Get on board with Dugout Chatter’s regular feature, The Final Pitch!
We are scouring the Internet and Social Media and keeping our ears to the street for the latest going on in the softball community.
To contribute information, insights, thoughts or content ideas, email us at losstuff34@gmail.com, DM at @Los_Stuff on Twitter or text (949) 606-3602.
Here’s our TFP for Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023:
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TEXAS BOMBERS RETOOL 18U TEAM
Two summers ago, Scott Smith’s Texas Bombers Gold finished as runner-up to the 18U Alliance national championship. This season, they finished 9th at the Triple Crown Colorado 4th of July 18U National Power Pool and 9th at the 18U Alliance Nationals.
Texas Bombers Gold-Malpass won the 14U Alliance national championship in 2022 and Texas Bombers Gold-Smith placed 3rd at the 16U Alliance Nationals this summer. Smith has retooled his 18U Texas Bombers Gold for the 2023-24 season.
“We’ve been building towards this year,” Smith said.
They picked up Florida-committed 2024 OF Towsen Thomas from Texas Blaze United, probably the biggest get for the club. Smith said the club hit 103 homers this past season, but the addition of Thomas makes them faster and returns the balance to the offense.
2025 C/SS Elsa Morrison, the Gatorade State Player of The Year from Tennessee, Houston-committed 2024 RHP/UT/3B/1B Madison Hartley, Texas A&M-committed 2024 OF Harley Vestal, Texas A&M-committed 2024 C/1B DeeDee Baldwin, Arizona State-committed 2024 RHP/1B Cambree Creager and Texas Tech-committed RHP/OF Brenlee Gonzales return from the Texas Bombes Gold team from this past summer.
“I think she’s the best 2025 in the nation.” Smith said of Morrison.
2025 OF/SS Kinley Keller, 2026 MIF Brooklyn Gidley, 2025 1B/3B Laila Nobles and 2025 C/SS/3B Meiko Dominguez are on the 18U team after winning a 14U Alliance national title with Texas Bombers Gold-Malpass in 2022.
They picked up 2026 SS Anabela Abdullah, a member of U15 Team USA and Tampa Mustangs.
They promoted LSU-committed 2024 3B/MIF Alix Franklin from 18U Bombers American, 2025 RHP/UT Hailey Nutter from 16U Texas Bombers Gold and added 2024 OF Kelsie Riggan OF from Florida, who recently reopened he recruiting.
“We brought back every piece of power from that lineup, but we added so much speed,” Smith said. “We’re going to be very balanced. We’re going to be super fast, super athletic. It’s going to be fun to see that team come together.”
Texas Bombers has finalized the head coaches for its organization for the upcoming 2023-24 season and they are: Texas Bombers 18U Gold Scott Smith; Bombers Gold 18U National Wade Womack; Bombers Gold 18U American Adrian Rodriguez; Bombers Gold 18U-Jacoby Kelly Jacoby; Texas Bombers 16U Gold Dale Serie; Bombers Gold 16U American Brent Bubela; Bombers Gold 16U National Greg Wollin; Bombers Gold 16U-Jacoby Kelli Jacoby; Texas Bombers 14U Gold Kristi Malpass; Bombers Gold 14U National Slade Maloney; Bomber Gold 14U American Derek Kennedy; Bombers Gold 14U Futures Steven Martinez; Bombers Gold NTX 14U Futures Slade Maloney; Bombers Gold 14U Ark-LA-TEX Stan Wells; and Texas Bombers 12U Gold Jason Cline. …
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NEWS & NOTES
***2025 MIF/CF/UT MaTaia Lawson hit 29 home runs in 47 games for Iowa Premier National 16U-Dickel this past season. That’s one homer for every 4 at-bats. She had 66 RBIs. She had 25 walks, many intentional … and that’s all from the leadoff spot.
“I just try to do my job in the game,” Lawson said, “anything to win and help my team.”
She’s also one of the top-100 club volleyball players in the country.
Finished 3rd out of great competition so proud of this team🙌🏽 Love this team💛🖤 @IowaPremierFP @IPF_James5 pic.twitter.com/tYhm4TgAGW
— MaTaia Lawson (@maTaia_lawson) July 30, 2023
***2025 MIF/OF/UT Ava Segura, who previously with Carolina Elite National 16U-Fusetti, joined Top Gun National 18U.
“I am moving up to 18U this year, so I was looking at different options,” Segura said. “After talking to Coach Bob Turner, I really became interested in the Top Gun organization. They have a super-talented roster and great coaching staff that I know will push me to become a better player. I wanted to find an organization that could continue developing me to grow as a player and a person. I really like the Top Gun philosophy that they can teach more then just softball.” …
I am so excited for this opportunity and I cannot wait for this season!! Thank you Coach!! @BTurner_75 #tgf #GodsPlan✝️🤍 @CoastRecruits @ExtraInningSB @Los_Stuff @TopPreps @scan1ansports @LegacyLegendsS1 https://t.co/PDEs0bjWga
— Ava Segura 2025 (@SeguraAva) August 8, 2023
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SIGNING/COMMITMENT ALERTS
Kaya Booker, 2024, OF, Texas Bombers Gold/Chattahochee High, GA, Georgia Tech
I am incredibly blessed to announce my commitment to play D1 softball at Georgia Tech! All thanks to God, my family, teammates, and @dale_serie @rshawn7520 @spakattaksports for the unconditional support. Thank you @Coach_A_Mo @hunter_bunch10 for this opportunity. GO JACKETS! 🐝💛 pic.twitter.com/cllT36kqBV
— Kaya Booker (@kayabookersb) August 9, 2023
Ava Johnson, 2024, 1B/OG/LHP, Iowa Premier/Rogers High, AR, Boston University
So excited to announce my commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at Boston University! I want to thank my coaches, teammates, friends, and family! Go terriers❤️❤️ @TerrierSoftball @ashley3waters @Bcard22 @IowaPremierFP @rhs_ladysb @rhs_21 pic.twitter.com/N4FYlH3UbZ
— Ava Johnson (@AvaJohnson2412) August 2, 2023
Dominique Vargas, 2024, P/2B/OF, Impact Gold-Bryant/Lewisville High, TX, Trinity Valley Community College
I am very excited to announce I have verbally committed to TVCC to further my academic and softball career. First off I’d like to thank God for blessing me with this opportunity @CoachMariaWinn for believing in me and @CSA_Athletes @Dillon_Bryant @stacygorsuch and Doug Gorsuch pic.twitter.com/TaxXCwQ2Zp
— Dominique Vargas (@nique_vargas2) August 8, 2023
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HSOTD
Today’s Hype Song of the Day is …
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BTITW
Today’s Best Thing In The World is …
The new trailer for ‘THE CONTINENTAL: FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK’ has been released.
Premiering on September 22 on Peacock. pic.twitter.com/ljO0RMERI4
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) August 9, 2023
— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff and Thread @los_stuff)
