Top Gun National placed 5th in he 18U National Power Pool at the 2023 Triple Crown Colorado 4th of July. Photo by Bob Turner.

*****

TEAM SPOTLIGHT: TOP GUN 18U NATIONAL

Head Coach: Bob Turner

Twitter/Instagram: @TGA_Turner/@top_gun_national

2022 Summer Record: Top Gun went 43-19-3 with bracket wins over over Explosion-Denio/Hagberg, Empire State Huskies National and PA Chaos Gold Spina. They won the Ohio Outlaws Summer Invitational, placed 9th at the Top Gun Invitational, placed 5th at the Easton Rawlings Invitational and 25th at the PGF Nationals.

Mississippi State-committed 2024 OF Taylor Troutman of Top Gun National. Photo by Logan Turner.

2022 Fall Record: They went 20-6 with bracket wins over over Finesse-Dreher, OK Athletics National-Madden, Midwest Speed National and the Atlanta Vipers. They placed 5th at PGF Show Me the Money, 3rd at Top Gun Select and 5th at Space Coast Invitational.

2023 Spring Record: Top Gun went 18-2 with bracket wins over Select Fastpitch-Chester and BC Peppers-Wallace. They took 1st at the USA 18 Gold Memorial Day Invitational and 3rd at the Top Gun Spring Invitational.

2023 Summer Record: They are 20-11 with bracket wins over LLG DPS-Corn, Team NC-Huss, Alabama Impact, Epic National, Virginia Glory-Willemssen, Impact Gold National-Rodriguez, Iowa Premier National and Texas Bombers Gold. They took 9th at PGF Show Me the Money, 2nd at Scenic City Top 25 and 5th at the 18U National Power Pool at the Triple Crown Colorado 4th of July.

*****

Texas-bound IF/OF Ryan Brown of Top Gun National. Photo by Jason Kim.

CLUB LEADERS (Summer Season):

SINGLE-SEASON

BATTING

  • Batting Average (at least 60 at-bats): Carrie Green (Top Gun, 2023) .560.
  • On Base Percentage (at least 60 at-bats): Carrie Green (Top Gun, 2023) .622.
  • Hits: Carrie Green (Top Gun, 2023) 93.
  • Doubles: Logan Turner (Top Gun, 2020) 20.
  • Triples: Elle Smith (Top Gun, 2020) 11.
  • Home Runs: Sydney Boulaphinh (Top Gun, 2023) 26
  • Runs: Carrie Green (Top Gun, 2023) 73
  • RBIs: Sydney Boulaphinh (Top Gun, 2023) 83
  • Stolen Bases: Elle Smith (Top Gun, 2020) 39

PITCHING

  • W/L Record (at least 15 decisions): Allison Benning (Top Gun, 2020) 21-10.
  • ERA (at least 105 innings): Allison Benning (Top Gun, 2020) 1.271.
  • Innings Pitched (at least 105 innings): Allison Benning (Top Gun, 2020) 200.2.
  • Strikeouts: Allison Benning (Top Gun, 2020) 271.
  • Shutouts: Allison Benning (Top Gun, 2020) 3; Cierra Harrison (Top Gun, 2018) 3.
  • No-Hitters: Allison Benning (Top Gun, 2020) 2.
  • Perfect Games: Allison Benning (Top Gun, 2020) 1.

*****

CAREER (Summer Season)

BATTING

  • Batting Average (at least 240 at-bats): Allison Benning (Top Gun, 2019-22) .477.
  • On Base Percentage (at least 240 at-bats): Allison Benning (Top Gun, 2019-22) .531.
  • Hits: Elle Smith (Top Gun, 2017-22) 405.
  • Doubles: Logan Turner (Top Gun, 2017-22) 48.
  • Triples: Elle Smith (Top Gun, 2017-22) 42.
  • Hone Runs: Ryan Brown (Top Gun, 2021-23) 39.
  • Runs: Elle Smith (Top Gun, 2017-22) 390.
  • RBIs: Logan Turner (Top Gun, 2017-22) 184.
  • Stolen Bases: Elle Smith (Top Gun, 2017-22) 239.

PITCHING

  • W/L Record (at least 60 decisions): Cierra Harrison (Top Gun) 43-20.
  • ERA (at least 420 innings): Allison Benning (Top Gun) 1.79.
  • Innings Pitched (at least 420 innings): Cierra Harrison (Top Gun) 491.1.
  • Strikeouts: Cierra Harrison (Top Gun) 569.
  • Shutouts: Cierra Harrison (Top Gun) 8.
  • No-Hitters: Cierra Harrison (Top Gun) 3.
  • Perfect Games: Allison Benning (Top Gun) 1.

*****

ROSTER (2023):

RETURNERS:

Stanford-committed 2024 MIF Sydney Boulaphinh of Top Gun National. Photo courtesy of Top Gun.
  • Carrie Green (2024, OF, Southern Miss, an elite offensive player, who leads the way at .560 AVG, 93 hits, 73 runs and 23 SBs. Turner said, “(she’s) one of the top players in the state of (Georgia)” and “Toughest out in the country!”)
  • Ryan Brown (2023, CIF/OF, Texas, an elite athlete with incredible power. She hit more than 20 home runs last year and has another 8 this year. She’s driven in 40 and stole 13 bases while hitting .439. She’s a PGF High School All-American, who can play all over the diamond at a high level)
  • Addison Jackson (2023, RHP/UT, Boston College, a two-time Gatorade POY in Louisiana, MaxPreps and Extra Inning Softball All-American. She’s hitting .437 with 17 Home Runs and 51 RBIs. She has incredible power at the plate and outstanding spin rates and accuracy in the circle)
  • Taylor Troutman (2023, OF, Mississippi State, she’s extremely powerful from the left side. She’s hitting .412 with 11 home runs, 9 doubles, 39 RBIs and 32 runs. A 2022 PGF Futures All-American, Extra Inning Softball HS All-American and Triple Crown Futures Game All-American)
Boston College-bound RHO Addison Jackson. Photo courtesy of Top Gun.
  • Madison Hoffman (2024, OF/RHP, Western Kentucky, a efty hitter with a “true clutch gene.” She hit a walk-off for Blue Springs South to send her HS team to state. She’s hitting .404 with 7 Home Runs, 11 doubles, 33 runs and 27 RBIs)
  • Ella Wesolowski (2023, C, Mississippi State, absolutely elite behind the plate. She’s got one of the best arms in the country, coupled with incredible receiving skills. She’s hitting .390 with 9 Home Runs, 8 doubles, 31 runs and 50 RBIs. She’s eliminated opponent run games, catching 13 attempted base stealers. She was a PGF Futures Game All-American in 2021)
  • Abigail Wilhelm (2024, MIF, Missouri, powerful at the dish, she’s hitting .363 with 8 HRs and 10 doubles. She has also scored 34 runs and driven in 46. She was recognized as the HS Infielder of the Year in Kansas City)
  • Hayden Kurtz (2024, IF/C, SIU Carbondale, a powerful All-State player in Missouri, who has established records at Ray Pec HS. Injured most of the summer, she’s hitting .307 with 5 doubles, 2 home runs and 15 RBIs)
Mississippi State-bound C Ella Wesolowski. Photo courtesy of Top Gun.
  • Kennedy Diggs (2024, RHP, Kansas, she broke the all-time single-season strikeout record in the state of Missouri with 511 in 2022. She has struck out another 89 for Top Gun on her way to another 100 K summer. She’s a HS All-American for Extra Inning Softball and MaxPreps and All-State)
  • Andrea Jaskowiak (2023, RHP, Iowa, she shattered the pitching records at Madison Memorial (WI) on her way to All-State recognition in 2023, including a perfect game in the regional championship. She averages just under a strikeout per inning for Top Gun)

NEWCOMERS:

  • Sydney Boulaphinh (2024, SS/3B, Stanford, she came to Top Gun in the fall and has absolutely delivered. She’s batted .424 BA with 26 HRs, 14 doubles and 83 RBIs. Incredible power! She’s a Triple Crown Futures Game All-American)
  • Jayden Wells (2023, UT, Arkansas, an outstanding athlete with tremendous instincts. She possesses a big-time arm and plus speed. He’s hitting .381 OBP/.290 AVG, 6 doubles, 3 home runs and 33 runs)
  • Kendall Kersey (2023, C, 2023, UM Kansas City, a terrific receiver, who has a .338 OBP, 4 doubles a home run and 10 RBIs. A defensive leader behind the plate with solid gap-to-gap power)
  • Erin Hoehn (2023, RHP/IF, Michigan, just joined Top Gun in June, but has already made an immediate impact. All-American recognition from Extra Inning Softball and MaxPreps, this All-Stater from Indiana struck out 24 in 15 innings in Colorado, including a thrilling complete game victory in 8 innings over top 5-ranked Texas Bombers where she struck out 11. Also hit .353 with a home run and 7 runs)
  • Lorin Boutte (2024, RHP, 2024, uncommitted, she elected to de-commit from Pitt after the coaching change. She’s a dominant RHP with electric stuff. An All-Stater in Missouri, who led her team to the district final, she averages 1.38 Ks per inning for Top Gun)

Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff and Threads @los_stuff)

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