USA Softball Tryout Standouts From Day 2

USA Softball Tryout Standouts From Day 2

FloSoftball recaps day three of the U.S. women's national softball team tryouts in Clearwater, Florida.

Jan 4, 2017 by Chez Sievers
USA Softball Tryout Standouts From Day 2
It's all quiet in Clearwater, Florida, as 48 players vie for a spot on the U.S. women's national softball team. The talent at the tryouts is very strong, and the committee will have a hard time choosing the top squad. I think the USA may be creating two teams like we've seen in the past.

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Standouts in the Circle

Ally Carda threw gas on Tuesday, mowing down most of the hitters she faced. She threw in the upper 60s and pushed 70 mph, mixing her rise, drop, and change. She looked the strongest out of all of the pitchers on day two.

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Florida's 1-2 punch of Delanie Gourley and Kelly Barnhill tallied a number of strikeout victims. Gourley buckled knees with her changeup, and Barnhill gassed hitters with her rise.

Jessica Moore had a solid performance, only giving up one hit. She attacked hitters and kept them off-balance with her off-speed pitches.

Arizona southpaw Danielle O'Toole's claimed a number of strikeout victims with her changeup and off-speed.

Rachel Garcia and Megan Kleist looked good once they got settled in the second inning pitched. Garcia registered four strikeouts, while Kleist kept the ball in the infield.


Top Hitters

Kasey Cooper hit a RBI double to left center off of Kalen Gill. Janie Takeda made a great defensive play to cut the ball off prevent the runners from advancing an extra base.

Meghan Gregg took Carley Hoover deep to right center and was solid much of the day at the plate. Gregg will need more time to adjust to playing first if that will be her position. She's a tough bat to keep out of the lineup.

Veteran Amanda Chidester laced a shot down the left-field line for a stand-up double.

Hannah Flippen was impressive at the plate, blasting a double off the center-field fence against Randy Rupp.

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UCLA grad Mysha Sataraka is a scary hitter to throw to and proved to be a tough out, reaching base numerous times.

Chip Bennett put pressure on the defense to make plays and make them fast. Bennett, who had two steals on the day, offers much-needed speed and base-stealing capabilities that the USA will need on offense.


Standouts on Defense

One thing is for sure, Madison Shipman has an absolute hose for an arm. Bennett was on second when a gapper was hit to left-center. Janie Takeda picked it up at the fence and relayed the throw to Shipman, who threw a strike home to nail Bennett out at home. The throw was on a perfect line.

Without a doubt Aubree Munro calls the best game out of all of the catchers. She is rock solid behind the plate with her framing and blocking, and she works with a variety of pitchers. Munro will be more than capable of holding her own on offense.

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Lea Wodach and Annie Aldrete threw out two runners on the day. Wodach gunned down Lindsay Rood, and Aldrete caught Nikki Udria stealing.

I've never seen Lindsay Rood play before yesterday. She is super smooth and versatile. What makes her smooth is her ability to transfer and release the ball like a major leaguer. I'm excited to see how she develops at Cal.

Bennett aka "The Human Highlight Reel" had a forward diving catch to rob a single from Madison Shipman. Outfielders know how difficult and dangerous the forward dive can be, and she does it better than anybody else.

Arizona's Alyssa Palomino made an equally impressive diving catch in left field. After suffering an ACL injury last year, Palomino will be one of the most exciting players to watch entering her redshirt freshman season in 2017. She is a beast and will be a nightmare in the Pac-12 for the next four years.

Jenna Lilley is the scrapper of the bunch. She always finds a way to get on base and make plays. Lilley handled a shot to her backhand side and fired it across the field with ease.

Ali Aguilar made a sweet grab to her backhand side to throw the runner out at first.

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Hannah Flippen ran down a ball in the Bermuda Triangle to prevent a bloop single.

Stay tuned to FloSoftball for more updates on the U.S.'s top performers from day three of national selection camp on Wednesday.



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