a softball life

documenting a softball girl's journey to the next level

Annual Highlights

Tia’s 2022 Annual Recap

Tia had a busy 2022 filled with 3 trips a week from Yakima to Walla Walla to practice. She is dedicated and follows through with her commitments! Tia travelled all over the west coast with the aiBandits Orchard 14u playing softball. Playing in California, Arizona, Nevada, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. The team made of all but 2 first year 14u players made a 28-6 run in their final 34 games before trying their luck in 16u to end the season. She made many friends and found herself playing with and against some of the best players in the country.

With the aiBandits, Tia played split time between Pitching and playing first base gaining valuable experience and game reps. Tia focused on all elements of her game being dedicated to becoming a strong hitter while being an ace in the circle. You can learn more about her time with the aiBandits, coaches and workout schedule here. The aiBandits season ended in early July, and not being done for the summer Tia picked up on a local team to play with her friends. She finished the summer strong having dominant games in the circle with a couple double digit strike out games and even helped her team with a walk-off double in one of the games.

The end of summer also brings a team transition as Tia begins her Fall 2022 and 2023 season with the USA Explosion Yakima 16u. For a more detailed update of her current work plan you can visit here.

Tia’s 2021 Recap – Softball is Life

2021 was a pivotal year for Tia in her softball journey. Coming out of 2020 (the year of COVID), Tia and her team missed out on a year of softball. The East Valley Diamonds (EV Yakima) coached by Jay and Katy Weatherley and Jason Ramynke entered 2021 as a true second year 12U team that missed their first year of 12u. But because this team had two girls that were ’07’s and two pitchers that continued to work independently the whole year, we decide to play up as a 14u team to keep the team together. The team handled this just fine. Officially going 14-28-1, but that was just the beginning.

The 2021 season started with off-season workouts. Tia started working 5-6 days a week in early winter getting in indoor workouts wherever she could find space. Tia found some space and was able to work out out with a 16u team in the Tigers organization (West Valley Tigers) coached by Randy Souers, Sean Barbee, and Ryan Hall. Tia made a mark with this team as they took her under their wing and invited her to hitting and fielding practices. Tia continued to work on her hitting and pitching being mentored by some of the 18u Tigers who had committed to play softball in colleges. Tia impressed the coaches with her work ethic and dedication which gave her some great opportunities later in the season.

diamonds triple off the wall
triple off the right field fence

The season officially began in March and Tia split the circle time with one of her best friends and the “2” spot in the battery happens to be both of their other best friends. These four will be a force to be reckoned with over the next few years! Tia, being a 12yo, had some learning moments during the year but those just drove her to want to play even more. The end of the season ended with Tia having an 11 strike out performance against their rival and more importantly lead the Diamonds to their best tournament of the season losing in the semi-final game to the tournament winner. As her time with the diamonds came to a close, Tia realized that she wasn’t done with softball. Tia played in two pick-up tournaments with the TC Wildcats 14u (who she pitched against in a tournament in Idaho) and then finished out the season playing with the WV Tigers 16u.

putting down the bunt
Tia can lay down a bunt with the best of them

The WV Tigers 16u had a couple injuries and needed to pickup a player or two to finish out their season. Tia got the invite to play. A now 13yo playing up in 16u. Tia got to play her two primary positions (P/1B) at Two state tournaments, Western Nationals, and against 18u teams at Hot August Nights (a well attended overnight tournament). Tia scored several hits in the box, pitched for a win in the NSA state tourney, and got some strikeouts at Western Nationals and at Hot August Nights. Tia is so grateful for the opportunities, and has memories that she will keep forever. One of my favorite all-time softball moments was when she told her mom, “She had tattoos mom, and I struck her out.”

It was during these opportunities and experiences that Tia decided that she wanted to pursue playing softball at the highest levels. It was late in the tryout season for the 2022, but we managed try outs with playing in these late tournaments. Tia joined the aiBandits organization and found her new softball home.

States played in the 2021 Season: Washington, Idaho, Oregon

The Yakima Valley plays middle school softball in the Fall. So Tia and her friends were able to play a condensed Spring Season (weird due to COVID) and a full Middle School Season in Fall. As 8th grader’s Tia and the rest of the EV Diamonds went undefeated until the last game of the season, when they happened to lose a tight contest to a cross-town rival.

Technically part of 2022, Tia also played fall ball with the aiBandits, playing in several tournaments across the country, but we will give that rundown for 2022. You can also start to catch Tia’s highlights on the video page