What To Watch For At USA JO Cup

Jul 26, 2017 by Chez Sievers

From July 27-29 the USA JO Cup will stream LIVE on FloSoftball from Big League Dreams in Perris, California. Streaming will begin at 10:30 AM PT on Yankee, Dodger, Fenway, and Angel fields.

Greg Schnute's EC Bullets defended their home turf against the Gold Coast Hurricanes in an all out battle on championship day. Will they repeat?

What To Watch For at 18U USA JO Cup

EC Bullets Schnute

Greg Schnute's Bullets return to USA JO Cup to reclaim the championship trophy. The core of the team including Hot 100 players in 2017 are P Skylar Hayward (Ohio State), 2017 IF Kiara Kennedy (Purdue), 2017 SS Sydney Pennington (Oklahoma State), 2017 3B/C Trenity Edwards (Missouri) and 2019 P Lexi Kilfoyl (Alabama). Along with this strong group, the Bullets adds some outstanding newcombers in 2019 IF Odalys Cordova (Florida), 2019 C Chloe Culp (Florida State), 2018 P/IF Kassidy Krupit (Delaware), 2017 P Skylar Hayward (Ohio State) and 2019 P Callie Turner (Tennessee).

Gold Coast Hurricanes

Traditionally one of the top teams in the South if not the country, the Hurricanes finished second at the USA Softball JO Cup and look poised to make a run at Nationals in 2017 behind 2017 P Kama Woodall (North Carolina State) and other major college talent. Coach Marty Cooper returns eight players including power bats like seniors C/1B Danielle Romanello (Florida) and IF Taylor Bump (Michigan) along with talented juniors in SS Amanda Beane (Florida) and SS/3B Hannah Sipos (Florida).

Atlanta Vipers

Dickey Vallery's team did well enough this year, finishing second at USA Softball JO Cup and 33rd at PGF Nationals, and the team got stronger on the field and in the dugout. The coaching staff has added Sharon Perkins, the four-time ACC Coach of the Year, and brings in strong players like Chooch Carroll, the 2020 Auburn commit who's rated as one of the top five players in her class. Along with her big bat, a strong returning core that includes 2017 P Keara Napoli (Georgia) and 2018 IF Savana Sikes (Auburn), 2017 IF Jana Johns (South Carolina), and 2017 P Kara Bilodeau (Auburn).

Scrap Yard Dawgs

The Scrap Yard Dawgs led by Connie May are starting to make some noise in the Lone Star State after finishing fifth at the USA Softball JO Cup in Atlanta and taking fifth at the TCS Colorado Super 48. The team has 10 returners back and nine 2017's committed including P Ariana Adams (Texas) and MIF Tierrah Williams (Houston). Watch out for the rising 2018 outfielder C.J. Landrum, who committed to Georgia this summer, and her classmates Meagan and Morgan Smith, who play corner infield and catcher, respectively. A young talent who should make a big impact this year is newcomer Abby McKeown, an uncommitted 2019 pitcher on whom coaches are high.

OK Athletics Gold

Every starter returns and the pitching staff is even stronger with the pickup of Chenise Delce, a 2018 Tulsa commit. Key returners include 2018 CF Chyenne Factor (Oklahoma State), 2017 SS Sydnee Ramsey (Kansas), and 2017 2B Kennedy Jackson (Oklahoma City). They give the Athletics' a strong middle part of the line-up.

Indiana Magic

After finishing 17th at the USA Softball JO Cup 16U, Brian Green's team moves up to battle at the 18U level. Magic has a nice balance of pitching, power, and speed. All 13 players are committed except one. The team is heavy with 2017 talent including P Danielle Watson (Louisville) and CF Katie Quinlan (Michigan State). They will be joined by newcomers like 2B/OF Maddie Newman (Louisville), SS/OF Sierra Parkinson (North Carolina) and P Katie-Grace Olinger (North Carolina).

What To Watch For At 16U USA JO Cup

TN Fury Platinum 18/19

Sam Thomas has the luxury of returning all but three of his players from last year's team that took seventh at USA Softball JO Cup. The team didn't miss a beat this fall, losing only three games in its first trio of tournaments behind several excellent committed players including Hot 100 OF Jenna Johnson (2019, Alabama), who is a speedy lead-off hitter; SS/C Josie Willingham (2019, Tennessee), who has an elite arm and OF/SS Shyanne Sheffield (2018, Purdue), a three-hole hitter who led the team in steals.

Marucci Patriots

The talent returning is strong. Four committed players return including 2018 outfielders Amberlyn Alfano and Caroline Manzer, both of whom have verballed to Southeastern Louisiana. Players to watch include 3B Jordan Perkins (2018, LSU), 1B Caylon Brabham (2018, Louisiana-Lafayette), OF/2B Korie Kreps (2018, Louisiana-Monroe) and P Olivia Lackie (2020, uncommitted).

St. Louis Chaos Beatty

Expect OF Rylea Smith (2019, Kentucky), 1B/C Makayla Hurst (2018, Utah), P Meghan Schorman (2018, Pitt) and P/UT Emma Nichols (2019, Iowa) to do big things at USA JO Cup. Chaos have had a strong summer.

Gametime Stars 2020

Scotty Smith's GT Stars are loaded with talent and five Oklahoma State commits. Middles Mikayla Smith (OSU) and Chelsea Spain (Northwestern State) bring speed, experience, and power to the lineup. 2020 pitcher/power hitters Katelyn Carwile (OSU) and Janelle Marwitz are some of the most dynamic players to watch. Keep an eye on 2019 Baylor-commit Emily Hott who brings the scrappy style of the Bears to lineup using the short game and long ball to jump start the GT Stars offense.

KC Gold

KC Gold's key players include Alana Vawter P (Texas), Kelsie Lewis SS (Missouri St), Payton Minnis OF/2B (Missouri St), and Olivia Daugherty 3B (undecided). Vawter brings a competitive mound presence to every game and also doubles as a deep threat at the plate. Olivia Krehbiel is a talented infielder and pitcher who is a flat-out thumper in the middle of the order. Newcomer Sydney Ross is a 2019 catcher to watch this weekend; she is uncommitted and flying under the radar.

Texas Sudden Impact

Coach Chuck Peters leads a squad that finished fifth at the USA Softball JO Cup and went 28-8 in that summer nationals along with top tournaments like Colorado Sparkler/Fireworks Power Pool, the DeMarini Invitational, and Ronald McDonald, where the Sudden Impact went 5-0. The core of the team returns including 2B/3B Haille Swanson (2018, uncommitted), P/IF Autumn Sydlik (2019, Houston Baptist), P/1B Taylor Brandon (2018, uncommitted), OF Kim Manuel (2018, uncommitted). and P/OF Aaliyah Ruiz (2018, uncommitted).

Michigan Finesse

Dan Bressler's 17th at the USA Softball JO Cup last year. The team currently has three Big Ten commits in OF Abigail Joseph (2018, Michigan State), MIF Erin Carter (2019, Iowa) and pitchers Jenny Bressler (2018, Texas-Arlington), Gabi Salo (2020, uncommitted with Big Ten and ACC interest) and Emily Koperdak (2018, uncommitted).

EC Bullets Pointer

Last year as a first year 16U team, Coach Amy Pointer's team looked strong at USA Softball JO cup. Players to watch include OF slapper Cambree Stanley (2019) who has ACC and SEC interest, SS/3B Alana Collins (2019), who is hearing from SEC and Atlantic Sun Conference schools and six-foot P Macy Bearden (2018), who is being recruited by top-50 D1 programs.