Last week’s third Faster2First event of the season took place in McKinney, Texas and standout athletes from 12 states—as far away as Washington and Delaware—came from all across the nation to get tested, get educated, get competitive and, most importantly, to get better.

Receiving instruction from noted national softball figures like Rob Crews and Amanda (Freed) Katchka, the athletes picked up tips in hitting, fielding and pitching and on Sunday got to roll it out onto the new turf fields at The Halo complex in six games live streamed by FloSoftball.

Said one of the out-of-staters, outfielder Ashley Saenz, a 2020 lefty from Bothell, Washington who plays for the NW Batbusters, “I really enjoyed these past few days with all the coaches, the new friends I made throughout the three days, and all the new techniques that I learned.”

Saenz looked impressive in the drills and in the games and so did many of the participants. Here are 10 other players who caught the eyes of the scouts and coaches by showing impressive skills, accomplishments and work ethic.

10 Players Who Impressed At TEXAS F2F

1.  Jayda Coleman (SS/2020/Frisco, TX/Texas Glory)

There’s so many reasons why Coleman is ranked No. 1 player in the 2020 class. She showcased all of her tools over the weekend, including a smooth glove and arm in the infield and a standout bat in the order. One game the Oklahoma commit went 2-for-3 with a triple, double and two RBIs. 

2.  Krystal Huynh (3B/2019/Houston, TX/Houston Power)

Quick on defense during the fielding drills, Huynh had the most impressive power bat at the event as she looked great in the cages but even more impressive in the games. The Stephen F. Austin-commit had mammoth home runs in each of her two games and one was a rocket in the teeth of a 20-25 mph wind which that narrowly missed taking out a car windshield. 

3.  Jaya Herring (OF/2020/Cedar Hill, TN/Tennessee Elite)

Sunday was a big day for Herring as she turned 16 years old, but it also was big in that she showed why she already has one offer with many more to come. Last year at this time, she attended the first F2F event, which was held in Myrtle Beach but was just months off having ACL surgery. This year she lit up the testing drills, taking top five honors in the home-to-first, shuttle drill and even the medicine ball toss. Watch for her stock to explode in 2018.

4. Abbey Smith (OF/2021/Austin, TX/Diamond Hotshots Premier)

Smith showed why she was an early commit to Auburn by showcasing her all-around game with great speed out of the box and in the field. Adept at placing the ball on bunts or slaps, she got on base and then effortlessly stole second and third. The 2021 Hot 100 honoree is an excellent athlete, she also had a top two finish in the medicine ball toss.

5. & 6. Kennedy & Kerris Cameron (P & C/2020/Longview, TX/Impact Gold)

Kennedy was dominant in the two games she pitched as she hit her spots and had great control. Amanda Freed Katchka, who coached her, said she was one of the most impressive pitchers at the event and in one inning she struck out the side and compiled four strikeouts against six batters faced. Her twin sister, Kerris, also looked solid behind the plate and at shortstop. 

7. Isabelle (Belle) Frost (SS/2021/Rockwall, TX/Texas Elite)

Frost was very impressive showing off her range and athleticism in the field and at the plate. In one game she doubled and in the same contest stole a sure RBI single away from Jaya Herring when she made a horizontal catch to steal a shot up the middle. Tall and athletic, she elevated her stock into 2021 Hot 100.

8. Makenzie Stewart (2B/2020/Arlington, TX/Texas Glory)

Stewart had one of the two fastest home-to-first times of the event—not surprising as her father, Cedric, is a track coach. But it may surprise most that the infielder isn’t a lefty slapper, she’s a power lefty who maintains a high average hitter spraying the ball to all fields. She has good mechanics in all phases of the game and should have a big 2018.

9. Jakeyla McDaniel (OF/2022/Groves, TX/Texas Bombers)

If there was one class that looked absolutely loaded, it was the 2022 group and one of the best was McDaniel, who had a triple and showed her great speed sprinting around the bases. She won’t lack for exposure in the Bombers’ program, but look for her to be an early favorite to make the first Hot 100 for that class.

10. Madeline Olivas (C/2021/Middletown, Delaware/Virginia Glory)

Olivas had a solid weekend behind the plate and does a lot well that will get her to the next level,  but it’s her work ethic that wowed the scouts. Ranked as just outside the 2021 Hot 100, she asked what she could do to get better continually and during one lunch break, when everyone else left to eat, she took the time to get extra cuts in the batting cages, working hard when out of the spotlight.