Three girls from the Chattanooga RBI program are among a group of 60 nationwide taking part in the second annual Softball Breakthrough Series hosted by Major League Baseball and USA Softball.
Rising juniors DaKajalen "LuLu" Benn from Arts & Sciences and Kayunna Eppinger from Howard and senior-to-be Kiera Taylor of Hixson will participate in a development camp and college showcase at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City this Monday through Wednesday. All expenses except incidental spending money are covered by MLB, and the camp personalities include Jennie Finch, 11-time NCAA champion Sue Enquist and other greats of women's softball.
The three will fly Sunday morning out of Chattanooga.
Taylor, Hixson's primary pitcher, has played with each of the other two before, while Benn and Eppinger have not played together but know each other. Taylor's mother, Michelle, is Eppinger's coach at Howard and also has worked with Benn in the MLB-backed RBI program.
"They needed players graduating in 2018 and 2019, so that's how these came to the forefront," Coach Taylor said Friday, adding that two others also were chosen but had travel-ball conflicts.
"We probably could've submitted two more names, but it was past the deadline when we found out they couldn't go," Coach Taylor added.
"I'm extremely excited for these girls. I know the knowledge they'll be getting, and it's not every day you get to play for college coaches and show them your talent - and all at one site, instead of traveling from school to school to school to school."
Kiera TaylorA big part of the Breakthrough program is increasing college opportunities for young players "from underrepresented and underserved communities," according to an MLB release.
This will be the first airplane flight for Benn, a 17-year-old first baseman and pitcher who has been in the RBI program for four years. She also plays basketball but "has started liking softball more," she said.
"(RBI) has helped me get a whole lot better, and I feel honored to be going on this trip and getting a chance to learn new stuff."
Eppinger, an RBI shortstop and third baseman who turns 16 on Tuesday, said she played "wherever (Coach Taylor) put me" for Howard - "most of the time shortstop, second base or catcher."
She played baseball as a child and also likes volleyball, basketball and track, but softball has become increasingly enjoyable as she has developed her skills.
"I'm very excited about this trip," she said. "I've never been to Oklahoma City and I like traveling, and I get to go there and do something I like to do - and learn more about it."
Kiera Taylor also is making her first trip to Oklahoma but has flown before. She's also on an 18-under select team and has been pitching since she was 9.
She had 14 strikeouts in one game for Hixson this past season and plays outfield when she's not in the circle. She began the 2017 season batting leadoff but later was dropped to cleanup, so she's become used to key contributions on the diamond.
Still, the lineup of instruction from Olympic gold medalists, All-Americans and longtime coaches, the inspirational messages from Finch, Enquist and others and the chances to play games with recruiters watching - at the site where the Women's College World Series was just held - has her thrilled about the next few days.
"I just hope to learn more stuff than I already know. I know I'm going to love being there," she said.
Contact Ron Bush at rbush@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6291.