Bemidji junior Karley LaZella chosen for Team Canada 16U softball

Karley LaZella’s jump from Bemidji High School to Canada’s 16U softball roster puts a Beltrami County player on an international stage with a direct tie to her family tree. The Bemidji junior and 2027 graduate will play for Team Canada at the Triple Crown International Challenge in Westminster, Colorado, using eligibility that comes through her great-grandfather on her mother’s side.

LaZella said the selection feels “pretty good,” but the spotlight also brings pressure because college coaches can watch players at the event while most are not yet committed. She called the opportunity a “pretty big deal” and said representing Bemidji matters because the town often gets overlooked, giving her a chance to put her community in front of a wider audience.

Her rise did not come from one weekend or one lucky look. LaZella’s junior season at Bemidji High School turned heads across the region, with Lakeland News reporting that she hit .574 with 11 home runs and 31 RBIs while also pitching 121 innings, posting a 1.3 ERA and 117 strikeouts. That production earned her 2nd Team All-State honors. MaxPreps lists her 2025-26 varsity line at .564 with 31 hits, 28 RBIs, 17 runs and 10 home runs, with the stats last updated May 15. The Alliance Fastpitch lists her as a pitcher and first baseman for Mission 16u National, where she bats left-handed and throws right-handed.

LaZella is one of two Minnesotans on Canada’s 16U roster; the other is her Mission Fastpitch teammate Maya Godfrey. The roster choice also reflects the purpose of the Triple Crown International Challenge, which was created to let U.S.-born players compete for the heritage country they qualify for, including through a great-grandparent. Organizers say coaches build the roster from interest forms and videos, a process that has opened the door for players outside the traditional national team pipeline.

Her selection arrives as Bemidji’s softball base keeps expanding around her. The Bemidji Girls Fastpitch Association is preparing to host the 28th Annual Bemidji Blaze Tournament June 19-21, with more than 65 teams expected across 10U, 12U, 14U and 16/18U divisions. For families around Bemidji and across Beltrami County, LaZella’s roster spot is a reminder that an international player can come out of local fields, local coaches and a local program that keeps producing.