Girl’s Windmill Pitching

By

Bill Dryden

Volume 304 July 21, 2010

.

What’s It Worth? (To you and your daughter)Do you ever ask yourself that question? Of course, you do. Whether silently in your mind or asa question to someone or maybe even whimsically aloud, you ask the question of someone elseor of yourself. Ultimately no matter what anyone else says, you have to decide the worth ofanything you desire. Are you willing to pay the price for that house, that car, that boat, pool,big screen TV, expensive clothes, expensive vacations, all of those dinners out on the town, etc.

I am willing to venture a guess that with many of those things you don’t give them a secondthought. You just do it.However, I hear all of the parents who won’t spend any of their money to get their daughtersto teams that can lead the way to opportunities that are well beyond the local softballestablishment and what they can do. Mom and Dad may pay for pitching or batting lessonsbut apply the brakes at venturing 30 miles away to play with a team, let alone doing what theBrittingham’s do in allowing Annah to play on a team that practices 3 ½ hours away. That’stoo much. Too

much money, too much time, too much wear and tear on the car, and oh my goodness, theyhave a showcase every week. They are in NJ, DE, NY, PA. They never play in Salisbury! Duh!The fall is even worse. They are going to NJ, PA, CA, FL. Are the Brittingham’s crazy? Why goso far to play softball? She can just play ball here and we’ll travel across the Bay Bridge one ortwo times, but we can play a lot of tournaments right here at home. So basically, it’s not worth it to you. It cuts in too much to other things you want or want to do.Your money, your time, your decision. The Brittingham’s made theirs as did the Macks, theThrockmortons, the Walkers, the Greenhawk’s, the Parson’s and others. Tom Brittingham will tell you that the few thousand they may spend over a few years is aninsignificant investment when Annah accepts a full scholarship at the school she chooses. Sincethat team began showcasing this season over 100 college coaches have watched them play.Several have very high interest in Annah. Unofficial visits are in the works. Can playing on agood team that gets the best fields at the best complexes guarantee she or her teammates getscholarships? No, but not playing at good tournaments with teams that get the best fields at the

best complexes can go a long way toward guaranteeing they won’t get scholarships. Everythingis a gamble but what’s it worth to you? Is is an investment or frivolous spending? I hear it a lot.We can stay here and develop our team and just take it on up.I can’t convince you otherwise. I can’t convince you and your kids to write emails to collegecoaches. I can show you what other players do and I can tell you where you have to be to getexposure but I can’t make you see that it is worth the cost and effort and sacrifice.

In my opinion the only organization on the eastern shore that has tried to go to the righttournaments and learned to do it the right way is Jerry Kirby’s Delaware Storm. Even then hehad problems with some of the girls not sending emails to coaches. If the players and parentsdon’t fulfill their responsibilities, why continue to go to showcases?

So you figure it out. What’s it worth to you to have a shot at a $100,000 or more in scholarshipmoney?There are a lot of things you can spend your money on and if you’re looking at real travel ball,it is expensive. $1500.00 is not expensive for registration with a solid, well reputed showcaseteam.Skills DVD’s are another $350 with additional copies costing more. Then there is the cost oftravel to team practices and cost of travel to tournaments. It’s not cheap but others do it. It canpay huge dividends.I pretty much think I am right in saying that if you don’t spend it there you will spend itsomewhere.Let’s end up where we started. What’s it worth? Better yet, what’s she worth?

Photos

Melony Showell of Mid-Atlantic Lady Shockers 14U in championship game.

Taylor Harcum of the Mid-Atlantic shockers 14U during

championship game

Here are some photos Jo Ella Brittingham of Annah warming up at the Delaware Invitational. Thisis after we worked on loading and exploding.

Grand daughter Marlee at her dad’s slow

pitch game. No idea what the hat means.

Just threw this one in there. We were at my niece’s 34 birthdayth

party Sunday.

Tips One of my students recently went to a softball camp and as she was throwing her flip change theinstructor tried to change it. He told her not to spin it. He didn’t want spin on a change-up.Unfortunately when you go to camps you may hear things like that. It would do you well to ask theinstructor what the logic is behind his teaching. Every college coach I know wants to know you canspin the ball. The higher the spin rate the sharper the break. The flip change depends on the pitcherselling the pitch as something that is coming fast. By applying significant backspin you not onlyimpart movement but the ball is traveling in one direction and spinning in the opposite direction. Thismakes the ball appear to be coming significantly faster than it really is traveling. More spin meansmore and sharper movement.

Girl’s Windmill Pitching Website My website, though still undergoing enhancements, is now active. You can find my newsletters, somelinks, photos, and some of my students’ video clips.I will soon be adding video tips on pitching and hopefully other information. Be sure and bookmark Girl’s Windmill Pitching

Girl’s Windmill Pitching Teamed Up with Lower Shore Family YMCA I have teamed up with the Lower Shore YMCA in Pocomoke City, MD. We have private pitchinglessons on Fridays and the Executive Director of the facility wants to get some clinics going therealso. Both he and I are excited about the possibilities for the Worcester County and Somerset Countyareas of the lower shore of Maryland and for the Eastern Shore of VA athletes. You can contact Paulat pbecker14@gmail.com concerning any upcoming clinics. While you are there take a tour of thefacility and let Paul talk to you about a family membership at their state of the art facility on over 100acres. You will love it! We have a waiting list there. So, if you are interested in getting in let me know.

Recruiter MOM

This link will answer some valuable questions for the parents and student/athletes hoping to becomeprospects. I highly advise you to visit the site that has been set up and researched by Jan Greenhawkby clicking on the title above or by pastinghttp://recruitermom.org/index.html in your browser. Check this link. I’ve gotten good feedback.

Andy Givens’ Hitting InstructionAndy Givens is the former Delaware Technical and Community College Assistant Baseball Coach, andformer Head Softball Coach. He is currently the Head Softball Coach of the Delaware Diamonds 18U teamand gives privatehitting instruction at his place between Georgetown and Laurel, DE. If you are looking fora superb, patient instructor to help give you an edge, contact Andy at (302) 228-7960 or email himat:ragivens@verizon.net

My daughter, Ashley is a Mary Kaye Beauty Consultant. If anyone is interested in becoming arepresentative to earn extra income or if you wish to purchase products or host a party contact Ashley

through her website at: http://www.marykay.com/asomers6/default.aspx , click on the logo above or call

her at (302) 228-3829.

Holli Adkins (cymphotography)'s Home

http://cymphotography.smugmug.comcopy and paste URL Welcome to the world of photography by Danny & Holli Adkins. We originally started taking photos for friends and family, who could not afford the high dollar photographers. Capture Your Moment Photography was then born.

Our experience includes: Weddings, Family & Individual Portraits, Team Photos and Animals. Our goal isto deliver services that are affordable, enjoyable and professional to your specific needs.

Our website can meet your every need. We have a variety of print sizes and speciality prints are availableupon request. "Picture" gifts are the perfect presents! Check out those gifts which includes: shirts,sweatshirts, puzzles, mousepads, clocks and coffee mugs.

Questions? Please e-mail us at cymphotography@yahoo.com.

News and Tournament ResultsDELAWARE BLUE HENS

SELECT BASEBALL TRYOUTS!!!

2010-2011 Season

Day: Saturday, July 31st

Place: Caesar Rodney High SchoolTime: 10,11,12 Year-Olds @ 3PM 13,14,15/16 Year-Olds @ 4PM

Day: Sunday, August 1st

Place: Sports At The Beach Time: 10,11,12 Year-Olds @ 5PM 13,14,15/16 Year-Olds @ 6PMRain Date: Monday, August 2 all ages @ 6PMnd

Day: Sunday, August 8th

Place: Sports At The BeachTime: 10,11,12 Year-Olds @ 5PM 13,14,15/16 Year-Olds @ 6PMRain Date: Monday, August 9 all ages @ 6PMth

Players are trying out for the 2010-2011 season. Seasons run from September 1st through August 31st eachyear. The age of a player is determined by an April 30th cutoff. Example: a player who played travel ballthis spring at 11U and little league at league age 11 will be trying out in the 12 year-old division.

MULTIPLE TEAMS IN SEVERAL AGE GROUPSQuestions? 302-745-9412 BlueHensBaseball@yahoo.com

I received another very nice email today. This one was from former members of the Lady OriolesGold team that E.J., Ashley and I coached.“Hi Bill!

I enjoyed seeing the picture of the Lady O's last week with their ASA Eastern Territory GoldQualifier trophy and medals. Coach Fisher's team has had success this year and we are all proudthat they will be representing the Eastern Territory at Gold Nationals in Marietta, Georgia! GoLady O's!In his note to you last week, he mentioned the "original" Lady Orioles Gold team begun by you andEJ Martinez, back in the fall of 2007. Well, here are two of your "youngsters" from that year'steam, my daughter Kelly and her friend and teammate Kayla Martinez. Kelly and Kayla now playfor Riviera Beach Spirit Gold, and both are finally heading off to college at the end of August. Theirdream of playing college softball began with your lessons about the college recruiting process! Iremember you and EJ requiring that team to bring you samples of their college letters inSeptember of that year so that you could guide their content before they sent off their fall schedules;in fact, you two dedicated a portion of each practice to "classroom" lessons on recruiting. ThoughKelly and Kayla were only sophomores that fall, you were right on the mark with your advice --and though others were saying it was too early, IT WASN'T, and in fact, there wasn't one thing thatwe felt Kelly should have done differently. Maryland and several other schools came to see Kellytwice that fall with the Lady O's, and again several times the next summer, and it culminated inKelly verballing to Maryland before she began her junior year in high school. She signed her Letterof Intent last November during the Early Signing Period, and she began her summer workoutswith Maryland on June 1st. She couldn't be happier and more excited to take the next step, and Iknow Kayla feels the same as she heads off to play for Coach French at UMBC!

By the way, their Riviera Beach Spirit Gold team had a great weekend at the Team New JerseySummer Classic/Premier Northeast Qualifier this past weekend. The tournament that was packedwith talented teams from as far away as California, and RB earned a berth to Premier Nationals inHuntington Beach, CA, with their second place finish in the tournament. Jim Barsalona hosts greatevents, and there was a lot of great softball to be seen in Edison this past weekend!

I so enjoy following your next group of up-and-comers, and we still look forward to yournewsletter every week! And I hope the "youngsters" you now work with listen to Coach Bill -- writethose letters, ladies! It's never too young to start!

Take care...our best to Cheryl and the whole family!Regards,Carolyn Trimble”

Both Kayla and Kelly were dream kids to coach. They were serious about what they wanted and it paid offfor them. I look at some players today and wonder if they and the parents are willing to do what it takes toget to that next level. Many aren’t.

What a weekend it has been! My Blackberry battery had to be recharged before Sunday afternoon wascompleted between the tournament results, and talking to a college coach and then her family and the headof their organization and more results. I love it!!

First, Andy Givens and the Delaware Diamonds 18U Black must have come up with a strategy for theDelaware Invitational Showcase. “We will lose all 4 pool games, make them think we can’t play and thenwe’ll just win the whole bracket on Sunday.” That must have been the strategy because that is exactly whatthey did. Going into elimination play the Diamonds Black had not won a game. No one had blown themaway but they still lost four games. However, something changed when they took the field Sunday morningas they sent one team after another home until when the dust settled in the sultry heat and humidity Andyand the Diamonds Black were the last team standing in their bracket. Sam Muir got the championship winwith a complete game victory. In the semi-final centerfielder and rising junior Caroline Phillips belted twoover the fence for 5 RBI’s. Andy’s daughter, Cyndie belted one also.In the championship Cydie put another one out and Caroline supplied a 2 RBI double. The winning scoreof the championship was 9-1 as the team showed their offensive prowess. Sam ended up with 2 of the wins.

In other Delaware Invitational action the Morris County Belles Gold made it to the semi-finals. AnnahBrittingham won a game Saturday in which she was impressive enough that another D-I and another D-IIschool wanted to get her on campus for an unofficial visit as soon as possible. She picked up a quarterfinalwin on Sunday after Lauren Sputo picked up a win to begin the elimination round. Taylor August (2012)had the hot bat for the Belles. I saw her hit two run scoring doubles and on Sunday she continued bycontributing a grand slam. In one game Annah was 2 for 2.

Sarah Groft (2013) reported from the Premier Girl’s Fastpitch National Qualifier in Edison, NJ. This isrun by Jim Barsalona of Team New Jersey and many great teams were in attendance. Sarah plays for theCentral PA Krunch 16U and they advanced through the winner’s bracket without a loss to qualify for thenational in Southern California. In her own words “We went 3-0 to make it to the finals of the winners

Kelly Trimble (left) and Kayla Martinez (right) of the Riviera

Beach Spirit Gold

bracket. We beat CJ lightning 1-0, also Chaos 16u elite 3-0, and I just pitched a 4-3 victory over CJCyclones 16u. We earned our birth to California and we did not finish the finals.”I will get to see Sarah and her team this Saturday at the Newtown Rock Showcase.

Next was the report from Mark Iacona. Jesci (2013) and the Diamond State Swoop 14U Green were playingin the 16U portion of the “Be the Best” USSSA Showcase in Glen Burnie. Jesci pitched two no-hittersiuncluding a 10-0, 4 K effort for Dean Culver’s excellent team. She tripled an drove in a run to start onegame. In another game she had 3 hits, 2 RBI’s and scored twice. She started that game and was relieved by“Gabby” Culver. In another game Jesci played 3 , had a double and single and drove in a run.rd

Brittany Donald’s picked up 2 shutouts at the “Be the Best Showcase” for the Diamond State Swoop 16UBlue.

Next on my list is the Mid-Atlantic Lady Shockers 12U. This group of young ladies won their tournamentthis weekend. All 4 of my students (Shelby Smith, Kalie Adkins, Emily Haugh, and Darby Fitzpatrick) wontheir games. In the championship Shelby got the start. Kalie Adkins had a double and came in to close thegame and did it. So Shelby picked up the win and Kalie got a save in the close contest.

The Mid-Atlantic Lady Shockers 14U also won their tournament. I didn’t get much in particular about thegames but they did win. Taylor Harcum, and Melony Showell pitched in the championship game.Taylor Black, with 2 outs and down 7-6 in one game, hit a 3-run homer to win the game. She also was in onturning a double play.

It appears these teams are ready for the world series.This weekend I will travel to Newtown, PA for the college showcase. I hope to see Sarah Groft pitch for theKrunch this weekend. I haven’t seen her since the clinic ended in April.