RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
Joel Kennedy is the head coach of the Alabama-based So Cal Athletics – Marinakis/Kennedy 14U team and it was a winning summer for this group of 2026 and 2027 players who capped their summer a week ago by winning the Alliance Fastpitch Open Nationals (“AFON”).
In this first-person account, Coach Kennedy recaps the summer and what made it so special—the trophies and rings, yes, but it was primarily because of the players and bond they all had with each other…
*****
Coming into the week of the Alliance Fastpitch Open Nationals, our team had some pretty close finishes on the Summer season.
We finished 5th at the Atlanta Legacy Showcase losing 1-0 in the semifinals while only giving up four runs the entire tournament. We also had a 3rd place finishes at the Show Me The Money tournament in Newberry, Fla. and in the 16U division of the Atlanta Fastpitch Memorial Day Classic.
We felt like we were in position to win all of those events but just couldn’t quite finish. Throughout the season, however, we made some tweaks to our line-up that proved to be very productive at season’s end.
Our coaching staff has worked very hard at training and developing our players to play at an elite level and Kostas Marinakis and the So Cal organization have provided all the tools we need to be successful. Plus, having the ability to work with coaches like Katelyn Boyd Carson and Jodi Hodo is invaluable.
I have had the pleasure of coaching many of these girls for a long time and I have such a special place in my heart for each of them!
They are a phenomenal group of athletes that all bring something special to the team. We truly are blessed to have such amazing young ladies and their families in our program and. we spend countless hours analyzing what is best for our team and each player.
I enter us in showcases and tournaments that have the biggest opportunities to face top-notch competition and this victory at AFON would not have been possible without the outstanding effort, hustle, and encouragement of all the players, making this a true team effort.
It felt like all the hard work, sweat and time we have put in with training, drills, camps, and lessons all came together in a big way. I have never seen a 14U team perform the way these girls did during our week at AFON. They showed out in a big way!
To say we as coaches are proud would be an understatement.
These girls wanted to finish BIG for their final 14U tournament and I would dare to say they closed the chapter on 14U ball with a true team effort and had probably the most fun I have ever seen doing so.
Our So Cal Athletics Marinakis/Kennedy ‘26 Premier squad won the Alliance Fastpitch Open Nationals 14U – the first win for our SCA organization at the AFON.
Our team went 9-0 on the week with phenomenal offense and defense from our entire team!
Here’s how it went down…
Hitting
Our bats were fire as we recorded a team batting average of .422 with 70 RBIs, 10 home runs and an ERA of 1.273.
Taya Newton (2026, OF/IF, Andalusia, Ala.) and Hayley Sexton (2027, SS/UT, Panama City Beach, Fla.) both batted above .500 while Emily Maddox (2026, P/1B, Graceville, Fla.), Ella Robertson (2026, MIF, Hattiesburg, Miss.), Emily Adams (2026, P/UT, Dothan, Ala.) and Kylie Snowden (2026, CIF, P, Elmore, Ala.) all batted above .400.
Mallory Magrino (2026, 3B/C, Dothan, Ala.), Hope Kennedy (2026, C/3B, Abbeville, Ala.), and Hannah Isham (2026, OF/UT, Navarre, Fla.) were close behind and had several key hits for the team.
Pitching
Hannah DeMarcus (2027, P/OF, Pace, Fla.) and Emily Adams (2026, P/UT Dothan, Ala.) did the bulk of the work on the rubber commanding the mound this tournament.
Combined, the girls pitched 37 innings giving up only 11 runs. They had help from lefty Emily Maddox and right-hander Kailey Jackson (2026, P/2B, Andelusia, Ala.) as well.
The pitching staff combined for an amazing 52 strike outs. Hope Kennedy (2026, C/3B, Abbeville, Ala.) was masterful behind the plate for 39 innings helping to frame the corners and only allowing two stolen bases throughout the week.
All four of our pitchers – Hannah Demarcus, Emily Adams, Kailey Jackson and Emily Maddox – are students of pitching Coach Sharon O’Mara, aka Coach “O,” at Allzones Fastpitch Academy in Enterprise, Ala.
Assistant Coach Anthony Adams said:
“Coach O is a very respected pitching coach with several players that are playing in the SEC and/or are upcoming commits. It is great having them all attend the same pitching coach because I can use the same key words to relate to pitching as she does in lessons.”
Players Perspectives
When we asked our players what they thought about participating in their first AFON event here were some of their responses.
- Kailey Jackson (2026, P/2B, Andalusia, Ala):
“The AFON staff was very involved with each team and celebrated each team’s success! They were just as excited for our wins as we were and always brought the best energy with them! I would say our team played amazing this tournament! The bats were on fire, the defense was clutch, and the pitching was great! It was great to see this team play to our full potential and show everyone how special this group really is and will continue to be!” - Emily Maddox (2026, P/1F, Graceville, Fla.):
“The winners board was cool and exciting for girls to write the team’s name on it. I liked seeing the team advance.” - Ella Robertson (2026, MIF, Hattiesburg, Miss):
“The celebration of each win with the winner board, the hats for Final 4 and the shirts for the champions made the tournament extra fun!” - Kylie Snowden (2026, IF/P, Elmore, Ala):
“I thought they did a great job staying on schedule!”
*****
The Fun Factor
Summarizing their experiences short, simple and sweet from the rest of the players: they all stated: “IT WAS FUN!”
In closing I just want to thank the AFON for putting on a well-organized, highly competitive tournament that is all about the girls.
We sometimes put so much pressure on these athletes to perform and to always be their best in front of college coaches that sometimes it’s easy for us to forget that it’s still supposed to be fun.
AFON reminded us that it still can be!
— Joel Kennedy / Head Coach of So Cal Athletics – Marinakis/Kennedy