Through the first three series of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League season, the Bandits stand with the best ERA in the league.
The six-person staff has largely shared the load, but a core part of their success is credited to the mastermind behind the plate: catcher Jordan Roberts.
Roberts is a fifth-year pro out of the University of Florida and has been the day-to-day catcher for the Bandits with six starts. She played in the inaugural season of the AU Pro Softball Championship Season (now All-Star Cup) but mostly appeared as a designated player.
In the All-Star Cup’s unique format, breaking in as a catcher can be tough to come by. Teams change every week, making it especially challenging for catchers to foster relationships with pitchers. Slowly, Roberts found her way into a starting role.
“This is something I’ve been craving the last few years,” Roberts said in a postgame press conference. “I wanted to be coached again. This has been a dream come true and to be with the same group throughout the season.”
Roberts is working with the No. 1 overall pick in the AUSL Allocation Draft, Lexi Kilfoyl, who took the pro space by storm last year as a rookie. She’s met expectations too; she’s the only pitcher in the league with a 3-0 record and stands with a 2.47 ERA across her 17.0 innings pitched.
The Bandits also have long-time veteran Taylor McQuillin, WCWS star and AU Individual Champion Odicci Alexander, along with second-year player Sarah Willis. General Manager Jenny Dalton-Hill used two of the team’s four college draft picks on arms: Texas A&M’s Emiley Kennedy and Arizona’s Devyn Netz.
“I think that is what’s going to set us apart. We have a very deep staff and they’re all very willing to do whatever it requires – it’s been fun for me,” Roberts added.
Leading up to and throughout a game, Roberts can be seen scribbling in a notebook. She takes notes on batters and references them to create plans of attack with her pitchers.
“That’s my bread and butter,” Roberts said. “I love hitting but working with pitchers, figuring out what makes them tick, how can we utilize what they have that works so well against these hitters – that makes me so happy.”
Roberts tested the bounds of her focus and communication skills on Saturday against the Volts. Not only did she call the game, selecting what the pitcher would throw through her PitchCom device, but she was also mic’d up with an earpiece, chatting with the broadcast crew.
Throughout her five-year pro career, Roberts has developed a reputation for being one of the top pitch-callers in the league. In 2023, she was the catcher for all seven innings and called Megan Faraimo’s no-hitter on Aug. 6.
Bandits Head Coach Stacy Nuveman-Deniz has commended Roberts’ ability to lead games from behind the dish. It’s high praise from a catcher herself who won a national championship at UCLA, two Olympic gold medals, and a silver medal for Team USA.
Nuveman-Deniz and Roberts chat throughout the game about adjustments, always in battle to win the “cat and mouse” of pitch calling.
“I love that, I know Jordan loves it, and it’s something she takes a lot of pride in,” Nuveman-Deniz said. “She’s doing a really nice job.”
While the confidence from her head coach and teammates is clear, Roberts’ internal confidence has grown.
“I think I can get in my head a little bit,” Roberts admitted. “They have reminded me why I’m here… I’m meant to be here.”
Savanna Collins is the Senior Reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Twitter @savannaecollins.
