14U USA Softball All-American Team Stripes
One of the top softball players in this area will now get her chance to compete against some of the best players in America on one of softball’s biggest stages.
Lackawanna Trail rising sophomore Shelby Malamud was recently selected to take part in the 2026 USA Softball All American Games at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Okla, the home of the NCAA Women’s College World Series. She will compete as a member of the 14U All-American Team Stripes under head coach Jeff Fisch Jr.
“I started trying out in 2024 and since then I’ve just kept working and been constantly practicing,” Malamud said. “It’s such an incredible accomplishment to make a team of this caliber. I’m looking forward to working hard, playing with like-minded athletes, and competing against the best in the country.”
Malamud has been playing softball since she was a little kid, but has really started to notice she may have a future in the sport over the last couple of years. She burst onto the scene in her freshman season at Lackawanna Trail. She batted .582 with 32 hits, 11 doubles, three triples, two home runs, 26 runs batted in and scored 25 runs.
Her play on the field led her to being named a Lackawanna League Division III Coaches’ First-Team all-star, and the Lackawanna Trail softball MVP award. She also is out making a name for herself out on the travel circuit playing for PA Chaos Softball.
On the travel circuit, Malamud is playing the middle infield positions and has recently started working in the outfield. She is not picky about what position she has to play on the field, as she’ll try anywhere as long as it benefits the team.
“There’s not really anything specific that I’m working on in terms of my game. I’m just trying to work on everything so that I could be good wherever I’m needed,” Malamud said. “The outfield is definitely something newer for me, but I’m going out there and trying my best at it.”
Even though Malamud is only entering her sophomore year, college softball has already entered her mind. She has intentions of playing at the NCAA Division I level with Binghamton and Syracuse as two schools that have already grabbed her attention. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference schools are also places she is keeping an eye on. She thinking about studying physical therapy or sports medicine.
Malamud sais she couldn’t have gotten to this level without many people who have helped her on her journey. They include her high school and travel coaches, all of her teammates and close friends, and her parents: particularly her father Brian who is out on the field with her pretty much every day.
“I wouldn’t be where I am in softball without all of them,” Malamud said. “Whenever I want to go to the field to work on something, someone is always there to go with me. My dad does everything with me. He’s definitely one of my biggest helpers and supporters.”
The All-American Games will take place Aug. 3-8 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, a stadium that Malamud hopes to return too multiple years down the road, but for now she’s taking in the experience of being able to play with the nation’s best.