prospect in her class, it had to have given you some ideas…
This idea began when Madi was around 11-years-old. As a former collegiate baseball player, I had no idea that this softball world existed in the magnitude that it was until Madi began travel ball. Before the new recruiting rules, girls were getting recruited at such a young age and all I kept hearing parents talk about was getting recruited.  The icing on the cake, as they say, was when I heard that less than 2% actually get a full-ride scholarship to a top D-1 college. I basically said to myself: “Okay, these people are crazy! High risk. Intense. No guarantee. Interesting.”

Lou Simon and his daughter, Madison, a 2020 infielder who has signed with Oregon State.

What is the overall plan for the reality series? How would you like to see it develop and grow?
From the beginning, the overall plan was to get the sport exposure in the right way. The players, coaches, parents and the sport itself, outside the softball community. Softball is still very, very small in the big scheme of things. Working in the entertainment industry, I’m close to decision makers and getting advertisers and networks to believe in girls playing softball has been a muddy mountain to climb. Growth brings opportunity. Opportunity brings employment and other benefits to the players and everyone involved. I’d like to keep it going for the next 10 years.

Similarly, how do you look to monetize the project and make it so it has a long life?
Funny question!  I say this is funny because I must have attempted to get this project financed and distributed multiple times and each time is was rejected. Reason? No stars. No one knows about these softball players. What is travel ball? It goes on and on. It wasn’t until my agent at the Gersh Agency said, “Lou, no one knows what you’re talking about, why don’t you get a camera and make it.” And that was that. I put all the money in myself to get it done. It was a huge risk, but if I am going to tell my daughter to take risks, sacrifice and work hard for a chance of success, then I need to do the same. Now, it’s time for a one of the networks to step up and take a chance on these athletes and help us continue the series, one season at a time.

What impressed you most about the players and coaches as you did all the filming and producing?
What impressed me about these players is their desire to succeed. Its one thing I know about females—once they buy into something, they’re in. They have passion and they bring their emotions with it.  A combination that is deadly once the physical skills are applied in the sport of softball at the elite level.

Jadelyn Allchin, who is seen in the first episode, is now a freshman at Washington.

It must be interesting seeing players in the series like Miranda Stoddard (Kentucky), Maya Brady (UCLA), Terra McGowan (Oregon), Colleen Sullivan (Texas), Jadelyn Allchin (Washington), Maddy Ruffin (Long Beach State) and others you’ve followed and filmed go from being club to college players…
It certainly has put a smile on my face to see these players who were on camera on the travel ball fields and now to see them at these top colleges. After being in the game for a while and with my baseball background, it’s not hard to tell who will play at the next level. They play on these high caliber teams for a reason and work extremely, but like anything, it takes a good support system from the parents, coaches and friends to keep a balance and perspective on life.

What has been your takeaway from the project?
My takeaway is seeing how things can change so quickly in this game and life.  I knew the process of what it would take to complete the episodes. From filming, writing to editing, every film or TV project is a grind and Game Ready was no exception. In the end I am so pleased by the unconditional support from people like Mike Stith of the OC Batbusters. He, for one, said: “whatever you need, just let me know.” He trusted me and that goes a long way. I am so thankful for the players…from my very own Madi to Miranda, Maya, Sully (Colleen Sullivan), Terra, Jadelyn, Maddy, Giulia Koutsoyanopulos, a senior signed with Arizona, and Marlene Friedman, a senior going to Arkansas.

What impact would you love to see Game Ready have on the softball community?
I hope through this project that influential people inside softball will look beyond the boundaries and truly understand that they did not get to where they are without someone else helping them get to the place they want to be. Give back and you will receive a lot more that what you gave. So often, young people will receive an opportunity of a lifetime and, in return, they alienate others or respond in a “I’m too busy for you” attitude. Just like softball, things can change from one second to the next. I’d love for people to share this series as much as possible. I’m very grateful for the support the community and beyond has shown this project. Live life to the fullest, one day at a time.

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