Please read this entire section for important tryout news.

We have openings on all of our teams and also plan to field additional new teams to the extent that the attendance at the tryouts result in an adequate number of additional new players.

Our program is a ten month program -- with team selection and formation in August and early September -- with outdoor practices beginning in October - and indoor practices (described further below) beginning in November which continue through the winter months until we go back outdoors in the spring. We continue to practice outdoors in the spring and summer months with the season ending in late July.

Our practice facilities and development program are unequaled! We have dedicated indoor and outdoor facilities that no other fastpitch travel program can match.

Our indoor facilities are comprised of softball specific indoor practice areas at a high school facility that include: five hitting stations, six juggs pitching machine cages, pitching lanes for three simultaneous pitchers and an infield (throwing and ground ball) area. These facilities are available to us for four weekday nights and Saturdays from November thru April (in Bellevue--in the North Hills of Pittsburgh). In addition, we rent the RMU Neville Island Golf Dome every Sunday morning from November thru early March which provides two full sized field practice areas and additional space for specialized instruction with fly balls and grounders. We also have scrimmage games in this facility.

Our outdoor facility is a softball only full sized lighted field that is 100% dedicated to us for: the weekends in the fall and early spring months and during the weekdays in the late spring and summer months (in Bellevue--in the North Hills of Pittsburgh).

A team's typical practice schedule for the fall/winter and early spring is: pitching/fielding/batting one weekday evening and pitching/catching on Saturdays and full field practice at the Neville Dome on Sundays. During the tournament season we will practice one or two weekday evenings. We typically enter tournaments for most of the late spring and summer weekends thru the end of July (with reduced schedules for the younger ages).

Our training techniques are the same as those used at the collegiate level and our coaches attend national training programs where US Olympic Women's Softball Team coaches and successful college coaches (such as UCLA and Arizona, etc.) attend and present training for the coaches.

This development and practice schedule results in the maximum development of the player's skills that allows them to perform at a much higher level than other travel teams or development programs.

In summary, the key aspects of our program is that we have dedicated summer and winter indoor practice facilities so the players practice each week during our 10 month program; our coaches go to clinics and use the fundamental techniques used by successful college programs (such as Mike Candrea at Arizona, etc.); and we teach the same methods through out all of our teams and at all ages -- this way a player doesn't get different methods taught to them by different coaches as coaches turn over or as a player moves up to a different age group and gets a different coach.

We also recognize that more than one sport is often played -- so we are considerate of conflicting practice schedules (for example basketball in the winter months may limit one's ability to attend the winter practices on the night assigned for a specific team). We do encourage a player with a conflicting winter sport schedule to attend on a different weekday night and practice with another one of our teams.

However, in the prime softball season (spring and summer) we expect the players to be 100% dedicated to the Spirit practice schedule (practices, scrimmages, games, etc.) which means that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to play any other sport or be on another team in the spring and summer months (other than the high school softball team programs). This means that in the spring and summer months we expect a Spirit player to prioritize any Spirit activity including practice over any recreational team activity including games and practices (including all sports such as softball, AAU basketball, etc.).  In other words if a Spirit practice is scheduled and there is a recreational team game -- the Spirit player will go to the Spirit practice! We also fully support the high school programs and during the WPIAL season, the high school practices and games take priority over all of our practices or games.

The age used for each season is the age as of January 1 – so for the 2009 season it will be the age as of January 1, 2009.  We generally believe that a player should play their age appropriate age unless the player is a phenom athlete (which is rare). When considering if your daughter should play up at an older age level (which other organizations sometimes promise) -- while this is flattering and ego building for the parents -- there are two problems with it. First, a younger kid on an older team often sits and thus does not get playing time (which is the worst thing that can occur at the travel ball level – always take the playing time) and also picture, for example, a 14 year old batting against a 16 year old travel ball pitcher (or a 12 against a 14 year older pitcher) -- the 14 (or 12) year older will not do well and will become flustered and not develop. This is very important for the younger ages – as the player gets to be 16 (not 15) there are times when playing at the 18 age level may make sense.

The tryouts for our 2010 teams are tentatively scheduled to be held on August 15, 16, 22 and 23, 2009 at the Zelienople Fields in Zelienople Pa (directions are under the Handouts section).  Attendance is necessary at only one of the sessions. If the player has a bad tryout and feels that she can do better - she should attend another session.  Attendance at more than one session is often done by prospective players but that is their choice. If you have a conflict with the time periods for your age - you can attend a different time/age bracket session.

Zelienople Park Fields (Fields 1 and 2 in Zelienople Pa): On Saturday August 15 and 22: 10:00 to 12:00 for 10U; 12:00 to 2:00 for 12U; 2:00 to 4:30 for 14U.  On Sunday August 16 and 23, 2009: 4:00 to 6:30 for 16U and 18U.  If it rains we will reschedule and post the on this website the new dates and times. Directions to Zelienople Fields: Traveling north on Route 19: After entering Zelienople, turn right on Beaver Street (Fidelity Bank and BP/7-11 convenience store at corner.) Continue about three blocks. Fields are straight ahead next to school on Pittsburgh Street

A completed tryout form (which is available under the Handouts section), a copy of your birth certificate and a $20 tryout fee are required.  The tryout fee is a one time charge for as many tryouts sessions that you would like to attend - you do not pay it each time you come to a tryout - and it is credited towards the player fee.  If none of these dates work -- individual tryouts are available by appointment with Rich LeViere. A tryout form/application is provided under the handouts section of this website.  See bottom of page for phone contact numbers.

Additional information regarding the player fee and costs is provided below (we use a monthly pay plan to spread the costs over a five month period). Our ten month training and practice program includes approximately 150 hours of play, drills and instruction which breaks down to be $6 per hour -- this excludes the fact that the player fee also includes uniforms and tournament entry fees. The below is for our 2009 season.

• The nonrefundable one-time tryout fee is $20 and it is credited towards the player fee. The non refundable player fee is $950 payable over a five month period ($250-September/ $200-October/$200-November/$100-December and $200-January). Included in this are: tournament fees, uniforms and equipment costs of approximately $625 per player; and dedicated indoor and outdoor training/practice facilities costs of approximately $225 per player. We spend (invest) approximately $40,000 each year on dedicated indoor & outdoor practice facilities. Similar facilities are not provided by other organizations nor included in their player fee—and we believe the facilities we provide (and related costs) are worth it as they make a big difference in player development.
• Fundraising may be done by individual teams but isn’t required.
• Pay/provide for player and parent(s) own meals, transportation and lodging. Parents are responsible for these costs. We stay at reasonably priced hotels (which offer breakfast - such as Comfort Inn, Fairfield Inn, etc.) and stay either Friday & Saturday nights or just Saturday night depending on when our first game is on Saturday. For food, some people bring food - some go to fast food places and some dine out - the choice is up to each player/family.

Please feel free to contact any of our coaches about the tryouts and our 2007 season and teams:

Rich LeViere (all ages & teams)    412 477 4955
Joe Seltz                      724 934 0342

Christa Pehrson 724-420-1190 (Westmoreland)