July 25th, 2024
Christopher Cornejo
Early in July, Major League Baseball hosted the first joint Elite Development Invitational for girls baseball and softball. Dual camps took place at the same time, all unfolding over five days at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Fla.
At the invitational, more than 100 high school girls baseball and softball athletes worked to develop their on- and off-the-field skills and to highlight girls and women in diamond sports.
This work ranged from strength and conditioning training to professional seminars with lessons on mental performance and college planning, as well as access to personal mentorship with coaches and staff.
Noteworthy coaches were on hand for this historic first joint event, including Lauren Gipson (Chamberlain), Natasha Watley, Bruce Chen, Veronica Alvarez and LaTroy Hawkins.
“This is truly a celebration of women in diamond sports; it is the first time it has ever been done,” said Sarah Padove, MLB’s manager of baseball & softball development. “We have never seen anything like this where there is softball happening and girls baseball happening, so who better to do it than Major League Baseball.”
“It’s incredible … to have these girls that are diamond sports enthusiasts together, it’s really wonderful in the way that we’re growing this sport on both sides,” said Alvarez, who serves as MLB’s girls baseball ambassador and the USA baseball women’s national team manager.
On the softball side, Odicci Alexander, who plays professionally, and Gipson, the former NCAA softball home run leader, headlined the coaching staff.
“I feel like MLB surprises us every year, their development program is doing something new every year and so exciting for us,” Gipson said. “Having baseball and softball [players] in the same place, staying together, dining together, playing their sports, it shows the growth of both softball and baseball and the growth of MLB’s investment into our youth.”
It’s no secret that young players feel and appreciate the benefits of these types of events and the investment they provide well into their playing and professional careers.
“It's cool that I'm here participating in both softball and baseball for girls, because there are seldom events like this around the countries,” said participant Luciana Moreno.
Moreno is a softball and baseball player in the class of 2025 who is committed to the University of Pittsburgh softball program following her high school graduation.
“The fact that I get to come here and make memories, get new experiences, learn new things, I think that's a one-in-a-million opportunity that I get and I'm definitely not going to take it for granted,” she said.
This one-in-a-million chance is even more special when considering the opportunities to receive mentorship from not just former, but current stars of the game, such as Alexander, a professional player for the Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball league.
The 2021 Wilson Softball America Pitcher of the Year and current two-way pro shared her thoughts on the invitational and her first-year coaching approach.
“I feel like this is huge … and me personally, I’ve never played baseball so it’s kind of cool to see them work together. … I'm so happy they have this opportunity,” Alexander said. “I will continue to invest and do whatever I can to continue to see these women grow as athletes.”
An elite professional athlete, Alexander won the 2023 championship as the top individual points leader in the AUPSL, so she understands the importance of developing young players the right way.
“I'm currently playing now and I feel like the game in general is growing and that's what we wanted to see happen, so whatever I can do, I’m all in,” she said.
For athletes participating in their first EDI, it can be both a daunting and empowering experience. EDI girls baseball player Grace Murray was one of these first-time players.
“The biggest thing I've learned is not to get down on myself, because over the past few years I've really gotten down mentally, but this camp has shown me to get ready for the next play and just keep my head up,” said Murray.
Last November, she appeared on "The Kelly Clarkson Show," where she discussed helping organize a 14U girls team in the Philadelphia area.
“My hope for women’s baseball is that new baseball players keep coming into this community and that it starts to grow as one," Murray said.
