The AUSL All Star Cup continues tonight and heads into its final 3 games and the crowning of its champion next weekend. And we have some very interesting updates at the top of the leaderboard. In case you do not know, the AUSL All Star Cup is a series of 12 games played in August, after the AUSL champion has already been crowned. The post-post season. 46 of the top AUSL players play on 4 teams, but after each week of the tournament the teams are mixed up and re-drafted, because this is an individual tournament, not a team one. Players earn individual points for stats, for wins, and if they are named the game MVP. Much like fantasy sports.
Currently atop the leaderboard Carolina Blaze infielder Baylee Klinger. Klinger is not a power hitter and honestly her #1 position is pretty shocking. During the 2026 season she hit .281 with a .368 slugging percentage. And during the 2026 All Star Cup she is hitting .188 with 3 hits in 16 at bats. But her teams have gone 4-1 and last night she had one magical moment where she hit a walk off home run off Sam Landry to earn points for her stats, victory points, and collect points from being named the night’s MVP. She leads the pack by 64 with a 750 score.
The next 3 players topping the leaderboard are all pitchers. The aforementioned Sam Landry from the Portland Cascade is #2, then Georgina Corrick from the Utah Talons at #3, followed by Lexi Kilfoyle from the Chicago Bandits at #4. And all of the pitchers have performed extremely well during the All Star Cup with ERAs in the 1.0s throughout.
Now here is where it gets really interesting. Baylee Klinger, currently #1 in points, is the captain of her team, and Lexi Kilfoyle, currently #4 on the individual points leaderboard, is also on her team.
As the captain of the team, does Klinger get a say in who takes the mound for her team? If it’s her call, should she play Kilfoyle? Obviously, based on her point total, Kilfoyle is hot right now and likely gives Team Klinger the best chance at winning. But if Kilfoyle she is going to earn points and if she plays well she could be selected as the MVP and overtake Klinger. Remember this is an individual points tournament with an individual winner, not a team tournament.
So do you play your best pitcher and try to win the team game and risk your #1 spot on the leaderboard, or sit her and prevent her from getting any closer to you? Let me know in the comments what you would do!
