Ella Vance

Congratulations to all the teams that participated in the Heartland Invite in Kansas City this past weekend! We wanted to take a moment to highlight the top teams in each division, as they went 6-0 on the weekend!

A Strong start to the Spring taking the TOP two spots in both 16s and 18s divisions at the @TopGunEvents Heartland Invite. All 4 teams go undefeated! On to the @NickiG_FDN invite next week! #GoldDNA

Heading down to KC to play in the @TopGunEvents Heartland Invite this weekend. The start of tourney season for this group and excited to hit the fields with our athletes! P #GoldDNA #ProcessOverOutcome

Wrapped up NE Gold Friendlies yesterday playing with NE Gold 17U National in a situational scrimmage . Got a chance to play new teams, compete against the best and opportunity to grow and get better. Lots of good play as we head into the season! #GoldDNA

Celebrating #44 today, Kenzie Zerbe. 2028 graduate out of Norfolk High School. You can count on Kenzie to have a smile on her face and the willingness to dive all over the infield after a ball!

Today we celebrate #28, Jenna Allen. A 2027 graduate from Norfolk High School. Our slick fielding SS, strong bat and always a smile on her face playing Softball!

Next up is #26, Natalie Boozikee a 2028 graduate out of Gretna High School. Nat is a rock for us behind the plate and a double machine at the plate!

Can’t wait to get started with my best friends!! Come out and watch us compete!! @NEGoldVance @NebraskaGold #GoldDNA

Celebrating #22 today, Morgan Tiedeman out of Malcolm High School. Extreme competitor, multi sport athlete and an athlete that always has her teammates back!

Today we introduce #21 Reagan Glassburner out of Waverly High School. A 2028 graduate that plays multiple positions including pitcher and never gets cheated when she swings the bat!

Mental Game Monday Making Use of the In-Betweens For those that have been following along, the guidance of: make as many decisions as you can ahead of time is foundational for this week’s Monday. On game day, the brain’s reserve of decision-juice is limited, and it is best to save that decision-juice for game time. For the travel-ballers, athletes will have their pool play schedules a few days before competition, and bracket play can set up several if/then scenarios. The mindful athlete can pre-decide hydration, nutrition, rest, and recovery plans during those breaks - and during some of those back-to-back-to-back games, plan for pre-during-and post games. (PS - if able, change socks as often as fashion and time allows, but maybe not if sharing the team van). There is more to the mental game than rest, hydration, nutrition, and clean socks - teammates that trust each other, know each others’ skills, have confidence in their teammates’ abilities to execute the athletic play. Getting to know each, and trust each other, helps a team perform. So during those in-between-times, between games, or weather delays, or waiting for the game in front of to finish - that can be thoughtful, planned-out, mental-game-enhancing, team building. The challenge will be finding the mix-and-match when some teammates need rest, others hydration, others need warming up/prep time: the mindful athlete knows what they need to be doing during the in-betweens, and works with teammates with similar goals. I had the good fortune to encounter such a group in the wild at an indoor tournament recently. Some needed rest, others some hydration, a few were keeping active, and a couple were game-planning the upcoming contest. At their request - here is part of a team working on their mindful in-betweens. I’ll leave it to them to tag the athletes in the photo.

The 2026 season is here!! 🥎💣🥎💣. We get it started Indoors this weekend and excited to see our athletes go do what they love. Come check us out Saturday and Sunday. #ProcessoverOutcome #GoldDNA

Our first tournament is finally here!! Can't wait to get back on the field!!

So excited to be back on the field again this weekend with my teammates! We hope to see you there!! @NEGoldVance @MidwestPremierS

Next up on our Introduction countdown is #20 McKenna Loomis! Mack is a 2027 graduate out of Beatrice High School. New addition to our team this year that we are happy to have join us!

11 days out!! I can’t wait to step back onto the field with my teammates and best friends. Come and out and watch us this season! #GoldDNA @NEGoldVance @NebraskaGold

Next on our player countdown is #17 Ellie Hampton out of Hershey High School. Another new addition to our team this year that we are excited to have join us!

#18 Kim Starkovich is next on our countdown. Kim goes to Gretna High School and excels in the circle and with the bat in her hand. Also, a newly crowned State Champion on the Gretna Power Lifting team!

Here to Celebrate our Athletes who show Strength, Passion and Hard Work for the game of Softball on National Girls and Women in Sports day! #PlayLikeAGirl #GoldDNA

Today we celebrate #15, Olivia Wenz! Incredible range at First Base with a sweet and smooth lefty swing. New to our team out of Millard West High School and excited to have her. #GoldDNA