While three key players finish up in the Japan Diamond Softball League at the start of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, the Talons are turning to three reserves to start the season. Outfielder Jadelyn Allchin, catcher Ally Shrout, and pitcher Lauren Derkowski will step into the lineup while Maya Brady (Toyota Red Terriers), Sahvanna Jaquish (Toda Medics), and Georgina Corrick (Toda Medics) complete the first half of the JDL season.
Jadelyn Allchin (Outfield)
Allchin is a 2024 UCLA graduate and brings elite-level experience across all levels of softball. Last summer, she completed her rookie season in the AU Pro Softball AUX and Championship seasons, where she hit .292 and earned Defensive MVP honors during Week 2. Her athleticism and versatility in the outfield make her a strong fit for the Talons.
Collegiately, Allchin was a Second-Team All-Pac-12 selection at UCLA, where she hit .317 with 33 RBIs in her graduate season after four strong years at Washington. She appeared in 216 games and delivered 26 home runs, 103 RBIs, and a highlight-reel diving catch, which earned her a spot on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10 last postseason.
Internationally, Allchin starred for Team USA at the 2019 WBSC U-19 Women’s Softball World Cup, hitting .421 with three homers and nine RBIs, helping lead the team to gold.
Lauren Derkowski (Pitcher)
The Talons are adding more firepower in the circle with Michigan ace Lauren Derkowski, who signed after a decorated career and dominant senior campaign.
Derkowski earned NFCA All-Great Lakes Region First Team honors in 2025 and was named Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player for the second straight year after leading Michigan to another conference title. The right-hander logged 193.1 innings as a senior, posting 165 strikeouts, 17 wins, and a 2.56 ERA.
She picked up All-Big Ten First Team and All-Region Second Team honors as a junior, finishing 19-10 with a 2.29 ERA and 222 strikeouts over 40 appearances. She threw all 19 innings of Michigan’s 2024 Big Ten Tournament title run, earning her first Tournament Most Outstanding Player nod.
Derkowski is no stranger to big matchups, and the experience she’s gathered over numerous high-pressure outings for the Wolverines should lend itself to the AUSL stage.
Ally Shrout (Catcher)
Behind the plate, the Talons will lean on veteran Ally Shrout, a former Alabama and Tennessee standout. Shrout brings power and playoff pedigree, having hit .400 with four RBIs and two home runs during the 2023 NCAA Regionals. Shrout’s presence adds needed depth and leadership.
Her collegiate career spans five seasons, including three at Tennessee and two at Alabama. She recorded a .331 career batting average with 19 home runs and 124 RBIs. She was a Second-Team All-SEC and All-Region pick in 2022.
She delivered in high-leverage moments, including a go-ahead home run in the 2021 SEC Tournament and an inside-the-park homer in 2022. Her presence behind the plate and in the batter’s box should provide the Talons with a reliable, game-tested backstop to open the year.
The AUSL is a professional women’s softball league featuring four teams playing in a traditional format. The league will begin play this summer with the Talons set to open the season against the Bandits on June 7 in Rosemont, Ill. Tickets are on sale now.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
