TEAM SPOTLIGHT: ARIZONA STORM NATIONAL-MATHIS
Head Coach: Corey Mathis
Twitter: N/A
Outlook: Arizona Storm won the So Cal A’s Invitational, took 5th place at the Triple Crown Colorado Pool, 3rd place at the Easton Rawlings Invitational, 5th place at the Triple Crown USA Nationals and 7th place at the PGF 18U Premier Nationals last summer. They went 30-6-3 in the fall, winning the AZ Last Blast, the Queen of Diamonds Tournament and the Top Gun Grand Canyon Classic. The Storm has a PGF 18U Premier Nationals bid this summer. “It will take our staff of pitchers to keep us in games this summer,” Storm coach Corey Mathis said. “If we hit like we did right before high school break, we will go deep at PGF.” The pitching staff has speed, movement and differences from all four arms. The offense has home run power 1-9. “We have always been known for our defense and most colleges really look hard at how we teach them at a young age,” Mathis said. “We have speed and arm strength at all positions.”
RETURNERS:
- Kaitlyn Terry (2023, LHP/OF, UCLA, arguably the best player in the country. She pitches 70 mph, hits for power and plays outfield)
- Jocelyn Briski (2023, RHP/1B, Alabama, a power pitcher and also big hitter)
- Sierra Daniel (2023, MIF, LSU, a triple-threat stud at the plate)
- Alexis Dellamonica (2023, 3B/MIF, Michigan, an excellent fielder at 3B and a power hitter)
- Madison Tarrant (2023, C, Montana, great behind the plate and good offensively)
- Savannah Groshong (2023, SS/UT, Grand Canyon, a leadoff hitter, power slapper and a true utility player)
- Lauren Putz (2024, OF, Michigan, one of the top players in the 2024 class)
- Quinn Salazar (2024, C/OF, uncommitted, a stud catcher and power at the plate)
NEWCOMERS:
- Alexis “Lulu” Guzman (2024, RHP, uncommitted, great spin and has beat great teams this fall)
- Bella Clapp (2024, UT, uncommitted,a true UT player and great hitter from the left side)
- Faith Kroening (2024, 1B/3B/OF, Utah State, one of the top 2024 players in the country)
- Makenzie “Roo” Padilla (2024, C/IF/OF, uncommitted, led the team in hitting at most times this fall)
- Natalie Fritz (2024, RHP, New Mexico)
- Payton Smith (2023, 1B/3B/OF, Grand Canyon, a stud hitter, really settling into her role and killed it in the second half of the fall)
- Raegan Holtorf (2025, MIF/OF, uncommitted, a lefty hitter, who has been a huge contributor in the second half of the fall)
- Reese Lee (2023, MIF, Utah, a great MIF and hitter, who has helped round out the team’s missing seniors from last seaason)
- Sadie Groshong (2024, 3B/C, Weber State, a corner power hitter, who impacted the team on Day 1, leading the team in the first half of the fall)
- Salen Hawkins (2023, SS, uncommitted, a Power 5 player both offensively and defensively, looking to select her school soon)
- Sara Phillip (2024, RHP/SS, uncommitted, had an injury, but on the mend. A Power 5 pitcher throwing upper 60s prior to injury)
- Harmony Andrade (2024, UT, Oregon State, a power hitter and true utility player)
— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff)
