By Patrick Lujan

One of the nation’s best young softball stars will be coming to Guam to share her knowledge of the sport with our island girls.

Madilyn ‘Bubba’ Nickles is the starting centerfielder for the UCLA Bruins and a member of Team USA and she’ll be on Guam for a softball clinic on August 2nd from 1-5 pm. She will also be playing in the APL Women’s Fastpich All-Star Game at 7 pm, Friday August 3rd.

“I’m so excited to visit Guam and I hope all the girls can come and have some fun,” Bubba commented.

This past season, Nickles was instrumental in UCLA’s drive to the College World Series where they fell short in the loser’s bracket finals to the eventual champion Florida State Seminoles.

In 2017, Bubba was named Team USA’s Junior Female Athlete of the Year  after leading USA to the Junior Women’s World Championship gold medal, shattering four tournament records.

Nickles was the 2016 Gatorade National Player of the Year playing for Merced High School in California. She was recruited by the well-accomplished Bruins program since she was in the 8th grade.

She will be accompanied by her mom Natalie, originally from Inarajan, and her dad Ted.

GIRLS CLINIC

Bubba will be conducting a girls clinic on Thursday, August 2nd and she will be going over the aspects of pitching, catching, infield, outfield and hitting. She will be assisted by some of Guam’s legends on the diamond such as Keith Hattig, Benjie Pangelinan and Russell Maratita.

You can email patrick@guamsportsnetwork.com for more details on how to sign up for the clinic.

APL ALL-STAR GAME

And if the clinic is not enough, Bubba will be playing in the Women’s Fastpitch All-Star Game on Friday, August 3rd at 7 pm. The top 30 players from the ongoing APL Women’s League will be selected (15 aside) and Bubba will be playing half the game with one side before switching over to play with the other team.

A home run derby for the baddest female hitters is also in the works!