FASTPITCH NEWS NUGGETS...

LOUDOUN, VA, RECEIVES ASA EXCELLENCE AWARD for highest rated tournaments in the country last year. Localities are judged on the quality of the event, staff, facilities, hotels and tournament direction and organization. Full story at http://www.leesburg2day.com/news/article_e00e5df2-4066-11e1-ac49-0019bb2963f4.html

NATIONAL SCENE: disabilities, youth to adult, does not deter these softball players...

NO STOPPING HER. Omaha, Nebraska's left-handed pitcher Claire Poeckes has an unusual delivery. When she snaps the ball from the circle, she quickly transfers her glove from the right to left hand to field any smash hit coming at her. That's because everything she does is left-handed. Her right hand is unusable from cerebral palsy. Full story at http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=cc590291-88f1-4cc2-919a-78321f295b67

WOUNDED WARRIORS PLAY TO WIN. Ask Jennie Finch, U.S. Olympic softballer, who recently watched a military amputee slam her pitch for a triple with a belly-flop slide into third base. Wounded Warriors are a travel softball team of military veterans who have sustained sever injuries in American wars. All infielders are missing a leg(s). Two outfielders rely on carbon-fiber running legs. One outfielder is missing a hand. A right-fielder plays without an arm and shoulder. The team travels around the country challenging local teams for charity. And, they play hard. Finch's team bested them 2 of 3 games, including a 13-11 squeaker in a rubber match. Full story at http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-ap-us-waramputeessoftba,0,5699816.story

Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team homepage at http://www.woundedwarrioramputeesoftballteam.org

MARYLAND SCENE: Howard Co. honors Everly, travel-ball stats net scholarship, local coaches take over at Hood...

HOWARD COUNTY, MD, just south of Harford County, has inducted Tara Everly into its Women's Athletics Hall of Fame. A 1990 Ownings Mills grad, she lettered in softball, field hockey, and basketball. As a hockey player, Tara scored the winning goal that brought the University of Maryland a 1993 national title with a 2-1 victory in overtime. Today she coaches at St. Mary's Ryken, MD. Full story at http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/howard/sports/ph-ho-cf-hs-bits-0105-20120104,0,5693453.story

WICOMICO HIGH, MD, STANDOUT Samantha Muir has signed with Del Tech over Salisbury Univ and UMES. And, it was travel-ball that sealed the deal. Del Tech has kept tabs on her club team production since she was 13. "...we were very impressed with the travel ball stats," Del Tech assistant coach Chester Davis said. "I've always wanted this since I was little," Muir added. "My family's always supported me and that's what matter's to me right now." Full story at http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articleAID=/201201190432/SPORTS/201190376

TERRY BURDETTE TAKES OVER the HoodCollege, Frederick, MD, softball team as the new head coach. Previous an assistant coach at the school, Burdette also is a renown travel-ball coach of the 18U Heartbreakers Junior Olympic team (634-319 since 1995). He is a native of Dickerson, Md. Full story at http://www.hoodathletics.com/sports/sball/coaches/Burdette-Terry

FORMER SALISBURY UNIVERSITY (MD) pitcher Kelsey Mills will become Hood College's new assistant softball coach. For the Salisbury Sea Gulls, her best season was 2009 when she threw 120 Ks with a 0.91 ERA over 131.1 innings. Mills finished her college career in 2011 with an overall record of 21-5. Full story at http://www.hoodathletics.com/sports/sball/coaches/Mills-Kelsey

DIII TEXTING OK, FACEBOOK NIXED

NCAA DIVISION III MAY NOW EMPLOY TEXT MESSAGING when recruiting players, following the same standards coaches already use in telephone, email and fax correspondence.

This change according to a new bylaw adopted overwhelmingly last Saturday, January 14, at the 2012 NCAA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana.

NOT approved, however, were forms of social media such as Facebook. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY.

“PITCHING” IN WITH BRUSH & PAINT BUCKET

Harford Xtreme Showcase P/OF, Lily Engel, is helping out her school by painting the town green, or, rather in this case a corner of the Ratio/TV shop at Polytech High School, Woodside, Delaware.

It's the school's new “green screen”. It will allow Radio/TV students, like Lily, to produce videos with subjects immersed fully in a virtual world.

The idea is to shoot video of students against the green screen. Then, a graphic, photograph, or even another video is superimposed on, and replaces, this green backdrop in the final film. It is common technique use from Hollywood blockbusters to the TV weather forecasts to now student projects at Polytech!

Lily is pictured on the right in the photo below with fellow students Becca (center) and Vimani (on left). Click on photo to enlarge it.

BRAND NEW BATTING HELMETS have been distributed to Harford Xtreme Showcase players.

Standout red and white team colors wrap around the player's number emblazoned in dark blue on the front of this high-quality gear. Here's more about these unique helmets...

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REVOLUTIONARY & ULTRA-COMFORTABLE...

these RIP-IT helmets offer unparalleled fit and visibility.

RIP-IT helmets feature cutting-edge technology: lightweight, glare-free, panoramic design that provides maximum peripheral vision and performance.

First, its brand new "Blackout Technology" face guard creates in the batter's field of vision the most contrast possible with the ball. It eliminates 100% of the visible glare that reflects off typical protective equipment. Exceeds NOCSAE certification. 

The effect is stunning, and instantly improves a player's concentration on a fastpitch softball's movement. It's like eye-black, only better! Clearly see every pitch, every time, no matter where it is thrown.

Second, there's exclusive "memory foam" of high-impact, dual density construction, which allows the helmet to mold to each player's head for a custom, cozy, and comfortable fit.

This ensures a player steps to the plate with a helmet that's snug, feels great, and stays secure, while maintaining the highest safety standards. 

Finally, the most advanced materials available have built the lightest softball helmet possible (26.4 oz) with the greatest number of air-vents and the highest airflow found in a batter's helmet.

The result is not only an ultra-light feel, but they also a helmet that stays cool and dry out on the field.

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“Best fit, best vision, lightweight. It's what makes the RIP-IT Vision helmets the best softball batting helmets ever engineered and the first that players, coaches, and parents all agree is simply amazing.” – RIP-ITsoftball helmets 

It is a true pleasure working out with such hard working young ladies. You ladies inspire me! The level of commitment from all is much appreciated! It will payoff!

IT HAPPENS EVERY WINTER SUNDAY. With icy weather outside dropping down to 24 degrees (and a wind chill stinging like it was 16 degrees), the Harford Xtreme Showcase team was at it again with an intense workout comfortably INSIDE at the Proving Grounds Gymnasium (341 Granary Rd, Forest Hill, MD). 

These workouts begin every week on Sunday morning at 8:45 AM SHARP. The program continues at an intense level for four hours until almost 1:00 PM.  

First up are warm-ups, of course, followed by calisthenics, which tap an assortment of exercise training aids specifically designed to build explosiveness, endurance, quickness, power, agility, balance & coordination!

Later, attention shifts to softball fielding, hitting, slap hitting, base running (e.g., run downs),  pitching, and catching. The coaching is of the highest expertise and depth of softball knowledge.

The photos below are from the first part of the morning...

FLASHBACK: BIG HIT, BIG WIN...

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011: Archbishop Spalding Cavaliers high school softball team (Severn, MD ) claims their third in four seasons IAAM  A Conference Softball Championship. Credit this past year's impressive achievement to premier pitching, top-notch defense, and timely hitting, including a tie breaking key at bat by Harford Xtreme Showcase's own Kelsie Traylor.

It was the top of the seventh inning, game even at 1-1, runners on first and second base, when Kelsie stepped to the plate. She delivered, pounding a solid two-run triple that sailed well past the opposing right fielder chasing after the ball. WATCH THE REPLAY HERE...

AND KELSIE'S INTERVIEW AFTER THE GAME...

Pictured below, Kelsie is congratulated by teammate Melanie Gunning and  Coach Kristin Scharek after Kelsie's go-ahead, two-run, 7th inning triple.

CLICK HERE to read the full story.

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

Thank you to Bob Lynch for setting all this GREAT stuff up for our team!

INDIVIDUAL HITTING/ SLAPPING LESSONS for Harford Xtreme Showcase team members are conducted by Coach Sam Traylor at edwardtraylor@hotmail.com. Please contact him NOW for times, sign up, and/or additional information.  

Testing the new blog

The Harford Xtreme College Showcase Softball team would like to CONGRATULATE Amanda Norris who will be attending Coastal Carolina (SC) next fall...

Update 12-26-11Winter workouts start on January 8th 2012 from 8:45am-12:45pm (and follow every Sunday all the way through March same time and place) at The Proving Ground 341 Granary Road Forest Hill, Md. 21050.

Testing the new Xtreme College Showcase softball blog