Select Softball Team
2018 Texas Travelers Select Softball Team
texas travelers top softball team
Select Softball Team
Texas Travelers Fast Pitch Softball Organization
USA Softball Participants
The Texas Travelers Gold Team is one of the most competitive select fastpitch teams in the country. In addition to playing a tournament schedule that includes stops in DFW, Houston, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Colorado, Georgia and California; the softball team boast some of the top players at their position.
​
In 2017, the Texas Travelers Gold Team added pitcher Makynli Miller (2022 Pitcher) to the USA Elite Select Futures Team and the USA All-American Team. They also had six players named to the 2017 USA All-American Team which is the most prestigious honor given to a softball player. Kaydee Bennett (2022 Shortstop), Macy Graf (2022 Second Base), Elizabeth Schaefer (2022 Pitcher), Macy Hamilton (2022 Outfielder) Madison McClarity (2022 1B/3B) and Shelby Nelson (2022 Catcher) were chosen by the Junior Olympic Committee and ASA to represent Team USA in the All American Games to be held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In 2018, the Travelers added USA Softball All American, Sadie Reid to give the current Travelers 6 USA All American's and one USSSA Direct Select All American, Karmyn Bass.
​
Elizabeth Schaefer, Kaydee Bennett, Madison McClarity, Macy Hamilton, and MaKynli Miller each represented the Southwest Region 5 Dallas/Ft. Worth Team and finished as the USA Softball All-American Runner Up. Macy Graf played for the Southwest Region 5 San Antonio Team and led her team to the Semi-Finals. The girls played the top 360 softball players who represented the best of the best from all over the United States.
​
In 2018, the Texas Travelers Gold Team placed 6 girls in the top 300 players in the country as reported by Extra Innings Softball. Elizabeth Schaefer #28, Kaydee Bennett #37, Macy Graf #128, Karmyn Bass #207, Macy Hamilton #222 and Madison McClarity #275 were each recognized for this honor. Kaycee Bock was mentioned as a player to watch.
​
Each Texas Travelers Gold player has a high desire to play college softball. They compete at showcase events and many of the girls have earned MVP awards in tournaments as well as their college camps.
Elizabeth Schaefer has been talked about as one of the top pitchers in the country in her age group for several years. She is a hard thrower with a fastball that is consistently hitting 60-61 mph, but can easily throw a 36-38 mph changeup to make hitters look downright silly. In addition to her fastball and change; Elizabeth is known to throw a drop ball that will fall off a cliff at 57-59 mph. She keeps the batters honest adding in a Rise, Curve and Screwball which allows her to be quite successful. Schaefer is a very loyal player only playing for the Texas Travelers since getting into select softball and has rewarded the organization with over 1700 strikeouts which is the All-Time strikeout record for the 21 year old organization. In 2015, during the ASA/USA National Championships in Normal, Illinois; she pitched 9 innings and had 18 strikeouts during the game which is an ASA single game strikeout record for the National Championship Tournament. Playing at the USA Hall of Fame Stadium will be exciting for Elizabeth as she earned her 1500 career strikeout in the same complex last year helping the Travelers win the ASA Oklahoma HOF Tournament.
​
Elizabeth will be entering the 8th grade. After, she will attend Rockwall High School. In addition to playing softball, she is the captain for the Texas Assault National Club Volleyball Team where she plays middle. She led her district winning 7th grade basketball team in points, rebounds and blocked shots. Elizabeth also plays on the Volleyball A-Team, Soccer A-Team and placed in district throwing the discs and shot for Track & Field. She maintains near perfect grades in school with an overall 98 GPA in Pre-AP Honors Classes and was selected for the DUKE TIP Academic Talent Search. Schaefer is in Honors Choir and competes in various UIL events. After high school, she plans to study law and is looking for a college that will help her reach her life goals.
​
​
Madison McClarity came to the Texas Travelers upon her family’s move from Arkansas. She was highly touted as one of Arkansas’s best 04 pitchers with a very strong bat. Madison has played catcher, 1st and 3rd base as well as pitcher along with all outfield positions. She helped lead the Arkansas Wild Thangs 04 to 8U VTD World Series Championship in Coppell, Texas and led the Arkansas Elite 04 team to a 10U Class B USFA World Series Championship in Panama City Beach Florida. When she joined the Texas Travelers in 2016 she made the choice to move to focus on her play at the corner infield positions which has allowed her to become completely dominate at the plate. However, Madison can still be seen on the mound from time to time. For the Travelers, McClarity is a power hitter consistently sending bombs into the stratosphere. Her 5’9” frame makes her easy to spot on the field and her leadership is seen in the dugout and outside the lines.
​
​McClarity is an outstanding student in Rowlett where she is an All-A/B student in Pre-AP Honors classes for Math, English and Science. She was the leader on the Basketball and Volleyball A-Teams and chosen as the MVP for Volleyball. In addition to playing for the Travelers she is also on the Lady Hawks AAU travel basketball team where she consistently leads the team in rebounds and block shots. During her down time this strong athlete loves to crochet and play the saxophone. After high school Madison would like to study architecture in college.
Kaydee Bennett is the All-Time leader in hits for the Texas Travelers organization. Her amazing speed and triple threat option at the plate causes problems for opposing defenses across the country. She can slap, bunt and hit for power with ease. The story line is always the same, “Where Kaydee goes so does the Texas Travelers offense!” This is a lot of pressure for many, but Bennett takes it upon herself to make sure she is on base and she has delivered with an On-Base percentage of .898 this season. Once she is on base, Kaydee displays her superior speed. Winning numerous select softball challenges; Kaydee has been clocked at 2.7 Home to First and 11.83 Home to Home. In addition to delivering at the plate, Kaydee is the leader of the Texas Travelers infield playing shortstop. Bennett can be seen in tournaments tracking balls behind third in foul territory to diving plays on the other side of second base. If she played in the NFL, she would be a true safety and that is exactly what she is for the Travelers. She is a pitcher’s safety net on the field.
​
​Bennett is a dedicated student athlete at Sunnyvale Middle School, a recognized high performing school in Dallas County. Kaydee is heavily involved and accomplished in her school related and extracurricular events include: UIL Academics, STEM, All-A honor roll in advanced courses, A-team volleyball, A-team basketball, and track. Outside of school, Kaydee plays club volleyball as a left side hitter for Texas Assault National Club Volleyball Team, the top team in her age group. Outside of school and sports Kaydee loves animals, reading, outdoor activities and spending time with her friends and family. After high school Kaydee would like to continue her studies in the medical field or law.
Macy Hamilton is an exciting player to watch. The Texas Travelers asked her to be a pickup player in last season’s Nationals held in Missouri and she quickly became a team favorite. She is loved by all of the players and her fans with her hard-nosed efforts at the plate, on the base paths and in the field. Macy is quick to listen to the teams needs and fast to make adjustments to meet them. This has been shown recently as she is becoming a great slapper. She is a true utility player for the Travelers as she plays all three outfield positions and middle infield.
​
​Hamilton is an All-A Honor Roll student, Duke Tip (Academic Talent Search) and National Junior Honor Society recipient at Wester Middle School. She was the team captain for her district champion volleyball team, starting point guard and team captain for her basketball team. She was also on the 4X400 relay team for track. In addition to being a strong student and great teammate for every team she plays on, Macy is a trained vocalist and guitarist. After she attends Mansfield High School she would like to study Sports Marketing in college.
Macy Graf has recently joined the 04 Texas Travelers Gold because she desires to play at the highest level of competitive softball and was recognized as an All-American. At a very early age, Macy understood the game well beyond her years and her current game IQ is second to none. When at the plate, she has confidence and sees the ball well and bats left-handed. Pitchers never know what she is going to do because she is known as being a triple threat. She can slap, bunt, and hit with power. Once Macy is on base, you can almost guarantee that she is going to steal. Her speed and savvy knowledge of the game has helped her team score many runs and win games. Macy Graf is one the best 2nd baseman’s in the select world but can play anywhere on the field because she is fast and can locate hits with ease. As an 2nd baseman, Macy has made many amazing plays utilizing her speed, quick transitions and accurate throws. Macy has also been part of completing many double plays. As much as Macy enjoys playing the game, she also cherishes the friendships she has made with her teammates and the time she gets to hang-out and be a kid with them.
Like all highly competitive softball players, Macy Graf has goals of playing softball for a good college team. Currently, she has a short-term goal to start as a Freshman infielder on the Aledo High School softball team. In order to be successful, she only has one year to prepare for High School and she is pushing herself to play at the highest level possible and often requests additional private practices. She understands the key to success is attitude and effort. Macy has strong leadership skills and would like go college to study Business Management and one day open her own business.
Academically, Macy Graf easily excels in school and is well liked by her teachers for her spunky personality. She has always kept an “A” average and takes all the offered AP classes. Macy really enjoys representing her school in athletics. Macy plays volleyball, basketball, and track for Aledo and is a vital part of helping the girls track team win overall District Champs.
