RISE Games continue to sizzle

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ORLANDO — With all due respect to Glenn Frey, the heat is on in more ways than one down here at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex.

We are in the middle of the two-week long RISE Games competition, and the action has been intense.

Earlier this week the Under Armour All American Softball Game concluded after an extra-innings thriller: Team Swagger capped a three-run bottom of the ninth comeback over Team Hype.

Playing to a full house, these girls are the ones to watch for in future Women’s College World Series events.

Just before the softball game, the Champion All-American Girls Showcase, a US Lacrosse event featuring the best high school players in the nation, provided another thriller.

After three days of play, Team Spirit was crowned the champions of the tournament defeating Team Freedom 17-16.

The media intensity gets hotter this weekend as the Champion Gridiron Kings take the field.

With 64 of the best high school players here, there is great interest among recruiting analysts, football writers and local TV stations watching from the sidelines. ESPNU will televise the game on Monday at 7 p.m. (tape delayed).

Even with all the attention the Gridiron Kings are getting, media interest in AAU Basketball will be off the charts.

The RISE Games conclude next week with the AAU Basketball Super Showcases.

See the future stars of college basketball and the NBA hit the courts on ESPNU and ESPN3.com on Tuesday and Wednesday.

So, by now you get the idea, things are hot, hot, hot down here but in a good way.

(We also hope you are enjoying the slide shows. These great photo montages are provided by photographer Steve Johnson.)