Two members of the Lady Pintos softball team were invited to join the YES (Youth Excited about Sports) Fanatics softball team in Warrensburg during the summer. Braleigh and Paige Johnson - incoming sophomores at California High School - participated in the VIP Series C Heartland World Series in Overland Park, Kan., with the 14u team.
Playing in a tournament with the 14u Mid-Mo Mayhem team, they were noticed by O.J. Rhone of the YES Fanatics. He invited them to a college exposure camp in Warrensburg in June, then on a pick-up team in a tournament the next day. That team was made up of players who had never played together, nor knew each other.
"It was awkward at first, but once you get to know everyone, everyone does really well," Paige said.
After that, the Johnson twins were invited to join the YES Fanatics team for the Heartland World Series in July.
"Compared to high school ball, it's more competitive," Braleigh said. "There's faster pitchers and it's a bigger field. There were college scouts there watching every pitch."
There were 28 teams in the 14u division - 130 teams in all ages groups total - that took part in the tournament, as the Fanatics finished group-play undefeated, but ultimately lost in the knockout rounds. In separate games, each sister was recognized by the opposing team's coach as the game's MVP.
"It was all about competition," Paige said. "When it came down to the ending, who lost, who won, everyone came together and had good sportsmanship."
After the tournament, Braleigh and Paige played for the 18u Fanatics, and Braleigh called it "a big difference and pretty hard," but they'll officially join the 16u team with training beginning in January.
"I'm really excited," Paige said. "There's a lot of work you have to put in, a lot of practice and effort. The more you give, the more it's going to make for a good ride."
As for playing in more than 60 games during the summer, the sisters can use that experience in the upcoming California softball season. Both will have opportunities to pitch, but Braleigh's primary positions are shortstop and catcher and Paige plays first base.