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.

Game vs. Michigan 5/12/2007 (L 17-14)

This was one of those games that, based on hitting, we should have won big; we outhit our opponents 18 to 9.  Unfortunately, our defense let us down (six errors).  If we keep up the hitting and cut down the errors, we will win more of these games than we lose.

Kudos to:

• Sammi B., game ball, two runs batted in and a nice catch in center field.
• Caroline, who had five hits (!) and scored three runs.
• Megan, three runs batted in.
• Nicole, three hits.
• Jenny Rose, four hits (including a double) and three runs batted in.
• Melissa three runs batted in.
• Julia, two hits and two runs scored.

Let's keep those bats hot!

Mr. T.

Game vs. St. Bonaventure 5/6/2007 (L 14-12)

Geez, how many of these close games are we going to be unlucky in?  Another tough loss -- once again we hit great.  If we keep hitting as we've been, we will win games.  We must make slight improvements to our defense.

Kudos to:

• Nicole, game ball, hit a HOME RUN and had two runs batted in.
• Lisa, had a monster day at bat, three hits (two triples and a double), scored two runs, and had four runs batted in.
• Amy, had a double, two walks, and scored three runs.
• Megan, scored two runs and had three runs batted in.
• Sammy S., had a triple and two runs batted in.

Thanks (again) to Erin for filling in so we had enough players.

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Game vs. Michigan 5/5/2007 (L 19-16)

This game was a real exciting slugfest!  We hung in with them until right near the end, we just came up short.  Our offense is not a problem; as Mr. B. said after the game, we just need to improve our defense a little bit.  We have no doubts that it will.

Kudos to:

• Melissa, game ball, four hits and played great at third base (not her usual position).
• Caroline, pitched the entire game, had three hits and four runs batted in.
• Jenny Rose, three hits and three runs batted in.
• Nicole, two hits and three runs batted in.
• Sammi B., two hits and two runs batted in.
• Julie S., for playing for us, even though she is on another team.

All in all, even though we lost, you did not play a bad game.

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Game vs. Notre Dame 5/2/2007 (L 15-1)

Well, honestly, it's best we forget about this one.  It seems the one hour delay waiting for our opponents to show up really affected us; we had all kinds of trouble concentrating.

Kudos to:

• Maggie, game ball, for improved pitching.
• Amy, continued to hit the ball hard, had a double and was unlucky to hit the ball right at someone another time.
• Caroline, hit the ball very hard, unfortunately right at someone.

Let's put this one in the past! :)

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Game vs. St. Bonaventure 4/30/2007 (W 13-9)

A big win for us -- our bats were smokin' hot!!!  We had 14 hits in this game (including a triple and three doubles); our opponents only had six.  The only reason this game was only a little close was because of defense -- we must do better there.  I have no doubt we will.

Kudos to:

• Jenny Rose, game ball, two hits (including a double), two runs, and two runs batted in.
• Amy, continues to have a hot bat, three hits (including a double).
• Nicole, two hits (a double and a triple that was crushed), two runs, and two runs batted in.
• Sammy S., two runs batted in.

We would like to welcome Sammi B. to our team.  We're glad to have her play for us!

Great win girls!

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Game vs. Notre Dame 4/28/2007 (L 10-7)

Another close, competitive game.  The team hung in there until the very end; just got nipped in the last inning.  No complaints about the way you played from me.

Kudos to:

• Nicole, game ball, a hit and a sacrifice fly, and great defense in left field (not her usual position), including a running shoestring catch.
• Megan, had a triple.
• Amy, had two hits.
• Carolyn, a hit that drove in two big runs.
• Lisa and Caroline, both pitched well.

A very good game, despite the fact we lost.  The fact that we are in every game with chances to win is very encouraging!

 

Mr. T.

Game vs. St. Bonaventure 4/22/2007 (W 15-13)

This was one heck of a game!  We scored early and often and played good defense, held on and won.  The first win of many, I predict.

Kudos to:

• Lisa, game ball, had four hits and scored four runs, plus came in to pitch the last inning to get the save.
• Amy, two hits and four runs batted in.
• Caroline, three hits and scored three runs.
• Megan, four hits and five runs batted in.
• Sammy, two hits and two runs batted in.
• Nicole, two hits, three runs scored, and took one for the team (hit by pitch).
• Melissa, two hits, two runs scored, and two walks.
• Maggie, also took one for the team (hit by pitch).
• Jacquie, for playing so we had enough players.

All in all, our bats were very active.  The defense was good, too.  Way to go!

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Game vs. Notre Dame 4/21/2007 (L 5-1)

All in all, you all played very well in this game.  The game was close and very competitive; a few bad breaks and missed opportunities were the difference.  These things have a way of evening out over the course of a season.

Kudos to:

• Megan, game ball, hit a monster double and played great defensively at first base, including a great play on a foul ball that she played chicken with the fence and won!
• Lisa, pitched the entire game and did so very well.
• Amy, had two hits and scored our only run.
• Sammy, made a great catch on a wicked line drive to the outfield.
• Erin Rubendall, for coming up from the Majors to play for us and doing a great job.

No doubt, we are a very good team; we can compete with and beat any other team in the league.  Don't worry, the wins will come.

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Game vs. Michigan 4/14/2006 (L 15-13)

All right, we lost this (close) game, but there were positives.  The hitting and defense were there; it's only at matter of time before everything comes together.  Then we'll be a very tough team to beat!

Kudos to:

• Amy, game ball, had a big double that drove in two runs and also scored two runs.
• Nicole, a double, two walks, and scored two runs.
• Sammy, a hit, two walks, and three runs batted in.
• Maggie, two hits, a walk, and scored three runs.
• Carolyn, played great game at catcher.
• Caroline, two hits and three runs batted in.
• The Team, for defense and continually coming back to make the game close.

Not too bad.  Remember this was our first game.  Everyone (including the coaches) will get better as the season progresses.

Mr. B. and Mr. T.

Opening Day April 14, 2007

It's now 9:30 AM on opening day.  We play our first game today at 1 PM against Michigan.

Before the first game every year, I wonder about several things:

• How are we going to play as a team?
• Have we practiced all that we needed (usually not, because of time)?
• Am I, as a coach, going to do something stupid that causes us to lose the game?
• This year especially, are we going to have enough players?

I also greatly anticipate the beginning of each season, as does Mr. B.  We enjoy coaching and look forward to coaching the girls this season.

Looking at the rosters of the teams this year, we compare favorably to any of them, meaning we can beat any of them.  There is plenty of talent on our team, we just have to go out and perform the basics (hitting, pitching, and defense) better than our opponents.

Oh, the most important thing, we must have fun doing so!

 

Mr. T.

Hello Team!

Hello Team!

On behalf of Mr. Bridgens and myself, we would like to welcome you to the ARA 2007 Penn State 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.