Get on board with Extra Inning Softball’s regular feature, The Last Inning!
We are scouring the Internet and Social Media and keeping our ears to the street for the latest going on in the softball community.
To contribute information, insights, thoughts or content ideas, email us at info@extrainningsoftball.com and also los.extrainningsoftball@gmail.com.
Here’s our TLI for Monday, Nov. 19, 2021 …
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TFL RECAP
Texas Bombers Gold-Smith, Texas Bombers Gold-Jacoby and Impact Gold National-Smtih won the 18U, 16U amd 14U titles at the second TFL Fall Championships this past weekend in the Houston Area.
All three teams earned Tier 1 berths to the second Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series this summer.
Texas Bombers Gold-Smith went 3-0 in bracket play on Sunday, beating Texas Glory-Shelton, 1-0, in the 18U finals.
“The team gave up one run in five games on the way to the championship,” Bombers coach Scott Smith said. “We pitched three consecutive shutouts on the last day of the single-elimination bracket on Sunday.”
Oklahoma-bound SJ Geurin, Ole Miss-bound Grace Sparks, Baylor-commit Lexie Warncke and Texas-bound Citlaly Gutierrez combined on the three shutouts on Sunday.
It was a team effort on offense. The Bombers went undefeated in Stage 1 of the Alliance Cup, won the Texas Gold Cup for the third straight year, won the TFL Fall Championship for the second consecutive year and finished the fall with a record of 31-2-2.
Texas Bombers Gold-Jacoby went 3-0 on Sunday and beat Athletics Mercado-Bonola, 1-0, in the 16U finals.
Hailey Nutter (2025, P/UT), a freshman at Barber Hills High, threw 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing no runs and two hits with one strikeout and one walk and she doubled in Avery Mauer (2025, MIF/OF) to lead the bombers against the Athletics. Mauer doubled, Makala Smith (2025, P/1B) threw 0.1 innings of scoreless relief and Nutter and Gabby Catillo (2025, C/OF) had multiple-hit games.
Impact Gold National-Smith went 4-0 on Sunday, including a 6-1 victory over Impact Gold National 2026-Hatch in the 14U title game.
Ella-Kate “EK” Smith (2026, P/1B) went 6-0 with 25 Ks in 26.2 IP at the TFL and hit two HRs in bracket play. Addy Sheppard (2025, C/IF) hit three HRs in bracket play, including one in the championship game, Kaiya Fabela (2025, C/1B) homered in the title game, Hailey Gore (2025, OF) robbed a homer in left field and Briana Collazo (2025 C/IF) had a game-tying hit in the bottom of the fourth.
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RIP COACH HARRINGTON
Steve Harrington, who coached at Chaminade High, El Modena High and La Habra High, as well as a number of travel ball organizations, passed away from a heart attack on Friday, Firecrackers – Brashear Head Coach Sean Brashear confirmed.
It was a stunning tragedy for the organization as the Firecrackers teams were getting set heading into the weekend to pay in the Don Battles On tournament.
“Steve and I go back a long ways,” Tony Rico of the Firecrackers organization said over the weekend. “I’ve always told him he was one of the best coaches we’ve ever competed against. His pitching and game strategy IQ were off the charts. I’m proud that we and especially Sean were able to give him a good place to finish his coaching days. He will be greatly missed.”
On Monday, a fundraiser was held in the late coach’s honor by fellow club coach Tony Medina:
***TOMORROW, MONDAY NOVEMBER 22***
Special fundraiser in memory of Coach Steve Harrington 🕊 OPEN TO ALL. Two sessions. Fountain Valley Sports Park Field #3. Proceeds to benefit the Steve Harrington Memorial Fund. Spread the word and tell a friend! 🙏🏼🥎 pic.twitter.com/lx4ofNFxF3
— Medina Softball Clinics (@CoachTonyMedina) November 21, 2021
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JONES REJOINS HOTSHOTS
Steve Jones’ Impact Gold-National-Jones team is re-joining the Hotshots Premier organization and will be known as Hotshots National-Jones, the coach announced on Monday.
Jones’ Impact Gold team was ranked #7 in the nation last Summer in the Extra Elite Eighty 16U Club Rankings. The team features his talented daughter, Sa’Mya Jones (2024, SS/UT, #3 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100).
“We are returning to our roots: We are now Hotshots National Jones,” said Coach Jones, who previously coached Hotshots and Texas Bombers teams.
“The fear of change is the greatest impediment to progress. This is true in most all walks of life. Our athletes are taught this regularly. Sometimes change is not necessary, but oftentimes it is advantageous to growth. Opportunities for growth and progress should be grasped with exuberance if your spirit in doing so is pure in its motivations. With every step, every move, every change, there should be advancement and we have realized that as a group who believes in the best for our athletes and families.”
Jones’ team is expected to compete at all of the national events.
Over the weekend, Coach Jones finalized a deal to once again be wearing the Hotshots colors and Nathan Nelson, the head of the Hotshots organization, admits he will be having an extra good Thanksgiving this week after closing the deal.
“Having Coach Jones’ team back in the organization made for a very, very good day when it was finalized!” he told Extra Inning Softball today.
“This is a very talented team with a group of kids that will buy into wanting to get better. These kids will run through a wall for Coach Steve and Coach Martin and we look to strengthen the Hotshots organization tremendously with this move. Steve is very detailed and he will always do what’s best for his girls. He’s very adamant in what he wants, which is to make sure they will always be in the right spot. So, welcome home guys! We can’t wait to see what the future holds for this group!”
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SIGNING/COMMITMENT ALERTS:
Katie Lott, 2022, 3B/SS/1B, Hotshots Premier-Nelson/Cypress Woods High, Oklahoma State
I am so excited to announce that I have committed to continue my education and play softball at Oklahoma State University! #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/REjLQ2m5V7
— katiel33 (@katiel331) November 19, 2020
Makenna Mitchell, 2023, 3B/OF/SS/UT, Impact Gold-Jackson/Santa Fe High, Texas Tech
Congratulations to our very own @makennamitch17 for committing to Texas Tech University!!! So proud of you Kenna!! Can’t wait to see you do big things in Lubbock!! #betheimpact #trusttheprocess #goldblooded #igjackson18u pic.twitter.com/FvmPv8cSv9
— Impact Gold Jackson 18U🥎 (@IG_Jackson18u) November 16, 2021
Allie Furr, 2023, OF, Tulsa Elite Ark – Jaramillo/Cedar Creek High, Louisiana Tech
Couldn’t be happier!! ❤️🐶💙 #HBTD @LATechSB @la_techSBCoachT @shelbyhiers @LATechSB_Cohen @TKrobetzky @TulsaEliteSB @Softball_La pic.twitter.com/jt7Q4Pqpwy
— Allie Furr (@alliefurr_) November 18, 2021
*** Scroll down to see more top juniors who’ve committed and seniors who’ve signed with their future college programs!
