FAIRFIELD - Shortly after pitching the 10-12 Champlain Little League team to a Vermont State Championships and representing Vermont in the Little League Regional Tournament, Irie Shedd traveled to play in the USA Softball All-American Games in Oklahoma City, OK. The USA Softball All-American Games are made up of 10 regions and 360 players, and the tournament was the largest Shedd has competed in to date. Shedd played for Region 1, which included the New England states.
Shedd and her teammates played at Devon Park, the Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, where the women's college world series is held, and where the softball games of the 2028 Olympics are slated to be played. During the three games played at the USA Softball All-American Games Tournament, Shedd, who was dominant on the mound all season, threw three innings, striking out seven batters, and allowing two hits, and one earned run. Irie Shedd, third from the right, and her USA All-American Games Region 1 teammates pose for a team photo in Oklahoma City, OK.
Q&A Irie Shedd What did you have to do to make the USA Softball All-American Games Region 1 team? Last year I tried out for a Region 1 team from New Jersey and didn't make it. This year, I tried out in New Hampshire and made the team. The first year, the tryouts were overwhelming because there were so many people.
This year was a lot easier since I'd already experienced it. We were evaluated on pitching, fielding, and hitting through different drills. All of the coaching was very good, and the atmosphere of the tryout was also positive.
How did your summer with the Champlain All-Star Little League team help you prepare for the All-American Games? It was nice having a lot of in-game pitching leading up to it. I met a girl at the Little League Regional Tournament who was supposed to go to the same American Games as I did, but her team ended up going to the Little League World Series. What was it like staying and playing at the All-American Games? Most of the team stayed in the same hotel, and we went out to dinner together, so we got to interact outside of games.
We only got to play two full games, one on Friday and one on Saturday, and then one game on the stadium field. Our stadium game was only three innings long due to weather issues. I was able to pitch one of the three innings in the stadium game, which was cool because pro athletes have played there before.
What was your most memorable moment? The opening ceremony was memorable. Every team there got to walk across the field with a banner to represent their region. It was also memorable to visit the Oklahoma University softball field, which was cool because I've seen it on TV.
What was your goal for the USA Softball All-American Games tournament? I wanted to pitch on the hall of fame field and to get pitching time in general, which I did. How will you be able to take this experience and build on it in the future? It's eye opening to see the talent at the tournament, and it's very motivating. I'm going to try out again next year for the team.
Irie Shedd and her USA All-American Games teammates enjoyed playing on beautiful Devon Park in Oklahoma City, OK. What are your softball plans for the fall of 2024? I'll be playing for the New England Fury Platinum 14U team, out of Rhode Island. I'm looking forward to the improvements I can make playing with athletes at such a high level; it will give me opportunities for the future.
What do you love about playing softball? I like that it gives me something to constantly be working toward getting better, and I like meeting people through the game. I also like pressure. I feel like it makes me perform better, so pitching is the most enjoyable position for me.
I've learned how to stay calm under pressure, which is a good skill softball has given me. What are your goals for improvement over the next year? I'd like to improve my pitching--build speed and add a pitch over the winter. What do you enjoy about working with your catchers? I like that every catcher is a little different.
You become friends with your catcher over a season and build a level of trust. Irie Shedd and the members of the USA All-American Games softball players enjoyed a first-class experience at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, OK, over the weekend of August 10. Was there anything unique about this tournament? Overall, the level of play was a lot higher than what I'm used to, and the fields were nicer than any field I've played on.
I also liked the atmosphere. It was a very competitive environment, and all the girls had goals and were working to reach them, which was fun. Do you have any thank yous? I'd like to thank my family for going to the tournament and giving me the opportunity to go.
I also want to thank the coaches I've had along the way. Do you have any wise words to share? As long as you put in the work and put yourself out there, it will give you good opportunities..
