FloSoftball’s No. 1 prospect in the 2018 Hot 100, Texas pitcher Brooke Vestal, has decided to play for a West Coast club team and in this first-person account explains why she’s making the move.
 
The University of Oklahoma commit first came to national attention at the 2013 PGF Nationals when she played for Coach Placido Garcia and the Austin Stars which finished fifth.
 
That fall she moved to the Texas Bombers led by Scott Smith and once again led her team to a fifth place finish.
 
Here’s what she wrote on the plane last Sunday on her way back from a Southern California friendly where she pitched with her new team…
 
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I am heading home from a great weekend in California. I got to throw against some of the top teams in our game and saw some awesome softball. 
 
I know this is the time of year where players move teams for different reasons. I now know how difficult it is to leave an organization and the close relationships that we develop with our teammates and their families. 
 
On the other hand, my athletic goal is to be in a position where Coach Gasso will give me the ball when I get to OU. I am not there yet, but I plan to outwork the competition in the meantime. 
 
After a lot of thought, I have decided to play for Tony Rico and the Firecrackers. This was not an easy decision for me, but opportunity knocked and I decided to go for it. This will be a huge challenge, but I look forward to developing my game at the most competitive level. 

Brooke Vestal in action with her new Firecrackers team!

My experience with the Texas Bombers and Scott Smith brought me into the world of national-level play. The last two years have been a whirlwind, and I thank the Bombers for their contribution to that. Leaving  a strong organization with solid coaching is difficult. 
 
I chose to move because I realize I only have so many years to play this game. I want to go out west and learn to compete with players and teams that put me outside of my comfort zone. Either way, I don't want to look back and ask myself "what if?" 
 
I am excited about playing with such a talented team with a history of success at the highest level. I can't wait for the tournament season to come around so we can hit the field in the big tournaments. 

See you in the dirt,
Brooke