Two Seattle Area Softball Players Chosen by MLB to Participate in showcase for Nation’s Top High School Prospects

Two players from the same Seattle area select fastpitch softball team have been chosen by Major League Baseball to be among 60 girls to attend a prestigious softball showcase for the nation’s most promising high school age players.

Tamsen Henry, a sophomore at Vashon Island High School, and Bianca Mercado, a senior at Highline High School in Burien, have been invited to participate in the Softball Breakthrough Series at the Kansas City MLB Urban Youth Academy in Kansas City, Missouri over the Memorial Day Weekend.

Bob Davis, who coaches both Henry and Mercado said, “Out of 60 girls nationwide that were chosen, two of them came from our humble Seatac Storm fastpitch team, and that makes me proud.”

The players, ages 15-19, represent 20 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. The event will feature instruction from Olympic Gold Medalists and MLB Youth Softball Ambassadors Jennie Finch and Natasha Watley as well as current and former members of the U.S. National Softball Team. In addition to high-level instruction, the event serves as a showcase for collegiate recruiters.

Henry is a three-sport varsity athlete (softball, soccer, basketball) with a 3.8+ GPA. She is also interested in modern dance and choreographs original works for the Vashon Center for the Arts. This summer, she plans to travel to the Dominican Republic with a volunteer group to support various community development projects.

Mercado, a senior, overcame a torn ACL in her right knee last year to return to soccer and softball. As the oldest of seven, she is busy helping her single mom with shuttling siblings to and from school as well as their sporting practices and events. Mercado is a dedicated student who plans to get a real estate broker license and study business at the University of Washington Tacoma.

The Softball Breakthrough Series is designed to promote softball as a viable collegiate option for youth from underrepresented and underserved communities. The invitation-only event is cost-free for participants. The program focuses on developing players on and off the field through seminars, mentorship, gameplay, scout evaluations and high-level instruction.

In addition to skills development participants will also visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.