Utah all-star softball team will start tournament at midnight

ST. GEORGE — Fifteen Utah softball players will take the field Friday morning in a tournament experience unlike any other.

First of all, the girls — a collection of the state's best players — will face the best 700 players on 50 teams from around the country in the Adidas Futures National Tournament.

Second, the squad, Utah Wildfire, will be squaring off against their first opponent at midnight. That's right, the Utah team won't take the field until midnight, with two other games immediately afterward. Bracket play for the tournament begins Friday at 6 p.m., but the double-elimination tournament will run through the night.

"I think they are trying to avoid the heat," said Utah Wildfire head coach Dave Hanny. "I've never had a tournament planned like this, so it will be an adventure. But I don't think it will be a factor."

Hanny was selected by Adidas and quickly called on some talented assistants to help him choose the Utah all-star team. Dane Palmer, Dave Erickson and Kelsi Hoopiiaina all signed on to help choose and coach the team.

Coaches had 120 girls tryout in October during two different tryouts.

"We had girls from all over the state," said Hanny. "Then we had selected a finalist group of 32 or 33 girls and we went to St. George in January and played games all day long. We made the final selections from that. The really cool thing is that these girls come from all over, and it's the only team from Utah."

One of those selected was Roy High's Jordynn Barrera.

"My coach told me about it," said the shortstop who helped lead the Royals to a 5A state title this spring. "I was really proud that I made it. It will be different, but I'm kind of excited for it. I've never played at midnight, or in the middle of the night. It will be something new and different."

In addition to getting a chance to play on an all-star team that represents the state, the girls are learning a lot about college recruiting.

"One requirement was that the girls couldn't be committed to a college," said Haney. "This is an opportunity to be seen by a lot of college coaches. These are the kinds of tournament where they get recruited."

Additionally, Haney and his assistants have provided seminars and meetings with college coaches on how to best market themselves.

"We're educating these kids on the process and what they need to do for themselves," said Haney. "The ball is in their court more than anybody else's."