Firecrackers Rico 18U team will try to defend PGF softball national title
The club softball community must be unified under a single banner – their mantra: “Start ‘em young.”
From an early age, girls’ fastpitch travel ball players become accustomed to life on the road.
“Travel players are accustomed to this crazy schedule,” Firecrackers Softball president Tony Rico said. “As early as 12U, they start playing 40-something weeks a year.
“It’s grueling, but it’s necessary. A lot of these girls for the top clubs, they go on to compete in their Regionals and Super Regionals. A lot of that playoff structure, it tests them physically and emotionally.”
Rico has a good idea of what his players are concerned about. The second part of his quote covered the fact that many of his players head off to compete for the top college programs in the nation. Often times, their seasons are extended to the point where they interfere or overlap with final exams.
The lifestyle of a student-athlete has frequently been given high praise. Possessing the ability to handle multiple tasks at the same time is one of their greatest assets. Rico likes to believe that travel softball plays its part in preparing kids for their busy lives ahead, especially with the commitment made by the players in conjunction with their high school schedules.
“It’s part of our preparation for these kids,” he explained. “We have them on the road. They’re exhausted, so they can learn to rely on their trained mind.”
Rico has another stacked roster, fresh off a year in which his 18-and-under squad won the Premier Girls Fastpitch national championship. Leading the repeat attempt for the Huntington Beach-based club are a pair of USA Junior National Team players in Mary Iakopo and Alexis “Lou” Allan.
Iakopo caught for Los Alamitos this year. The Oregon-bound backstop has a cannon of an arm, and her quick bat supplied much of the power in a speedy Griffins lineup. She was also named the MVP of the SoCal Seniors All-Star game after homering in the contest.
As for Allan, softball is in her blood. She is the granddaughter of Sheila Cornell-Douty, a UCLA alumnus who was a two-time Olympic gold medalist with USA softball in 1996 (Atlanta) and 2000 (Sydney).
“It’s kind of like whoever is going to get Derek Jeter’s kid,” Rico said of Allan’s gene pool. “You could see that in Lou’s style of play. She is, for her age, the consummate professionally-trained player. She’s strong. She has a great softball mind, but you can see that she is a product of grandma’s laboratory.”
A handful of Los Alamitos players are on Rico’s roster, and with that, Griffins coach Rob Weil has been handed the responsibilities for all on-field operations. Two of his pitchers, Ryan Denhart (Maryland) and Brianna Jewett (committed to Harvard) will see the bulk of the time in the circle.
Several locals are scattered throughout the roster. Edison’s Riley Wester (Notre Dame) and Rachel Abboud (Duke) are joined by Huntington Beach third baseman Allee Bunker (Oregon).
Santa Ana Mater Dei outfielder Emma Clark is another Huntington Beach native on the Firecrackers Rico 18U roster.
It will take seven victories to bring home the 18U Premier bracket championship. Top contenders for Rico’s Firecrackers’ squad include the O.C. Batbusters Stith (the club team of HB’s Ivy Davis and Jadelyn Allchin), the Corona Angels, and the Birmingham Thunderbolts.
More local prospects can be found throughout the 18U ranks. Mike Lutterloh’s Firecrackers team has recent Marina graduates Amber Baldwin and Ryan King, both of whom will play for Middle Tennessee State next season.
In the Platinum division, Chuck Stream’s Firecrackers roster has several local connections. They are Estancia’s Dream Team catcher Kalena Shepherd, Fountain Valley second baseman Madison Primrose, and Edison’s Hannah Horton and Danielle Votendahl.
Three age groups (18U, 12U, and 10U) will play the first week. PGF Nationals starts with pool play through the weekend at Huntington Beach Sports Complex. Bracket play begins on Monday and leads up to the Premier Girls Fastpitch national championship games on Friday, July 28.
PGF National Championship Games (all games at Deanna Manning Stadium, Bill Barber Park of Irvine)
18U Platinum Championship, 8:30 a.m.
10U Premier Championship, 11 a.m.
12U Premier Championship, 1:30 p.m.
18U Premier Championship, 4:30 p.m.
PGF High School All-American Game, 7:30 p.m.
Twitter: @ProfessorTurner
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