Avery & Kiley: A Power Duo in Softball

​By Dave Merchant [email protected]
 
Allen Park is full of talented youth in sports. Avery Garden and Kiley Carr are two such examples of talent especially in softball, who have a history of playing all over the country together on highly recognized softball teams.
 
Avery Garden is a very good eighth grade softball player. So good she plays on a travel team in Chicago over the summer.
 
At 13 this eighth grader at Allen Park Middle school also plays basketball, volleyball, swimming and track.
 
“I have played (softball) since I was 6 years old,” Avery said. “I play first base.”
 
Her goals for the future are attainable.
“My goal is to play D1 softball,” she said.
 
Avery’s parents are Andrew and Melanie Garden. Her sister is Kate Garden.
 
She likes playing softball in Chicago. “The drives are no big deal anymore after playing all over the Midwest since 10u,” she said “We’ve traveled to Florida, California, Kansas City, St. Louis, Des Moines, Iowa and we will travel to Atlanta this summer.”
 
Big moments for her include:
1. When I was recognized as being one of the top 100 players in the country in my class of 2024.
2. Our Motor City Madness team beat the 10u Beverly Bandits in their own tournament.
3. In Kansas City we beat the O.C. Batbusters from California.
4. Winning USSSA State Championships in 10 and 11u.
 
Kiley Carr is a talented Allen Park Middle School softball player. Her jersey is number 5 and she is in the seventh grade.
 
 “I have played softball since I was 5 years old,” Kiley said. “I play second base and shortstop.”
 
Other sports she plays are basketball, volleyball, track, and competitive cheer.
 
“My goal is to play College Softball,” she said. 
 
Her parents are Thomas Carr (Dad) Kelly Carr (Mom) and Jessika Palmarchuk (Sister).
 
She enjoys playing in Chicago.
“Yes, I do like playing for the Beverly Bandits out of Chicago, IL.,” she said. “Playing for an elite organization has pushed me to be a better softball player and a good role model to my peers. I am very fortunate to be able to experience playing at a very high level for my age. Playing for the Beverly Bandits has given me the opportunity to play softball in places such as Florida, California, Kansas City, St. Louis, Des Moines, Iowa, and I will travel to Atlanta this Summer.”
A few memorable moments she has had in softball would be: beating the number one ranked team in California, the OC Batbusters and batting a .500 in the California PGF Nationals last season.
 
 
Avery and Kiley have played together since 10u when they joined forces to help their Motor City Madness team win the USSSA State Championship. Their Madness team went on to win again at 11u as well. It was after their 11u season that they were invited to become a part of the famed Beverly Bandits organization, recognized as one of the best in the Midwest and in the country. Now at 13u they are the only two teammates who remain together from 10u. They do a lot of their weekly training together. They hit and field weekly with renowned coach Eddy Ketelhut. They spend a lot of time working on getting better and doing what it takes to stay with the Bandits and get ready to be future Jags.
 

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