Friday saw a full schedule of pool games to set up the single elimination games beginning mid-day Saturday to run through the championships Saturday afternoon.
Here are some of the highlights I saw during the day as I went to three of the five complexes to see some impressive players and teams…
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball
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* Julia Gossett, a 2023 pitcher for Beverly Bandits – Dorsey, looked impressive in an early pool game on Friday as she threw five innings and gave up just two hits while striking out eight in a 7-2 win over Nebraska Gold – Anderson.
Julia is committed to Purdue and is one of six committed 2023’s on Rona Dorsey’s team.
* Like much of the nation, it was a bit toasty in the Midwest on Friday as my car temperature at one point said 102 degrees and the games at 2 pm and 4 pm were postponed to 6, 8 and 10 pm to allow the teams to avoid hottest times of the day.
But as event director Robb Behymer noted: “No one has complained, it’s going really well and the level of competition is excellent.”
And diverse as so many teams traveled a long ways to compete in the Top Gun Invitational.
* What was fun to see is you had teams from Rhode Island (Thunder) to California (Grapettes, for one example; Washington (NW Bullets) to Texas (Riptide) to even Hawaii (LK Black Hawaii).
And then there was the fun story involving the Colorado Ruthless Gold – Martinez which got the long-distance award not for a player or team but for a grandmother, Lyn (Pinkee) Farnsworth who came all the way from New Zealand (!) to watch her granddaughter Delaney Farnsworth play.
Delaney is a 2022 pitcher who is just the latest in the family to be busy in softball as her vibrant grandmother (she goes by “Pinkee” because “most everything I have is pink”) played softball in her native New Zealand and her father and coach on the team, Steve Farnsworth, played men’s softball and was on the International team.
Here’s a video of the three generations as I interviewed them yesterday:
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One of the favorites in the 16U Maverick division would have to be Josh Johnson and Jay Ross’s Virginia Unity team, which has an interesting record going into Saturday action: 2-0-3.
Yes, they tied three games by scores of 0-0, 1-1 and 2-2 but are loaded with talent as every member of the team is ranked in the Top 50 of the Extra Elite 100 including pitchers Jayden Heavener, #1 in the 2024 class, and Addisyn Linton, #2 in the 2025 class.
The coaching staff of the Unity did something really cool for their players after their pool games on Friday: the players, parents and coaches met at a local steakhouse where those who were on the team last year received rings honoring their winning nationals at PGF and USA Softball.
In the two events combined, the team went 21-1 which is noted on the ring which also has the players’ names on them.
A souvenir of a remarkable season that those players will never forget.
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At the 14U level, Sam Campbell’s Texas Riptide is 5-0 and has scored 42 runs while giving up just nine.
That’s the team on which Alisa Sneed, the recently-named top player in the 2025 Extra Elite 100 competes, and she is on fire, hitting her 4th home run in the event’s first two days.
#4 on the weekend! Let’s go!! #84 @SamCamp50 @Los_Stuff @ExtraInningSB @TopGunEvents @LegacyLegendsS1 pic.twitter.com/jVcM4PvKSE
— Alisa Sneed (@AlisaSneed2025) June 18, 2022
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And here are many more highlights via Twitter from many of the players themselves…
Solo home run my first at bat @ Top Gun Invitational in Kansas City. We won 9-0. Next game at 8pm tonight 💣💪🏻 #45 #TGI2022 #IowaGold @TopGunEvents @ExtraInningSB @BrenttEads @Los_Stuff @LegacyLegendsS1 pic.twitter.com/vPwVWj2r5P
— Sophia Schlader 2028 (@SophiaSchlader) June 17, 2022
Was able to help my team tonight, running for Maci, scoring on the single from @kjarzobski for a walk win at Top Gun Invitational. @negold16u @nefury00 @TopGunEvents pic.twitter.com/AFi9Hjtp6H
— Paige Abrames (@abrames2024) June 18, 2022
A very hot day at Top Gun Invitational in KC … good day at the plate 4-8 with a double. Back at it today with 2 games. @TopGunEvents @MustangsSeymour @AshleyStag @USG727 @BMFastpitch @Los_Stuff @ExtraInningSB pic.twitter.com/RzXLQFVpev
— Karhys Pierce #2 (@KarhysP) June 17, 2022
Top Gun Invitational with my girl!❤️ pic.twitter.com/bD8m70c3sA
— Stacey Miller (@mama_millertime) June 17, 2022
SAFE! Day 1 in the books @PGFnetwork Top Gun Invitational. @ondecksoftball @IHartFastpitch @D1Uncommitted @SBRRetweets @SoftballDown @ScottWoodard8 @CoachMJKnighten @jdeering25 @JessicaAllister @Trisha_Ford @stef_ewing @Ca18u 💯🍇🥎 pic.twitter.com/C5xNnwYzSY
— Lauren Deplitch (@laurendeplitch1) June 16, 2022
Divas playing long ball here in Kansas at the Top Gun Invitational! @TopGunEvents @emilyysmith17 @JdChandler78 @KenThomas74 @RachDuty #hardworkpaysoff #tdd16u #TGI2022 @ExtraInningSB @Los_Stuff pic.twitter.com/q6BKwY87vf
— Texas Dirt Divas National 18u (@18UTDD) June 18, 2022
Big win over Houston Hotshots 6-0 to start off Top Gun Invitational in KC. @TopGunEvents pic.twitter.com/GcgDC1UWhB
— NEBRASKA GOLD 17U NATIONAL (@NEGOLD16s_) June 16, 2022
I have been doing tons of reps working on my throw on the run from 3B. Tonight I was able to apply all those reps in our game at Top Gun Invitational. @Wass_Strength @negold16u @nefury00 @TopGunEvents pic.twitter.com/j29eg9ZHOu
— Paige Abrames (@abrames2024) June 18, 2022
https://twitter.com/HSPrem16uWilson/status/1537457620482723843
Had a great first 2 days at Top Gun Invitational with 4 hits, a triple, 3 singles and 5 RBIs. pic.twitter.com/Ocv25qCWdH
— Morgan Hoel 2023 (@MorganHoel2023) June 18, 2022
Playing in KC at the Top Gun Invitational @TopGunEvents @kjarzobski with a walkoff single for a 1-0 WIN 🏆 @abrames2024 with lights out base running. @hydock2025 with a complete game #shutout @NadiaDezeeuw @EmmaWakehouse @WelchertKaitlyn ea with a hit!
@nefury00 @Watertightroof3 pic.twitter.com/RLd66piZWz— Nebraska Gold Jarzobski (@negoldjarz) June 18, 2022
Went 1-0-1 in Day 1 pool play @TopGunEvents Top Gun Invitational. Bats came around with 22 hits. Day 2 we’re coming for ya! On a side note, Mother Nature could do us a solid with some ⛅️ cover and a breeze today! 👍🏻😊
Come out and catch a few innings with us! pic.twitter.com/rNSMYzsbW0— Amy Broughton (@CoachBrought) June 17, 2022
Top Gun Invitational Pool Game 5. 5-0 and ending day two as top seed in our pool. @TopGunEvents @AFSBALL @LegacyLegendsS1 @Los_Stuff pic.twitter.com/JVi6ZNMk0R
— American Freedom 2k25 National (@gold2k25) June 18, 2022
🚨Update🚨 Bandits go 1&1 in pool play today @ Top Gun Invitational Powered by PGF, S/O to Allie Blum on her Grandslam & her solo 💣! @ExtraInningSB @LegacyLegendsS1 @sixty_feetSB @StriveSoftball @IHartFastpitch @TopPreps @TAProfileAPP @FastPitchNet @TopGunEvents @PGFnetwork pic.twitter.com/z6MebYdBsV
— Beverly Bandits Premier 18U (Holloway/Mack) (@06bandits) June 18, 2022
Double Plays!!!! #FirstBase Top Gun Invitational is going great so far! Bracket starts tomorrow!!! pic.twitter.com/gpNLcetM7W
— Emrie Ashcraft (@AshcraftEmrie) June 18, 2022
Lauren Spoon (2023) @Laurenspoon2023 showing off her weapon in the Top Gun Invitational!#maruccipatriots @UAMSoftball @Coach_Lem_UAM @la_techSBCoachT @OleMissSoftball @Jamie_Trachsel @rykerzc @TexasTechSB @CoachStrinz @coach_maples @martinez3d@janderson_coach @jess_nutt24 pic.twitter.com/kd4dnfdwho
— Marucci Patriots 18U National (@18uMarucci) June 18, 2022
Keep running cause I love the throw down! 😎 #booyah #kansascity #topguninvitational pic.twitter.com/YYUsFLjE4T
— Ahiza Garcia (@GarciaAhiza77) June 17, 2022
Not today! @PGFnetwork Top Gun Invitational @IHartFastpitch @Los_Stuff @SoftballDown @SBRRetweets @ExtraInningSB @ondecksoftball @FloSoftball @ScottWoodard8 @mickeydeanSB @Trisha_Ford 🍇🥎 pic.twitter.com/8n2akybggz
— Sarah Deplitch (@SarahDep2024) June 17, 2022
