09/08/2026
This weekend was a special weekend for the Midwest Speed National Holt team who went 7-0 in the tournament.
This is a 2029 group that is a true 15U National team so to go and get their bid on weekend one with some great teams in the tournament was special.
Things lined up really well for the squad as far as the bracket but each game built toward tougher competition. It ended with an epic night game under the lights for an Alliance bid in the Championship Game. Midwest Speed National Holt came out on top (4-2) of a hard fought thriller that saw the Mission 15U Gavin National Team strike first and have traffic early and often.
Side note: I have known Jeremy and his wife, Kelly, long before the softball world and they have done a wonderful job building and maintaining a successful program. Always appreciate and respect playing Jeremy's teams and they have a great team.
Some key moments in the game were made by Kenzi Benson throwing a runner out at the plate in the first to hold Mission to only 1 run after a frantic start.
Annika Antonoson hustling out a bobbled ball at 1B, which tuned into our pinch runner Izzy Grindeland scoring from first on a double by Kenzi Benson to tie the game.
Marley Kasay gave MW Speed the lead with an RBI single. Hannah Rushing to Amaiya Polzin back to Rushing to Kendall Johnson DP to end the inning. Polzin 2 strike RBI base hit scoring Lydia Shimek and Desi Dudek RBI ground out to 2B. That runner was aboard because of a 9 pitch leadoff walk earned by Audrina Schroeder. Three pitchers Annette Waldoch, Mackenzie Brooks and Annika Antonson combining for the start, the win and the save. Brooks pitched 3 innings and earned the win with 5Ks.
Just a fantastic way to end the tourney with great competition with high stakes. 🏆
Some of the mostly offensive tourney highlights:
Kenzi Benson was elite defensively and batted .833 in the tourney with 2 bombs 💣 , 4 doubles, 9 runs, 6 RBI
Audrina Schroeder batted .625 with a .727 OBP 2 doubles and 2 SB.
Lydia Shimek led off every game. She hit .389 with a triple, 7 runs and led the team with 4 SB.
Izzy Grindeland hit .400 with 3 doubles, a triple, 5 runs and 6 RBI.
Amiya Polzin led the team in HRs hitting 3 on the weekend. And some big ones, two in her first at bat of the games which gave us the early lead both times. She led the team in RBI as well with 8. She also caught 4 games and was a leader on and off the field.
Kendall Johnson locked down the 2 spot with a .571 average, 1.274 OPS, a double, 8 runs and 6 RBI. She was also 3 for 3 stealing bags.
Annika Antonson not only pitched some big innings but she hit too. She batted in the 4 spot all weekend batting .357, with 2 doubles and a HR 💣. She also drove in 5 runs.
Annette Waldoch hit .556 with 7 runs scored and a double.
Natalie Stangl hit .500 with 3 RBI, 3 Runs and a SB.
Desi Dudek hit .385 and added a HR. She also stole twice, once third base and scored a run on the over throw. She also scored 7 runs.
Marley Kasay played stellar defense locking down LF, running down anything in her area. She had 4 hits, stole 2 bases, had a key single and a run scored in the championship win. 🏆
Hannah Rushing played the hot corner 🔥 10 putouts and maybe the defensive play or the tournament. She threw home to catch the runner in a rundown in a key spot before placing a tag for the first out, then gunning the trail runner out back at 1B to end the trouble. She led on and off the field and will be a key player for this team as we move along.
Mackenzie Brooks coming off a summer where she didn't hit because of an injury, came up with a couple runs scored and a 2 RBI single in Saturdays win.
Elin Skilling batted .333 with a .417 OBP she added 4 RBI, 3 runs scored and a stolen base.
The Team batted
AVG: .418
XBH: 23
HR: 7
Runs: 67
Runs allowed: 3
SB: 19
All in all a great weekend for the girls to get their 15U journey started and earn a 🎟️ to the Alliance National Championships earlier than ever before. We are very excited about the future of this team 🇺🇸
📸 Cred: Katie Brooks
