Rangers to Rising Sun: Former Unaka standouts set for Japan Softball Tour

Published 1:50 pm Friday, December 5, 2025

BY C.Y. PETERS

Star Correspondent

Two former Unaka Lady Ranger softball stars are about to take the trip of a lifetime — one that will carry their love of the game all the way across the Pacific Ocean. This summer, Alana Parsons and Sadie Shoun, now teammates at Milligan University, have been selected to represent the Buffaloes on the 2026 Beyond Sports Japan Softball Tour, an international experience that blends high-level competition with world-class cultural exploration.

Parsons and Shoun are among four Milligan invitees — joining Mia Grasse and Ashley Worley — who earned their invitations through a competitive national selection process. Beyond Sports evaluates standout statistics, all-conference honors and coach recommendations, ultimately choosing a limited roster of collegiate players capable of representing their schools, their communities and their country abroad.

The tour runs June 9–18, 2026, taking athletes through Tokyo and Kyoto, two of Japan’s most iconic cities. The group will compete in three international softball games against local Japanese club teams — an opportunity to test their skills in a global setting, connect with athletes from another culture and showcase the level of talent rising from small-town East Tennessee to the collegiate stage.

But the trip isn’t just about softball. Parsons, Shoun and the rest of their Beyond Sports teammates will experience Japan’s legendary temples, bustling markets, historic districts and world-famous cuisine. Since 2010, Beyond Sports has hosted over 12,000 athletes, coaches and family members on tours across the globe, helping student-athletes build memories that last well beyond their playing days.

For the former Unaka standouts, the journey represents more than just an opportunity — it’s a celebration of how far their hard work has carried them. From the fields of Stoney Creek to the diamonds of college ball, and now to the international stage, Parsons and Shoun continue to make their school, their hometown and their families proud.

This summer, they’ll be wearing Milligan colors. But deep down, they’ll always carry a little bit of Ranger maroon with them — now all the way to Japan.