Pines Thunder 18U: Archived News
Pines Thunder Takes 2nd Place in Palmetto Bay ASA Qualifier
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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
Pines Thunder (Red & Black Team) Summer 2008 Schedule
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
"Pines Thunder Gold - 2008 College Signees"
Congratulations to the latest Pines Thunder Gold 18U players to sign or commit to play at the next level.
Sunday, September 9
PINES THUNDER "18U" GOLD FALL TEAM"
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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Thursday, February 1
2007 Summer/Fall Tournament Schedule
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
"2007 Summer Pines Thunder Gold Team"
Congratulations to the players that have been selected to the 2007 Summer "PINES THUNDER 18U GOLD" team.
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.
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.
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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 Finish Runner-up in the Clearwater Bullet PONY Qualifier
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.
Pines Thunder - 18U Travel Team
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
RECRUITING INFORMATION
College Recruiters, Scouts or Coaches?
What do they look like?
Can you talk to them?
What do you say.
Notice the stopwatch on her hand.
Are you working on your speed?
Cathi Aradi writes...
1) First learn the NCAA rules about "contacts." Parents/players shouldn't be talking to coaches/scouts at tournaments unless the coach/scout has specifically asked the parent/player to find him/her. (And that's only when it's allowed--e.g., after July 1 following the junior year. Players can't talk to the coaches even then at tourneys until their team has been eliminated.)
2) See point 1! Parents should leave coaches alone for a number of reasons unless asked ahead of time to talk to them. 1) It may jeopardize their player's eligibility; 2) It may use up one of only three off-campus contacts per school; 3) It may turn the coach off, particularly if they feel the parent is too aggressive. Some coaches don't like to talk to kids/parents at tournaments, preferring to wait until later. My rule of thumb is this. Leave them alone unless asked to find them. If they want to get a hold of you, they will, trust me!
3) If a coach has asked to talk to the player and her parents at a tournament (assuming she'll be or is a senior), I suggest keeping it short and simple. Unless it's a home visit or you're going out for dinner or something, tell the coach you're glad to meet him/her, that you'd appreciate getting info on the school, and that you'd like to have time to think about his/her interest--whether the coach is asking the kid to visit, to consider his/her school, etc. Don't feel intimated or rushed into anything.
4) Cathi Aradi's book has three pages of questions kids can ask coaches at different times. Keep the book handy when talking to coaches. Make the most of any contacts, but don't feel you have to answer every question at once.
As for "why" the rules? The purpose is to help provide coaches with a level playing ground when it comes to recruiting and to help prevent them from overwhelming kids. Personally, I think too many coaches "push" the edge of the envelope--e.g., skirt right along the edge of what is legal and what isn't. Some coaches try to sell a kid on their schools and get them to practically commit based on one fifteen minute conversation. Parents should never be afraid to step in--putting their egos and wallets aside for the time--and tell coaches the player will definitely look into that school and would like to hear more but perhaps by phone or on a visit when they can really concentrate on what's going on.
Links:
Cathi's Links at Collegiate Softball Connection.
Click on SpySoftball.com.
SPY provides reports on major ASA 18-U girls fastpitch softball tournaments and related events.
SPY reports are written
by Rayburn Hesse
Nationally-recognized coach and scout.
College Search:
College listing from a Las Vegas Tournament website.
College Coach email search facility.
If you know the name of the coach or only the college,
this tool will find the coaches email. From the search
under additional resources click "College Nickname & Coach Email Search"
Look up your favorite College Softball Team.
Encarta College Information Finder.
eteamz.com College Softball Search.
Uniguide Guide to US Universities.
Ultimate College Softball.Great Link!
Div I top 25 teams, Rankings,
College stats, college newspapers and a lot more.
Books:
"Preparing to Play Softball at the Collegiate Level", by Cathi Aradi
Now in the 2004 edition.
"The College Softball Recruiting Guide",
by: David Alberts, Ph.D.
NCAA ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
Click on the headline above to get information on NCAA eligibility and the NCAA CLEARINGHOUSE.
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)
THURSDAY 7/21/05
1:15pm - Pines Thunder 18U vs (NC) Carolina Crushers Red (Cooper City Complex Field #3)
FRIDAY 7/22/05
1:15pm - Pines Thunder 18U vs (NJ) New Jersey Stars (Driftwood Park Field #3)
4:45pm - Pines Thunder 18U vs (FL) Miami Wildcats (Bamford Sports Complex Field #B6-White Sox)
8:15pm - Pines Thunder 18U vs (FL) Alpha's Army (Bamford Sports Complex Field #B6-White Sox)
SATURDAY 7/23/05
8:00am - Pines Thunder 18U vs (GA) Atlanta Diamonds (Brian Piccolo Park Field #5)
9:45am - Pines Thunder 18U vs (WV) West Virginia Dusters (Brian Piccolo Park Field #5)
3:00pm - Pines Thunder 18U vs (GA) Georgia Mavericks (Bamford Sports Complex Field #B10-Rangers)
"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)
"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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Pines Thunder 14U's Finish in the Top Ten
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.
