Local Softball Players Sharpen Their Skills With Travel Ball

During the recently completed high school softball season, fans could see certain players making certain plays, thrilling fans with throws, base running or hits that made them stand out in the crowd.

That field generalship is without a doubt a product of their off-season work. Players like Banning’s Felecity McCafferty and the Beaumont tandem of Krista Valdivia and Alyssa Fuimaono are just a few of the players who hone their skills with what is called ‘travel ball.’

That was the case during the Fourth of July weekend. McCafferty, Valdivia and Fuimaono were in Colorado for two tournaments that drew 300 teams and just over 1,000 players from throughout the nation.

Valdivia (Minors Gold) and Fuimaono (American Pasttime) played in the Colorado Fireworks Invitational. McCafferty played on TeamSmith
in the Colorado Sparkler Invitational. These are also considered showcase tournaments, with dozens of collegiate scouts in attendance.

McCafferty’s TeamSmith recorded an impressive third place finish. TeamSmith recorded four straight wins before losing to the Oklahoma
Starz – the eventual champion in the 16u 183-team tournament.

TeamSmith defeated the Long Island Bandits (4-1), Queens of Diamonds (8-4), Midwest Sluggers (11-1) and Red Stick Softball (6-2) before losing, 8-2, to the Starz.

Valdivia’s Minors Gold, based out of Moreno Valley, finished its tournament with a 6-3 record, which placed them tied for ninth in the
Fireworks Invitational.

And Fuimaono’s American Pasttime, based out of Lake Elsinore, finished tied for 33^rd in the same Invitational.