Staying hydrated and maintaining healthy levels of electrolytes and other minerals is always a challenge in hot weather – even with the best intentions. And now that summertime heat and humidity has returned with a vengeance here in September it should once again be top of mind for those participating in round robins, weekend tournaments, even college softball games.

That’s why I thought this would be a good time to talk about a product I came across not too long ago that can help players, coaches, and parents keep themselves from suffering the effects of oppressive heat, including general dehydration and heat exhaustion: Fastpitch Fuel.

(FULL DISCLOSURE: I liked the product so much when I tried it that I became an affiliate, so if you use this link I get a little bit of money from each purchase. But I promise that every word in this review is true.)

Fastpitch Fuel was designed by a guy named Dino Scrivani, an entrepreneur who has developed food supplements for some of the biggest names in the health industry. Yet he is also a fastpitch dad and PaulyGirl certified pitching instructor who recognized that the commercially available sports drinks weren’t really designed for the needs of fastpitch softball players. So he set out to invent one himself, using his years of experience in the food supplement industry.

One big difference with Fastpitch Fuel is that your typical sports drinks focus mostly on delivering two things: electrolytes and sugar. As a result, their effect is quick and temporary; the electrolytes help prevent dehydration while the sugar provides a quick energy spike.

But softball players, and especially female softball players, don’t just lose electrolytes when they sweat. Over the course of a long tournament they can lose other minerals, such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, that affect not only immediate performance but their longer-term ability to continue playing.

Fastpitch Fuel replenishes all of those minerals while eliminating the sugar, helping players avoid periods of high energy followed by a crash. It’s made to sustain players through three or four back-to-back games in extreme heat so they can continue to perform at a high level.

I’ve tried it myself on days when I have a lot of lessons stacked up on hot days outdoors, and can say I didn’t feel the usual effects of the heat. Sure, it was uncomfortable and annoying (as you might expect), but I was able to maintain my energy through an extended exposure period to both heat and humidity.

I’ve also given Fastpitch Fuel to a few students to try on those days, and they’ve reported feeling fewer effects from the heat as well. It comes in a powder form that includes a measuring spoon, so it’s easy to add to a standard water bottle – either the plastic, disposable kind or a refillable bottle.

So what about the taste? No matter how good something might be for a player, she’s not going to drink it if she doesn’t like the way it tastes.

Fortunately, everyone who has tried it (including me) has liked it. So far I have only tried the electric lemon-lime flavor, but there is also a sour strawberry that is supposed to be really good. I plan to try that one soon.

One other good thing about Fastpitch Fuel versus the other commercially available sports drinks is that there are no artificial colors, sweeteners, or other ingredients. It was also reviewed by a top-level pediatric specialist to be sure it is safe and healthy for youth players as well as adults.

If you’re looking for a sports drink that provides a healthier approach to hydration on these long softball days or weekends, give Fastpitch Fuel a try. It’s a great way to stay ready to play all day.