Series 3 of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League All-Star Cup begins Sunday, and so far there’s been no slowing down Kayla Kowalik.
After a 4-for-8 showing in Series 1 vaulted her to the top of the standings, Kowalik followed it up by going 5-for-7 in Series 2 to take a commanding 256-point lead on second-place Keilani Ricketts.
The All-Star Cup is a four-series season from Aug. 2 to 31 in which 60 professional softball players compete to become the individual champion utilizing Athletes Unlimited’s innovative format that utilizes contributions on offense, defense and in the circle.
Team Kowalik was so dominant during Series 2 that its players hold the top four spots in the standings. The Series 3 draft was held Friday with those four – Kowalik, Keilani Ricketts, Danieca Coffey and Devyn Netz – serving as captains.
Kowalik has earned 860 points with her former Blaze teammate Ricketts, the top-scoring pitcher so far, at 604. The 256-point gap is more than the gap between Ricketts and 20th place.
Rounding out the top five is pitcher Mariah Mazón at 500 points. A large group of players, led by pitcher Rachel Garcia, are between 400-500 points, including regular-season MVP Erin Coffel, who’s ranked seventh after jumping 23 spots during Series 2.
The biggest jump was made by former Volts infielder Sierra Romero, who went 5-for-6 with two doubles and a home run in Series 2 to jump from No. 51 to No. 9. Outfielder Korbe Otis (No. 10) and pitchers Emma Lemley (No. 13), Montana Fouts (No. 20) and Aliyah Binford (No. 30) also moved up at least 20 spots.
With her first pick, Kowalik took pitcher Georgina Corrick, who was 6-0 during the regular season. Next was Amanda Lorenz, who ranks No. 23 despite missing Series 2 while fulfilling a commitment to the national team.
Kowalik also got top-20 players Otis (No. 10), Delanie Wisz (No. 15) and Alana Vawter (No. 17).
Team Ricketts went for a dominant pitching duo in Ricketts and Fouts, who was its top draft pick. Next up was Sydney Romero, who ranked 43rd despite a 1.455 OPS, three extra-base hits and three RBIs in four games. Ricketts has a top 20 pitcher in No. 13 Emma Lemley and two top 20 outfielders – No. 12 Kendra Falby and No. 18 Sierra Sacco.
The team led by Coffey, a versatile utility player from the Volts, also went with pitching early, grabbing right-hander and sixth-ranked Rachel Garcia with her top pick. Team Coffey later secured top pitchers Mazón and eighth-ranked Sarah Willis.
Team Netz selected pitchers with its top three picks in Lexi Kilfoyl (No. 14), Megan Faraimo and Taylor McQuillin (No. 11). Netz also picked the top-ranked catcher, No. 19 Mary Iakopo.
Series 3 begins Sunday in Rosemont, Ill., at 3 p.m. ET as Team Coffey faces Team Ricketts, followed by Team Kowalik vs. Team Netz.