Players selected to national program
The USSSA All American Fastpitch Program announced the participants of its fourth annual selection program, with two local teens making the list in Brawley’s Dylann Baker and Imperial’s Jalen Gutierrez.
The pair were named to the 12-U and 13-U Far West teams, respectively, and will compete against other athletes named to the Atlantic, Great Lakes and Central teams, to name a few.
Both players will travel to Viera, Fla., in late July to compete in the tourney, which will be held at USSSA’s Space Coast Complex. The facility underwent a yearlong $50 million renovation that was completed at the beginning of this year.
Both players expressed their excitement of competing in the tourney and the lengthy process of waiting to know if they were selected.
“There was a tryout in Glendale, Ariz., in March, and they evaluated us there,” Gutierrez explained.
The girls found out about the tryout via email and both agreed it would be a good opportunity.
“After the tryout, I felt like the coaches liked how we performed,” Baker said.
About a month or so after the tryout, Baker and Gutierrez received notice that they had been selected to their respective Far West teams and would be competing against girls from across the United States.
“I was just really happy and so excited,” Gutierrez said with a smile.
The soon-to-be high school freshman said she was looking forward to getting feedback from the Far West coaches and of course, competing in the tourney.
“I am a little nervous because I won’t know any of the other girls,” Gutierrez explained.
Baker said she was also a bit nervous about competing alongside new people, yet looked forward to the challenge of testing her skills against their opponents.
“I think it’ll be fun to see how we are (compared) to the other girls,” she said.
Baker was selected to the 12-U team as an outfielder and pitcher, while Gutierrez went as a utility player and will play third base for the 13-U team.