I would like to take this opportunity to give a sincere Thank You to all that has posted, PM'ed, texted and called over the past 3 days...it has been a bit overwhelming to say the least.
As most of you know I have not posted any updates on our Ohio Lasers Green Team in over a year. We have spent all of our time and all of our energy on just trying to get better each and every day. The effort and sacrifice that these young Lady's have given to each other, us Coaches and there Team...has been nothing like I have ever seen over the last 14 years Coaching at this level.
Our Team is not fancy by any means...we are fast, athletic and have a softball IQ that is off the charts...but more important then there skill set, is the fact that they have more heart, mental toughness and attitude then any Team I have ever Coached or Coached against. We traveled to Sioux Falls, South Dakota a week ago Saturday (July 30th) with 10 young Lady's, whose goal inside was to give 100% every pitch, every swing and every play; so we could reach our goal of playing on the last day of our season...August 6th.
By the end, we were so beat up, that I don't know how 3 or 4 of them were able to celebrate
My SS pulled a hammy in pool play and gutted it out the entire week on Ice Packs, IB Profin and extra slow stretching. My RF/LHP severly sprained her ankle on the Infield/Outfield Lip in the 3rd Bracket game and had to be carried off the field. With her ankle swelled and taped; she also never missed an inning after that game. MY RHP threw 4 1/2 of the last 5 bracket games...the last day with blood blisters on both heels from her cleats (AKA Curt Schilling) we used Mole Skin from our First Aid kit to doctor her up the best we could after each game. My 3B had multiple knots and bruises from knocking down rocket shots all week...she later texted out a Pic of her legs and this is no lie...they looked like Rocky Balboas face after 10 rounds with Apollo Creed.
And the funny thing was, they never complained once or used it as an excuse for a bad AB, a bad Pitch thrown or not making a play on defense. They gutted and grinded through every pitch, every inning and every game until they achieved what they had set out achieve. To tell you the truth, I did very little coaching at Nationals. On defense my CF made most of the Outfield calls such as shifts and shades, while communicating with the Middies on depth coverage. My catchers and infielders silently communicated pick offs and 1st & 3rd plays. On offense we went over attack plans in pre-game for the 1st time through and second time through, but all 9 batters had the freedom to read the defense and adjust to what they were reading. If I did call something and they read it differently, they would give me a body twitch to wipe it off.
All I did was call pitches and go off on 2 opposing coaches for trying to embarrass and/or intimidate my girls. The Blue warned me both times in the Louisville Sluggers and Texas Dirt Divas games, but the girls knew I had there back. We were down 2-0 both games and the girls fed on my intensity/anger and followed suit...out scoring those 2 teams 12-3 after that and having my back.
Those 10 players finished the 2016 Summer Season with a 60-6 record...finishing even stronger the last month going 25-2 and never losing a bracket game. Here is how our summer unfolded...
Dayton Metro ASA/USA Qualifier.....3rd Place........4-2
Lasers Nation Showcase 16U..........3rd Place........9-1...losing to our Big Sisters Lasers Purple...who my girls idolize.
Sheer Madness ASA/USA Qualifier...1st Place........8-0
Indy Top 50 Showcase...................1st Place........8-0
Orville Fire In The Sky....................9th Place.......6-1...losing to our Little Sisters Lasers White...who won Orville.
Ohio Stingrays Showcase................1st Place.......8-1...5-0 in bracket play.
Atlanta Legacy Showcase................1st place.......8-1...6-0 in bracket play.
ASA/USA 14U Nationals..................1st place.......9-0...7-0 in bracket play.
Tegan C.......Tego
McKenzie B....Z
Hailey N........Bug
Reagan W....Four
Riley S.........Ri Ri
Zoey D.........304
Hannah B.....Gunz
Harlie V.......Har Har
Isabelle S.....Izzy
Corin T........Co Co
Allison S......Ally
Morgan P.....Mo
Skylar L.......Sky
Marissa A.....Double Nut
In Conclusion, I am so proud of the girls that produced on and off the field...this was your Team...this was your Championship season!!! Thank You for allowing me the honor and privilege of coaching you all these years...I Love You All!!!
Coach Lee,
Ohio Lasers Green...You Know
