Ava Boyer takes her cuts this season with Villa Grove Elite 12U team

By Lenny Sementi
Tuscola’s Ava Boyer got in a few softball games in with her 12u Villa Grove Elite Black team this summer donning the red, white and blue. She ended the summer with the Elite collecting sixth place hardware at the USSSA World Series in Gulf Shores Alabama which included teams from eleven states. 

 Boyer was selected to compete at the USA Softball All American Games at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma a few weeks back on August 14-16. There were 18 teams representing eight regions from across the country.  

The USA Softball All-American Games is a prestigious tournament to be hosted at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. This event will provide National exposure to elite athletes in the 12u age division and has been designed to identify and highlight the best athletes from across the country. It is an event designed to recognize individual athletes for their outstanding playing abilities and selections represent the individual best players from around the country at the 12u level. 

Boyer was part of the Great Lakes region six squad that included seven players from both Michigan and Illinois and one from Kentucky. She participated in a short scheduled practice prior to the tournament used as an opportunity for coaches to quickly evaluate player talent. And, also took part in a player camp powered by the Softball Factory instructors. 

During her four games she patrolled center field and also played second base, producing a .1000 field percentage taking part in six putouts and four assists, including a perfect strike from deep center to second base erasing a runner trying to stretch out a double. Offensively, she was just as strong ending the tourney with a .333 batting average, banging out a double and an RBI and scored once. The Great Lakes won both pool games and ended the tournament with a 2-2 record overall getting knocked out of the winners bracket in a barn burner losing 3-1 by the eventual tourney champions from Region fie, comprised of players from Texas and Oklahoma.