The Talons will open the inaugural Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) season on Saturday, June 7, in a series against the Bandits in Rosemont, Illinois. Their season will include stops in Tennessee, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Utah, and Alabama. The Talons will compete in 24 games this season, aiming to finish in the top two and earn a spot in the championship series from July 26 to 28, hosted at the University of Alabama.
Led by General Manager Lisa Fernandez and Head Coach Howard Dobson, the Talons are looking to start their season off strong after acquiring one of the most sought-after draftees in college softball, USA Collegiate Softball Player of the Year, Bri Ellis. The addition of Ellis could be exactly what the Talons need to make them the biggest offensive threat in this four-team league.
Ellis is one of many big names on the Talons’ roster this season. As one of the most feared hitters in college softball, with a career .332 batting average, Ellis is looking to translate that plate presence to the pros. The Talons’ offense will be propelled by hitters like Ellis, Maya Brady, and others.
The Talons also have a veteran presence with Sydney Romero, Hannah Flippen, Tori Vidales, and more who look to bring their Athletes Unlimited (AU) experience to a new format in the inaugural AUSL season.
The Talons acquired three pitchers in the inaugural draft to round out their staff. The Talons’ first-round draft selection was UCLA graduate and right-handed pitcher Megan Faraimo. They would go on to select Georgina Corrick in the second round and Montana Fouts in the ninth. These three will work alongside collegiate draftee Raelin Chaffin and free agent Mariah Lopez to get the job done for the Talons in the circle. Lauren Derkowski will join the roster at the start of the season while Corrick finishes her season in the Japan Diamond League.
While pitching was a priority to the Talons coaching staff, their offense will be a major threat in the league with their latest additions from the AUSL College Draft.
Players began practices in May with their season quickly approaching. While none of the Talons were playing in the women’s college world this year, their presence was felt. General Manager Lisa Fernandez helped coach the UCLA Bruins in Oklahoma City, and Sydney Romero served as the assistant coach for the Oregon Ducks, who lost to her alma mater, the Oklahoma Sooners. They will quickly shift gears to the AUSL season with games beginning this upcoming weekend.
The Talons open their season against the Bandits with games on Saturday, June 7, Sunday, June 8, and Tuesday, June 10. Pitching will be the name of the game for this opening series.
They will likely face the arm of Lexi Kilfoyl, who the Bandits selected as the number one pick in league history. The Oklahoma State Graduate and 2024 USA Collegiate Player of the Year finalist was honored as the 2024 AU Rookie of the Year, finishing in second place with 1,734 leaderboard points. In the 2024 AU Championship Season (now known as the AUSL All-Star Cup), she went 6-6 and led the league with seven wins and a 2.23 ERA.
The Bandits’ pitching staff is complete with second-round pick Taylor McQuillian, 10th-round pick Oddici Alexander, 11th-round pick Sarah Willis, as well as AUSL college draftees Emiley Kennedy, selected 7th overall, and Devyn Netz, 10th overall.
The Bandits will lean on their number one pick in Kilfoyl, and likely the Talons on Montana Fouts or Mariah Lopez, as Faraimo is just getting back from the Japan Diamond League. While pitching will be at the forefront in this matchup, the offense can not be understated. Skylar Wallace will lead the Bandits offense, with a .354 average in the 2024 AU Championship Season, where she started all 15 games and ranked fourth across the league in batting average in her professional debut.
While the Talons open up their season against the Bandits, they will see them twice more this season, playing the Bandits, Volts, and Blaze several times in the regular season. With Opening Day fast approaching and a recently announced league partnership with MLB, the Talons are looking to make their inaugural season one to remember.
Cayla Sweazie is a former collegiate softball player turned sports reporter with a passion for telling the stories of athletes. She is serving as a correspondent for the Talons of the AUSL. You can follow her on Instagram @caysweazie.
