NJ Divas Fastpitch: Welcome
Sunday, October 14The NJ State Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Hall of Fame Inductions and Banquet will be held Sunday, January 20, 2007, 1:00pm at the Crowne Plaza Somerset-Bridgewater Hotel , (formerly Somerset Marriott), 110 Davidson Ave., Somerset, NJ 08873, tel. 732-560-0500. Tickets are $25. Contact Patricia Spirito at (973) 467-4034 for reservations. Former greats inducted HOF in both 2007 and 2008 will be honored.
For info on the NJ State ASA Hall of Fame, including criteria for induction and the list of honorees, please visit http://www.asasoftballucnj.org/nj_state/hof_nj.html.
2007 INDUCTEES
Patricia Auger
Patti started playing travel ball in 1973. She was involved with women's ASA fastpitch from 1980-1995, primarily as a stellar centerfielder and manager. She roamed the OF for the 1981 Class A National Champion Montclair 81s under well-known manager Charlie Williams. The 81's captured the ASA title in North Dakota, and Patti was selected as a 2nd team ASA All-American that season. She continued to anchor the OF for the 81s and later the Bergen County Blue Jays, who eventually became the NJ Jays and DiFeo's Blue Jays (sponsored by the Jersey City Auto Dealership). Patti smoothly made the transition to being more of a manager with the Jays. In 1992, she amassed a team of solid, spectacular local talent. Although registered as Class A, the '92 Jays took care of business with just about every team they faced, including those of the major variety (Budweiser Belles, Linden Majors, Ree-Gals, to name a few NJ teams). They won the prestigious Topton VIPs 4th of July Tournament in PA. Patti still played CF, and was named a First Team ASA All-American when her team took title game at the west-coast dominanated national championship in Salem, OR. After knocking off their first few western teams, the local papers still viewed them as a fluke!
Patti was and still is one of the class acts of fastpitch in NJ. She is currently the assistant coach at the very successful Ridgewood HS program, and coaches a new 23U team in Bergen County.
Val Julien
A native of northern NJ, Val was a four-year letter winner and All-Conference NNJIL as a pitcher for Hasbrouck Heights HS. That's where the accent is apparently rooted. She played her college ball under famed coach Willie Rucker at Montclair State College, where she was a varsity hurler from 1978-1982. MSC was D2 Regional Champ in 1980, and competed in the NCAA D2 national tournament in Chapman, CA. After graduation in 1983, Val landed her first job as an asst. coach at MSC. One of the last great slingshot-style pitchers, Val pitched for the ASA Montclair 1981s under Mgr. Charlie Williams from 1979-1983. The team qualified for nationals in 1979, 81, 82 and 83. They were Mid-Atlantic Region II champs in 1981, 1982, 1983. In 1981, Val lead the team to their Class A National Championship in North Dakota. She was selected a First Team All-American. She was known for her vicious drop ball and intelligence.Upon becoming the assistant, and later head coach at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Val coached the South Jersey Rebels, later known as the New Jersey Rebels ASA Women’s Class “A” Fast Pitch team, from 1984-1998. The team was always highly competitive in the Class A ranks. They won the 1986 NJ State ASA title, placed 2nd in 1992, and were always fighting for Regional titles.
Val served as the Stockton College Assistant Coach in 1984, 1985, 1986. She has been the Ospreys' head coach since 1987, and is currently the senior coach in the prestigious New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC)
NJAC:
Three Coach of the Year Honors in NJAC (New Jersey Athletic Conference)
NJAC Blue Division Champs 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
ECAC Regional Champs 1985
ECAC Participants 1984, 1986, 1990, 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006
ECAC Runners Up 1984
$ECAC Third place 1990
300th win vs. NJCU 4-1-06
Coached many All-NJAC Conference and All-Region players
Coached several Academic-All District Players
Many National Fast pitch Coaches Association All-American Scholar Athletes
Past few years the softball team has held one of the highest GPAs within the athletic department
Women’s softball is recognized as a community leader in Atlantic County.
Our volunteerism entails many community services projects including…
Habitat for Humanity Read Across America
LPGA Shoprite Classic MLK Days
Giving back to the local community and youth teams, Stockton players volunteer as clinic headliners; the team performs softball clinics all over Atlantic County
Annual Stockton Hitting Clinics, featured guests:
2003: Michele Carlson-Neveling – former pro & All-American (Trenton State)
2003: Lauren Anderson & Betty Zwingraf (pitching)
2004: Mel Briggs – Divas All-American (New Mexico State)
2005: Laura Taylor – Divas, Pro & Big East Player of the Year (Seton Hall)
2006-2008: Laura Taylor – former pro & Divas, ASA All-American
2007 Pitching + Catching Clinic: Betty Zwingraf, Mandy Schenck, Linda Lensch, Lauren Anderson, + former RSC pitchers + pitching coaches who are advanced degree candidates
2007 Outfield-only Clinic
NJ Divas ASA Women’s Fastpitch (Under GM Linda Lensch)
2000-2005: Head Coach, 10 All-Americans, 1 National Championship, numerous other championships and Top-5 or Top-10 finishes nationally; featured speaker at all Divas clinics and events
2005: Head Coach 5th place, ASAWomen’s Major Nationals, Stratford, CT
1 All-America selection
2004: Head Coach 4th place, ASA Women’s Class “A” Nationals, Ft. Payne, AL
2 All-America Selections
2003: Head Coach National Champions, ASA Women’s 23U, Amherst, NY
Perfect 5-0 record
Four Divas selected to ASA 23U All-America Team
3rd Place, ASA Class ‘A’ National, Ft. Payne, AL
Three Divas selected to ASA Class ‘A’ All-America Team
Champions, Topton Invitational, Lyons, PA
Tournament MVP: Mel Briggs (Divas 1B)
Tournament Top Defensive Player: Brittney Neer (Divas 2B)
Five Divas named to Tournament All-Star Team
Champions, Divas/Linden Invitational Tournament (6-0)
ASA Mid-Atlantic Region 2 Champions
NJ State ASA Champions
Split doubleheader with the Dominican Republic National Women’s Team for their pre-Pan American Games USA Tour throughout the Northeast
Val was single-handedly responsible for setting in motion the Divas being recognized by a joint legislative resolution of the New Jersey House and Senate, for our accomplishments at the 23U Nationals. Through her relationship with the president and management of the Atlantic City Surf minor league baseball team, we were honored at NJ Divas Night at the Sandcastle ballpark, home of the Surf. Senator William Gormley, Assemblymen Frank Blee & Bill Conover made special presentations along with AC Surf management. Blee’s daughter has attended clinics at Stockton College, and Blee is a huge fastpitch fan.
The Divas were also recognized with a special proclamation by Mayor John T. Gregorio and the City of Linden for bringing the National Championship home. A sign commemorating the feat is erected at Toots Nusse Field.
2002: 7th place finish at ASA Major National Championship
(lost 2-1 to top-seeded California Hurricanes, the 2002 runners-up)
Champions, Linden Invitational Tournament (16 teams)
3rd place, 22nd Bob Caravan Memorial Tournament, Allentown, PA
(lost 2-1 in the 7th inning to eventual 2002 national champ Brakettes
and their USA Olympic pitcher)
3rd place, 42nd Topton, PA Tournament (3 Divas selected to All-Star Team)
Hosted the TeamSmith Nationals, a barnstorming team of WPSL professional & Olympic players led by Julie Smith, for a youth clinic and doubleheader vs. the Divas at Linden, drawing hundreds of fans from across the tri-state area.
2000-2001:
Manager Linda Lensch convinces long-time rival coach Val Julien to join the Divas staff. The Divas win their first NJ State Championship. The team continues to improve and attract marquee talent.
The NJ Divas with Val Julien attended ASA National Championships in Portland, OR, Auburn, AL, Ft. Payne, AL (twice), Stratford, CT and Amherst, NY. Val Julien had a huge impact on the team’s later successes. In addition to on the field coaching, she assisted with recruiting and all facets of teaching and coaching. She also assisted with the running of the Linden Invitational Tournaments.
NJ Divas Eight-year synopsis:
Over .750 winning percentage
2003 ASA 23U National Champions (2003 season record 31-7, committed 8 total errors)
ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch……. 5th & 7th place national rankings
ASA Women’s Class “A” F.P………. Three top-5, 1 Top-10 national rankings
6 – Invitational Tournament Championships
5 – NJ ASA State Championships
3 – Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships
10 – ASA National Championship All-America Team selections
1- Former Divas played professionally
Several Divas now working in the collegiate and HS coaching ranks
2 – Worked in front offices of NJ Minor League Baseball Teams
1 – NJ State Hall of Fame and Union County ASA HOF Inductee
Michele Smith
Wow. There's soooo much here, just click on http://www.michelesmith.com/ and go to BIO. Two time USA Olympic Gold Medalist...MVP again in the Japan Pro League....ASA National Hall of Fame....ASA National Champion...ASA All-American....NCAA All-American....NJ ASA Hall of Fame!!! One of the worl'd best pitchers and athletes, Michele has spent her life dedicated to the GAME and to the research of pitching mechanics. A native of Califon, NJ, she pitched for Voorhees HS, the Linden Majors, the Budweiser Belles (Parsippany) before going off to Oklahoma State and glory. But she's still and always our Jersey Girl!!!
2008 Inductees
Tricia Popowski
SOFTBALL:
Three sport HS athlete (soccer, basketball, softball) at Hoffman HS in South Amboy 1984-1987
1987 HHS Scholar Athlete
Star Ledger All-Centruy Teram
Star Ledger Top Ten Players of all Time
4X All-Greater Middlesex County player
1984 Third Team All State
1985 Second Team, All Group, All State
1985 Second Team All State, All Group
1986 & 87, First Team All Group, All State
4X All Conference player
1985, 86, 87 Daily News All Star
1985 Middlesex County Champs
1986 Group I State Champs
Saturday, October 13
ASA Women's MAJOR Nationals will be in Amherst, NY, Aug. 8-10, 2008. Very limited roster spots. Talented & interested participants should contact Mgr. Linda Lensch at njdivas@verizon.net.
As per the ASA Code, if you are rostered with an ASA-registered 23U team, you can also play for us as a fully rostered Major player. There is NO conflict, you can legally do both.
If you are rostered with an ASA 18U/Gold or Women's Class "A"team, you can only join us as a "Pick-Up" player... those spots are limited and must be approved by the Commissioner. So, if you're interested in playing for the Divas Major team and have any questions regarding eligibility, please contact us for clarification prior to signing any roster.
This will be a short, late season...show up ready to play/win. We are seeking only the BEST.
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| Laura & members of the Jr. Divas team at the 2006 Stockton Hitting Clinic |
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Former professional fastpitch power hitter and current St. John's University assistant coach Laura Taylor (2005 NY-NJ Juggernaut) will visit the new sports arena at Richard Stockton College to present two clinics on hitting. The sessions will be held on two Sundays in 2008: Jan. 20 for ages 8-12 and Jan. 27 for ages 13-18. Taylor will be assisted by RSC head coach Val Julien, assistant coaches Michelle Perrotta (Trenton State), Val Frick, Adele Calimer (Rutgers), and pitching coach Linda Lensch. Julien & Lensch coached Taylor on the NJ Divas ASA 23U national championship team. She was named a 2003 ASA All-American at the Class "A" national tournament a few weeks later.
Participants will receive instruction on proper technique, mindset and training. Taylor, along with Stockton staff and the Ospreys team personnel, will monitor and instruct participants as they progress through numerous and varied hitting stations. Learning will not be limited to only the ballplayers, as parents and coaches may accompany the athletes and instructors at all of the stations. Players should wear sneakers, and batting gloves are recommended.
For further information or to register contact RSC head coach Val Julien at 609-748-6012 or via email at julienv@stockton.edu.
The Stockton Hitting Clinic series has been immensely popular over the years. By popular demand, Laura Taylor returns for her third consecutive stint, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge acquired through her NCAA, ASA, international and professional experiences. In 2002-2003, Laura was one of 52 elite athletes invited to Chula Vista, CA for the 2006 USA Olympic team tryouts. As a freshman at SHU she led the nation in HRs per game, and later was a key in the Pirates' first Big East championship. The slugger earned Big East Player of the Week honors five times over her career and was named Seton Hall’s Female Athlete of the Year on three separate occasions. She graduated with a degree in Finance and was named the Big East Player of the Year. After completing her professional run with the Juggernaut, Laura served as an assistant coach with Providence College, helping the Friars to one of their best seasons. Laura has since taken her talents to the Big Apple and the St. Johns University Red Storm, where she is the assistant to SJU head coach Amy Kwilhaug.
For more about Laura & SJU visit: http://redstormsports.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/taylor_laura00.html
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| LT hitting demo at Stockton's new "Big Blue" Athletic Center |
Friday, October 19
Click on the headline above to find out how the International Softball Federation's new "Back Softball" campaign seeks to re-instate our sports for the 2016 Olympic Games....
Friday, September 1
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Published in THE NEW YORK TIMES: September 1, 2006
Softball, removed from the Olympic roster starting in 2012, is hoping that a high-level task force will get the sport back in the Games by 2016. The sports governing body, the International Softball Federation, announced yesterday that it was setting up the task force, drawing its members from business, the news media, the International Olympic Committee and the international and national softball federations.
The aim is to generate support for softballs reinstatement at an International Olympic Committee meeting in 2009, the next time the issue is allowed to be put before the committee.
We need to ensure the future of our sport for the millions of young athletes around the world who are playing our sport with the dream of competing in the Olympics, the International Softball Federation president, Don Porter, said in a statement from Beijing, host of the womens world championships now under way. This new strategic task force will go a long way toward helping us achieve that goal.