AUX Softball 2024: Movers of Series 1
Series One of the 2024 AUX season couldn’t have been more competitive with the three teams duking it out with walk-off homers, extra-inning ball games, and SportsCenter Top 10 plays.
The squads split the games evenly, each team recording a 2-2 record. The Gold and Orange teams matched win points, totaling 270 in the series while Blue team members came away with 180 due to not picking up as many inning win points.
Jocelyn Alo, Taylor Edwards, and McKenzie Clark will take over as captains and highlight the Movers of Series One.
Alo-ver the leaderboard
Jocelyn Alo is the top Mover of the Series taking over the No. 1 spot on the leaderboard after the first four games. She is second in the league in stat points, logging 150 in her AU Pro Softball debut.
She was 5-for-11 at the plate and got her points worth in her at-bats. She hit two home runs and a double along with a walk. Her slugging percentage is the best in the league right now at 1.091.
Alo tied with Taylor Edwards in MVP points; both athletes garnered votes for MVP 1 and MVP 2 totaling 100 in the category after the first series.
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First-time captain: Taylor Edwards
Edwards has been a part of AU Pro Softball since its inaugural season and will serve as a captain for the first time. She’s one of three athletes with two home runs and stands sixth in the league in stat points with 110. Her timely hitting helped her garner multiple MVP honors and being on a winning team this week propelled her to the top.
Rookie makes a statement
Rookie McKenzie Clark wasted no time gearing up as a pro, moving to the fourth overall spot on the leaderboard. In the first four games, she went 4-for-9 with a rare triple and a grand slam. She’s currently fifth overall in stat points, tied for third in MVP points, and picked up big-time win points with the Gold squad in her debut. This week she’ll lead as the Blue team captain.
Bubba Nickles: Bats & Brains
Bubba Nickles stands at second overall on the leaderboard but couldn’t serve as a captain due to missing draft day – Nickles flew back to UCLA to walk in her graduation ceremony for her master’s degree but will be active for all games in the upcoming series.
She started the season with a bang, leading the league in home runs with three tanks. Nickles is chasing Mia Davidson’s 2023 AUX home run record of five. She’s the league stat point leader with her points coming from three home runs, one single, a walk, and two hit by pitches.
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Watch List
Sydney McKinney might be the toughest out at AUX this season. She was 8-for-10 at the plate along with two walks. That’s the best average in the league plus her on-base percentage is through the roof at .769. McKinney has yet to strike out at AUX so far.
As for pitchers, Taylor McQuillin is one to keep your eye on. She posted a 1.75 ERA over 12.0 innings and leads the league with 12 strikeouts. Being a lefty makes her especially valuable because there are only a handful of left-handed pitchers this season.
Tune In
Series Two action begins Sunday, June 16, with Team Edwards playing the doubleheader against Team Clark followed by a match-up with Team Alo.
Both games will be on ESPN2 beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. CT.
Check here for a look at the rosters the three captains drafted.
Savanna Collins is the Senior Digital Reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Twitter @savannaecollins
