Kissimmee Klassic

“Prep Softball At Its’ Best”

April 3-5, 2014

For Immediate Release:March 15, 2014

The only thing that might be harder than winning the Kissimmee Klassic is seeding and scheduling it when you have two 16 team brackets that consist of 20 teams that have been state ranked this year, 10 of which have been nationally ranked this year, 5 defending state champs & 5 of the top 7 classes currently #1 ranked teams this year! To make an even bigger impact, the All Class rankings by Miracle Prep has had 7 or 8 of the top 10 in every poll so far this year planning to clash in Kissimmee. Add to that an Alabama entry that showcases a 2 time all state pitcher with a team that has won 81 games in the last 2 seasons. The22nd AnnualKissimmee Klassic once again will be hosted by the Osceola Kowboys & Coach GeorgeCoffey’s Kowboysoftball program.It should come as no surprise that St. Thomas Aquinas from Ft.Lauderdale is our top ranked team. They won the Blue Division last year over the host Kowboys in the 2013 Klassic final which propelled them on to their 3rd Florida state championship. They return an all-state pitcher along with 3 other all staters & Coach Bryan Baucom is establishing himself right at the pinnacle of the Florida coaching hierarchy. Our #2 seed is a virtual newcomer to the state softball scene as the school is fairly new. But they have been to the Final Four 2 of the last 3 years, lost to Aquinas 1-0 in 9 innings last year in the state semi’sand will showcase Lele Ocasio [U of Florida] as their candidate for the best player in the state. Aquinas has their own candidate in Gwen Svekis [Oregon] but our #3 seed Columbia from LakeCity will argue with both of them. Kayli Kvistad [U of Florida] was the 6A Player of the Year last year and widely considered maybe the best player in the state. Columbia is the defending 6A state champs and return 9 starters so their #3 seed should come as no surprise. The #4 seed from Niceville was the 2011 state champions but that would not be enough to propel them to such a lofty seed. But finishing 29-2 last year, returning 2 all state pitchers and returning 7 starters helps. The amazing stat is that they SIGNED 6 seniors to Division 1 scholarships! Unheard of but a true fact! 4 time defending state champion Gulliver Prep is our #5 seed. They are shooting for their 7th state championship overall while Coach Mark Shustermanis adamant about his philosophy of playing the best to make his team better. They are led by 4A pitcher of the year Gabbee Draney [FL Gulf Coast]. Draney is just one of maybe 8 or 9 of the top 10 pitchers in the state who will be here to compete. With nearly 60 seniors SIGNED to college scholarships from this field an argument could easily be made that this is the most talented collection of softball talent ever! So if you come seeking Florida’s elite softballplayers, where else could you assemble over 90 all state players at one location to view. If that doesn’t peak your interest to catch some of the action, nothing will. Kissimmee is located in themiddle of the state so the softball world will be centered there for the 22nd annualKissimmee Klassic.

Brief Profiles [records are from 2013] [Schedules are available at

Blue Division

Aquinas [22-5] is the defending 7A state champions returning 5 all state players including their pitcher. They have been ranked in the top 10 of the nation this year. Harmony [26-4] has been ranked in the top 15 of the nation this year. Columbia [28-4] is the defending 6A state champs and has been #1 ranked in 6A all year. Niceville [27-2 last year & 29-2 in 2012] is loaded. Gulliver Prep [25-5] is the defending 4 time state champs returning 7 starters and 3 all staters. CooperCity [13-12] was district champion last year over Aquinas and returns 7 starters off to a hot start this year. Barron Collier [22-5] has won 4 state championships and is perennially nationally ranked. They have sr SS Ashley Swiderski who will get to play in the back yard of her future UCF team. Hagerty [27-2] has been ranked #1 in Florida 8A led by some say the best pitcher inthe state in jr P Samantha Worrell who was 8A pitcher of the year last year. As we compare our field to March Madness you have to root for the defending 2A state champions from Canterbury [21-11] in St. Pete. Their battery last year was 8th graders that can play against anybody for 2A coach of the year Jody Moore. So even though they are a small school their goals are high and they want to play the ‘big boys’. Freshman C Danielle Romanello was 2A defensive player of the year last year and has a big time D1 future ahead of her. Coral Reef [26-2] won the gold bracket of the Klassic last year on their way to a state championship finish in 8Alast year. They return 8 starters including all state players jr 3B Carsyn Gordon & jr SS Kylan Becker. Jr P Michelle Mesa was Klassic Defensive Outstanding Player at last years Klassic. Tate [21-5] has 3 D1 seniors & has been ranked as high as #3 in 7A behind Aquinas & Harmony this year. Lofty company. P.K.Yonge [27-3] returns 8 starters including 7 all state returnees as they move from 3A up to 4Aand are one of the early challenges to put an end to Gulliver Preps 4 year run. They are top ranked in 4A behind sr Karen McGill. CypressBay [21-6] finished state runner-up in 8A last year and return 6 starters including 3 all staters. Sr P Sarah Maloney is a force. The first visit for Central High out of Phenix City, Alabama brings 2 times all state jr P Allie Kelley who won 31 games last year as a sophomore. Bradford [28-3] brings the 4A offensive player of the year in jr 3B Taylor Cruce and the 4A coach of the year Daniel Davies. They return 9 starters including sr P Ashton Adkins [26-2] who was 1st team all state and 3 other all state contributors. Clearwater Countryside [24-4] is a perennial powerhouse on the west coast of Florida with all state sr P Alyssa Queen. They were state champs in 2002.

Gold Division

Pines Charter [21-4] was state runner-up last year and state champion in 2012 for one of the state’s best coaches in Tom Fadul. They return 7 starters along with their all state soph P Claire Blount [17-4] so it is no surprise they are the top seed in the Gold Bracket. The Melbourne Bulldogs [18-8] are rushing to the top of the state softball world with their highly state ranked 2014 edition of their best ever team. They have been ranked as high as #5 in this year’s 7A poll & are led by sr CF Mackenzie Soughers [.408]. SW Miami [20-7] is seeded #3 in the Gold Bracket and is off to a great start this year. The host Kowboys [25-5] had a banner season last year highlighted by their playing Aquinas for the Blue Bracket championship. They return 5 starters led by jr SS Kali Jones [the only sophomore on the 7A first team all state last year] & sr C Chantal Crocket [DaytonaState]. The 5th seeded Chamberlain Chiefs [21-8] have won 2 state championships [2003 + 2012] led by sr OF Izzy Ontorico [signed to UCLA] and have a history of success. Florida Christian [17-7] always has players and this edition has 3 all state returnees as part of the 8 returning starters for coach Scott Stemmer. They are state ranked in 4A again this year. The local St. Cloud Bulldogs [16-12] play in one of the state’s toughest Districts [ie: 4 state ranked teams in 7A D5]. They have 8 returning starters with soph OF Sarah Crawford wielding D1 power. Taravella [17-4] returns 7 starters for a team that won 36 games the last 2 years combined led by jr P Megan Marusfeld [16-4]. Trinity Prep [11-17] has won 3 state titles in the last 15 years behind the amazingly successful coach Kathy Finnucan. LakeBrantley [18-9] will be showcasing the talents of sr SS Mikaela Aiken [.519, VA Tech]. JensenBeach [14-12] is led by long time successful coach Lori Miller & returns 7 starters. Douglas [16-7] was District champs & returns 6 starters. They have crept in to the state rankings thanks to their 12-3 start. Plant [16-11] is a mainstay of the Tampa area successful teams and will be representing that area in one of the two Bright House Sports Network games of the weeks vs. the host Kowboys. Sarasota Riverview [17-8] retuns 8 starters led by sr 2B Kasey Weaver [.400] & they play well in Kissimmee last year capturing the Consolation Championships at the Klassic. They were state champs in 1995 when they beat the host Kowboys in the semis. Riverview Riverview [12-10] always plays well for coach Angela Slater in Kissimmee also and hope that their 8 returning starters continue that trend. They also were state champs in 2000. PineCastle Christian [23-7] has won 3 state championships and finished state runner-up each of the last two years.

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