TEAM SPOTLIGHT: IMPACT GOLD-JACKSON
Head Coach: KC Jackson
Twitter: @IG_Jackson18u
Outlook: Impact Gold went 38-7-1 last summer, finishing as runner-ups at the Alliance Super Cup and TFL Summer Championships and finishing tied for 9th place at 18U Alliance Nationals. They went 25-2-1 in the fall and already qualified for AFCS 3. “My team is a proven group of athletes that are highly-ranked and heavily-recruited,” Impact Gold coach KC Jackson said. “Staying healthy during this high school season is key for our success. This is one of the best teams we’ve put together.” The pitching staff has high velocity to great offspeed, tremendous riseballs to nasty drops and power screwballs to incredible curveballs. “My offense is still EXPOSIVE!!” Jackson said. “We can swing it with the best of them as usual. We added some firepower to the top of line with Ashtyn (Reichardt) to help returner KJ (Drafton) set the stage. And added straight ball killers in the middle of our lineup with Ella (McDowell), Cam (Harrison) and Abby (Ptak) to keep teams from pitching around Victoria (Hunter) and Makenna (Mitchell). There’s no batters off with this lineup.” Impact Gold made its gretest improvements on defense. They are very interchangeable, fast, strong-armed, but, most important, they have high softball IQs.
ROSTER:
- Sidne Peter (2023, RHP, Washington, a nationally known big, hard-throwing 70-mph right-hander. She’s a very competitive strikeout master, who averages nearly 2.0 strikeouts per inning)
- Victoria Hunter (2023, 1B/OF, Texas, one of the best power hitters in the country. She’s batting .734 with 13 HRs and 41 RBIs)
- Kennedy Drafton (2023, 2B/UT, Eastern Kentucky, one of the best pure hitters in the game. She bats .563 and typically a top HR hitter on her team. She’s going to steal 50 bases each year)
- Makenna Mitchell (2023, 3B/SS, Texas Tech, easily the best 5-tool kid in the business. She bats .557 stole 40 bases with 13 HRs and 51 RBIs)
- Nathalie Touchet (2023, RHP, Missouri, an elite level down-baller that has dominated some of the best hitters in the country. She’s already thrown three no-hitters this season while averaging 1.5 strikeouts per inning)
- Madison Guidry (2023, LHP, Lamar, a dominate lefty that’s a very competitive and athletic pitcher. She has a 1.01 ERA with opponents only batting .207)
- Makenzie Wright (2023, C/1B, Lamar, a big-armed catcher that commands the field. A powerful hitter batting .474 with a great mind for the game)
- Ella McDowell (2024, SS/3B, Arkansas, the #1 2024 SS in the country. She’s been top-ranked for years)
- Cameryn Harrison (2024, RHP/1B, Arkansas, a top 2024 pitcher and can swing it with the best of them)
- Ashtyn Reichardt (2024, CF, Arkansas, one of the purest lefty hitters in the country. She’s a ball hawk with all of the tools)
- Ella Trout (2024, RHP, Georgia, a very competitive down baller that has elite ball spin)
- Ariel Redmond (2024, OF, Houston, a speedy, rangy and powerful 5-tool player)
- Abby Ptak (2024, C, uncommitted, one of the best catchers in the 2024 class. She’s tall, strong and powerful)
- Lien Brister (2024, 3B/UT, uncommitted, a true utility player. Jackson’s favorite type with an electric style of play)
- Gabby Scott (2024, C, uncommitted, a big gun catcher that’s eager the throw you out and always with a big bat)
- Kamryn DeLeon (2024, OF/UT, uncommitted, a scrappy, feisty utility player with great foot speed)
— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff)
