Covey, Olea selected for all-star game

Katie Covey and Alyssa Olea grew up together on the softball field.

Every summer for almost the past 10 years they were teammates on the Odyssey club team, coached by Olea's uncle Joel Olea and Covey's father Mike Covey. And during the high school season they were rivals — Olea was a catcher at Cibola and Covey a first baseman at Kofa.
Now everything comes full circle. The two recent graduates get to play one more softball game together before they each begin their college education at Arizona State.

Covey and Olea were selected by 5A coaches statewide to play on the South team in the 5A softball all-star game - a showcase of the top seniors in the state. The game is Thursday at 8 p.m. at Mesquite High School in Gilbert.

"Me and Katie grew up together, we've played since we were 10-years-old," Olea said. "Going out and finishing it off almost 10-years later is pretty cool."

Covey said that it was an honor to be selected to play in a game that features the best around the state, but she added that playing her last game with someone she played one of her first competitive games with makes it extra special.

"We went to different schools, and our travel team didn't play a lot last summer so I didn't see her much," Covey said. "I'm glad I get to play with her one last time."

Olea batted .356 with three home runs and 31 RBI, while doing a solid job behind the plate, handling a young pitcher this past season. Covey hit .308 overall on the season and .375 in the Gila Valley Region. She provided much-needed leadership on a young Kofa team.

Mike Covey said the coach of the all-star team told him he hadn't had a player from Yuma in eight to 10 years, and he added that maybe only Kofa product Chelsie Mesa, who won a national title at UA last year, has played in this game from the local area during that time period.

Covey said he and the other Odyssey coaches are thrilled to see players they helped coach during their development represent the best in the state.

"Every girl that's come off our team has played varsity as a freshman," Mike Covey said. "Your goal is to get them in college obviously and teach them to play the game what we believe is the right way. When they get chosen for something like this, it tells you that someone notices they are playing the right way."

Katie Covey and Olea will be staying in the same dorm at ASU next year. Katie said she plans to take a year off from softball and concentrate on her studies, while Olea is attending open tryouts at ASU on Aug. 22 in an attempt to walk on the team.

Olea said she sees competition at the all-star game as preparation for her next step.

"There's going to be a lot of really good girls there, and obviously they're all seniors, so they're planning on going somewhere," she said. "It gives me kind of a look into what competition I'm into and it lets me know where I need to be.

"I've been working so hard since I was a little girl, so playing in this makes me feel like I've accomplished something."