Nation's best softball prospects playing at PGF showcase in front of 60 college coaches

NEWBERRY — As the sport of softball continues to explode in popularity, Florida Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) continues to grow with the sport.

After hosting 84 teams in last year's Show Me The Money Showcase, 106 club softball teams from around the country flooded to Newberry's Champions Park on Thursday and Friday to kick off the four-day showcase.

"This tournament, when you talk Show Me The Money, was a little bit of the perfect storm," said Florida PGF director Bill Hoopes. "We've put all these teams in Florida, beautiful weather, all in one park... We're going to show you a different experience."

Hoopes, who got into the sport of softball after his daughter's team needed a coach in 2011, never thought that he'd be in the position he is now.

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He never played high school sports, but after watching his daughter fall in love wit softball, he followed suit. While it took some coaxing, a second plea for him to step up and coach worked.

Now, Hoopes gets to sit back and admire his work as the 106 club softball teams in Newberry this weekend have garnered the attention of dozens of college programs. In the tournament's first two days, Hoopes says that more than 60 college coaches — including those from 12 of the 13 SEC schools — stopped by Champions Park.

"I've got the whole list (of Division I schools) and then I've got a drove of Division II, Division III and junior college," Hoopes said. "To me that's what it's all about. It's about every kid at every level. Not everybody is going to play at Florida, not everybody's going to play at Florida State... To have this opportunity to allow coaches at all levels to be able to see this talent in our state. Who knows, you might find that gem that's for you."

Here are highlights from the showcase so far.

Jayden Heavener proves her No. 1 status

Just two weeks after leading Pace High School to a state semifinal berth in the FHSAA 6A state softball tournament, rising junior Jayden Heavener lived up to the hype as she competed with Virginia Unity-Johnson/Ross' 16U team.

Friday marked the first day that Division I coaches could recruit as the NCAA season officially ended as Oklahoma captured its sixth national title on Thursday night. And Power 5 coaches wasted no time in getting their eyes on Heavener.

Heavener, who is ranked as the top recruit in the 2024 class by Extra Innings Softball, toed the rubber on Friday evening against Atlanta Vipers-Tamborra and pitched toward a fence that was lined with some of the nation's top coaches.

Arkansas head coach Courtney Deifel, LSU head coach Beth Torina, Ohio State head coach, Kelly Kovach Schoenly and a pair of assistants from the University of Florida were among those in attendance to watch Heavener on Friday.

"I think I've gotten over the anxious part," Heavener said. "I'm just used to it and I just know I have to keep my composure."

Nerves clearly weren't a factor for Heavener in a six-inning performance that saw her give up just a pair of hits and strike out nine en route a 2-0 victory.

However, Heavener's pitching abilities are only half the reason she's touted as the nation's best recruit in the 2024 class.

Earlier in the day as Heavener and Unity topped Jacksonville Storm-Harris, Heavener popped a no-doubter over the center-field wall in her first hit of the game, which saw her go 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.

While Heavener understands that she garners a lot of the attention from coaches, she also understands that means her teammates are getting seen as well — and that's just as important.

"I know that I can bring coaches out and I know that all these girls can play," Heavener said. "And I just know that this is a good team for the coaches to come and watch and have a different person at each position that they can come watch."

As a mere sophomore, Heavener isn't of age to officially field offers from Division I coaches. But if those in attendance on Friday were any indication, Heavener will have plenty to choose from when it comes time to choose a school.

But until then, Pace's ace knows what she's looking for in a program.

"For the softball part of it, just good pitching, teams that get together, work together as a team, coaches that are really into their team and into their girls on and off the field," Heavener said, adding that academics are also important. "Just a team that I can click with very well."

Palm Beach trio helps Tampa Mustangs-Seymour stay perfect

Don't let the name fool you. Just because they play for the Tampa Mustangs doesn't mean they hail from Tampa.

Instead, players like Aubrey Wurst, Bella Ruggiero and Hailey Vassalotti come by way of Palm Beach County, playing for American Heritage-Delray, Oxbridge Academy and Seminole Ridge Community, respectively.

In the opening days of the Show Me The Money showcase, the Palm Beach trio helped the Mustangs to a flawless 4-0 start.

Wurst, a rising junior at American Heritage, pitched a combined six innings in the Mustangs' opening four games, didn't give up a hit and struck out 10 batters.

Meanwhile, Ruggiero and Vassalotti came through on the offensive side of the ball for the Mustangs.

Ruggiero, a rising junior, notched a multi-hit performance against D1vision 16U National on Friday after going 2-for-3 from the plate and helping the Mustangs to a 3-1 win.

Vassalotti, also a rising junior, has started the weekend 4-for-10 from the plate with three walks.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: College softball top coaches come to Newberry for Fast Pitch showcase