CALIFORNIA THUNDER 18 GOLD (VAN KIRK): Welcome
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California Thunder is a reputable and competitive travel ball program that competes at the highest level!!!
The CALIFORNIA THUNDER was revitalized in 2001 by Organization Manager and Coach Valerie Van Kirk, former Cal State Fullerton NCAA National Champion, who grew up and played in the San Gabriel Valley. We compete, train, prepare physically and academically for the requirements of Division I softball. Valerie was also recently hired as a representaive at EM Speed and Power Training in Rancho Cucamonga http://emspeedtraining.com/. You can contact her at valerie@emspeedtraining.com.
Our focus includes all Major 18 GOLD SHOWCASE TOURNAMENTS to provide the players with the MAXIMUM EXPOSURE to display their talents. Forty-eight (48) players from Valerie's team alone have moved on to play and start on collegiate teams throughout the country on both academic and athletic scholarships at all levels Div I, II, III, NAIA and on JC scholarships. The majority of which have started at Division I programs (Please see our "About US" and "Alumni" pages for the link to the list.) We also conduct our training at EM Speed and Power Training.
* Our 2009/2010 schedule includes: all major showcases... 3-Surf City Showcases: Fall Showcase, Oktoberfest and Pre-Thanksgiving; America's Finest Fall and Winter Showcases, Gold Classification Tournaments, the R&R Gold Stockton Showcase, 3-Worth Firecracker Tournaments know known as So Cals Finest and many more!!!
* Our summer schedule will include: Surf City Summer start up Showcase, Boulder, Co. Independence Day Showcase, Las Vegas JO Classic, American Pastime Memorial Day Tournament, Champions Cup and all Gold Qualifiers. We are also being considered as a team in contention to qualify for So Cals Premiere Fastpitch Tournament in August 2010.
See our Roster page for Profiles of our coaching staff. See the "About Thunder or Alumni" pages for some Thunder history.
Thank you for your interest in the THUNDER organization and we appreciate the support from all those who are assisting these athletes pursue their dreams in athletics and academics.
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| Valerie Van Kirk- (909) 851-3595 VvanKirk@aol.com |
Saturday, April 19
18 Gold- Joe Vargas- (626)922-9433
Vargas.four@verizon.net
http://www.eteamz.com/californiathunder/
14u- Jerry Chavez- (626) 290-4891
Bruinblue1015@yahoo.com
http://www.eteamz.com/CalThunder96/
14u- Bob D’Agostino- (909) 896-8124
CalThunder95@yahoo.com
http://www.eteamz.com/CalThunder95/
12u- Anna Getherall-Hubert- (626) 625-6462
CalThunder97@gmail.com
http://www.eteamz.com/calthunder97/
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| EM |
Please click the "SKILLS VIDEO LINK" on the menu to access a list of players with skills videos available online for your viewing!!!
Videos are available for the following players:
Alyssa Ramirez- (2009) 3b/2b/OF
Andrea Chavez- (2010) SS/2b/OF
Marissa Hiller- (2010) P/3b/1b
Kelsey Barak- (2011) 2b/UT Inf/OF
Vanessa Molina- (2011) OF/Slapper
Samantha Nieves- (2011) SS
Thank you for your interest in our program!
Videos soon to be posted by Thanksgiving:
Hayley Wade- (2011) MI/OF
Jackie Carlin- (2011) C/3b/OF
Jordan Sauceda- (2011) P/1b/OF
Chelsea Espinosa- (2011) P/3b/1b/OF
Ciera Henson- (2011) OF/2b
Sunday, September 27
Worth/Wicked Fall Kickoff: 2-3 (Top Performers: Hayley Wade and Chelsea Espinosa)
- Victory over Thunder (4-2) If revert back we win (2-1)
- FC (Rico) over Thunder (3-1)
- Thunder over Desperados ( Chelsea Espinoza 3b) (3-1)
- Thunder over Pumas (Wike) (5-2)
- FC Gold over Thunder
RR Gold Showcase: 3-1-1 (Top Performers: Jordan Sauceda and Marissa Hiller)
- Thunder over Crushers (9-6) (Grand Slam Jordan Sauceda)
- Thunder tied Corona Angels (Phil) (0-0)
- Thunder over NW Wildfire (8-0)
- Thunder over Lady Sharks (5-1)
- Lady Hustle over Thunder (2-0)
So Cal's Finest Fall Kickoff: 4-0-1 (Top Performers: Kelsey Barak and Sam Nieves)
- Thunder tied Lakewood FC (2-2) Great game! If revert back we win 2-1
- Thunder over Sliderz (3-2) (Walk off hit Sam Nieves)
- Thunder over Madness (9-4)
- Thunder over Diamonds (3-2) (Walk off hit Sam Nieves)
- Thunder over SD Renegades (3-2) (Walk off triple Sam Nieves)
Surf City Fall Showcase: 2-3 (Top Performers: Taylor Schmidt and Vanessa Molina)
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Corona Angels Gold over Thunder (1-0/3 hitter) Great game!
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SJ Lady Sharks (TB) over Thunder ( 1-0/3 hitter) Great game!
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Thunder over Strike Zone (Ford) (7-1) (HR Vanessa Molina) Great game!
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Thunder over Sliderz (2-0) (HR Taylor Schmidt) Great game!
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Wicked Limon over Thunder (6-0)
Surf City Oktoberfest: 2-5 (Top Performers: Jordan Sauceda and Jackie Carlin)
Record does not reflect our performance. We played some close games, but did not have timely hitting or hit to our potential!!!
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Courage over Thunder (4-2) (2 run HR Jordan Sauceda) Great game!
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OC Dynasty over Thunder (We got whacked!!!)
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Thunder over Texas Sudden Impact (5-2) (HR Haylee Wade) Fantastic game!!!
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SJ Strikkers over Thunder (1-0) Great Game!
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WA Absolute Blast over Thunder (7-3)
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Thunder over CA Chaos (8-2)
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Irvine Sting over Thunder (2-1) Great Game!!! (Vanessa Molina 3 for 3)
America's Finest Showcase: 3-2 (Top Performers: Jackie Carlin and Kelsey Barak)
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Thunder over USA Revolution (Jackie Carlin 3-3 w/2 triples; Sam Nieves 3-3)
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American Pastime over Thunder (4-2) (Jordan Sauceda HR)
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OC Elite over Thunder (4-2)
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Thunder over Bustos Elite (4-3) (Kelsey Barak HR)
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Thunder over Teamsmith (4-0) (Sydney LaFollette key RBI 2b; Jordan Sauceda 4 innings no hits)
Surf City Pre-Thanksgiving Showcase: 4-2-1 (Top Performers: Chelsea Espinosa and Ciera Henson)
Great weekend we hit the ball a ton!!!
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Thunder tie NJ Pride Great Game (4-4) (Vanessa Molina 3b)
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Lady Hustle over Thunder (6-4) (Sam Nieves HR & 3b, Taylor Schmidt HR)
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Thunder over AZ Suncats (9-2) 2 hitter- Marissa Hiller/Jordan Sauceda (Vanessa Molina 3b)
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Thunder over NJ Pride (8-0) 1 hitter/Chelsea Espinosa (Sam Nieves 3b an 2b)
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Thunder over 3rd Degree (9-1) 3 hitter/Marissa Hiller (Ciera Henson Grand Slam & 3b, Marissa Hiller 3b)
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Thunder over Courage (7-1) 3 hitter/Marissa Hiller (Marissa Hiller 3b, Sam Nieves 3b, Chelsea Espinosa 2b)
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Am Athletics- DD over Thunder (8-1) (Sam Nieves 3b)
Overall record 20-16-3
Saturday, October 18
FALL/WINTER 2009/2010
NOV. 7-8, 2009 Worth Tournament of Champions- Menifee (confirmed)
NOV. 14-15, 2009 American Pastime Tournament Rancho Cucamonga
NOV. 20-29, 2009 THANKSGIVING-OFF
DEC. 5-6, 2009 SAT Day Org PRACTICE 9 am @ South Hills HS
DEC. 12-Jan 3, 2010 OFF-XMAS VACATION (tentative)
Jan. 4 & 6, 2010 Mon. & Wed. Practice @ Covina Park
JAN. 9-10, 2010 Surf City Winter Showcase
JAN. 16-17, 2010 Gold Classification
Jan. 20, 2010 Wed. Practice @ Covina Park
JAN. 23-24, 2010 America’s Finest City Winter Showcase-Escondido (confirmed)
http://www.sdrenegades.org/Showcase/Showcase.htm
JAN. 30-31, 2010 Practice
FEB. 6, 2010 SUPERBOWL WEEKEND- Practice Sat. only
Feb. 8 & 10, 2010 Mon. & Wed. Practice @ Covina Park
FEB. 13-14, 2010 Gold Classification (if necessary) or Surf City
Sunday, August 16
Division I Colleges
http://www.nfca.org/fastpitch/?div_id=2
Division II Colleges
http://www.nfca.org/fastpitch/?div_id=3
Division III Colleges
http://www.nfca.org/fastpitch/?div_id=4
NAIA Colleges
http://www.nfca.org/fastpitch/?div_id=5
NJCAA1 Colleges
http://www.nfca.org/fastpitch/?div_id=72
NJCAA2 Colleges
http://www.nfca.org/fastpitch/?div_id=73
NJCAA3 Colleges
http://www.nfca.org/fastpitch/?div_id=74
CALJC Colleges
http://www.nfca.org/fastpitch/?div_id=76
NWACC Colleges
http://www.nfca.org/fastpitch/?div_id=77
