There’s a magic that descends upon Greenville, N.C. in early August. Little League Softball teams across the country and the world converge in the small town to live out dreams of winning the championship. Pro players from the Athletes Unlimited Softball League compete in a set of games for the youth players to watch, with opportunities throughout the week for connections between the superstars and the little girls they once were.
Despite the 2025 Pro Games getting cancelled due to weather, there were plenty of moments throughout the week that served as a reminder of what the event is all about.
These are our three favorites:
AUSL dreams reach Czechia
The AUSL’s inaugural season has been nothing short of inspiring for young softball players who have watched the pros on TV and in person as the league crossed the country on a barnstorming tour. The league’s influence even crossed the Atlantic Ocean to Little League pitcher Katerina, the No. 1 pitcher for the team from Prague.
Katerina and her team qualified for the World Series in Greenville, N.C., and represented the Europe-Africa region. On her info sheet for the tournament, Katerina listed “play AUSL” as her dream job.
After making the trek across continents, the Prague Little League Team met athletes from the AUSL ahead of their opening game against Central Region. Katerina met the athletes living out her dreams, including pitchers Aliyah Binford, Payton Gottshall, Georgina Corrick and Sam Landry.
Carley Hoover’s mom and dad receive the Parents of the Year Award
While much of the fanfare at the Little League Softball World Series centers on the players on the field, each year the organization recognizes who makes all the youth sports experience possible: parents. Jolene and Dave Hoover, mom and dad to Blaze pitcher Carley Hoover, were recognized as the 2025 George and Barbara Bush Little League® Parents of the Year.
Carley played with the Little League Softball organization in Simpsonville, South Carolina, and the team won the World Series in 2008. She pitched in the semifinal and championship games in Portland, Oregon.
Former Little Leaguer Hannah Flippen tosses the first pitch
Coming off of winning the inaugural AUSL Championship and Defensive Player of the Year, Talons infielder Hannah Flippen threw out the first pitch at Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park. Flippen epitomizes the Little League dream: she was one of the best players in program history at Utah, is a three-time All-American, represented Team USA on the world stage, and has had a lengthy pro career.
Flippen played with the Sweetwater Valley Little League growing up in Bonita, Calif.
Savanna Collins is the Senior Reporter for the AUSL. You can follow her on X @savannaecollins.
