BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Great Bend sophomore Baze Hogan is attracting regional and national softball attention.
Second baseman Hogan batted .353 with a 91% fielding average for 5A state softball semifinalist Great Bend. Hogan also competes in tennis and basketball.
Hogan batted .417 with a .609 on-base percentage in Top Gun softball events. A player profile lists Hogan with elite defensive instincts and blazing speed.
"My glove, my footwork in the field, and my speed set me apart from others on defense," Hogan said. "My speed and base running make me a threat on offense."
Hogan has competed at a high level the past two summers in Top Gun, Triple Crown, Premier Girls Fastpitch, and Top Club events while earning USA Softball All-America honors three consecutive years.
"I believe being invited to the High Performance Program, and my presence on X has helped," Hogan said. "A few media outlets have mentioned me in articles and rankings which also helps."
Hogan will continue her softball journey Aug. 3-8 at the USA Softball All-American Games at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. The Midwest Region 7 team features 15 elite players from Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa and Missouri.
A December tryout in Florida will determine a USA National Softball Team.
"The program is called USA Softball High, part of the Performance Program," she said. "The Florida event is called the National Selection Event. You are invited to the event based on your performance at one of the regionals. I will be evaluated on skills one day, and will split into teams to compete in games the second day. The top performers will be identified. I could be invited to a USA National team that would compete in international events.
She's earned an invitation to compete for the DeSoto Aces Softball Club 16-and-under softball team.
"The exposure I will get from being on the Aces National team is huge," she said. "There will be college coaches watching the games of that team all the time."
The Aces are a national-level softball team that competes in select tourneys in front of college coaches.
"We got home from a tournament with my Wichita Stars team on a Sunday," she said. "We got a phone call from the owner of the organization offering me a spot on their national team. I didn’t attend a tryout. It was a surprise phone call.
Hogan has earned an invitation to The Main Event targeted for the elite Class of 2029 players in New Orleans in November.
The Main Event will feature a media day, recruiting, and showcase players to top college programs.
"I wouldn’t say I’m getting national recruiting attention yet, but I'm taking the steps to get there," Hogan said. "I'm getting to be a part of some pretty cool things. I'm working hard to improve every day. My dreams are big and it’s up to me to go after them."
Baze Hogan's mother Kristy Blakeslee (620 786-4064) coordinates Hogan's schedule.
"If anyone would like to help Baze chase her dream, any sponsorships would be greatly appreciated to help cover travel and team expenses," Blakeslee said.
