Academy Notebook: USA Softball High Performance Program; Colin Moore commits to Huston-Tillotson University; Jr. Home Run Derby Round 1 results

USA Softball High Performance Program Identifier

The Texas Rangers Youth Academy will loan Johnny Oates Field to USA Softball this Sunday for their Southwest Regional High Performance Program (HPP) Identifier.

The event, which will run from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., will bring together the best softball players from Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma to be evaluated by current and former USA Softball National Team athletes and professional players.

Among the dozens of girls that will showcase their skills Sunday will be 10 Texas Rangers Youth Academy athletes representing various age groups.

Academy athletes participating include:

• 18U – Trenity Okedele, Giovanca Frias
• 17U – Ana Gonzalez
• 16U – Destan Burks, Nevaeh Esparza
• 14U – Gianna Orozco, Sophia Zuniga, Odessy Esparza, Bella Morales
• 13U – Savannah Vargas

Participants will showcase their talent through position-specific drills and offensive reps led by local coaches. The HPP Evaluators will observe and offer feedback as athletes work throughout the day in hopes of receiving a spot on an age-specific USA Softball National Team.

The best athletes from the Southwest Region will be identified to make regional teams and compete against the other nine USA Softball regions in competitive gameplay. Top performers in the regional competition will receive invitations to the National Selection Event. From there, an elite few will receive invitations to attend trials for a USA Softball National Team and the opportunity to compete at a World Baseball Softball Confederation international event.

USA Softball’s HPP events ultimately serve as an equal opportunity talent pipeline for softball players looking to showcase their talent and develop their skills with hopes of one day wearing the Team USA logo across their chest.

In 2022, four Texas Rangers Youth Academy athletes advanced to the National Selection Event, including Ana Gonzalez, Savannah Vargas, Morgan Young and Ximena Zamarron.

Colin Moore Commits to Huston-Tillotson University

Five-year Texas Rangers Youth Academy athlete Colin Moore announced his commitment to further his education and play college baseball at Huston-Tillotson University.

The Rock Hill High School senior officially concluded his three-year college recruitment process April 19 when he announced in a tweet his commitment to play for the Huston-Tillotson Rams.

For Moore, the recruitment process was far from easy, but a visit to the HT campus in Austin helped identify a clear path for his future.

“Huston-Tillotson stood out to me because when I talked to coach Almendarez, it all seemed different from everyone else,” said Moore. “The coach seemed very interested in getting me down to campus and really liked my swing and was excited to see that I played first because that was a position he needed. After I visited, I knew that Austin might be my next home.”

Rams head coach Chase Almendarez is in his second season leading the team through a re-building period after previously working as manager of baseball operations for the Rangers Triple-A affiliate Round Rock Express.

The HBCU, which competes in the Red River Athletic Conference, currently sits at a 12-31 record as they near the conclusion of the 2023 regular season, and Moore is ready to be a difference maker for the team as they look to turn the corner.

“I know I can bring a lot of spark and power to the line-up for Huston-Tillotson baseball,” he said. “My skill set will help the team succeed because I will get up to drive in runs, and that will push us to more wins and better chances for a title.”

Moore was able to improve his bat skills and defensive dominance through years of training at the Youth Academy, which he credits for helping prepare him to play at the next level.

“The Rangers Youth Academy helped me tremendously throughout high school and my recruiting process. They gave me opportunities like the Hank Aaron Invitational, Breakthrough Series and even just the RBI league and the summer and winter workouts, too,” he said. “The coaches are very high level, and they have helped me prepare for college ball by being very honest with feedback and helped me understand what college coaches are looking for in a player.”

Moore is eager to join the Rams officially in the fall following his high school graduation later this month. He will study political science during his four years at Huston-Tillotson, with plans to become a defense attorney following law school.

Jr. Home Run Derby Round 1 Recap

Four winners were crowned at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy Jr. Home Run Derby last Sunday, April 30, and will keep their bats swinging as they compete next in the Dallas Regional.

The first round of the Jr. Home Run Derby had a record number of participants, with athletes competing in the 14U and 12U baseball divisions and 16U and 14U softball divisions.

Athletes faced machine-pitched balls in two stages of the local competition, with the top home-run-getters in each division advancing to a head-to-head final round.

The four divisional winners are guaranteed spots in the Jr. Home Run Derby Dallas Regional at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy on June 25, with runners-up hoping to secure at-large bids to advance.

14U Baseball

Round 1: Braylon Hubbard - 10 HR; Maddox Johnson - 8 HR

Round 2: Braylon Hubbard - 5 HR; Maddox Johnson - 4 HR

14U Baseball Highlights: Reining 12U national champion Braylon Hubbard’s off-season work paid off, allowing him to hit 10 bombs well beyond the fence in round one, followed by five in round two to edge out 2021 12U national runner-up and 2022 14U national finalist Maddox Johnson. Hubbard easily hit five home runs in round two, securing his victory over Johnson without using all 15 pitches.

12U Baseball

Round 1: Joshua White - 7 HR; Mason Berry - 5 HR; Marcus Faz - 5 HR; Aaliyah Marquez - 5 HR

Round 2: Mason Berry - 7 HR; Marcus Faz - 6 HR; Joshua White - 5 HR; Aaliyah Marquez - 3 HR

12U Baseball Highlights: Power hitter Joshua White led the pack in round one with seven of the longest-hit balls of the afternoon to secure his spot in round two. A three-way tie for second place between Mason Berry, Marcus Faz, and Aaliyah Marquez, who went three for three in her final swings, sent them all to the next round. Berry’s bat came alive in his last plate appearance, where he hit seven homers to advance to the Dallas Regional.

16U Softball

Round 1: Kennedy Day - 7 HR; Alyssa Summers - 6 HR

Round 2: Kennedy Day - 4 HR; Alyssa Summers - 3 HR

16U Softball Highlights: Newcomer Kennedy Day and 2022 14U national finalist Alyssa Summers were evenly matched from swing to swing, but Day’s power helped her narrowly advance over Summers. Summers, who led off round two, produced three homers in the final, but Day exceeded her total without exhausting all 15 pitches.

14U Softball

Round 1: Amira Forbit - 7 HR; Abigail Cotter - 6 HR

Round 2: Amira Forbit - 5 HR; Abigail Cotter - 4 HR

14U Softball Highlights: Rangers Nike RBI participant Amira Forbit and newcomer Abigail Cotter led another round of close competition in the softball division. Forbit’s impressive bat speed made her swing look effortless as she finished round one with seven homers and hit another five in the final, leaving several pitches unused. Cotter put on a strong showing but ultimately fell short of the championship title.

Participants who advanced to the Dallas Regional will now look to be within the top 16 sluggers from regions across the U.S. and Puerto Rico to receive an all-expenses paid trip to the seventh annual Jr. Home Run Derby National Finals at T-Mobile Park in Seattle as part of Major League Baseball’s 2023 All-Star Week.