Academy Notebook: Ana Gonzalez wins Jennie Finch Empowerment Award; Savannah Vargas named to Mexico National Team; Tamya Waiters becomes first Academy alum to sign with Power Five conference

Ana Gonzalez wins Jennie Finch Empowerment Award, $10,000 scholarship at MLB’s Softball Breakthrough Series

Ana Gonzalez was presented with the Jennie Finch Empowerment Award and a subsequent $10,000 college scholarship last weekend during the MLB Develops and USA Softball Breakthrough Series.

Selected as one of 32 participants to attend the Vero Beach, Fla., series, Gonzalez was joined by her Youth Academy teammates Destan Burks, Gio Frias and Hailey Zuniga for three days of high-level instruction that included on-and off-field development opportunities.

“This Breakthrough Series was definitely a little bittersweet because it was the last one I can attend,” said Gonzalez. “This program has had a huge impact on me...Not only did I gain so much more knowledge on the game and how to better my skills on the field, but I was also taught how to strengthen my mental game.

"Being coached by an amazing staff that genuinely loves the game makes me even more passionate about playing this sport than I already was.”

The invitees trained with U.S. Olympians and former National Team members, among them Jennie Finch, legendary softball pitcher and MLB’s Youth Softball Ambassador.

In 2019, Major League Baseball announced the Jennie Finch Empowerment Award, presented by ARM & HAMMER, given annually to four softball players who demonstrate powerful characteristics such as leadership, motivation, commitment, humility and integrity.

Gonzalez showcased these characteristics during her Breakthrough Series performance and was voted as the recipient by an MLB panel led by Finch.

As part of winning the award, Gonzalez received a $10,000 scholarship to help her pursue a college degree upon her 2024 graduation from Midlothian High School.

“Winning the Jennie Finch Empowerment Award meant a lot to me,” she said. “I really didn’t think I was going to win it, so being recognized for the work I put into this sport feels really good. It’s going to push me to work harder.

“I’m just very, very thankful and it’s going to help my family and me tremendously when it comes to playing at the next level and pursuing my education. I can’t explain how grateful I am for this award.”

Gonzalez will also represent the Softball Breakthrough Series as the 2023 award winner at Major League Baseball’s World Series, making it her second consecutive year participating in pre-game ceremonies after her Oklahoma City Breakthrough Series MVP win in 2022.

She will be recognized on-field alongside Finch and her award-winning counterparts selected from MLB softball events, including the All-Star Jennie Finch Classic, Elite Development Invitational and the Nike RBI World Series.

Savannah Vargas named to Mexico National Team

Youth Academy rising star Savannah Vargas will represent Mexico as a member of the 15U National Team in the 2023 Women's Softball World Cup in Tokyo, Japan, from Oct. 21-29.

The newly 13-year-old Vargas earned her roster spot following extensive tryouts alongside some of the top softballers in both Mexico and the U.S., becoming the second Academy athlete to wear the Mexico National Team jersey, joining the likes of Ximena Zamarron, the Academy’s 2022 Youth of the Year.

Vargas, who primarily plays catcher but has experience at third base, has showcased unbelievable talent, earning herself a spot to train in Iván Rodríguez’s Catching Clinic and Jennie Finch’s Pitching Tour.

Additionally, during year-round softball programming, Vargas, expected to graduate from Sunset High School in 2028, trains alongside the Academy’s most elite athletes in the 18U advanced division, a group she's been practicing with since just 11 years old.

“From her very first day at the Academy, it was apparent to the staff that Savannah was a special hitter with a very polished swing and approach," said Juan Leonel Gárciga, Senior Director of Youth Academy & Baseball Development. "She is already one of the best softball catchers at the Academy and it was no surprise at all that she was under serious consideration for the 15U Mexico National Team despite her age.

“After hitting a growth spurt last year, I knew she would be a force this summer and I can’t wait to see where the game takes her. She will become a household name in the DFW softball community very soon, if not already.”

Come October, Vargas and her sixth-ranked Mexico National Team will compete in the inaugural U-15 WBSC Women's Softball World Cup, facing the top-ranked Team USA and number two-ranked Team Japan.

Also competing in the 12-team tournament will be National Teams from Brazil, the Czech Republic, Italy, New Zealand, Peru, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Taipei and Uganda, all currently represented in the Top 25 world rankings.

Tamya Waiters becomes First Youth Academy alum to sign with Power Five conference

Former Youth Academy athlete and 2022 graduate from The Colony High School, Tamya Waiters, announced her transfer to the University of Houston this summer, becoming the first Academy alum to sign with a Power Five Conference.

Waiters, who first signed with Florida A&M University in early 2022, shifted her commitment following a coaching change to play her freshman season at the University of Texas at Arlington.

She made 17 appearances in the circle for the Mavericks last season, striking out 17 batters in 37.1 innings pitched. Waiters earned her first and only freshman season win in her four-inning shutout relief appearance to secure UTA’s victory over the 16th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats.

Highlights during her time training at the Youth Academy included multiple All-Star tournament selections and an invitation to MLB and USA Softball’s Breakthrough Series, where she received one-on-one training with legendary pitcher Finch.

Though she aged out of the Rangers Youth Academy upon her high school graduation, Waiters remained part of the Texas Rangers family in her role as a college brand ambassador.

With her transfer to the University of Houston, now part of the recently reorganized Big 12 Conference, Waiters becomes the first Youth Academy athlete to play for a university in one of the NCAA’s Power Five conferences.

Waiters joins eight additional new Cougar Softball signees as head coach Kristin Vesely looks to build a squad that can compete in an advanced pool of conference teams.