Colorado Royals Announces Royals Select

Northern Colorado — The Colorado Royals are pleased to announce the formal launch of Royals Select, a high-performance showcase initiative creating a clearly defined competitive pathway for athletes ready to meet a higher standard — and be seen doing it.

Royals Select launches in 2026 at the 18U, 16U, and 14U levels under three of the organization’s most experienced coaches:

• 18U Select — Dave Darby, President and Founder of the Colorado Royals. Dave has spent nearly a decade developing Royals athletes into college-level competitors — including three daughters currently playing D2 softball at Regis University in Denver. He has lived the recruiting process from every angle and built a system that works.
• 16U Select — Richie White, a seven-year cornerstone of the Colorado Royals and the organization’s chief promoter. Richie has been instrumental in growing the Royals from a single team to ten, while consistently developing players who go on to compete at the college level.
• 14U Select — Jeff Walls, a former high school baseball and softball coach now in his third season with the Colorado Royals. Jeff builds with structure and accountability at the foundation — instilling the coachability, competitive toughness, and composure under pressure that college coaches recruit for. He is not developing players for this season. He is developing players for what comes next.

What Royals Select Is

Royals Select is a showcase and development program for athletes ready to compete at a higher level — and ready to be in front of the people who need to see them do it.

This program combines the whole-athlete development approach the Colorado Royals are known for with intentional, structured exposure. Select teams will compete in premium events, pursue national exposure opportunities, and regularly play up — ensuring athletes are consistently challenged and consistently visible.

Every Royals Select coach is an active participant in SportsRecruits, the leading college athletic recruiting platform used by college coaches across the country. Your daughter will not be navigating the recruiting process alone.

How It Works

For 2026, Royals Select operates as a dual-roster opportunity for identified athletes. Current Royals players may compete at designated Select events while maintaining their base team commitments where schedules allow — protecting existing rosters while creating a clear pathway for athletes ready for more.

Looking Ahead to 2026-27

This season is the foundation. What is being built now — the standard, the culture, the competitive expectation — is what Royals Select will be measured against as the program expands in 2026-27. Coaches and athletes across the organization, and beyond it, should consider this the benchmark. Full expansion details and tryout information will be announced ahead of next season.

Who This Is For

Royals Select is not for everyone. That is the point.

If you are an athlete who competes with urgency, holds yourself to a standard, and wants to perform in front of the people who can change your trajectory — this program was built for you. Players do not need to be on a college recruiting track to participate. The standard is the same regardless of destination: accountability, measurable growth, and excellence. But for those pursuing college opportunities, Royals Select is built to put them in the right rooms, in front of the right people, at the right time.

Next Steps

Select evaluations and 2026-27 expansion details will be announced shortly. Coaches, athletes, and families interested in learning more are encouraged to reach out directly.

Dave Darby President/Founder, Colorado Royals/Royals Fastpitch