Miranda Moyer and Alizae Neidlinger enjoyed a big trip to Oklahoma City.

The Warren County residents earned the prestigious honor of competing in USA Softball All-American Games, which was held Aug. 7-10 at Devon Park, the same field that hosts the NCAA Women’s College World Series every year.

Moyer is a seventh-grade homeschool student who lives in the Wright City R-II School District, while Neidlinger is a freshman at Warrenton High School. The two were selected as part of a national roster consisting of 360 players.

Both Moyer and Neidlinger were proud to represent Warren County on a national stage.

“It was definitely really cool,” Neidlinger said. “It’s an honor and a privilege to see my hard work paying off,” Moyer added.

According to USA Softball, "Designation to a USA Softball All-American team is the highest honor a player can receive and instantly brands the player as one of the top athletes in the United States.”  

Moyer competed with the Region 7 Stars team, while Neidlinger represented the Region 7 Stripes team.

Moyer participated in the elite tournament for the second time. She said  leading up to the final tryout in Kansas City, she wasn’t sure if she would make the cut again.

“Everyone waited an hour to see if we made the team. Then they put this piece of paper on the wall that had everyone’s names on it and when I saw my name, I was very surprised,” Moyer said.

Moyer, who has been playing softball since she was four years old, noted she was comfortable competing in the tournament for the second time. When she needed encouragement, she reminded herself with this – “pressure is privilege.”

“I felt mostly confident and a little nervous,” she said. “My parents were more nervous than I was.”

Moyer was thrilled with her performance at the tournament, recording team highs in stolen bases (3) and runs scored (4), hitting .300 and helping her team finish with a 2-2 record.

“(I was proud) when I got the lead off single to start the rally and eventually scored the first run in our first bracket game,” said Moyer, who plays second base.

Another highlight for Moyer was playing at Devon Park, the same field where her mom, Tiffany, won a state championship in high school.

“It was amazing and it’s an honor to wear a jersey with the USA letters,” Moyer said.

Neidlinger also enjoyed playing at Devon Park. She said she hopes to play there at the college level.

Neidlinger, who is a pitcher and outfielder, has been playing softball for four years. She said being selected to the USA Softball All-American Game was a dream come true after her third tryout.

“I was very happy and very emotional because I had finally made it,” Neidlinger said.

Months before the tournament, Neidlinger spent countless hours practicing and going to lessons. She said she was thrilled to be one of many girls competing in the national tournament.

“There were so many good girls, but I think the fact that I was chosen to be there for a reason and I just had to believe that I was good enough to be there helped,” Neidlinger said.

Neidlinger noted she was proud of her hitting as she scored three runs and had a .667 batting average. Her team also recorded a 2-2 tournament record.

She said she enjoyed the experience of competing against the best players in the country.

“I was very mind blown,” she said.