Video
Jennie on
TOUGH LOVE
Xtreme College Showcase
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Tomorrow...
Pitcher/ outfielder Lily
Engel (pictured above) will represent the Harford
Xtreme Showcase travel club fastpitch team at the11th
Annual Top College Coaches Clinic tomorrow, Wednesday, June 27,
in Quakertown, Pa.
Athletes will demonstrate pitching,
infield/outfield, hitting and base running skills before college
recruiters.
The clinic runs from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM in the afternoon before the TNT Summer Showcase softball tournament kicks off for four days of games beginning Thursday morning, June 28.
The clinic runs from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM in the afternoon before the TNT Summer Showcase softball tournament kicks off for four days of games beginning Thursday morning, June 28.
Monday, June 25, 2012
This week...
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
► Thursday, June 28
1:30 PM NY
Duchess Debs versus Xtreme
6:00 PM NJ
Finches Aces versus Xtreme
► Friday, June 29
10:30 AM LI
Frozen Ropes Select versus Xtreme
12:00 NOON Jersey
Inferno Elite Gold versus Xtreme
► Saturday, June 30
7:30 AM VA
Lady Thunder Gold versus Xtreme
Team hotel:
904 West Hamilton,
Allentown, PA
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Photos posted
Weekend's tournament
showcases Xtreme talent
“The Rock” June Summer Showcase
fastpitch softball tournament lived up to its reputation on its
Pennsylvania diamonds yesterday and today.
College coaches crowded the backstop
for key contests, elite teams from the northeast competed against each other, the
weather: 88 degrees, clear, blue sky with a constant cool breeze!
And, Harford Xtreme Showcase played “xtremely” well.
CLICK HERE for photos from Xtreme's
play. The first 40 photos of the slideshow are from this past
weekend's games...
Click on photo collage above to enlarge. Click here to view individual photos.
Friday, June 22, 2012
June 23, 24
THIS WEEKEND'S
TOURNAMENT GAMES
Harford Xtreme Showcase's schedule...
CLICK HERE for field location
CLICK HERE for team hotel
CLICK HERE for weather forecast
CLICK HERE for more information
CLICK HERE for “The Rock” homepage
CLICK HERE for Harford Xtreme homepage
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Half-dozen tourneys ahead
DOUBLEHEADER
THURSDAY EVENING
Summer kicked off today, Wednesday,
with a blistering heat wave that promises to dog the Harford
Xtreme Showcase through the 2012 June, July, and August months crammed with competitive
fastpitch softball.
The Xtreme will play a late evening doubleheader, Thursday,
June 21, at Harford Community College, Harford Sports
Complex, 401
Thomas Run Road, Bel Air, Maryland.
8:00 PM June 21: Xtreme vs. Madness9:30 PM June 21: Stars vs. Xtreme
► A PA TRIO...
The tournament this weekend is The Rock Summer Showcase (Southampton, PA), followed the next week by the TNT Summer Showcase (Quakertown, PA), before the highly competitive PGF Northeast National Qualifier (Newtown, PA) games begin right after July 4th.
► GOING SOUTH...
Then, the team travels south in July to The Hot Times Classic (Florence, SC) and The Carolina Cardinal's Classic (Raleigh, NC).
► BACK HOME...
The Xtreme will return to the Harford summer league again for another doubleheader on Wednesday, July 25.
► NORTH TO NEW ENGLAND...
After that, the final games of the summer conclude in August with New England's Finest Showcase (Plainville, MA).
CLICK
HERE for the summer league schedule
CLICK
HERE for the showcase tournament schedule
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
National Pro Fastpitch
season off to exciting start
National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) is moving into its third week of the 2012 season with the defending 2011 Cowles Cup Championship Series Champions, Chicago Bandits, in first place at 6 wins and 2 losses.
The 2011 Regular Season Ringor Cup
Champions, USSSA Florida Pride,
and the Akron Racers are
both playing .500 ball in a second place tie with four wins and loses.
The newcomer team, Carolina
Diamonds, rounds out the field with just two wins in their eight
games.
This past weekend included one hitters
by last years Co-Pitchers of the Year, Monica
Abbott and Cat Osterman.
Cat Osterman |
In the video below, Caitlin Lowe of Florida makes a diving grab in the top of the 8th vs Akron.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Update
TNT showcase readies for
big tournament next week
The organizers of Quakertown's “2012
TNT Summer Showcase” fastpitch softball tournament report that the
limit of teams accepted will be reached before play begins next week,
Thursday, June 28 through Sunday, July 1.
The Harford
Xtreme Showcase travel-ball club will be competing at the games.
Last year over 130 college coaches
attended to watch 132 teams in total from 28 states and two
countries, including Florida, Georgia, Texas, Washington and
California.
The venue is the beautiful
Veterans Softball Complex, 145
E Pumping Station Rd, Quakertown, Pa.
CLICK
HERE for a list of colleges and universities that have previously
attended TNT tournaments.
ON THE WEDNESDAY PRIOR, June 27, a “Top
College Clinic” event will be held.
At the clinic, players will demonstrate
their skills in pitching, catching, infield/outfield, hitting and
base running before college recruiters. (Pitchers must supply a
catcher.)
College coaches will interact
individually with each athlete, assessing talent and personality.
Coaches in their area of specialty will conduct sessions on defense
(infield, outfield, catchers, and pitchers) and move to offense
(hitting, slapping, bunting, base running).
Time will be allocated for players to
talk to coaches and learn firsthand about the different college
programs and opportunities.
---------------------------------
THIS WEEKEND, Saturday & Sunday, June 23 & 24...
Harford Xtreme Showcase will be playing at “The Rock Gold Summer Showcase”, PA.
CLICK HERE for games & field locations.
---------------------------------
The graphic below is of the
Veterans Softball Complex, Quakertown, PA, where TNT tournament
games are held.
Terrapin signed
by Chicago Bandits Vangie Galindo |
Vangie has earned First Team All-Region honors for two years running and was selected to the All-ACC Teams last week. She owns Maryland records in career hits and stolen bases, most hits in a season and best batting average in a season. Her .341 career batting average is No. 1 in school history.
CLICK HERE for the full story.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
"Never be satisfied!"
An ESPN Profile:
softball great Lisa Fernandez
CLICK
HERE for the full ESPN story
Marking the 40th anniversary of Title IX, ESPN has listed softball pitcher Lisa Fernandez #18 on the list of the top 40 female athletes of the past 40 years.
Lisa Fernandez |
Softball player Lisa
Fernandez certainly posted some impressive numbers: Three Olympic
gold medals with Team USA, two national championships at UCLA, a 93-7
college record that included 74 shutouts and 11 no-hitters and three
national player of the year awards.
"There was no player who worked harder than Lisa Fernandez," says Sue Enquist, her former coach at UCLA. "She will be the first one to tell you she wasn't granted huge gifts. But she had will and work ethic and stamina -- and a mental toughness unlike any I've ever seen in another player."
Click the arrow below for video of Lisa Fernandez.
"There was no player who worked harder than Lisa Fernandez," says Sue Enquist, her former coach at UCLA. "She will be the first one to tell you she wasn't granted huge gifts. But she had will and work ethic and stamina -- and a mental toughness unlike any I've ever seen in another player."
Click the arrow below for video of Lisa Fernandez.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Dads, non-dads...
Happy Father's Day! to all
participating in a child's life
Below are a few clips from a much longer column titled “Father’s Day Isn’t Just For Fathers” by Heather Ziegler of The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register.
Please CLICK HERE to read the full piece.
“So much has been written or reported
about deadbeat dads...
“But what about the men who step up
to the plate and do the right thing by their children.
“Whether married, single or divorced,
there are plenty of guys out there who "get it" when it
comes to being a dad...
“The other evening on one of my walks
about town to exercise these 57-year-old bones, I saw signs that
fatherhood is still alive and doing well.
“The steady sound of a softball
hitting a gloved hand caught my ear before I saw the dad catching his
daughter's impressive pitches. It was late evening and I'm sure that
guy had put in a full day's work before heading out into the yard
with his daughter. He probably never misses his daughter's games if
at all possible...
“There are many more. The coaches,
Scout leaders, clergymen and camp counselors who give their time to
our children may not be fathers, but they have a place in their
lives.
“This Sunday is a good time to say
thanks to all the dads and non-dads who just 'get it.'
“Happy Father's Day to all.”
Friday, June 15, 2012
Two doubleheaders
Summer league games
on again next week
Next week's Harford Community College
summer league games continue for the Harford Xtreme Showcase travel-team with two doubleheaders on Monday and
Thursday nights. Both start at 8:00 PM under the lights.
►MONDAY
9:30 PM, June 18: Pride vs. Xtreme
(Field #1)
►THURSDAY
8:00 PM, June 21: Xtreme vs. Madness
(Field #2)
9:30 PM, June 21: Stars vs. Xtreme
(Field #2)
Only four photos from last night's
doubleheader have been added to the “Summer
Games 2012” photo slideshow (see collage below). The evening
light of the summer league games makes it difficult to take stop-action or even clear pictures
with our equipment. That means next week's late starts will greatly
limit the shots taken.
Click here for the full summer league scheduleClick here for the Summer Games 2012 slideshow
Avoid
sugar
Best
& worst drinks
before
seven innings
Condensed from a much longer Fox News article. Click here for the full story.
“...
the beverage industry has inundated us with a plethora of energy and
sports drinks that claim to be improve performance and increase
endurance. It is easy to get caught up in the hype and chose a drink
without really knowing if it will actually help or harm you exercise
regimen.
“One
thing that is for certain is it is important to stay hydrate during
exercise. Keeping well hydrated allows you to replenish fluids lost
as you exercise, preventing you from getting dehydrated, which can be
deadly if severe. The best way to avoid dehydration during exercise
is to drink fluids before, during, and after your workout.
“The
only question that remains is what drink is the best choice. The key
is to keep an eye on the nutritional labels when perusing the
beverage aisle of the grocery store. Sugar and fat can slow down your
workout by giving you a sugar crash, cramps, nausea, and even
diarrhea, so high amounts of these nutrients should be avoided.
Electrolytes like potassium, sodium, and magnesium are lost from your
body when you sweat so drinks that contain them may be a good way to
either prevent the loss from being too great or to replenish what you
have already lost.”
BEST
DRINKS
Water
“There
is nothing better than water for your workout. A classic choice,
water gives you what you need to stay hydrated during your workout
and is the best way to replace lost fluids. According to the American
College of Sports Medicine, try to drink two to three cups of water
during the two to three hours before exercise.”
“Coconut is quite the trend recently, and for good reason. It naturally contains the potassium, sodium, and magnesium that sports drink companies pump their drinks with. It also contains less sugar then traditional sports drinks like Gatorade (12 grams of sugar in a 14-ounce serving as opposed to 14 grams of sugar in 8 ounces of Gatorade).”
Low
Sodium V8 Juice ($3.79 for a 46-ounce bottle)
“Packed with vegetables, V8 is a great source of potassium and sodium, two electrolytes you sweat out during intense exercise. Choose the low sodium variety, as it still supplies plenty of sodium for your workout. Try drinking an 8-ounce glass an hour before you exercise to get 900 mg of potassium (20 percent of your daily needs!) and 140 mg of sodium.”
WORST
DRINKS
“It is a well-known fact that soda is nutritionally void and loaded with sugar, so it should come as no surprise that is a poor choice for your pre-workout drink. Sodas high sugar content on top of its carbonation can lead to not only a sugar crash but also stomach cramps and nausea during your workout.”
Minute Maid Lemonade ($2.29 for 64 ounces)
“The store-bought varieties of this classic beverage are made with the same sweeteners as soda and contain just as much sugar. So the damaging effects of lemonade on your workouts are the same as soda. If you crave that citrus kick, try making flavored water by soaking lemons or limes in ice water.”
Rockstar Energy Drink
“There are rows upon rows of energy drinks at the grocery store these days. They all claim to provide the energy you need to power through anything, whether it's an intense workout or a long day at the office. But what isnt mentioned is the high amount of calories and sugar found in these drinks. Rockstar is one of the worst, with one 16-ounce can coming in at 280 calories and 62 grams of sugar.
Click on arrow below for BYU "production video" of exploding water posters...
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Airs Saturday, June 23
Documentary celebrates
Title IX 40th anniversary
A NCAA/ ESPN/ Creative Street
Entertainment will premiere a documentary titled “Sporting Chance”
(presented by Northwestern Mutual) to celebrate the 40th anniversary
of Title IX on ESPN2 at noon ET June 23, the anniversary date of
Title IX.
This story condensed from a much larger article at NCAA.com. Please click here for the full article.
Black & white photo is of Rose the
Riveter,
a cultural icon of women's empowerment.
Rosie, a munitions
worker of 40s,
replaced men who were away at war.
|
“The one-hour documentary tells the
emotional story of the landmark passage of Title IX and explores how
this law has increased educational opportunities and athletic
participation, specifically for women, during the past 40 years.
Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 is a federal law
that states: 'No person in the United States shall, on the basis of
sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or
be subjected to discrimination under any education program or
activity receiving federal financial assistance'...
The documentary features interviews
with the trailblazers who fought tirelessly for the passage of Title
IX; women who were on campus during the early days of Title IX; and
student-athletes who have benefitted from Title IX and achieved
success through sports in its 40 years...
“A DVD of the documentary will be
available for purchase on June 23, and educational materials will be
available at a later date in collaboration with the National
Federation of State High School Associations.”
Below, video preview of Title IX documentary.
Click on arrow to watch it.
Click on arrow to watch it.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
June 14 & 18...
Thursday, Monday...
DOUBLEHEADERS
► Thursday
6:30 PM Thursday, June 14:
Pride vs. Xtreme (Field #1)
8:00 PM Thursday, June 14:
Xtreme vs. Rage (Field #1)
► Monday
8:00 PM Monday, June 18:
Xtreme vs. Bengies (Field #2)
9:30 PM Monday, June 18:
Pride vs. Xtreme (Field #1)
Xtreme vs. Bengies (Field #2)
9:30 PM Monday, June 18:
Pride vs. Xtreme (Field #1)
Click here for Harford Xtreme Showcase's full summer league schedule.
Next tournament for
60 teams,
Saturday, 84 games
Sunday, 68 games
playing at:
Council Rock
High School South
weather forecast
SATURDAY
June 23, 2012
►1:00 PM
vs Harford Xtreme
► 4:20 PM
Harford Xtreme
►6:00 PM
Harford Xtreme
SUNDAY
June 24, 2012
►8:00 AM
vs Harford Xtreme
►11:20 AM
Harford Xtreme
ACCOMMODATIONS
Xtreme Hotel:
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Harford Xtreme Showcase team...
Photos will chronicle
2012 summer games
On the right hand side of this blog, you will find a new photo sideshow of pictures from the Harford Xtreme Showcase's 2012 summer games.
It is titled “SUMMER GAMES 2012”.
It appears right under “TEAM & PLAYERS PICTURES” slideshow.
This summer games sideshow will be
updated on a regular basis. Please check it frequently.
New pictures of the team in action from
the local weekday summer league to the more distant venues of New
England to South Carolina will be added once or twice a week. New
photos always will appear as the very first pictures in the sideshow
album.
Parents, relatives, and friends
attending the games with cameras are encouraged to share their own
photos for the sideshow now or anytime during the season by emailing
the shots to xtremeshowcaseblog@gmail.com.
The new “SUMMER GAMES 2012” photo slideshow (pictured above) can be found on the right hand side of this blog where it will be permanently anchored now through this August or longer.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Keys to recruiting,
insider ESPN tips
“What do college coaches look for in recruits?
“Paul Biancardi, basketball recruiting analyst for ESPN, spoke at Dan Tudor’s National Collegiate Recruiting Conference in Boston recently...
“While this is basketball centered, recruits in all sports can learn important information here...
► “When looking at recruits, think of the word CAT: character, academics, talent.”
“When talented players make good choices and develop good habits, they maximize their talent. Talent gives them a chance to be great, but they have to maximize it.”
► Paul also shared powerful information on the four P’s:
“One, performance.”
“Two, production. You are what you repeatedly do. College coaches love consistency...
“Three, potential. You hear that the prospect could turn into a player. You have to ask yourself: does that athlete believe in their potential and their ‘why’? If they don’t believe, why should you as a coach?
“Be on the look out for that athlete that sets a standard higher than his coach or his family...
“Four, projection. When you look at a recruit, they have to be someone that you can project to be a starter or role player. When will they be?
► Biancardi then shared the 5 Keys to Greatness in Recruits:
“One, love for the game! That athlete will invest the time to be great. The coach doesn’t have to say passion, focus or intensity because they know those things...
“Two, look for players that respect the game. Everyone in the game: teammates, their own coaches and opposing coaches, the officials, and the fans. Even the media. A player that respects the game is grateful and not entitled...
“Three, a player that prepares for the game. Who is first to show and last to go at practice? … there are two types of players: ‘Feel like it’ or ‘everyday’ players. The first kind works and prepares when he or she feels like it. The second one brings it every day! People ask me when you start preparing for the next season. Answer: When your season is over.”
“The fourth key for greatness in recruits is those that are adding to their game. Are they trying to prove themselves or improve themselves? Big difference.”
“Five. Learn the game. You want recruits that can beat people with their bodies and their mind.”
insider ESPN tips
Condensed from a much larger article at NCSA Athletic Recruiting. Please click here for the full story.
“What do college coaches look for in recruits?
“Paul Biancardi, basketball recruiting analyst for ESPN, spoke at Dan Tudor’s National Collegiate Recruiting Conference in Boston recently...
“While this is basketball centered, recruits in all sports can learn important information here...
► “When looking at recruits, think of the word CAT: character, academics, talent.”
“When talented players make good choices and develop good habits, they maximize their talent. Talent gives them a chance to be great, but they have to maximize it.”
► Paul also shared powerful information on the four P’s:
“One, performance.”
“Two, production. You are what you repeatedly do. College coaches love consistency...
“Three, potential. You hear that the prospect could turn into a player. You have to ask yourself: does that athlete believe in their potential and their ‘why’? If they don’t believe, why should you as a coach?
“Be on the look out for that athlete that sets a standard higher than his coach or his family...
“Four, projection. When you look at a recruit, they have to be someone that you can project to be a starter or role player. When will they be?
► Biancardi then shared the 5 Keys to Greatness in Recruits:
“One, love for the game! That athlete will invest the time to be great. The coach doesn’t have to say passion, focus or intensity because they know those things...
“Two, look for players that respect the game. Everyone in the game: teammates, their own coaches and opposing coaches, the officials, and the fans. Even the media. A player that respects the game is grateful and not entitled...
“Three, a player that prepares for the game. Who is first to show and last to go at practice? … there are two types of players: ‘Feel like it’ or ‘everyday’ players. The first kind works and prepares when he or she feels like it. The second one brings it every day! People ask me when you start preparing for the next season. Answer: When your season is over.”
“The fourth key for greatness in recruits is those that are adding to their game. Are they trying to prove themselves or improve themselves? Big difference.”
“Five. Learn the game. You want recruits that can beat people with their bodies and their mind.”
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