By Debbie Adams
The Vinton Phoenix Wood 16U fastpitch softball team won the USA Softball One
True Champion National Tournament last weekend in Johnson City, Tenn. The
team is based out of Vinton with Allen Wood as head coach.
team members are (from left): front row, Tinley Humphries, Gianna Pitzer, Reagan
Smith, Tenley Gilliam, and Taylor Tyree; back row, Coach Ashley McCallum,
Olivia Pierce, Madison McDaniel, Jocelyn Weddle, Heidi Dixon, Lilly Gillispie,
Mati Gouldthorpe, Alexis Meadows, and Coach Allen Wood. (Not pictured are
Morgan Smith, Madelynn Ray, and coaches Kassie Sutphin and Carson Wood.) (photos courtesy of Coach Wood)
“The Phoenix team demonstrated from Game 1 that they were there on a mission,
averaging 10 runs per game and came away from the event undefeated to claim the
title of 16U One True National Champion,” according to event organizer Tim
Doby.
They scored 16 home runs in six games, with 67 runs and 76 hits, and allowed only
nine runs. The team batting average was an excellent .490. They scored five home
runs in one game and six in another.
“The One True National Championship just completed in Johnson City was the
inaugural one for our new ‘A’ level national. The top teams from around the
country had to compete and qualify from their local association to be entered in
this event, which brought together teams from 15 states, as well as umpires from
13 states and five regions. The umpire also had to qualify to be there.
“USA Softball, founded in 1933, is the national governing body of softball in the
United States. It oversees many national championships plus our national teams program. We are excited to be hosting the 2028 Olympic Games at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.”
USA Softball now includes over 120,000 teams and a million members.
The Virginia Phoenix was organized six years ago, made up of female athletes
from this area and Southwest Virginia.
Players include Taylor Tyree (Liberty Christian Academy, Class of 2027, SS/UT),
Lilly Gillispie (Floyd County High School, Class of 2027), Tinley Humphries
(Lord Botetourt Class of 2029, 2B/OF)), Averi Fuller (Richlands High School,
Class of 2027, Pitcher/OF), Heidi Dixon (William Byrd, Class of 2027, 1B/SS),
Jocelyn Weddle (Cave Spring, Class of 2029, Catcher/IF), Reagan Smith
(Christiansburg, Class of 2027, catcher/1B & OF), Morgan Smith (Magna Vista,
Class of 2028, Pitcher/OF), Madelynn Ray (William Byrd, Class of 2029,
Pitcher/3B & 1B)), Olivia Pierce (Lord Botetourt, Class of 2028, Pitcher/1B),
Tenley Gilliam (Appomattox, Class of 2029, Pitcher/OF), Gianna Pitzer (Lord
Botetourt, Class of 2029, Catcher/OF), Alexis Meadows (Buckingham County,
Class of 2028, SS & 3B), Madison McDaniel (Cave Spring, Class of 2029, OF),
and Matilyn “Mati” Gouldthorpe (Jefferson Forest, Class of 2027, OF).
Championship
In addition to Wood, other coaches include assistant coach Kassie Sutphin, Ashley
McCallum, and Carson Wood (all William Byrd alums).
Players try out for the team and practice around the area. Their travel season began
in early June and extends through August 21.
Wood says winning the championship and being named No. 1 in the country is a
“huge accomplishment.” He is most proud of them being a truly local and regional
team.
One of Coach Wood’s former softball players, Allison Snow, who is majoring in sports
journalism at Virginia Tech, recently wrote an article about her coach, entitled “The Bigger
Picture.”
“Coach Wood is the vice president of Wood Service Center in Vinton.
“When he isn’t driving a tow truck or fixing cars, Wood is coaching softball. He
started assistant coaching a Stealerz fastpitch team based in Roanoke in 2016 and
then helped coach a different travel team in 2018, the Starz Gold. He has been the
hitting coach for William Byrd High School’s varsity softball team since 2018. In 2021, he announced that he was creating his own travel softball organization, starting with a 14 and under team called the Virginia Phoenix.”
The response was overwhelming.
“I wanted the organization to be all about player development and athletes truly
having fun, finding a love for the game, finding the love for their teammates, and
just developing a love for all the game has to offer,” Wood said.
He was on the hunt “to create a team that could feel like a family, a place where
players could enjoy themselves while also improving their skills to a highly
competitive level.”
In 2021, “Wood created the team in January, developed a roster by February, and
took the field in March. Being a new organization competing against notable multi-
team organizations is like being shark bait; they’re expecting to destroy the
newcomer. The tide started turning, as well as some heads, when Wood and his
underdog team started winning. The Virginia Phoenix won their first travel
tournament just seven months later in July 2021.”
Snow went on to say, “Allen Wood is his players’ biggest fan.” Only about seven
percent of athletes that play softball in high school have the opportunity to play in
college. The Virginia Phoenix have now had almost 30 girls commit to play at the
collegiate level.”
“Making a difference in athletes’ lives, a positive impact, is what motivates Wood
to keep persevering.”
