Girl s Windmill Pitching. Showcase, Schmowcase!

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1 Girl s Windmill Pitching Volume 380 October 19, 2012 B ill D ryden Showcase, Schmowcase! Five college coaches all day? It does say showcase, right? They either put their buddies on the good fields, or try to book way too many teams and spread the complexes out so far college coaches can t or won t show up or the other little trick is to tell you that you will be at main complex and give you Friday at 8:00 am or Sunday. The problem is the coaches don t really like the early mornings and by Sunday most have flown out. Yet your teams keep going year after year and hoping or whatever. I don t know how many times I have said or written that good showcases are extremely difficult to get into and for you to have even a prayer you must register early and that doesn t mean September for fall showcases. That means August at the latest for next summer s showcases in Colorado. Otherwise relegate your team to going to the also ran showcases and play somewhere that no one bothers to come to for recruiting. If you are looking for a nothing showcase that has few if any college coaches just so you can say you went to a showcase, continue on that path. If you want to get into true showcases, pay your dues as a team and increase your possibilities with true showcases and play on the good complexes. Otherwise, if you don t do anything, don t expect anything. I had one parent tell me last week they were at a showcase at a minor complex on a back field. All you had was games. No coaches, just games. Another one did the same thing and the games they had scheduled at the main complex got moved. Folks, if a college coach shows up, that coach is lost! Now I will admit that the Team New Jersey Showcase did have coaches show up at the secondary complex, but nowhere near the numbers they had at the main complex. The showcase venue has apparently caused organizations to see the theme as a cash cow. Call a tournament a showcase, allow as many teams as possible in, tell them 300 coaches have been invited, and produce very little results. Collect the money and do it again next year. There are always teams who will go because they don t know any better or can t get into the true showcases. Why is that? Again, you must pay your dues, and then also, unfortunately, it doesn t hurt to know someone who can help. Networking is a part of the process. Knowing the right people goes a long way.

2 Several years back the team I was associated with wanted to go to a major showcase in Florida. They applied and then I contacted some college coaches I knew who knew the folks running the tournament. The college coaches recommended our team and we were accepted. The fact was we had played good tournaments all year and had done well. When our record, strength of schedule, and national finish were combined with the college coach recommendations, a legitimate case was made for our inclusion. It is difficult to get into the more prestigious showcases. There is no doubt. Some of that is because those already in don t give up their spots. In addition the true showcase directors won t water down the competition and if your team is not deemed ready, they will not be accepted. I have pitching students that want to be seen by college coaches. They must go to the good tournaments to get that opportunity. How they make it and what they determine to do is up to them. I can t guarantee them scholarships. I can recommend them if they are playing high level ball and I can help them get seen if they are at the right tournaments. If they can t afford the travel and/or registration, they have to take their chances. It is incumbent upon them to express what they expect from their team. They need to tell their coach what their goals are and ask what the coach can do to help further those goals. Kiddie ball won t work if you want to play in college. Explain that, get the coach s response and see if it fits your goals. If so, you re in business. Everybody has choices. My students and their parents have choices. I will try to make sure they have information to make informed choices. That s all I try to do. Kat Betts of the Delaware Express 16U guest played with the Morris County Belles 18U Elite this past weekend and her dad s comment to Nick was We re not used to seeing this kind of competition. That s the point. You can t expect college coaches to watch lesser competition and if you want to play in college you have to test yourself against the best competition you can find. This is only for those who want an opportunity to play on a good college team. Your team must all have the same goal. Otherwise it doesn t work. If you want your team to go to the better showcases, make a plan to get there. Go to good regular tournaments, and to strong nationals. The plan must be long range because you need to build a resume. You most likely will not get into the better ones next year or maybe the following year, but if you do well, you may get in withing a couple of years. Remember a tournament listed as a showcase may not be the showcase that helps your team. Photos Caroline Cardamone of the Delaware Storm 12U Lightning was winning pitcher for the Storm s initial win when they played this weekend

3 Tips Nothing stares you in the face and reflects a ball player s skill more than training by a competent professional. Geoff Morsel sent me a link to Blair s skills video this week and even though I have watched her catch for the Belles Elite, there were things I had missed but saw in the video and I was amazed. I watched the way she framed pitches, blocked balls in the dirt and made throws to all bases and could tell she had not only been well taught but really soaked up what she was taught. She s no bigger than a Mutchkin but plays like six-footer. I watched it over and over again. For the parents out there, don t sell your daughter short by trying to coach her and train her yourself. Get professional instruction and leave it in the hands of professionals. Whether catching, pitching, strength and conditioning, batting or fielding, trust those who have success. Girl s Windmill Pitching Check out my website, You can find my newsletters, some links, photos, and some of my students video clips. Just click on the title in blue above or paste the URL into your browser. Girl s Windmill Pitching Private Lessons I am currently giving one on one 30-minute private pitching instructions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the Georgetown, DE area and Fridays at the Lower Shore Family YMCA. I am now offering private lessons in the Harrington, DE area. If you are interested in lessons at either of the venues, let me know. Contact me at billdryden1@girlswindmillpitching.com Recruiter MOM This link will answer some valuable questions for the parents and student/athletes hoping to become prospects. I highly advise you to visit the site that has been set up and researched by Jan Greenhawk by clicking on the title above or by pasting in your browser. Check this link. I ve gotten good feedback. Andy Givens Hitting Instruction Andy Givens is the former Delaware Technical and Community College Assistant Baseball Coach, and former Head Softball Coach. He is currently the Head Softball Coach of the Delaware Diamonds 18U Black team and gives private hitting instruction at his place between Georgetown and Laurel, DE. If you are looking for a superb, patient instructor to help give you an edge, contact Andy at (302) or him at:ragivens@comcast.net

4 My daughter, Ashley is a Mary Kaye Director in Qualification. If anyone is interested in becoming a representative to earn extra income or if you wish to purchase products or host a party contact Ashley through her website at: click on the logo above or call her at (302) Do you see the logo above? That is the logo of the Visalus weight loss and fitness program. Two of my daughters and their husbands got on the program and have had great results, losing pounds, increasing metabolism, feeling energetic and having overall health improvement. Now my wife has is starting it and they have me convinced. People are able to leave their cholesterol and blood pressure medicines! I would love that but only when my cardiologist advises me to do it. My son has even started it. Kim and Ashley have many team members who are having the same results. You will be eating and living healthier and not starving yourself as you do it. Another great thing about the program is you can get your kits free if you sign up 3 friends. If you are interested in changing your life, me at billdryden1@comcast.net or my wife, Cheryl Dryden at cheryldryden1@att.net or call her after 4:15 at (302) for information about the 90 day Visalus challenge. There are tasting parties occurring almost nightly and Cheryl will be glad to attend one with you. News and Tournament Results Morris County Belles 18U Gold catcher Ruth Zimmerman Ruth Zimmerman is my New Jersey Southern Belle. She thinks I sound southern with my Delmarva Accent and is always wanting to imitate it. On the field and in the classroom she needs to imitate no one, and her efforts have earned her verbal commitment to Smith College. The Belles are very proud of their track record helping team members find the right colleges and they are very proud of Ruth. The young lady has steadily become an outstanding player and young lady. Great Job, Ruth! First report from Morris County Belles Gold at the NJ Outlaws Fall Showcase said that Cassandra Squeiri got the first win over the Long Island Bandits Gold by an 8-5 score. Shelby Smith registered the save. Amanda Parsons had an RBI single and a sacrifice fly. In game two against the Diamond Dusters Katie Baron took the mound. Amanda Parsons kept the hot bat doubling and scoring a run. Baron got the complete game win.

5 Game three was against the Delco Rage Gold. This was started by Taylor Pechin. She ended her stint allowing 3 runs but doing well with the bat. She had a single and an RBI double. She was relieved by Shelby Smith. Shelby gave up another two runs on a walk and 3 singles. The Belles lost that game 5-2 and went 2 and 1 on the day. Sunday the showcase became single elimination and the Belles started at 8:00 against the NJ Pride. Once again, Katie Baron pitched a complete game win. This was by a 4-3 score. Amanda Parsons had an RBI single to start the scoring. Due to a couple of errors by the Belles, the Pride came back to tie the game 1-1 and then took a 2-1 lead. Taylor Pechin had a run scoring single to put the Belles up 4-2 and that was how it ended. Game two featured Cassandra Squeri on the mound against the Brewster Rockets. Parsons had 1 hit and the Belles managed only 1 run as they dropped a 2-1 decision. Cass went the complete game. This loss eliminated the Belles Gold. Shown here in her express uniform, Kat Betts had good showing guesting for Morris County Belles 18U Elite I don t much in the way of stats but the Morris County Belles Elite went 1, 1 and 1 on the day and guest pitcher Kat Betts did well after some nerves in game one. She pitched well, played shortstop well, and hit a homer. In the first game Sunday she played shortstop and after the team won that one Kat got the mound start. Kat announced this week that she is joining the Belles 18U Elite. From what the coaches have told me she is a welcome addition to the team and has a bright future. nd Another I didn t get a lot of information on is the Delaware Storm 14U in the Save 2 Base for Breast Cancer Tournament. The team tied Churchville Lightning 9-9, lost to the Terror 8-5 and defeated the PA Lady Stormers Blue 9-4. I understand Peyton Elzey did a great job on the mound. The Young Guns that constitute the Delaware Storm 12U Lightning won their first game

6 In pool play the Delaware Storm Lightning 12U team lost to the Southern Maryland Ospreys 8-3 and won their first game of this debut season by defeating Western Howard County Fever 12U 13-2.