FloSoftball chatted with Texas Travelers pitching/catching coach James Schaefer about how the program got its start and how the Travelers became one of the scrappiest teams in the Lone Star State.

FloSoftball: When did the team/program start and how/why did it come to be?  

Schaefer: The Texas Travelers were started by John Wardlow in 1995. He desired to create an individual team that he could focus all of his attention on helping them with the opportunity to play college softball. During his time with the Texas Travelers, he personally helped place over 185 girls into college softball programs. 

It has never been the intention for the Travelers organization to try to make money on the players. Most girls and their families do not have to pay much of anything with the sponsorships and fundraisers the Travelers provide. It is the Travelers' goal to provide great softball competition at an affordable price, allowing the organization to help as many players as possible achieve the dream of playing softball in college. 

Where are you based? Where do your athletes come from (all locally, some out of state?)  

Currently, the Texas Travelers Organization is based out of Mesquite, Texas, which is centrally located in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. They have had players in the organization from all over Texas as well as Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Most players primarily live within a two-hour radius of Dallas, Texas. With potential partnerships in the works, the Travelers will expand further to give players West and South of Fort Worth an opportunity to play select softball at a high level. Obviously, girls out of state are always welcome to play in the Texas Travelers organization.

What was the purpose of creating the team (showcase players, win titles, develop skills, etc.)?  

Initially, the purpose of the 2022 Texas Travelers Gold Team was to provide an opportunity for a group of girls to play softball at the highest level the team could achieve. The goal was and always remains to continue to develop each player maximizing their fullest potential on the softball field, but also outside the lines—in the classroom, community and at home.

With the addition of some of the top players at their position, the Travelers have been able to provide several levels of softball competition, giving every player the opportunity to develop. The Gold Team (2022) is primarily the showcase team; however, the other teams in the organization are quickly developing their skills to become a showcase team as well. In short, the Texas Travelers Gold Team is a showcase team helping each of the players find the right college to become a collegiate student-athlete. 

What have been some of your successes in terms of winning or placing at events? 

Currently, the Texas Travelers Gold Team has six USA Softball All-Americans (Elizabeth Schaefer, Kaydee Bennett, Madison McClarity, Macy Graf, Macy Hamilton, Sadie Reed) and one USSSA Direct Select All-American (Karmyn Bass).

The first national event after 2013 for the Texas Travelers Gold Team was the 2015 ASA National Championships in Normal, Illinois. National forums said the defense and hitting wouldn’t be good enough to allow the team to make it to the final day of competition. With Kaydee Bennett and Elizabeth Schaefer, they were able to will their team to finish third in the tournament. If not for two costly errors, they would have finished in the championship game.  

In 2017, the Gold Team also finished fourth in the World Fastpitch Championships held in Kansas City. They were put into the loser’s bracket early and had to give everything they had just to make it to the final day.

What makes the organization unique?  

There are many great organizations and teams available to play for. The Texas Travelers set a guideline for all of their teams to represent the game, players, and fans with the utmost respect. They provide an opportunity for all of the players to gain exposure through competitive play.  

Each team abides by the foundation and mission as a whole but is able to operate autonomously to be able to keep costs to a minimum for all players. The Travelers market their players, create sponsorships which help each player financially and allows them to continue to spend financial resources on private hitting, pitching, catching, and strength and agility training.  

What’s your softball background and how did you get to the point of leading the team?

Personally, I was recruited to play basketball at Stephen F. Austin. Being the son of a coach and my love of sports, I started coaching my son on a nationally ranked select football team where we won three national championships playing across the country against the best of the best. I was also involved in coaching basketball as well.  

To be honest, I didn’t know a lot about softball and really didn’t know about the opportunities select softball provides for the girls. When my daughter showed that she had talent in pitching; I spent my time learning as she learned. Kyle Bennett (head coach of the Travelers) asked me to call pitches about five years ago for Elizabeth. After I did it one game, he used the girls to say they wanted me to be a coach.  

How many teams are there in the organization overall?  

Currently, the Travelers have the following teams:

• Texas Travelers Gold (2022)
• Texas Travelers Black/Future (2022)
• Texas Travelers NTX (2023)
• Texas Travelers DFW (2023 primarily league)
• Texas Travelers 2024

We will be adding a 2026 team and a 16U team next year.  There is a strong possibility of adding 3-5 more teams in the fall.

Has there been a key moment or defining experience in the team's history? 

There really hasn’t been a key moment with the history of the Texas Travelers organization; however, the defining experience of the Texas Travelers is the strong loyalty of the core players and coaches. They haven’t looked for greener pastures but taken the moniker of staying the course and leading the team. In short, they have attracted top talent to play with them. 

What is your primary focus or goal with this team?  

The primary focus will always be development and playing at the highest level possible. The Gold Team will play in the most competitive supporting efforts for each girl to be recruited to play softball in college.

What do you think are the strengths of the team?  

The major strength of the Travelers is the family atmosphere accepting anyone who loves to play the game. The top five players care as much as the bottom five players on the team. They all work together for the same goals and want each other to succeed. The entire team embraces the challenges and love the “David vs. Goliath” opportunity when competing.

If there is one thing you would say that separates you from other club programs, what would it be? 

The one thing that would separate the Travelers from anyone else is that the team truly loves each other and celebrates each of their successes. The parents feel the same way. The Travelers are able to provide the same opportunities as any of the larger organizations such as development, tournament play, or college recruiting.

Anything else interesting or fun that I could use to portray your team as a top organization?  

The Travelers play hard every time they step on the field. They enjoy making second- and third-level plays as well as playing the game fast. Larger organizations don’t like that the Travelers still exist today because we are relatively independent. We take out the business side of running an organization and have fun playing the game.

MEET THE TEXAS TRAVELERS 

Elizabeth Schaefer, P | 2022 (Oklahoma State)

Schaefer has been the face of the Texas Travelers since her arrival in 2013. She is a 5-foot-11 pitcher with 62-63 mph fastball. Her devastating drop ball and changeup will be a challenge for most hitters. In addition, she has a rise, curve, and screw that keeps batters off-balance. Before committing to Oklahoma State, Schaefer was being recruited by Texas A&M, University of Houston, Baylor, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Texas Tech, Minnesota, Harding University, Auburn, Louisville, Baylor, Washington, Texas State, and Duke.  

Kaydee Bennett, SS/OF | 2022 (Oklahoma State)

Bennett is a scrappy shortstop who is a triple threat at the plate and was being recruited by Texas A&M, Harding University, and Auburn before committing to Oklahoma State. She is the leadoff hitter for the Travelers and has very deceptive power. She can slap, power slap, and hit away depending on the defense. Once she is on base, she usually finds a way to get to third.

Madison McClarity, 1B/OF | 2022 

McClarity is 5-foot-10 and built like a college linebacker. She is a power hitter on the watch list of Arkansas, University of Houston, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Washington, LSU, Mississippi State, and Minnesota. She is arguably the best first baseman in the 2022 select softball class. She rarely strikes out and has the physical tools that every team would love to have.  

Macy Graf, MIF/OF | 2022

Graf has one of the highest softball IQ’s and is on the watch list of the University of Houston, Harding, Texas, Texas State, Texas A&M Commerce, and Texas A&M Corpus Christi. She will certainly be one that will be recruited big time by her junior year. She is a USA Softball All-American and has always played at the highest level. She was voted captain for the Texas Travelers Gold Team. When she was added to the Texas Travelers Gold Team, she instantly made the team better.  

Macy Hamilton, UTL | 2022 

Hamilton is the scrappiest player on the Texas Travelers and a true outfielder, putting her on the watch list of the University of Houston, Texas A&M Commerce, Lamar, Boston College, Villanova, Dartmouth, and Harvard. She is known for making outstanding catches on foul balls that otherwise would have dropped. She continues to run through a wall and do whatever the team needs to win. 

Karmyn Bass, C | 2022 

Bass came to the Travelers at the beginning of fall 2017. Instantly, she filled a needed gap in power and is easily one of the top power hitters at the 2022 level, putting her on the watch list of Harding University, Texas A&M, Tarleton State, and Minnesota. She was the catching upgrade the Travelers needed, adding another bat to the lineup. She was a USSSA Direct Select All-American last year.  

Sadie Reed, UTL | 2023 

Reed came to the Travelers this year from the Oklahoma Angels. She was a leader for the Angels in batting, stolen bases, and defensive putouts. She will give the Travelers much more flexibility to adjust their defense to match the strength of opposing teams. In addition to being a great defensive player, she will also improve the already strong lineup with her bat. She was also selected as a USA Softball All-American for 2017.

Gabby Briones, OF/MIF | 2023

Briones is a 2023 player who will be one of the most talked-about players in her junior year. She was already being recruited by Texas A&M and Minnesota before early recruiting stopped this year. She has power and speed and allows the Travelers to be able to customize their defense for different teams by placing her in the outfield or infield. Her versatility is her greatest asset.

Jenna Milan, P | 2021 

Nothing ever rattles Milan. She is one of the calmest players you will see on the mound. Milan is the perfect complement to Elizabeth Schaefer, as she keeps batters off-balance with the ability to break the ball left or right. She enjoys studying the art of pitching, making her a very coachable player. She is getting looks by Mercer and Harding University.

Kaycee Bock, 3B | 2022 

Bock was recently mentioned as an up-and-coming player by Extra Innings Softball. She is the niece of former Valparaiso head coach Randy Schneider. She has the ability to play a very hot corner, and when her stick is on she gives the Travelers an extra element of offensive firepower.

Audrey Pearce, OF | 2021 

Pearce is one of the most intriguing additions to the Texas Travelers. Standing at 6-foot-1 tall, she is intimidating when at the plate and has great power. However, her speed is what will kill opponents. She will quickly prove to be one of the top outfielders at 14U and can cover ground twice as fast. Pearce is also a varsity basketball player who led her team to the area championships as a freshman.

Marissa Powell, C/OF | 2022

Powell is a strong bat with a big arm. She sees the ball really well at the plate and gives the Travelers power deep in the lineup. Runners have to watch out for her arm when she is behind the plate, as she will pick off runners without having to pop up.

Madison Boutwell, DH/C | 2021 

Boutwell is a very big bat for the Travelers. She has unbelievable power at the plate and is a perfect complement to McClarity and Bass. With the addition of Boutwell, the Travelers have a very strong lineup. She can also play third base, first base, and outfield if needed. Boutwell gives the Travelers flexibility to become very creative.

Texas Ray, 3B | 2023 

Ray was added to the Texas Travelers to provide more depth on the dirt. In her first tournament with the Travelers, she hit a three-run shot. She makes the lineup even stronger. In addition to being a great bat, Texas plays the third base when needed.

Ashley Minor, P | 2022 

Minor was moved up from the Texas Travelers Black Team for the Top Gun and T-Bolt Showcase last fall where she hit .800 for the tournament with two home runs. She can hit for power and gives the Texas Travelers an additional arm in the bullpen. Adding Minor will allow the Travelers to keep their starting pitchers much fresher during tournament play as well as give their offense an additional pinch hitter.

Evan Fuller, OF/P | 2022 

Fuller came to the Travelers to provide an extra arm for pitching; however, she has shown that she gives the team additional options in the outfield. She is a 6-foot speedster who can also be used as a pinch runner if needed.

Kayleigh Smith, P | 2022

Kayleigh Smith was recently added to the Texas Travelers Gold Team after a strong outing during the 16/18u ASA North Texas Championships. She has wicked movement and will be a great addition to the starting rotation of Elizabeth and Jenna, allowing the Travelers to go deep into the national tournaments.