2008 Season - Final Coaches' Note

It's hard to believe that another season has come and gone -- each year seems to go by faster.  I guess that this year went by especially quickly is that it was so much fun for me.

No matter what the record says, this was perhaps the best team, top to bottom, that Coach Bridgens and i have ever had the privilege of coaching.  You all played hard, listen to instructions (when necessary) and most importantly, showed up for the games.  You don't know how much easier this made things for the coaches!

Final kudos to (in decreasing age order):

• Nicole Cicala (last year in ARA), who even though was unable to play because of knee surgery for about half the season, still showed up for games and cheered and encouraged her teammates.  She has great team spirit and will be missed.
• Elizabeth Joyce (last year in ARA), was a great player, offensively and defensively, and had great team spirit; she was like having another coach in the field.  She will also be missed.
• Maggie Thomas, (i have to be careful what i say here!), always tried hard and had a great knack for getting on base.
• Caroline Stanley, hit and pitched well throughout the season.
• Tessa Crist, was absolute rock at second base, one of the best at that position that i have ever seen.
• Kelsey Keaveney, although she could not run well (knee) throughout the early part of the year, still gutted it out and played.  We asked a lot of her pitching (she pitched a lot of innings) and she performed superbly, without complaint.
• Bethany Steckel, (last year in ARA [she's moving]), had a great eye at the plate; i've never seen anyone have more three balls and two strike counts ever.
• Katie Joyce, a terrific batter and defensive player...hard to believe she has two more years she can play in ARA!
• Nicole Bridgens, anchor of our defense at shortstop and an awesome hitter (she may just hit one out on Field E before she's done).  It seems as if she's been playing in Seniors forever, but she also has two years left.
• Amelia Stettler, probably one of the most improved players i've seen...she caught anything and everything hit to her in right field, including some not so easy plays.
• Maria Gursky, a very quiet person, always listened well to instructions and gave her best all the time.
• Brianna Allen, (codename "Hawaii"), a solid left handed hitter.  This was only her first season in Seniors...she's only going to get better.
• MaryGrace Joyce, was an excellent outfielder (even though she didn't really like playing there), caught everything hit to her.  She is a much better player than she realizes.
• Megan Kelly, unfortunately missed a lot of games in the beginning because of her school's team's schedule.  She has great potential, i see great things for her in the future, she's only going to get better.

Thank you all for an awesome season!  I hope to see you all next year in ARA.

Take care and God bless you all,

Mr. T.

Playoff Game vs. Thunder 6/12/2008 (L 6-4)

(Once again, this is mostly from memory, so forgive me if anyone or anything is left out.)

Well, our arch-nemesis the Thunder got us again; however we played very well during this game.  We actually outhit  them (seven to five); i believe we really had them worried.  Nothing to be ashamed of here...we (the coaches) are very proud of you all.

Even though you finished second this year, to us, you are ALL champions.

Kudos to:

• Kelsey, game ball, had a monster double to drive in two runs (put us in the lead at that time) and pitched great.
• Nicole B., had two hits.
• Katie, played outstanding defense at first base.
• The entire team, for playing a great game.

Congratulations to you all!

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Playoff game vs. Force 6/9/2008 (W 8-0)

(Note:  it took me a long time after the game to write this; a lot is from memory.)

The team played very well in all aspects of the game in this one -- pitching, hitting, and defense.  We jumped on them in the first inning and never looked back.

Kudos to:

• Katie, scored two runs.
• Caroline, had two runs batted in and also pitched very well.
• Kelsey, also pitched very well.
• Nicole B., scored two runs.

Well done, ladies!

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Playoff Game vs. Thunder 6/5/2008 (L 5-4)

This was a very tough game to lose in the last inning.   We were very competitive during the game, and really, with the exception of one inning in the field, out-played our opponents.  We out-hit them six to five, and again, except for one inning, played equally as well defensively.

Kudos to:

• Elizabeth, game ball, a double to drive in our first two runs.
• Bethany, drove in our fourth run with a hit.
• Katie, drove in our third run.
• Megan, a hit that started our three-run rally.
• Maria, had a hit to keep our rally going.

Please believe me when i say that you are just as good a team as the Thunder.  If we stay away from the one bad defensive inning, we'll beat them more often than not.

Let's take care of our game on Monday first...but wouldn't you all like another shot at the Thunder?

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Game vs. Thunder 5/27/2008 (L 13-0)

Well, not much to say about this one...we (including the coach) just had a really, really bad day.  We'll just chalk this one up as a learning experience and move on.  Playoffs start soon...we will do better, i'm sure.

Mr. T.

Game vs. Thunder 5/17/2008 (L 11-1)

With the exception of the last inning where we kind of shot ourselves in the foot, we hung right in there with great pitching and excellent defense.  Nothing to be ashamed of here...the last inning was just "one of those" things that happens sometimes.

Kudos to:

• Amelia, game ball, for several great catches in right field.
• Brianna, game ball, for a big triple that set up our only run.
• Caroline, pitched six fantastic innings.

This game was not nearly as bad as the score indicated.  Keep your heads up, ladies!

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Game vs. Force 5/14/2008 (W 11-6)

Unfortunately, I (Mr. T.) was not able to be at this game, so these notes are based on what I was told and what I could see in the scorebook.

From all reports, the team played very well in this game; hitting and field were especially good.

Kudos to:

• Nicole C., game ball, a hit in her very first at bat of the season, after a long layoff due to injury.
• Nicole B., had three hits and scored two runs.
• Elizabeth, had two hits and two runs batted in.
• Caroline, had three hits, scored two runs, and had two runs batted in.
• Amelia, had two hits and two runs batted in.

Also, one spirit point goes to Elizabeth!

Great job, ladies!

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Game vs. Force 5/4/2008 (W 11-1)

This game was a coaches' dream; the players knew what to do and executed perfectly.  All the coach had to do was trot out to coach at third base when we were at bat!  Believe me, those kinds of games are welcome from time-to-time.

This was an outstanding effort on the teams part.  On offense, we scored early and often, and put the game away when we had the chance.  On defense, very solid, no mistakes and some great plays.  Our pitching was lights out: our opponent only had one hit and that was in the last inning.  On the other hand we socked 14 hits!

Kudos to:

• Nicole B., game ball, four hits including two doubles.
• Bethany, a hit and a run batted in and a great catch in left field.
• Amelia, a truly awesome catch of a sinking line drive in right field.
• Elizabeth, two hits, four runs batted in; at catcher she continues to shut down the opponent's running game.
• Katie, three hits, three runs scored, and two runs batted in.
• The Team, for their effort.

Outstanding game, ladies.  Keep up the good work.

Mr. T.

Game vs. Thunder 5/1/2008 (W 12-4)

The team played very well in this game!  After a slow start, the bats got REALLY hot and we exploded for 12 runs.  Everything was working in this game:  pitching, fielding, and hitting.

Kudos to:

• Brianna, game ball, had a line drive hit that got the team going and had two runs batted in.
• Elizabeth, had two monster double and had four runs batted in.  She also threw out runners trying to steal.
• Tessa, did a great job in the leadoff position, scoring three runs.
• Kelsey, pitched four scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and striking out eight.
• Maggie, although a bit rusty after not pitching for awhile, pitched three innings and allowed no hits.

Mr. B announced before the game points awarded each game for girls showing extraordinary team spirit.  It has been decided to call them spirit points.  One spirit point each for this game goes to Katie and Nicole C.

Great game, ladies!

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Game vs. Force 4/25/2008 (L 8-6)

With the exception of one bad inning in the field, the team played well.  For whatever reasons, our defensive mistakes seem to come in small bunches.  We hit decently (especially in the first inning) and actually out-hit our opponents.  Except for the "inning from Hades", when the other team scored five runs, defense was fine.

Everyone makes and will make mistakes; we must try not to make them all in the same inning.

Kudos to:

• Caroline, pitched a complete game, had two hits and score two runs.
• Katie, scored two runs and had three runs batted in.
• Tessa, had (another) terrific catch at second base.

No worries, we'll be fine! :)

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Game vs. Thunder 4/24/2008 (W 6-2)

This was a very well played game.  We won this one because of excellent defense and pitching and enough hitting early in the game.  If we play defense like this in every game, we will win many more than we lose.

Kudos to:

• Tessa, game ball, for an truly outstanding snag of a line drive headed for right field, that saved at least one run.
• MaryGrace, made two great catches in the outfield.
• Kelsey, pitched (another) complete game and only allowed one hit!  She also had a hit and two runs batted in.
• Katie, two hits, a triple, and two runs batted in.
• Caroline, two hits, including a triple.
• Nicole B., scored two runs.

Well done...keep it up!

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Game vs. Force 4/19/2008 (L 8-4)

Defense was the name of this name.  Although we out-hit the other team 9 to 6, we made four errors and they made none.  If we tighten up the defense a bit, with our offense, we'll win a lot more games than we lose.

Kudos to:

• Maggie, game ball, had two hits and drove in a run.
• Caroline, pitched the entire game and struck out 10 batters.
• Maria, coming back from an injury, had a hit and drove in two runs.

One very positive thing:  as Mr. B. mentioned after the game, we are very proud of the spirit on this team!  Some of the things we noticed:

• We had nearly everyone show up for the team picture! (trust me, this is a big deal; last year I think we had less than half the team show up.
• Before the game, Mr. B. asked the team to worm up.  Usually this would mean the team would simply throw to each other up until game time.  You all did much more; you stretched together, threw some, and had some organized drills.  Very impressive, indeed!
• The cheering for each other during the game.

We are proud of you all for your spirit.  Keep it up!

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Game vs. Thunder 4/18/2008 (T 7-7)

Not a bad game at all, you played well.  Not quite the result we would have liked, but our opponents made some good defensive plays or we would have stomped them.  We out-hit them 11 to 6.

Kudos to:

• Katie, game ball, three hits and a walk and scored two runs.
• Kelsey, pitched a great complete game and struck out 12, with only four walks.  She also had two hits and three runs batted in (quite a day, indeed).
• Nicole B., had two hits and scored three runs.
• Elizabeth, had two hits and had some defensive gems while playing third base.

No complaints about the way you all played in this game; except maybe one or two instances where we needed to tighten up our defense.

We are in an unlucky hitting streak.  Not to worry, we'll bust out soon!

Mr. B. and Mr. T

Game vs. Force 4/15/2008 (W 7-3)

Another excellent game.  Even though we had trouble bunching hits early in the game, we hung in there played outstanding defense, and finally broke through with three runs in each of the last two innings.

Kudos to:

• Amelia, game ball, for a clutch two-out, two-strike hit that drove in our fourth run, putting us ahead to stay.
• Nicole B., scored two runs.
• Tessa, had two hits, and was unlucky the one time she made an out -- it was crushed into the outfield, but right at a fielder.
• Kelsey, pitched three great innings.
• Maggie, for a hit on an excellently placed bunt, right near the first base line.
• Nicole C., for her first base coach skills.
• The Team, for committing no errors on defense.

Well played, ladies.  should be our first win of many.

Mr. T.

Game vs. Thunder 4/12/2008 (L 5-3)

Not much to add to what Mr. B. said after the game.  Even though we lost, it was a great effort by the entire team.  Considering it was our first game, there's not much more the coaches could ask from the team.  You showed great heart in this game.

Kudos to:

• Kelsey, game ball, came off the disabled list and gave us three great innings pitched.
• Katie, absolutely crushed a monster triple.
• Nicole B., a very well hit opposite field double and played great defense at shortstop.
• MaryGrace, had a clutch hit to drive in a run.
• Megan, pitched two strong innings at the end.
• Maggie, also pitched two good innings and had a well placed sacrifice bunt.
• Amelia, had an important hit in our two-run rally.
• Nicole C. and Caroline, for coming to the game to support and cheer on their teammates, even though they could not play.

Be proud of yourselves, you played well.

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Players' Contest

Update:  the contest is over...congratulations to Elizabeth!

Hello,

A little contest to see if anyone is paying attention. :)

• Question 1:  What was the final score and result of the ARA Penn State game on 6/10/2006?
• Question 2:  Who was the winning pitcher?

Hint:  Start with the Links link on http://www.mrbsoftball.com.

The first player (except for coaches' daughters, sorry Maggie and Nicole!) the calls, emails, or tells me in person before the close of Sunday's practice, will win a $25 gift certificate to Walmart (or any other store of their choosing).

Take care,

Rich

Welcome!

Hello Team!

On behalf of Mr. Bridgens and myself, we would like to welcome you to the ARA 2008 Riptide Senior Girls' softball team.

Our hope is that this season will be full of fun and that we'll be able to teach you some things about softball. Oh, of course, we do hope to win also!

We will be seeing you all soon.

Take care,

Mr. B. and Mr. T.