Moving on to another team

Thought I would mention this, in case anyone finds their way to this page.

After wrapping up in 2011 with the White Lightning Blue 93 team, I was able to pick up as head coach for a younger White Lightning team -- White Lightning 98.   I started with them the fall of 2011, and have coached them since.

We are going to be a second year 14U team this summer (summer of 2013), and I'm very excited about how this team is coming along.   We're going to be playing a pretty tough schedule this summer, and by next summer, I'm expecting them to play in many of the same tournaments the WLB 93 team did.

The team page for White Lightning 98 is at www.whitelightning 98.com -- it has all the schedule and contact information.

2011 Summer Season Wrap Up

We really had a nice summer season.

We finished 19-15-3, playing a really tough schedule. We played 37 games vs. teams from nine states: Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. Many of those teams finished in the top three in their state tourney, and we also played several gold/premier teams and had five games vs teams that qualified for 18A ASA nationals. In our last two tourneys of the year, we finished in the top eight (out of 32 teams) in the Tennessee Summer Exposure, and 13th (out of 35 teams) at the NSA A World Series.

And we are likely the only team in the country that played both of the top two finalists at the 18A ASA nationals during the regular season -- we played the Vipers Gen X twice, losing 5-0 and 6-0, and the Indy Crush (Walker) team once, tying them 3-3.

But far beyond the record, the chemistry and love that this team had was wonderful and made the summer terrific. They worked hard, they got better over the summer, they refused to let adversity or drama bother them and supported each other when things got tough. I am absolutely so proud of each player on this team, and I will always remember this summer and each of these players.

It was a special summer.

2011 NSA A World Series -- Day Four Recap

Well, the day didn't go as we had hoped.

Lost our first game of the day to the Chattanooga Frost Falcons 5-0. It was a tight 0-0 game for four innings, then they broke through with a couple of HRs with runners on and held on for the win.

We had some chances early to score, but didn't take advantage of them when there were some opportunities to score, and let them hang around in the game.

So, we finished the week with 4 wins and 2 losses, and I think that our official finish will be that we tied for 13th.

So with this tourney, this wraps up the history of the White Lightning Blue 93 team. With many of the girls going into their senior year and with other interests and projects, it's time to let them all go their separate ways.

I'll do more in another post for more official sign off.

2011 NSA A World Series -- Day Three Recap

Two games to report on from day three of the 2011 NSA A World Series.

In our first game of the day, we played a tough, tight game with the Mid Illini Mayhem, but ended up losing to them 2-1. We had several chances to score more runs, but we just didn't execute as well as we could have in some critical situations, and had a couple of bang-bang plays go against us.

So, we dropped down to the loser's bracket and played the LT Blaze from Illinois at 615P on Thursday night. We started just a bit slowly at first, but we hit the ball, scored some runs and played good defense to win 6-1.

We're fortunate to make to Friday. Nineteen teams went home on Thursday, leaving the tourney with just 16 teams still alive. We play the Chattanooga Frost Falcons at 945A in the first of what could be four elimination games on Friday.

If we keep winning, our Friday schedule would be games at 945A, 1130A, 3P, and 445P.

I feel confident that we are prepared to battle all day -- we'll just need to play well and show our toughness. I'm excited to see how we do.

2011 NSA A World Series -- Day Two Recap

Just one game today in the first day of bracket/elimination play.

We jumped on the Fort Wayne (IN) Lady Cougars with three runs in the first inning, and went on to win the game 6-3.

Our next game is tomorrow (Thursday) at 115P vs. the Mid Illini Mayhem. Depending on the outcome of that game, we'll play again either on Thursday evening or Friday morning.

2011 NSA A World Series -- Day One Recap

Had a good day at the ballpark today -- won both of our pool games to secure the number one seed in our pool. In our first game at 945A on Tuesday, we beat the Angola (IN) Swarm 4-2. In our second pool game of the day, we beat the Middle Tennessee Madness 2-1.

We will play the Ft. Wayne (IN) Lady Cougars tomorrow at 945A in our first bracket game. Win or lose, that will be our only game of the day on Wednesday.

Got to watch the Lady Cougars just a little bit tonight, and they look to be a pretty aggressive team with the bats, so we'll have to be at our best defensively.

More to come tomorrow.

NSA World Series Preview

We'll we're in Chattanooga this week, and play our first pool game in the morning at 945A vs. the Angola Storm from Indiana.

We'll play a second game Tuesday afternoon depending on how we do on Tuesday morning, and then bracket play will begin on Wednesday.

While you never know how things will go, I feel confident that we're prepared and ready to play well.

More to come after tomorrow's games.