SUPPZ.COM SWNEWS4U ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Boscobel's Gretta Grassel

Boscobel standout helps elite club team win 54-team top division title at Colorado 4th of July Tournament

Members of the Top Gun U18 team include (front, from left) Kennedy Diggs (Univ. of Kansas), Syd Boulaphinh (Stanford), Carrie Green (Southern Mississippi), Abbie Wilhelm (Missouri), Nat Kenyatta (Michigan State), Gianni Torres, Sierra Persinger (UNC–Wilmington), (back) head coach Bob Turner, Macie Hunolt (North Florida), coach Brent Wilhelm, Sabrina Rogers (Missouri–Kansas City), Gretta Grassel (Mississippi State), Grace Shaw (North Florida), Hayden Kurtz (Southern Illinois) Taylor Troutman (Mississippi State), Jordan Thurman (Missouri), Sage Rodmyre, and coach Shannon Troutman. Missing from the photo were Anna McGowan (NC State), Lorin Boutte (Ohio State) and Sophia Camacho (Florida Atlantic).

Top Gun National 18U — Members of the Top Gun U18 team include (front, from left) Kennedy Diggs (Univ. of Kansas), Syd Boulaphinh (Stanford), Carrie Green (Southern Mississippi), Abbie Wilhelm (Missouri), Nat Kenyatta (Michigan State), Gianni Torres, Sierra Persinger (UNC–Wilmington), (back) head coach Bob Turner, Macie Hunolt (North Florida), coach Brent Wilhelm, Sabrina Rogers (Missouri–Kansas City), Gretta Grassel (Mississippi State), Grace Shaw (North Florida), Hayden Kurtz (Southern Illinois) Taylor Troutman (Mississippi State), Jordan Thurman (Missouri), Sage Rodmyre, and coach Shannon Troutman. Missing from the photo were Anna McGowan (NC State), Lorin Boutte (Ohio State) and Sophia Camacho (Florida Atlantic).

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday or Friday throughout the calendar year.

By Jason Nihles, The Platteville Journal, Fennimore Times, Boscobel Dial

Gretta Grassel, OF/1B, Boscobel, Top Gun National 18U fastpitch softball

DENVER, Colo. — Before moving on to a Division 1 collegiate softball career at Mississippi State this fall, Boscobel’s Gretta Grassel still has one final club season to complete.

Two weeks ago, Grassel and her U18 Top Gun teammates won the 54-team Triple Crown 18U National Power Pool Tournament at the Colorado 4th of July Tournament in Denver.

The National Power Pool was the top division for the 54 best 18U softball teams at the week-long tournament, that featured more than 1,000 teams in multiple divisions and multiple age grounds.

There were was also a Supplemental Power Pool Tournament for the next 41 best teams, a Fireworks Power Pool Tournament, and the Sparkler Open Tournament for 18U.

Top Gun Elite Softball is based out of Lee’s Summit, Mo. under the direction of head coach Bob Turner.

Grassel joined this team last fall so she could play with her future Mississippi State teammate Taylor Troutman and to gear her up for playing in the SEC conference in college. Her other Top Gun teammates are other Division 1 recruits from all over the United States; Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and Missouri to name a few.

Top Gun went 10–0 in the tournament and defeated Texas Glory 10–3 in the championship bracket quarterfinals, Alabama Sparks Elite 12–5 in the semifinals and Virginia Unity 18U, 18-12 in the championship game on the final day.

The Unity 18U team Top Gun beat in the championship game has girls committed to UCLA, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Clemson, LSU, Arizona State, Virginia and Rutgers, making for an action-packed, talented-filled finale.

“It took a tremendous amount of selflessness from every player,” said coach Turner in an interview after the championship game. “They 100 percent bought into one another, they don’t care who gets the credit and they absolutely love playing for one another. It is truly a special group of kids and I’m extremely proud of every single one of them!”

As a team, Top Gun smashed 28 home runs and had 92 RBI, scored 101 runs and allowed 46.

Grassel hit .348 at the plate had two doubles, four home runs, 10 RBI and four walks. She played outfield and first base, as she is heading to Mississippi State as an outfielder.

Top Gun is currently playing in the Triple Crown 18U Nationals Tournament in Chino Hills, Calif. this week before finishing their travel ball career playing in the Premier Girls Fastpitch 18U National Championships July 20–27 in Huntington Beach, Calif.