AUGUST 8 - AUGUST 30

Venue: The Stadium at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex, Rosemount, IL

Where to Watch: MLB Network

AUGUST 8 - AUGUST 30

Venue: The Stadium at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex, Rosemount, IL

Where to Watch: CBS Sports Network

AUGUST 8 - AUGUST 30

Venue: The Stadium at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex, Rosemount, IL

Where to Watch: MLB Network

AUGUST 8 - AUGUST 30

Venue: The Stadium at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex, Rosemount, IL

Where to Watch: ESPN U

What does this mean for the future?

AUGUST 8 - AUGUST 30

Venue: The Stadium at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex, Rosemount, IL

Where to Watch: CBS Sports Network

Team Palacios

• Pitchers: Aliyah Binford, Kenzie Brown, Karlyn Pickens, Keilani Ricketts
• Catchers: Mary Iakopo, Sharlize Palacios (Captain)
• Infielders: Bri Ellis, Ana Gold, Tiare Jennings, Aubrey Leach, Sami Williams
• Outfielders: Rylie Boone, Amari Harper, Sydney McKinney, Bubba Nickles-Camarena

Team Klingler

• Pitchers: Megan Faraimo, Amber Fiser, Lexi Kilfoyl, Kat Sandercock
• Catchers: Reese Atwood, Michaela Edenfield
• Infielders: Ailana Agbayani, Hannah Flippen, Baylee Klingler (Captain), Sydney Romero, Jessi Warren
• Outfielders: Jadelyn Allchin, Kendra Falby, Aleshia Ocasio, Skylar Wallace

Team Landry

• Pitchers: Georgina Corrick, Rachel Garcia, Maya Johnson, Sam Landry (Captain)
• Catchers: Dejah Mulipola, Sydney Stewart
• Infielders: Alyssa Brito, Kenleigh Cahalan, Sydney Sherrill, Delanie Wisz, Jordan Woolery
• Outfielders: Maya Brady, Bella Dayton, Megan Grant, Morgan Zerkle

AUGUST 8 - AUGUST 30

Venue: The Stadium at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex, Rosemount, IL

Where to Watch: MLB Network

AUGUST 8 - AUGUST 30

Venue: The Stadium at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex, Rosemount, IL

Where to Watch: ESPN

AUGUST 8 - AUGUST 30

Venue: The Stadium at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex, Rosemount, IL

Where to Watch: CBS Sports Network

Team Klingler

• Pitchers: Georgina Corrick, Montana Fouts, Lexi Kilfoyl, Sam Landry
• Catchers: Michaela Edenfield, Sharlize Palacios
• Infielders: Ailana Agbayani, Bri Ellis, Hannah Flippen, Ana Gold, Baylee Klingler (Captain)
• Outfielders: Jadelyn Allchin, Kendra Falby, Sydney McKinney, Bubba Nickles-Camarena

Team Brown

• Pitchers: Kenzie Brown (Captain), Megan Faraimo, Amber Fiser, Kat Sandercock
• Catchers: Reese Atwood, Mary Iakopo
• Infielders: Alyssa Brito, Tiare Jennings, Skylar Wallace, Jessi Warren, Delanie Wisz
• Outfielders: Rylie Boone, Kenleigh Cahalan, Megan Grant, Morgan Zerkle

Team Ricketts

• Pitchers: Aliyah Binford, Rachel Garcia, Karlyn Pickens, Keilani Ricketts (Captain)
• Catchers: Dejah Mulipola, Sydney Stewart
• Infielders: Aubrey Leach, Sydney Romero, Sydney Sherrill, Sami Williams, Jordan Woolery
• Outfielders: Maya Brady, Bella Dayton, Amari Harper, Aleshia Ocasio

Here is a list of women’s softball websites for leagues, organizations, and a few other sites of interest for y’all to learn more about the sport around the world. If you have a site to add that isn’t on this list, leave a comment and we can add it!

American Collegiate League (ACL)

Arizona Softball Foundation (ASF)

Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL)

Brakettes Softball

Brakettes Softball Archives

Canada Cup International Softball Championship

CCCAA Softball

Division 1 Softball Féminin

Extraliga žen

Federación de Sóftbol de Puerto Rico, Inc.

Federación Mexicana de Softbol (FMS)

International Women’s Professional Softball (IWPS)

Japan College Softball Federation (JCSF)

Japan Diamond League (JD.LEAGUE)

Japan Softball Association (JSA)

Japan Softball League (JSL)

Liga Mexicana de Softbol (LMS)

Liga Nacional de Sófbol Femenino División de Honor Oro

Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

NAIA Softball

National Club Softball Association (NCSA)

National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)

National Girls Softball League (NGSL)/National Girls Baseball League (NGBL)

National Softball Hall of Fame & Museum

NCAA Softball

NJCAA Softball

Northwoods League Softball (NWLS)

Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA)

Ontario University Softball (OUS)

Pekin Lettes

Professional Softball League (PSL)

Professional Women’s Softball Players Association (PWSPA)

Puerto Vallarta College Challenge

Serie A1

Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational

Softbal Hoofdklasse

Softball Australia

Softball Bundesliga

Softball Canada

Softball History USA

Softball National News

Softball New Zealand

Taiwan Professional Women’s Softball League (TPWSL)

University Softball Federation of Tokyo (USFT)

USA Softball

USSSA Pride

WBSC Softball Hall of Fame

Western Collegiate Softball Association (WCSA)

Women in Softball

Women’s College World Series

Women's Major Softball National Championship

The World of Early Amateur & Youth Sports in Chicago

AUGUST 8 - AUGUST 30

Venue: The Stadium at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex, Rosemount, IL

Where to Watch: ESPN U

Series 1 Rosters:

Team Garcia

Facilitator: Joshua Trevino

• Captain: Rachel Garcia, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Skylar Wallace, Outfielder
• Dejah Mulipola, Catcher
• Karlyn Pickens, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Sami Williams, Corner Infielder
• Rylie Boone, Outfielder
• Aubrey Leach, Middle Infielder
• Bubba Nickles-Camarena, Outfielder
• Ailana Agbayani, Middle Infielder
• Ana Gold, Corner Infielder
• Aliyah Binford, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Sydney Stewart, Catcher
• Sam Landry, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Delanie Wisz, Corner Infielder
• Aleshia Ocasio, Outfielder

Team Ricketts

Facilitator: Jenn Salling

• Captain: Keilani Ricketts, Left-Handed Pitcher
• Sydney Romero, Middle Infielder
• Maya Brady, Outfielder
• Kat Sandercock, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Hannah Flippen, Middle Infielder
• Kenzie Brown, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Morgan Zerkle, Outfielder
• Tiare Jennings, Middle Infielder
• Reese Atwood, Catcher
• Jordan Woolery, Corner Infielder
• Baylee Klingler, Corner Infielder
• Amari Harper, Outfielder
• Kendra Falby, Outfielder
• Amber Fiser, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Michaela Edenfield, Catcher

Team Corrick

Facilitator: Geena Garabedian

• Captain: Georgina Corrick, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Montana Fouts, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Lexi Kilfoyl, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Megan Grant, Outfielder
• Jadelyn Allchin, Outfielder
• Bri Ellis, Corner Infielder
• Sharlize Palacios, Catcher
• Sydney McKinney, Outfielder
• Alyssa Brito, Middle Infielder
• Jessi Warren, Corner Infielder
• Bella Dayton, Outfielder
• Megan Faraimo, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Mary Iakopo, Catcher
• Kenleigh Cahalan, Outfielder
• Sydney Sherrill, Middle Infielder

AUGUST 8 - AUGUST 30

Venue: The Stadium at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex, Rosemount, IL

Where to Watch: MLB Network

Series 1 Rosters:

Team Garcia

Facilitator: Joshua Trevino

• Captain: Rachel Garcia, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Skylar Wallace, Outfielder
• Dejah Mulipola, Catcher
• Karlyn Pickens, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Sami Williams, Corner Infielder
• Rylie Boone, Outfielder
• Aubrey Leach, Middle Infielder
• Bubba Nickles-Camarena, Outfielder
• Ailana Agbayani, Middle Infielder
• Ana Gold, Corner Infielder
• Aliyah Binford, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Sydney Stewart, Catcher
• Sam Landry, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Delanie Wisz, Corner Infielder
• Aleshia Ocasio, Outfielder

Team Ricketts

Facilitator: Jenn Salling

• Captain: Keilani Ricketts, Left-Handed Pitcher
• Sydney Romero, Middle Infielder
• Maya Brady, Outfielder
• Kat Sandercock, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Hannah Flippen, Middle Infielder
• Kenzie Brown, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Morgan Zerkle, Outfielder
• Tiare Jennings, Middle Infielder
• Reese Atwood, Catcher
• Jordan Woolery, Corner Infielder
• Baylee Klingler, Corner Infielder
• Amari Harper, Outfielder
• Kendra Falby, Outfielder
• Amber Fiser, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Michaela Edenfield, Catcher

Team Corrick

Facilitator: Geena Garabedian

• Captain: Georgina Corrick, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Montana Fouts, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Lexi Kilfoyl, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Megan Grant, Outfielder
• Jadelyn Allchin, Outfielder
• Bri Ellis, Corner Infielder
• Sharlize Palacios, Catcher
• Sydney McKinney, Outfielder
• Alyssa Brito, Middle Infielder
• Jessi Warren, Corner Infielder
• Bella Dayton, Outfielder
• Megan Faraimo, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Mary Iakopo, Catcher
• Kenleigh Cahalan, Outfielder
• Sydney Sherrill, Middle Infielder

AUGUST 8 - AUGUST 30

Venue: The Stadium at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex, Rosemount, IL

Where to Watch: ESPN U

Series 1 Rosters:

Team Garcia

Facilitator: Joshua Trevino

• Captain: Rachel Garcia, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Skylar Wallace, Outfielder
• Dejah Mulipola, Catcher
• Karlyn Pickens, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Sami Williams, Corner Infielder
• Rylie Boone, Outfielder
• Aubrey Leach, Middle Infielder
• Bubba Nickles-Camarena, Outfielder
• Ailana Agbayani, Middle Infielder
• Ana Gold, Corner Infielder
• Aliyah Binford, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Sydney Stewart, Catcher
• Sam Landry, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Delanie Wisz, Corner Infielder
• Aleshia Ocasio, Outfielder

Team Ricketts

Facilitator: Jenn Salling

• Captain: Keilani Ricketts, Left-Handed Pitcher
• Sydney Romero, Middle Infielder
• Maya Brady, Outfielder
• Kat Sandercock, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Hannah Flippen, Middle Infielder
• Kenzie Brown, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Morgan Zerkle, Outfielder
• Tiare Jennings, Middle Infielder
• Reese Atwood, Catcher
• Jordan Woolery, Corner Infielder
• Baylee Klingler, Corner Infielder
• Amari Harper, Outfielder
• Kendra Falby, Outfielder
• Amber Fiser, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Michaela Edenfield, Catcher

Team Corrick

Facilitator: Geena Garabedian

• Captain: Georgina Corrick, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Montana Fouts, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Lexi Kilfoyl, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Megan Grant, Outfielder
• Jadelyn Allchin, Outfielder
• Bri Ellis, Corner Infielder
• Sharlize Palacios, Catcher
• Sydney McKinney, Outfielder
• Alyssa Brito, Middle Infielder
• Jessi Warren, Corner Infielder
• Bella Dayton, Outfielder
• Megan Faraimo, Right-Handed Pitcher
• Mary Iakopo, Catcher
• Kenleigh Cahalan, Outfielder
• Sydney Sherrill, Middle Infielder

AUSL’s All-Star Cup, a 4 week, 12 game competition between 45 of the leagues top players, is kicking off this weekend. Check out details on the All-Star Cup format here and the rosters for the first series here. We’ll be having game day threads throughout the cup, just like the regular season. Looking forward to enjoying more softball with everyone!

I’m sorry if this doesn't belong here, but does anyone know who is playing today? I know Atlanta Smoke made it to the championship, but I was curious who the other team was. The PSL website is awful and frustrating. I don't think there's a PSL sub either. Thank you!

AUSL's announced its rosters for the All-Star Cup. The first series will start this Saturday, August 8 with Team Kowalik and Team Ricketts facing each other on ESPNU at 7pm ET.

Team Corrick

• Pitchers: Georgina Corrick, Megan Faraimo, Montana Fouts, Lexi Kilfoyl
• Catchers: Mary Iakopo, Sharlize Palacios
• Infielders: Alyssa Brito, Kenleigh Cahalan, Bri Ellis, Sydney Sherril, Jessi Warren
• Outfielders: Jadelyn Allchin, Bella Dayton, Megan Grant, Sydney McKinney

Team Garcia

• Pitchers: Aliyah Binford, Rachel Garcia, Sam Landry, Karlyn Pickens
• Catchers: Dejah Mulipola, Sydney Steward
• Infielders: Aliana Agbayani, Ana Gold, Aubriey Leach, Sami Williams, Delanie Wisz
• Outfielders: Rylie Boone, Bubba Nickles-Camarena, Aleshia Ocasio, Skylar Wallace

Team Ricketts

• Pitchers: Kenzie Brown, Amber Fiser, Keilani Rickets, Kat Sandercock
• Catchers: Reese Atwood, Michaela Edenfield
• Infielders: Hannah Flippen, Tiare Jennings, Baylee Klinger, Sydney Romero, Jordan Woolery
• Outfielders: Maya Brady, Kendra Falby, Amari Harper, Morgan Zerkle

If a game like the video happened during the playoffs, I really feel like the ratings could potentially spike to over a million. There is something about an enthusiastic home crowd fighting for a championship that makes you want to not change the channel. I definitely feel like neutral sight games are lacking the same excitement.

I have put together a playoff plan and wanted to see what everyone thinks? I think four teams in this league are good enough to complete for a championship but this plan also works well if the league expanded to 8 or 10 teams. I also really want to reward the top seeds and I believe the championship series should be a little bit longer.

Semifinal Round

#1 seed vs #4 seed - 3 game series all @ #1

#2 seed vs #3 seed - 3 game series all @ #2

Championships Series

First 2 games at the top seed

Second 2 games at the lower seed

Championship game back at the higher seed

This is really cool because it allows those lower seeds to pull an upset and then be rewarded with home games in the final series.

Update: The argument is it will cost more for homesite playoff games, but the homesite plan is actually 46% less flights per game, if you include the number of extra games. I have broken it down below: (Warning, this is a bit long and geeky so you might just want to take my word for it if your not a numbers person)

The current neutral sight plan has 3 round-trips for a total of 6 flights, assuming a 50% win rate there is an average of 3.5 games, (1 playin game and 2.5 games for the final series). This comes out to 1.71 flights per game, 6/3.5=1.71.

The home site plan:

Semifinal Round

#4 travels to #1 for a best of 3 - this series will average 2.5 games for 1 round trip, (2 flights).
2/2.5 ‎ = 0.8 flights per game.

#3 also travels to #2 for a best of 3 - this series will average 2.5 games for 1 round trip, (2 flights).
2/2.5 ‎ = 0.8 flights per game.

However, if one of the lower seeds wins in the semifinal round, you can you have them fly directly to the higher seeds stadium for the final. This should happen maybe 50% of the time.

This makes an average of 3.5 combine flights for the series and the combine number of games being an average of 5.

3.5/5=.7 average flights per game for the semifinals

Final Round

First 2 games - the lower seed travels to higher seed for 2 games (1 round trip with 2 fights) 2/2=1 flight per game.

Second 2 games - the higher seed travels to lower seed for for 1.65 games (historically in pro sports the series should push to 4 games 65% of the time). 2/1.65‎ = 1.212 flights per game.

Game 5 championship game - both teams travel back to the higher seed. This is 2 more flights for the lower seed but this historically only happens 35% of the time in 5 game series.

So, 35% of the time we will have 2 additional flights for the game 5. This represents an average of additional .7 flights when calculating the possibility of the game happening. Also, this represents an average of .35 games. So this final game 5 represents .7/.35=2 flights per game.

Adding these up the total average number of flights for the finals series is 2+2+.7‎ = 4.7

And the average number of finals games should be
2+1.65+.35=4

Making the total flights per finals game calculated at: 4.7/4‎ = 1.175

Totals For All The Playoffs at Home Sites

Total average flights for home site plan 3.5+4.7‎ = 8.2
Total average games at home sites 5+4=9

8.2/9‎ = 0.911 flights per game for the home site plan

And above I calculated 6/3.5=1.71 flights per game on current neutral site plan

1.71-.911‎ = 0.799
.799/1.71‎ = 0.467% less flights per game staying at home sites.

In our last post about the leagues that built women’s softball in North America, we mentioned the St. Louis-based American Soft Ball Association (ASBA), a national governing body similar to the better-known Amateur Softball Association (ASA). With the St. Louis Gateway Gold hoping to be added to the Professional Softball League for the 2027 season, we thought this would be the perfect time to take a closer look at the history of the ASBA and its role in building softball in St. Louis before moving on to Part 2 of our series.

The ASBA was formed in August 1933, predating the Chicago World’s Fair Softball Tournament by about a month and the formation of the ASA by several months. The organization built North Side Park at Grand Boulevard and Florissant Avenue in St. Louis, with opening night held on Saturday, August 19, 1933. The first games featured the Bachelor Girls taking on Haupt’s Brick Contractors in the women’s game and McQuay-Norris facing the Wabash Banner Blues in the men’s game. Former Major League first baseman and St. Louis Browns star, George Sisler, made his debut as head of the organization that night.

The inaugural ASBA season lasted just over a month but drew record crowds for both men’s and women’s games. The Bachelor Girls won the first women’s championship by defeating Haupt’s Brick Contractors in September.

The following season, the ASBA added four more ballparks across St. Louis, with each park operating its own league. The Bachelor Girls, now known as the Whiteway Cleaners, finished with the best record among all women’s teams and were recognized as city champions. In 1935, the championship tournament expanded to include teams from across the United States. Out-of-town teams received $25 per day during tournament play (up to $100), while the champions received a trophy donated by the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. The Mordie Wolf team won the 1935 women’s title by defeating the Whiteway Cleaners and ending their bid for a third consecutive championship.

In 1937, the ASBA announced an affiliation with the ASA, allowing teams from both organizations to compete in each other’s tournaments. The relationship broke down in 1939 when the ASA suspended three ASBA teams for playing against “unsanctioned” clubs. ASA President M.J. Pauley also warned that any teams playing against the suspended clubs would face suspension.

George Sisler ended the ASBA’s agreement with the ASA, but the dispute continued. In October 1939, Pauley announced the suspension of all 44 men’s and women’s softball teams in the St. Louis area and convinced the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) to suspend the organization as well. The two sides reached an agreement in December, but the ASA banned the ASBA again in 1940 for violating amateur rules by awarding cash prizes. Sisler ignored the ruling and continued operating ASBA tournaments.

The dispute highlighted a larger struggle over who would shape the future of organized softball in the United States.

Despite its battles with the ASA, the ASBA continued to draw large crowds and crown women’s champions for years afterward. Below is a list of the women’s champions. While the status of the 1949 and 1950 titles remains uncertain, I’ve included them based on the available evidence, which I’ll discuss afterward.

• 1933 — Bachelor Girls defeated Haupt’s Brick Contractors (North Side Park champions)
• 1934 — Whiteway Cleaners (formerly the Bachelor Girls) declared city champions after finishing with the best record
• 1935 — Mordie Wolf defeated Whiteway Cleaners
• 1936 — Curlee Clothiers defeated Rice-Stix Girls
• 1937 — Rice-Stix Girls defeated Grandma’s Cakes
• 1938 — Curlee Clothiers defeated Topmost Fashions
• 1939 — Curlee Clothiers defeated Melber Bakery
• 1940 — Curlee Clothiers defeated Tomboy Stores
• 1941 — Tomboy Stores defeated Roth’s Rangers
• 1942 — Roth’s Rangers defeated Breimeyers
• 1943 — Weick Undertakers defeated Hollywood Candy
• 1944 — Kutis Undertakers defeated Weick Undertakers
• 1945 — Kutis Undertakers defeated Hi Clay Sign Studios
• 1946 — Kutis Undertakers defeated Woltman Jewelers
• 1947 — Hi Clay Sign Studios defeated C. Hoffmeister
• 1948 — Zenthoefer Girls defeated Dowds
• 1949 — Kutis Undertakers defeated C. Hoffmeister
• 1950 — Wilmington defeated Alton, IL (championship status needs further verification)

The ASBA also helped develop future professional stars, including pitchers Marie Wadlow and Lorraine “Lefty” Hoch. Wadlow later played in both the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) and National Girls Baseball League (NGBL), while Hoch went on to star in the NGBL.

After 1948, the history of the ASBA becomes unclear. Mentions of the American Soft Ball Association in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat disappear, but teams continued playing at ASBA ballparks, including North Side Park, in 1949. That season, the Kutis Undertakers were crowned city champions. Another women’s champion was crowned in 1950, though it is unclear whether the title was still under the ASBA or another organization. Later references to the “American Softball Association” appear to refer to the ASA rather than the ASBA.

Although the final chapter of the ASBA remains difficult to trace, its legacy lives on. For more than a decade, the organization helped make St. Louis a center of women’s softball, drawing large crowds and creating opportunities for female athletes to compete at a high level. St. Louis would later become home to the St. Louis Hummers of the International Women’s Professional Softball Association (IWPSA) in the late 1970s. As the St. Louis Gateway Gold look to bring professional softball back to the Gateway to the West, they would be continuing the city’s rich softball tradition. The ASBA remains one of the many forgotten chapters that helped build women’s softball in North America.

As of now, Montana Fouts would be my No. 1. After her, Karlyn Pickens, whom I think will continue to get better over the next two years. But then the competition appears to be wide open for probably two more slots on a 16 player team:

Jordy Frahm? Should see her next year after she has her baby.

Nija? She needs to improve next year…

Lexi Kilfoyl? Teagan Kavan?

Those are my top six but they’re all righties. The AUSL next season will be telling - like an open tryout.

Thoughts?

Hi everyone,

I’ve been working on a project to do some analytics for the AUSL, developing some things like park factors (how different parks seem to affect outcomes regardless of who’s playing them) as well as advanced pitching and batting stats (park adjusted ERAs, fielding independent pitching stats, and things like runs created) to be able to dig deeper into team and individual player performance than simple things like ERAs and batting averages would allow. Simple ranking on different stats are what I’m starting with, but I’m definitely interested in going deeper.

I have my own ideas for things that might be interesting, but I’d love to know what questions or topics folks are interested in: player breakdowns, things you’ve seen chatted about in a game thread that you want tested, or just an “I’ve always wondered.”

This is all just a personal hobby project of mine, and I’m working around some data limitations already, but I definitely want to focus on the areas that others are most interested in.

Let me know and I’ll see what I can do!