Scout Softball All American Game preview/Outfielders
The outfielders at 2015 Scout All-American could probably host one of the most competitive track meets in the country this weekend. Speed is the theme in New Mexico in just a few short days and these outfielders are going to make it extremely tough for a softball to land safely on the grass. Vera Pflugradt (2017 | IL) is coming off an impressive Midwest National where she was on base constantly and made an over the shoulder catch running into the gap in right center field that was one of the top defensive plays all summer. Pflugradt leads the blue team into action leading things off in game 1 on Sunday morning.
Pflugradt will be joined on the Blue Team by MacKenzie Tucker (2018 | IL) who will also participate in the HR Derby on Saturday night. Tucker's swing is ideal for a power hitter at the next level and she got off to a strong start in Chicago ripping a ball off the RF wall at Rosemont. Providing the Blue Team All-American experience is the lone South Dakota native in ABQ this year, two-time Scout All-American Rebecca Koupal (2018 | SD). Koupal's power game was on display in Chicago where she took the glove off a top 10 Scout prospect at 1B with a hard line drive, following that up with a deep shot to RF for extra bases.
The Yellow Team will square off against Blue on Sunday morning in Game 1 and feature two primary outfielders and a group of utility players who also play the OF at a high level. Katie Janiga (2017 | IL) made, without a doubt, the catch of the year in Chicago after leading off the entire National Showcase with a lead-off inside the park homerun. Janiga's speed will be complemented by the power at the plate of Alyssa Nowak (2016 | IL). Nowak is a prototype corner OF at the next level with plus OF tools and an ability to hit for power and average. The Yellow Team will also send Marisa Arriaga and Regan Kerr into the OF at times.
Speed with again be the theme in Game 2 as Kelsey Brown (2018 | VA) leads the Green Team into action. Brown is coming off an East Coast National where she was a nightmare for catchers on the base path. The simple rule with Brown is that if the ball bounces twice she's safe and then most likely turns it into a double with a stolen base. Samantha Frederick (2017 | DE) will join Brown in the OF and continue to East Coast theme of Green outfielders. Frederick's a player with huge upside who continues to get better every time we see her and thrives on a competitive event. Frederick will patrole the outfield with Camille Corona (2019 | TX) who will provide great speed and a great glove, to go along with top of the order type hitting abilities. Also in the OF, Summer Faille (2018 | CA). Faille's ability to throw in the OF should provide exciting match ups with aggressive baserunners at All-American, as Faille's instincts and throwing ability are at a high level at a young age in the OF.
For Pink, Miranda Swanberg (2017 | TX) is one of the top defensive OF's nationally, period. With plus speed, a high level arm and great length she's simply tough on opponents offense. Swanberg's ability to swing or slap will try and open up holes at the top of the order for Pink. She'll be joined by Lily Hatcher (2017 | TX) who hit the first of 16 HR's that were hit at Scout Nationals this year, with a leadoff solo HR in Dallas in June. Hatcher is also a 2.6 runner and provides perhaps the best combination of speed and power in New Mexico. They'll be joined by Ana Hayes (2016 | CA) and the trio simply makes the size of the OF shrink quite a bit. Hayes' hard nosed style of play will offer the Pink team a huge spark if they feed off of her energy and aggressive style of play. Hayes is coming off a great West Coast National where her arm was on display in the OF and as a catcher.
Action gets under way at Scout All-American tihs Saturday night with the Scout All-American Skills Contest, followed by 8-games on Sunday and Monday, eventually crowing a champion on Monday afternoon.