July 3, 2025
By Courtney Oakes
AURORA | Like a boa constrictor, the Impact Gold Vaughn/Jazz 16U team has applied constant and steady pressure to every opponent so far at the Colorado Fireworks tournament and all of them have given in.
Coach Ray Vaughn's team has played a relentless brand of softball over several days and kept that going with an impressive performance Thursday evening in the 16U National Power Pool TV game at the Aurora Sports Park.
The Impact never let up against an Iowa Premier team that was also off to a stellar start and rolled to a 9-2 victory that put it at 6-0 so far in Colorado play.
"Our mantra is just keep applying that pressure and to keep coming," Vaughn said. "We know we're going to play 21 outs, so the thing we can control is our effort.
"The players bought into it and they all have the right disposition. I'm proud to be out there with them because they play hard the whole time."
That effort has helped the Houston-based program make a steady rise in its second season of existence.
Vaughn said the group placed in the top 10 last season inColorado and also at nationals in its debut season and the potential to be higher this season was clearly on display.
The Impact scored a run in the opening frame to take the early lead, then tacked on three runs in the second inning — all with two outs— as shortstop Kinley Arechiga and third baseman Emerson Lechler knocked in runs against Iowa Premier starter Caidence Phillips. Then came a five-run outburst in the third that included 10batters coming to the plate and six came through with base hits. Lechler knocked in two more runs with a single, while Anison Lopez and Naomi Walker also picked up RBI. Not only did the Impact hit the ball hard in the inning, but hustle out of the batter's box — particularly from an assortment of left-handed hitters — caused some issues for the Iowa Premier defense.
"I don't think there's a pitcher out here who can pitch against us right now, we're hitting really well from top to bottom," said Lechler, a Baylor University commitment. "We have slappers, we have power hitters from the left side, we have everything."
The consistent offensive firepower takes virtually all the pressure off whoever is in the circle, as newcomer Lilia Alleman has found out.
The right-handed Class of 2027 prospect hails from Louisiana, but joined the roster recently and has been blessed with plenty of offensive backing, in addition to a stellar defense that played mistake free in the win over Iowa Premier Gold.
"It takes a lot of pressure off me when I'm pitching," Alleman said. "I know if they get a few hits off me, my team will come right back with more hits and more runs to back me up."Added Vaughn: "Lilia's throwing a lot of big games for us and I'm watching her get bigger and bigger and bigger every time out."
Iowa Premier, which came into the game with a 5-0 record as well, got both of its runs in the third inning to briefly cut the deficit to4-2.
To get on the board, Hadlee Hunt drew a walk, AJ Lincoln followed with a single and Kate Sandvick and Lindsey Givens delivered RBI hits.
Alleman stranded Sandvick and Givens in scoring position by inducing a fly ball from Avery Scieszinski and she stranded two base runners as well in the fourth and six innings to keep Iowa Premier from mounting a real come back.
With a trophy collected for the victory, the Impact can get back to bracket play in the hopes to go for another at the end of the tournament.
"I'm really, really happy with how we are playing and hopefully we'll just keep getting better all the way through nationals,"Vaughn said.
Lechler echoed that sentiment.
"We're definitely getting better as we go on," she said. "We started out pretty well, but we've just kept going up from there."
