NATIONAL FASTPITCH NEWS NUGGETS: general stories to celebrate, academic triumphs, hitting techniques, softball teen-agers abroad, top US player recognized, & more.

HARFORD XTREME SHOWCASE HEAD COACH CHARLES WEIMER ANNOUNCED that the team's combined GPA for the last quarter of 2011 hit the 3.43 mark. Though a solid achievement, the new team goal is to climb toward 3.6. The team's coaches insist players be dedicated not only to softball excellence on the field but academic success in the classroom, as well. “We hold our players to strict academic codes,” said Coach Weimer, “and expect total dedication to the college showcase environment.”

AT THE GPA COLLEGE LEVEL, you might say Eagles are flying high.

Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles are the current reigning All-Academic (Division I) collegiate softball champions by turning in a 3.619 GPA average, according to The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

Tennessee Tech video about their  achievement is at http://youtu.be/bjfnRL6LoTI

Meanwhile, the Division III Northwestern (MN) Eagles softball team soared to a 3.694 GPA to lead the nation among all colleges and universities.

High schools actually did better. The top 9-12 grades last year was Cambridge Christian School (FL) with a team 4.297 GPA, while, closer to home, Huntingtown High (MD) players' tallied a 3.716 GPA that ranked 28^th in the nation.

Links to All-Academic Team rankings at http://www.nfca.org/pagebank/?id=1916

BEST 10 SOFTBALL STORIES of 2011 from high school ball fields according to ESPN.“...dramatic rallies, historic seasons, inspirational players and a whole lot of reasons to celebrate” Click on: http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/softball/post/_/id/135/2011-marked-by-inspiring-softball-stories.

See also 2011 international softball year in review at http://www.internationalsoftball.com/english/latest_news/year_in_review11.asp

SLAP HITTING timing, grip, and balance tips from Olympic gold medalist Jessica Mendoza. It is short, pithy advice, Jessica gets right to the point. Video: http://rise.espn.go.com/all-sports/videos.aspx?id=78e1e7d7-b5cd-4e1a-9622-00e264d0bbef

YOUNGEST US PLAYERS Kaitlynn Moody, 14, and Kalyn Revord, 15, will compete in Asia this Feb. 17-26. "We'll get to see some of the best pitchers in the world, a lot of left-handers," Moody said. This wonderful game of softball can take young women on grand, fantastic adventures! Full story at jconline.com newspaper column blog:  http://www.jconline.com/article/20120106/COLUMNISTS12/201060305/2-teenage-softball-players-head-Taiwan

2011 USA SOFTBALL FEMALE ATHLETE title awarded Stacy May-Johnson, making her first USA Softball Women’s National Team as a 27-years-old “rookie”. “I still love doing it the way I did when I was eight years old” says Stacy. Full story at http://www.nfca.org/news/?id=3881

Stacy May Johnson pictured above