PGF All American Game 2017

Sometimes you have an idea, and it’s like “yeah” and sometimes you have an idea, and it’s like “Oh Wow!” Many years ago, we had such an idea – a true softball Senior All American Game – and we are proud to say going into year two of the game it has become everything we could have hoped.

Last year, PGF put on the first Senior All American Game – featuring intense competition between the East and the West and played in front of a standing room only crowd at Bill Barber stadium. The teams were coached by legends in the sport – Jennie Finch, Jennie Ritter, Crystal Bustos, Garland Cooper, Suzie Brazney, and Toni Mascaraenas. Of the 36 players 27 were former OnDeck players and 16 participated in the 2017 WCWS. It was described as the greatest group of High School softball players ever assembled on one field by Flo Softball’s Brentt Eads. Including softball’s 2016 National Gatorade Player of the Year, USA Softball National Team and 2017 Jr. National Team member Bubba Nickles (UCLA) and two future college first team NFCA All Americans – Jessica Harper (Arizona) and Kendyl Lindaman (Minnesota). Along with Maggie Balint (Oregon), a finalist for NCAA Freshman of the Year and Nicole Mendes (Oklahoma), WCWS sensation. Other USA Softball 2017 Jr. National Team members – Dejah Mulipola (Arizona), Mariah Lopez (Oklahoma), Elissa Brown (Alabama), Alissa Dalton (Oklahoma), and Nicole Bates (Washington). The game was televised live on ESPNU and had the #1 play on ESPN’s Top 10, a robbed home run in center field by Ciara Bryan (UGA) and ended in dramatic fashion, with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 7th by Alyssa Barrera (Utah). The bottom line was the game was a tremendous success, and people from all across the softball world eagerly anticipated this year’s game.

On Friday, July 28th, the PGF Senior All American Game will once again be played at Bill Barber Stadium and televised on ESPNU. The teams will again feature some of the best High School seniors in the country and coached by 6 softball greats, including Jennie Finch and Jennie Ritter. The National Gatorade Player of the Year, Taylor Dockins along with 36 players who will go on to play at Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, Boston College, Cal State Fullerton, Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and UCLA. We are proud to say that 24 OnDeck players will be playing in the game.

The PGF Senior All American Game has quickly become a marquis softball event. We’re hoping this year’s contest will be a dramatic as last year’s. Certainly, the level of play will be exceedingly high. And by the way, if you see Dan Hay these next two weeks, please go up to him and thank him for helping make this great event possible.