SUPPZ.COM SWNEWS4U CO-ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: Fennimore's Kayahna Furrer and Platteville's Mikala Schnering

Area duo earn Triple Crown All-American recognition at 247-team Colorado Sparkler Tournament

Platteville shortstop Mikala Schnering (left) and Fennimore pitcher/third baseman Kayahna Furrer were nominated to the Triple Crown All-American Team at the recent Colorado Sparkler 4th of July Tournament in Denver.

All-Americans — Platteville shortstop Mikala Schnering (left) and Fennimore pitcher/third baseman Kayahna Furrer were nominated to the Triple Crown All-American Team at the recent Colorado Sparkler 4th of July Tournament in Denver.

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

Kayahna Furrer, 3B/P, and Mikala Schnering, SS, Team Heat Tri-State 16U
DENVER, Colo. — Fennimore's Kayahna Furrer, who pitched and played third base, and Platteville's Mikala Schnering (SS) were nominated to the Triple Crown All-American Team during the Colorado Sparkler 4th of July Fastpitch Tournament last week in Denver.

Furrer and Schnering helped Team Heat Tri-State 16U team go 4–3 to tie for 49th place in the 247-team 16U Tournament. Team Heat went 3–1 during pool play last Tuesday and Wednesday to finish second in its six-team pool and qualify for the 84-team top bracket. After a first-round loss, Team Heat went 1–1 on the consolation side of its bracket to finish tied for 49th-64th place.

A showcase series was also held during last week's tournament. Each 16U and 18U team was allowed to nominate its four (or five) best players to play in the Showcase Games July 1–2, prior to the main tournament. Furrer, Schnering, Josie Kruser (of Cuba City), Lauren Francois (Western Dubuque) and Claire Kennedy (Prairie du Chien) were nominated from Team Heat 16U.

The nominated players were then divided into 12- or 13-player teams to play one showcase game, which were coached by college coaches from across the country. Each showcase game coach then selected three players from their team as All-Americans, who then played in the All-American Games on July 3. Furrer and Schnering actually played against each other on opposing teams during their All-American Game.

Of more than 3,000 players in the 16U Sparkler Tournament, roughly 1,000 played in the Showcase Games. Of those 1,000, only 306 received All-American recognition.

Furrer hit four homers during and pitched a few games during the main tournament and played well all week long, Schnering played strong defense throughout the main tournament, and stood out offensively in her showcase game.