Pines Thunder 18U: Welcome
PINES THUNDER "18U"
"HOME OF THE CHAMPIONS"
The goal of PINES THUNDER and Fletcher Park is to provide it's players with the opportunity to play competitive softball at a high level of competition and to maximize their exposure to college coaches and scouts. In addition to playing in showcase tournaments, this web site is another tool for college coaches and scouts to gain valuable information on PINES THUNDER players for statistics and playing schedules.
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Sunday, June 15
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Tuesday, February 12
Congratulations to all of the players that have made the PINES THUNDER 18U RED & BLACK summer travel teams.
Tuesday, February 12
May 23, 24, 25 & 26 (tentative) ...........West Central FL - National Qualifier
May 30, 31 & June 1 (tentative)...........South Regional National Qualifier
June 6, 7, & 8............................................ASA Local Championship (Palmetto Bay)
June 13, 14 & 15.......................................Pennsbury Showcase (Philly, PA) Red Team Only
June 26-29................................................Gold Diamond National Exposure Tournament (Kissimmee, FL)
July 2 - July 6............................................Indepenence Day Showcase (Boulder, CO) Red Team Only
Jully 11, 12 & 13.........................................Jacksonville Storm Showcase (Jax, FL)
July 18, 19 & 20.........................................Rising Stars Showcase (Davie, FL)
July 27 - Aug. 3..........................................ASA Nationals (Moline, IL) (need to qualify)
Saturday, December 15
Congratulations to the latest Pines Thunder Gold 18U players to sign or commit to play at the next level.
Wednesday, November 21
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Alexis Casey has signed with Florida Gulf Coast University and will be attending there in the fall of 2008. Alexis will be graduating in May of 2008 from Deerfield Beach High School.
FCGU Inks Trio for 2009
11/27/2007
FORT MYERS, Fla. - FGCU softball head coach David Deiros announced that three players have signed National Letters of Intent to attend FGCU next fall and play for the 2008-09 Eagle softball team, which finished last season with a 62-8 record and ranked No. 10 in the nation at the Division II level.
The signees are catcher/1B Lindsey Green from Bowling Green, Ky., pitcher/outfielder Cassidy Rash from Crystal River, Fla. and pitcher Alexis Casey from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
“With the addition of Lindsey, Cassidy, and Alexis, we were able to take care of most of our primary needs for next season,” said Deiros. “We expect to sign one or two prospects in the next signing period (April 2008).”
Green plays for Greenwood High School and the Louisville Lady Sluggers. Green has earned First Team Class 3A All-State, First Team All-Academic Team, First Team All-Region and District MVP for 3A as she led Greenwood to the 3A State Championship in 2007.
“Lindsey is the perfect student-athlete to continue our transition to Division I,” said Deiros. “She is a consummate professional on the field, in the locker room, and in the classroom as evidenced by her litany of accomplishments. I expect her to make an immediate impact in our lineup because of her blend of athleticism, power, and leadership.”
Rash plays at Crystal River High School and the Gold Coast Hurricanes travel program. In 2007 for Crystal River, Rash had a 22-4 record with an ERA under 1.0. She earned Second Team All-State honors for Class 4A. Rash will hold every significant area high school pitching record by the end of her senior season.
“Cassidy is an exemplary athlete,” said Deiros. “She runs well, hits for power and average, and can play a variety of different positions. What sets her apart is her skill in the pitcher’s circle, because she tirelessly works on perfecting the mechanics of her delivery. We are looking for her to make a difference for us in our pitching rotation as well as batting order.”
Casey plays for Deerfield Beach High School and the Pembroke Pines Thunder Gold travel program. Casey was named to the Third Team All-Broward County in 2007.
“Alexis has a great frame for a pitcher and can move the ball around the plate very well,” stated Deiros. “She is improving daily on her pitching because of her work ethic and attention to detail on her mechanics. She has a tremendous opportunity to be a top-flight pitcher at FGCU.”
The Eagles open the 2008 season in Tampa, Fla. on Feb. 8 when they participate in the USF Best Western Tournament.
Thursday, November 15
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Katie Girardi has signed with the University of Louisiana-Monroe in Northern Louisiana and will be attending there in the fall of 2008. Katie will be graduating in May of 2008 from McArthur High School.
ULM SOFTBALL ADDS FIVE DURING EARLY SIGNING PERIOD
Courtesy: ULMAthletics.com Release 12/04/2007MONROE, La. --- A set of five high school seniors signed National Letters of Intent to join the ULM softball team head coach Rosemary Holloway-Hill announced. Tiffany Mills, Jessica Chastka, Roxane Cassel, Deianna Russell and Katie Girardi will join the Warhawks after completing their final prep seasons.
"We know that we are going to have some holes to fill with the graduation of seven seniors," ULM softball head coach Rosemary Holloway-Hill said. "Each of the five players we signed has played in top-level softball leagues and will be important to the continued growth and success of our program."
At 5-11, Mills will join the Warhawks after a successful prep career for Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Riverside, Calif. As a junior, Mills was named First Team All-League and ended the 2006-07 season by collecting Top-Offensive Player hardware. A two-year letter winner in softball, Mills has also performed well on the pitch, lettering two years for the Wolves in soccer.
A 5-8 pitcher from College Station, Texas, Chastka will join the Warhawks after she finishes her prep career at A&M Consolidated High School. Chastka became ULM's first signee during the early period after casting her lot with the Warhawks Thursday afternoon. Chastka ended the 2007 season with 15 victories, 185 strikeouts and an earned run average of 0.94. Consolidated High School's most valuable player in 2007, Chastka ended the year with eight shutouts in 163 innings pitched. "Jessica [Chastka] and Tiffany [Mills] are going to have some big shoes to fill," Holloway-Hill said. "Lindsay Rittenhouse and Shanna Swillie have done a great job for us and will be key losses after they graduate. We wanted to bring in pitchers that had played at a high level and could compete for us immediately. Jessica and Tiffany are that type of player."
In addition to signing the two pitchers, the Warhawks added a trio of bats to the line-up with the addition of Cassel, Russell and Girardi to the class.
Able to play catcher and both corner infield positions, Girardi will join ULM after a record-setting career for McArthur High School in Hollywood, Fla. Girardi's 24 home runs through her junior season are already the most for a career at McArthur HS. As a junior, Girardi set the school single season home run record and was named First Team All-State after knocking 13 out of the park. She finished the 2007 season with 30 extra base hits, 34 runs scored, 47 RBI and a 1.408 slugging percentage in 24 games. Girardi was named team Most Valuable Player after hitting for a .563 average. Girardi is also an excellent volleyball player. At McArthur HS she lettered four years on the court, serving as team captain for three seasons.
Russell will join the Warhawks after completing her prep career at Chatsworth High School in Chatsworth, Calif. where she is coming off an All-League First Team Selection as a junior. The team's defensive Most Valuable Player, Russell finished the year with a .386 batting average, 23 runs batted in and one home run. Over the last two seasons, Russell has scored 53 runs, collected 37 RBI, and hit 12 doubles, eight triples and three home runs. In addition to excelling on the diamond, Russell is also a varsity volleyball player and multiple-academic award recipient.
Cassel joins the Warhawks after playing her prep softball at Deer Park High School in the Houston, Texas area. After her junior season, Cassel was named First Team All-District and Third Team Greater Houston Area. "We really like the sticks of the three position players that we are adding," Holloway-Hill said. "It is funny that they come to us after playing primarily at catcher. That will be one of the deepest positions for us in the coming years, but these three will give us flexibility in the field with their ability to play the corner infield positions." The ULM softball team is set to enter its second season in the perennially competitive Sun Belt Conference in the spring of 2008.
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Sunday, September 9
Congratulations to those players that have made the Fall 2007 Pines Thunder "18U" Gold Team.
Megan Adkins, Carrisa Albizu, Alexis Casey, Katie Girardi, Brooke Granteed, Katie Kelton, Vicky Martin, Amanda Moseley, Jamie Paolini, Brittany Perez, Morgan Walters and Jasmine Warren
"FALL 2007 SCHEDULE"
October 14, 2007 .........................4-Team Showcase Warm-up
October 26-28, 2007 ....................Fall Rising Stars Showcase
November 2-4, 2007 ....................Ronald McDonald Showcase
December 28-30, 2007.................Snowball Classic
January 4-6, 2008 ........................Winter Rising Stars Showcase
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Sunday, January 28
Congratulations to the latest Pines Thunder Gold 18U players to sign or commit to play at the next level.
Erica Granteed has signed with Stony Brook University in New York and will be attending there in the fall of 2007. Erica is a graduate from St. Thomas Aquinas.
Casey Jacobs has also signed with Stony Brook University in New York and will be attending there with Erica in the fall. Casey attended Broward Community College for one year after graduating from Chaminade-Maddona in 2006.
Shannon Kelly has signed with the University of Notre Dame and will will begin attending there in the fall of 2007. Shannon is a graduate from Hollywood Christian School.
Sammy Daugherty has signed with Greenville College in Illinios and will begin attending there in the fall of 2007. Sammy is also a graduate from Hollywood Christian School.
Thursday, February 1
June 1-3, 2007 .................................................South Florida ASA Championship
June 8-10, 2007................................................ASA Southern Qualifier (West Palm Bch)
June 15-17, 2007 .............................................Pennsbury Showcase
June 26-July 1, 2007.........................................Boulder Independence Showcase
July 6-8, 2007...................................................Jacksonville Storm Showcase
July 20-22, 2007...............................................Summer Rising Stars Showcase
Sunday, January 28
Megan Adkins, Carissa Albizu, Alexis Casey, Jenevieve Cena, Sammy Daugherty, Katie Girardi, Brooke Granteed, Erica Granteed, Jonelle Henderson, Casey Jacobs, Shannon Kelly, Cody Turman and Jasmine Warren.
By: Bill Lammel
I. The only contant is a player's ability to always hustle!
II. Do not quit!!! Never quit!!!
III. You'll never be a .300 hitter unless you take the bat off of your shoulders.
IV. No one ever became a player by walking after the ball!
V. Keep you head up and you may never have to keep it down!
VI. Do not alibi on the bad hops! Anyone can field the good ones.
VII. When running the bases, always slide when in doubt!! Always slide!
VIII. Always run them out, you never know!
IX. Do not find fault in umpires. You cannot expect them to be as perfect as you.
X. A pitcher who doesn't have control doesn't have anything!
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Pines Thunder traveled to Denver, Colorado and competed in the Colorado Sparkler Showcase Tournament completing their play going 5-3-1. Thunder completed the round robin pool play going 3-1 and seeded 2nd in their pool earning them a spot in the Gold Division of the bracket tournament. Their 1st bracket game was against their cross town rival and the tournament winner, West Pines Diamond Dusters. The game was 0-0 with West Pines(home team) up to bat with the time limit running out. West Pines scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly with a runner at 3rd to win the game.
Pines Thunder will compete in the NSA Florida State Championship July 8-10 before competing in the Rising Stars Showase July 21-23.
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Pines Thunder traveled to Clearwater, Florida to play in the Clearwater Bullet PONY qualifier and completed it's weekend losing in the championship game to the Brevard Stealers 3-1. After seeding victories against the Clearwater Bullets (1-0), Riptide (4-3) and the Brevard Stealers (1-0) Thunder seeded #1 going into the bracket round. After another victory against the Riptide (1-0) on Sunday, Thunder went into the championship game ready to battle a strong Stealer Team in a rematch of the previous days game. With great pitching, the Stealers shut down Thunder's bats and took the victory for the Championship. Next week Thunder travels to Westminster, Colorado to play in the Colorado Sparkler College Showcase Tournament.
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Pines Thunder 18U went out to Las Vegas and completed the round robin play with a 4-1 record. Thunder started at 8am with a 5-2 victory over the Oregon Breeze followed by a 7-1 victory over the Las Vegas Blast. The third game was scheduled to be against the Salina Storm, but the team was a no show. The Triple Threat from the state of Washington stepped in and filled the open spot. After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, Thunder came back and took a 3-2 lead late. The lead was short lived when Triple Threat came back to tie it back up 3-3. Pines Thunder came back once against to take the lead 4-3 when Ashley Perez hit an in the park homer to put the Thunder up for good. The defense shut done the Triple Threat in their final at bat to complete the come back and win 4-3. On the second day of play, Thunder started with Idaho Express finishing that game with a 6-0 victory. After the starting with a 4-0 record, Thunder ran into a tough Washington Simply Wild team losing it first and only game 5-2.
Click on the following link to go to photos from Las Vegas. LAS VEGAS PHOTOS.
Carissa Albizu, Crystal Allwardt, Kathy Cabrera, Sam Daugherty, Katie Girardi, Erica Granteed, Casey Jacobs, Cheyenne Jenks, Megan Kaye, Shannon Kelly, Jessica Kilgore, Ashley Perez, Cody Turman
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Click on the following link to see PINES THUNDER 18U Travel Team player profiles and photo albums. PHOTO ALBUMS.
Showcase Tournaments
"Las Vegas Showcase" www.lvtourneys.com
June 11-12, 2005 (Las Vegas, Nevada)
"Colorado Sparkler" www.triplecrownsports.com
June 28 - July 3, 2005 (Westminster, Colorado)
"Summer Rising Stars" www.risingstarsevents.com/05risesum.htm
July 21-23, 2005 (Davie, Florida)
"Pony 18U Nationals" www.risingstarsevents.com/pony/index.htm
July 24-31, 2005 (Davie Florida)
Other Tournaments
"PONY Qualifier" www.clearwaterbullets.com
June 18 & 19, 2005 (Clearwater, Florida)
"NSA State Championship" www.floridansa-youth.com
July 8-10, 2005 (Polk County, Florida)
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Photo:
Back row - left to right
Manager Frank Girardi, Casey Jacobs, Sam Daugherty, Jamie Roberts, Katie Girardi, Shannon Kelly, Heather Bryan and Coach Martin Karch.
Front Row - left to right
Carissa Albizu, Carolyn Karch, Amanda Moore, Cody Turman and Erica Granteed.
Katie Girardi lead the team in batting with a .643 batting average while driving in 13 of the teams 39 runs. Shannon Kelly was 2nd in hitting with a .611 average.
Thunder opened up bracket play with a 4-0 victory against the Perrine Stingers. Shannon Kelly went 2 for 3 with a double while driving in 2 runs. Ashley Green, Heather Bryan and Erica Granteed all went 1 for 2. Thunders 2nd victory was a 10-1 game against the Coral Springs Alleycats. Casey Jacobs went 3 for 3, Sam Daugherty went 2 for 2 with a double, Carissa Albizu went 1 for 1 while Katie Girardi was 2 for 3 with a double, triple and 4 RBI's. In the semifinals, Thunder had to score 4 runs in it's last at bat to get the victory over the West Pines Diamond Dusters 5-4. Jamie Roberts hit the game winning double with 2 outs to drive in the tying and the winning run. Carolyn Karch went 2 for 2 with Cody Turman and Amanda Moore both going 1 for 3.
In the championship game, Thunder beat the Pembroke Lakes Bandits 5-0. Cody Turman hit an in the park home run while Girardi went 1 for 2 with a triple and Daugherty drove in 2 runs.
Shannon Kelly pitched the victories against the Stingers and the Dusters while Jamie Roberts had victories against the Alleycats and Bandits.
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Congratulations to manager Frank Girardi and the Thunder 16 & Under "A" team who won the championship game, defeating West Pines Diamond Dusters 3-1 in West Pine's Snowball Classic which ended Sunday night. Thunder was the only undefeated team in the double elimination paly. After losing one of our key players Ashley Varela to an injury before the championship game, (putting them down to 8 players) they were lucky to have our 14 & under player Crystal Allwardt who had just returned from vaction jump in the car and fill in for Ashley..and what a job she did. Thank you Crystal! Thank you also to Kayla Wiley another 14 & under who stepped up to catch covering for vacationing and injured players...great job! And a hugh thank you to Christina Ellis another 14 & under who played right field and made the most awesome catch in the championship game that completely could have changed the outcome of the game had she missed it....she was awarded the game ball and truly deserved it...Great player! Congratulations also to Shannon Kelly whose home run over the fence and great pitching earned her the MVP trophy for the weekend...Great job Shannon! It was nice to come away from a great tournament as the champions and I hope Frank and all the coaches are proud of that hugh first place trophy they and the girls earned...Great great job by Casey Jacobs, Erica Granteed, Jackie Gonzalez, Katie Girardi, Kayla Wiley, Christina Ellis, Shannon Kelly, Roxie Church, Crystal Allwardt, Kelly McKeon & Ashley Varela!
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The 2003 Pines Thunder 14U "A" and 14U "B" both finished the NSA World Series in the top 10. The 14U "B" team went to the Chicago area finishing 7th out of 67 teams, while the 14U "A" team traveled to the Charlotte area and finished 7th out of 107 teams. Congratulations to both teams.
