Select softball and baseball teams tackle the hot summer months every year in hopes of reaching their district and regional playoffs. Only a few players and teams ever get to showcase their wares at a national tournament.
Washington qualified one team for the U-16 National fastpitch tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D. And on the one team from Washington that qualified, local star Christina Rayner helped wrestle the dream of nationals into a reality.
Ive been playing with the Sidewinders for one year, but Ive been in the Select program for five or six years, stated Rayner. The Select games are really intense and we had a lot of tough challenges to face.
Select teams do a lot of traveling in hopes of enticing college scouts to notice their players. Tournaments are held in Las Vegas and Colorado, locations that encourage top colleges to send representatives due to the large amount of talent playing there.
As for Rayner, shes not yet old enough worry too much about the recruiting aspect of the business.
The scouts cant speak to me yet. I think seniors can talk to college coaches after a certain point in the summer. Ill be a junior next year, I can call only call the scouts to talk to them.
Despite the strange recruiting rules and regulations, the function of Select fastpitch is to give young players a chance to market themselves. Rayner will be laying the groundwork for next year, when she is being actively recruited.
When the players convene on Sioux Falls, it wont be to do anything touristy. Theyll all be there to demonstrate their ability to play at the next level, against the highest competition.
With no true professional leagues to speak of, college softball is the pinnacle of fastpitch achievements. While the top collegians go on to play on the national team and win Olympic titles, Olympic competition is probably a step down from high level college ball.
Select ball is more about your want to play than just your talent, said Rayner, Every kid out there wants to continue to play more than anything. It keeps us strong as team, being able to trust each other and get along.
Because the girls share that common goal of getting noticed, winning helps their cause. Teams that advance deep into major tournaments tend to be littered with all levels of college recruits. Girls that might not get noticed by a high-major school have the chance to receive interest from mid-majors or smaller schools.
As one might expect, the Rayner family plays a big part in allowing Christina to pursue her chosen path.
My parents have always been really supportive, even when Ive been on a burnout, said Christina, Theyve given me time to rest and rejuvenate before getting back to the grind. In the fall I practice to get ready for high school season. We start high school in the beginning of March. Season essentially goes from March until August.
The large scale commitment doesnt faze Rayner, who continues to strive toward her goal of a scholarship.
Im excited to go to nationals. Ive heard theres nothing there to do in Sioux Falls but well only be there for a week.