Oklahoma Blaze Softball

2020 Trudie Taylor - C/UT
Edmond, Oklahoma
College Commitment: Oklahoma State University (Academics)

The first of our six seniors is the senior that has been in our program the longest, Trudie Taylor. Trudie will graduate from Heritage Hall High School and lives in Edmond, Oklahoma. Trudie has been in our program since the fall of 2017 where she started on our 16U team. When Trudie started with us she was behind for her age. She didn’t see the field much through fall, but continued to work hard and soak everything she was learning in and stepped up as a team leader. The next spring she was named captain of the 16U team. She is now in her 3rd year as a captain for Oklahoma Blaze and is a role model and mentor for the younger players in the program. Trudie was awarded the 2018 Most Improved Player of the Year for 16U. In 2019, Trudie received the 2019 Offensive Player of the Year for 18U. Among those awards, Trudie is also a member of the Blaze Hall of Fame for breaking Blaze single season records:
18U Most Hits – 2019
18U Most Singles – 2019
18U Most Doubles – 2019
18U Most Triples – 2019
18U Most Homeruns – 2019
18U Most RBI’s – 2019
18U Best Slugging Percentage – 2019

2020 Krislynne Mayes - MI/CF
Norman, Oklahoma
College Commitment: NJCAA Coffeyville CC

Krislynne will graduate from Norman High School and has been a part of Blaze for three years. When Kris joined Blaze, she came into the program as a primary 2nd baseman but we had just lost our starting shortstop and when we saw her speed and range we knew she could handle taking over the job. For the first year, she didn’t speak much and was very closed off. When we would try to chat or tell her a joke, she would just smile. We thought either she hates us or our jokes are just THAT terrible...I still don’t really know if the bond grew over time or if she just learned to trust us, but Kris is now a 2nd year captain, a primary shortstop, and has learned how to become a slapper who can also hit for power. She leads by example and has become more vocal on/off the field. She has even driven to Texas to help coach sister teams on her off weekends. If you would have told me 3 years ago that this kid will be a solid leader for your program in a couple years we probably would have brushed you off, but we truly believe that God closed one door for us and blessed us with more than we could have wished for by bringing Kris to our program. Krislynne has found her place in the Blaze Hall of Fame for breaking the records below:

2020 Taylor Kennedy - 3B/MI/OF
Arkansas City, Kansas
College Commitment: NAIA Ottawa University

Taylor "TK" Kennedy is from Arkansas City, Kansas and has been with Blaze since her sophomore year. Taylor has a unique story with how she came to find Blaze. Her mom messaged us on Facebook one day looking for extra work for TK around her current teams schedule. We normally don’t pick up just because, but as Lacey sent videos of TK, we felt something pulling at us to bring her out. We asked if she could play that next weekend with the team in a tournament and go from there. We will never forget when we released all the girls to go home, Coach Meza asked TK “we’re going to see you again right?” And TK immediately lit up with joy and said “oh yeah! I’ll be back!” After that, TK essentially ended up playing with us every chance she could around her team at that time’s schedule. From then on, Taylor decided that Blaze was where she wanted to be full-time. TK has grown into an exceptional leader in our program. She has driven countless hours back and forth from Kansas for practices and tournaments and Taylor is one of the most selfless and caring players we’ve coached. She is the first to jump up and down or run across the field to high five her teammates after they make good plays and she even offered up her character award one month to a fellow teammate that she felt deserved it more. She is constantly making sure that everyone is positive and happy and has taught the coaching staff to be thankful for everything we are blessed with even when we don’t always understand why. Along with the demands of travel softball, Taylor is also in the running for valedictorian, a member of National Honor Society, choir/orchestra, tennis, and is the Student Council Vice President. Taylor was also the 2019 Cowley County Outstanding Teen and received the People’s Choice Award at the Miss Teen Kansas Pageant. TK plays third base, middle infield, and outfield and is a second year captain for the Blaze. Taylor received the 2019 Golden Glove 18U award for her outstanding defense.

2020 Mia Gipp - OF