Written by Ben Cox – A pair of 10 year old 5th graders from Bangs are preparing to face talent from across the nation next year, after being invited to compete in the All American Softball Youth Games.
The games will take place over the course of a handful of days in Florida next January, and for Mattisyn Taylor and Cheyenne Rush it is a dream come true.
After playing with their team the Knockoutz in South Carolina for Nationals this past June and each making All-Star, Taylor and Rush were selected to play in the Orlando North games January 2nd through the 5th. There will also be a tournament in Southern California that same week.
Taylor has been playing softball for seven years and is a catcher, Rush is a pitcher who has played for six. They both say that “friends, playing sports outside and fun” are the reasons they enjoy the sport.
Rush and Taylor show off the rings they earned by advancing to Nationals with The Knockoutz
Guaranteed to play in at least four games, the pair could play several more depending on their teams performance during the tournament. This kind of tournament play is nothing new to the duo, who often play softball “from February until December” according to Rush’s mother Stephanie.
Leaving on New Years Eve, both families are counting down the days until they go. This will not be the first time they have played in the cold, either. “One year, we had snow flurries during one of the games early in the year” says Preston Rush, Cheyenne’s father.
The teams in Florida will be coached by college scouts, something both families are excited about. Especially one of the girls already wants to play for “the UT Longhorns!”
The families have been told to expect extensive media coverage, but are not sure at the moment which networks will carry the games. Regardless of coverage, the game of a lifetime for two young ladies is about to take place and their parents couldn’t be any more proud of their little girls.
