09/07/2026
AND THAT’S A WRAP (it’s actually been a wrap 🙃)
Another Royals Elite Season is officially in the books. We started the 2025-26 season with 4️⃣ teams — 14U, 15U, 16U, and 18U — and we finished with those same 4️⃣ teams! 4️⃣ groups at different stages of their development, but all representing the same organization.
🥎 Our 14U team was made up of almost entirely new athletes learning how to compete together.
🥎 Our 15U returned a core group, added some new pieces, and took another big step forward.
🥎 Our 16U brought back its entire roster, competed on the showcase circuit, and continued putting themselves in front of college programs.
🥎 And our beloved 18U group, some who have been apart of our program for 3-4 years plus, brought back a veteran core for one final ride together.
And what a ride it was…. 🏎️💨
🏆 18U | 19-2 Summer Record | 3 Tournament Championships
🏆 16U | 19-8 Summer Record | 3 Tournament Runner-Up Finishes
🏆 15U | 19-12-4 Summer Record | 2 Tournament Championships & 1 Championship Tie
🏆 14U | 6-19-1 Summer Record | A young, primarily new group that gained an entire season of experience to build upon
Seasons are always more than just records. For the first time, we competed in the Nike RBI Series under our own Royals Elite identity— Royals Elite RBI— and we won the RBI Regional Championship!! That earned our young ladies an opportunity we’ll never forget.
🌴 🥎 Representing Royals Elite at the Nike RBI World Series at the Jackie Robinson Traininf Complex in Vero Beach, FL. While there, two young ladies came home with something bigger than a trophy:
🎓 Janiya Pillow — $10,000 Jennie Finch Empowerment Award
🎓Zahria Hatcher — $1,000 Jennie Finch Scholarship Award
And then there was Mady Summers… who decided that the outfield fence was invincible to her 😂 💣— FOURTEEN (14) HOME RUNS 💣 💣 💣 💣— An unbelievable power season and one of the most impressive offensive performances we’ve seen come through this program.
But championships, records, and home runs still aren’t the part we’re most proud of.
🏁 🔟 members of our class of 2026 graduated this year. 6️⃣ of those 🔟 have chosen to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. We’re proud of those 6️⃣, but equally proud of the 🔟. College softball isn’t the only measure of success here. Eventually, every athlete plays her last game.
If we’ve done our job correctly, what she’s learned along the way goes with her long after she takes the uniform off. That’s what makes this season special. Some of these girls have been with us for years others just joined the family. Some won championships. Some experienced losing and learned how to keep showing up anyway. Some are headed to college softball. Others are beginning completely different journeys. At the end of the day, ALL OF THEM GROW!
To our athletes—thank you for competing. To our coaches—thank you for your time given up that nobody sees. To our parents and families—thank you for the practices, tournaments, hotels, travel, early mornings, late nights, and for trusting us with your daughters. To everyone who supported, even to those who do not, thank you!
We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, but we’re more excited of what we’re building heading into 2026-27, which will be our 9th year!!! Our 9th season is already underway… stay tuned ⏳
