Editor’s note: I had the opportunity to see Tyler Bouley play for Team USA this past summer at the 2014 ISF World Championship at Whitehorse, Yukon. He was a leader for the team, hitting for contact, hitting for power, as a field general behind the plate, and in the dugout. A likable young player, he is a great choice for this honor by USA Softball. After the ISF Worlds, he played for the California A’s at the Seattle Invitational in July, and last month, at the AAU in Orlando, Florida for the New York Gremlins. He is a player with a bright future and one to keep an eye on.
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/USA Softball is proud to announce the selection of Tyler Bouley (Champlin, Minn.) as the 2014 USA Softball Junior Male Athlete of the Year. Bouley’s bat came alive for the U.S. at the International Softball Federation (ISF) Junior Men’s World Championship (JMWC) in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada where led the tournament with five doubles. His .421 batting average also landed him at number three in the leader board for the event.
“I am so honored and humbled to be named 2014 USA Softball Junior Male Athlete of the Year,” said Bouley. “I would like to thank everyone at ASA/USA Softball for giving me this opportunity and for all that you do to promoting the sport. I would also like to thank my coaches, my teammates, and my family for all the support that they give me.”
One of just four athletes to appear in every game at the JMWC in Whitehorse, Bouley led the USA Junior Men in nearly every offensive category, including hits, doubles, RBI and batting average. Whether behind the plate or at first base, Bouley was a staple of the U.S. defense while his offensive abilities provided some power in the lineup.
“Tyler had a great World Championship for the USA and came through in many big situations with clutch hits,” said USA Softball Junior Men’s Head Coach Tim Lyon. “He is a dedicated softball player who works hard to make himself better while also being a leader and a great teammate.”
For the summer, the Minnesota native batted .421 (16-for-38), knocking in 11 RBI with two doubles, one home run and six runs scored while compiling a .632 slugging percentage. His top performance of the summer came against Mexico during round-robin action at the JMWC where he went 3-for-5 (.600) with two doubles, three RBI and a walk off single to help Team USA to a 7-6 (eight inning) win. This performance helped spark a three-game winning streak for the USA Junior Men, who would later claim the Consolation Championship in an 11-5 win over Mexico.
You can find complete results from the 2014 ISF Junior Men’s World Championship at USASoftball.com.