2007 Season - Final Reflections

Another season has come and gone.  Where did the time go?  It seems (to me) to go by faster every year.

Although this season was not without its challenges, I must say that I did enjoy coaching you all this season; I miss it when it's over.

As for the team, our record and playoff result does not look good on paper.  However, I will argue with anyone that this was a very good team, an excellent group of girls, just as good as any other team in the league (including the champions).  Circumstances beyond our control conspired against us.

I hope, despite our won/loss record, that you all enjoyed playing softball this season.  After all, as Mr. B. stated pre-season, we like to win, yes, but our main goal is to have fun!

To our 16 (and up) year olds, Jenny Rose, Lisa, and Amanda, this was your last year.  I hope you enjoyed your many years playing in ARA; you all were excellent players (and people) and will be missed.

Final Kudos to:

• Jenny Rose Bridgens, had a great final season and had great spirit (probably her cheerleading background!).
• Lisa Clark, an excellent player and pitcher, was a steadying influence on the team whenever she played.
• Amanda Corropolese, unfortunately the schedule conspired against her this year, but was an excellent player throughout her years in ARA (Mr. B. and I coached her when she was 13).
• Sammi Berlet, joined us mid-season but fit right in with the team; her skill improved with every game.
• Nicole Bridgens, this should have been her first year in league (but it was her second), showed dramatic improved hitting (she had a homerun this season), showed versatility by playing various positions to help out the team.
• Amy Caglia, very quiet, has great talent in phases of the game, hit great all season and has a great arm.
• Carolyn Meier, our catcher, improved a lot at that position and had our other homerun this year.
• Melissa Ricciutti, very quietly went about being one of our best hitters this season.  She should be very proud of how much she has improved over the years.
• Sammy Seeberger, gave great effort all season long and was a great teammate.
• Caroline Stanley, one of pitchers, was called on to pitch a lot and did so without complaint; she also was one of the best hitters.
• Megan Stauffer, hit great all season long and made many incredible defensive gems playing first base.
• Julia Tasca, always gave 100% in every game and inspired her teammates to do likewise.
• Maggie Thomas, (have to be careful here :) ), did well pitching in her first season doing so and hit better than the statistics would indicate.

Take care, ladies -- and thanks for playing!  I hope I see you all playing in ARA next season.  Mr. B. and I will be looking for you.

Have a great summer and the best of luck to you in school, sports, and life.  May God bless you all.

Mr. T.

Playoff Game vs. Notre Dame 6/7/2007 (L 10-7)

We didn't get the result we wanted in the game, but with the exception of one inning, we played one of our best games of the year.  We hung right in there with a very good team.

Kudos to:

• Carolyn, game ball, a three run home run, on a shot that was ripped down the third base line.
• Caroline, game ball, pitched an excellent complete game, her best outing of the year.
• Lisa, had three hits.
• The Team, who, except for one inning, played their best game of the year.

We, the coaches, are very proud of the team effort in this game!  If we're going to lose our last game, it's better that we lost playing one of our best games.

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

2007 ARA Penn State Softball Final

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Playoff Game vs. Michigan 6/4/2007 (L 12-6)

I don't know what it is, but somehow, every time we play Michigan we don't play our best game.  Even though we outhit them 10-7, we also had more errors than they did (7-3).  We must do better.

Kudos to:

• Lisa, pitched six excellent innings and had two hits.
• Melissa, had two hits.
• Caroline, had two hits.
• Nicole, had two runs batted in.

By no means are we out of the playoffs.  If we just tighten up the defense some, we'll be fine and have an excellent chance of going far.

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Game vs. Springford 5/23/2007 (W 17-7)

In a word, awesome!  This is what we like to see; the team playing up to its capabilities.  The team played a near-perfect...we caught the ball, we threw the ball to the proper places, and we really exploded with the bats (18 hits).

Kudos to:

• Julia, game ball, for a clutch two-out hit that drove in two runs; she also scored three runs.
• Maggie, game ball, for a very well pitched complete game.  In the first two innings, she threw only 15 pitches -- 14 strikes and one ball!
• Carolyn, batting leadoff for the first time, had three hits and two runs batted in.
• Melissa, batting second, had three hits and three runs batted in.
• Nicole, had a very hot bat, four hits, scored three runs, and three runs batted in.
• Jessica Burns, (thanks for playing for us!), walked twice, scored two runs, and played excellent defense at first base.
• Andrea Clemente, (thanks to her as well), scored three runs, had a double, and was great playing catcher.

Outstanding effort girls!  Let's keep the momentum going in the next game.

Mr. B and Mr. T

Game vs. Notre Dame 5/19/2007 (L 24-3)

Well...um...ok.  There has to be a coaches' note after every game.  Right.

Honestly, this note is perhaps the toughest one to write in the four years that there have been game notes for Mr. B's ARA seniors teams.  The intent is to be positive as much as possible; you have to admit, there are not many positives to take away from this game (except at the end, where we bore down and scored two runs off of one of the best pitchers in the league).

So, we'll put this one behind us and look at things we can do in the future.  The coaches got together and talked about this and here are some thoughts:

• We need to act more like a team.  This does not mean that everyone has to become lifelong friends, but during games, show concern for the other players on the team.  Encourage teammates that make a good play ("nice play") and comfort someone that had a tough play or error ("that's ok").
• Be "in the game."  What that means is even though a player is not directly involved in the game at a particular moment, still pay attention to what is happening in the game.  Is it possible that something occurs that is a learning experience and will help at some other time.
• Also, being "in the game" is to reduce outside distractions.  Softball games are not your entire life (far from it), but it's fair to ask that during the roughly two hours at a game that attention is focused there (on softball), instead of using cell phones, going in and out of the dugout.

Now, we understand that this team stuff is difficult due to the fact that we seem to have different combinations of players due to events that make players unable to attend games.  That should be slowing down now.

Don't think for a moment that we, the coaches, are standing on high, now spewing forth fire and brimstone down on the players.  We have not done everything that we could have during this season to unite the team.  If anyone thinks of anything that we can do to help or conversely, are doing something that is not helping, please do not be afraid to tell us, in private, if necessary.  That goes for parents as well as players.  We value your opinion.

There is no doubt in our minds that this is a very talented team.  We can compete with and beat ANY team in this league (yes, even Notre Dame).  Let's start turning it around now.  There is still time.

We believe in this team, win or lose.

Thank you for reading this.

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Game vs. Notre Dame 5/14/2007 (L 14-7)

Even though this game was not close, there were good things to take away.  We hit well again (only one less hit than our opponents), and committed no errors!  This is a beautiful thing.

Kudos to:

• Jenny Rose, game ball, two triples and three runs batted in.
• Amy, continues having a hot bat, three more hits and three runs scored.
• Sammy S., two hits.

Let me repeat, our defense was outstanding!  No errors, and when the ball made it to the outfield, it was picked up quickly and thrown to the proper base.  Let's keep on doing that.

Mr. T.