12u GOLD RUNNER-UPS
SS STUDENT MEGAN RICHARDSON WAS A WORK HORSE IN THE CIRCLE, STARTING EVERY GAME AND HELPED LEAD HER TEAM TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
*************************************************************************************************************************
2013 - 10U GOLD CHAMPS
CONGRATS TO SS STUDENTS
ANGIE, KATIE, CADI, AND ALI ALONG WITH TEAMATES
IN TAKING HOME FIRST PLACE AT RANCHO ROUND UP TOURNAMENT.
*******************************************************************
(L- R) CARLEY,SAMMY,AVERY, PAYTON
8U GOLD CHAMPIONS
MAY 2013 - Strictly Softball Students run the table over the weekend at the Rancho Round-Up Fastpitch Tournament, claiming first place in the 8u gold divison (defeated Laguna Nigel ), first place in the 8u Silver divison, first place in the 10u Gold Divison ( defeated Misson Viejo) first and second place in the 10u Silver Divison, and second place in the 12u gold divison.
*****************************************************************************************************************
SS STUDENTS (L-R) MEGHAN AND KRYA
PROUDLY DISPLAY MOTHER DAYS 14U CHAMPIONSHI
P PLAQUE!
********************************************************************************************************
SS STUDENT CASSIDY GUSTAFSON LEADS
TRABUCO HIGH TO 2013 SEAVIEW LEAGUE TITLE,
DEFEATING CAPO HIGH.
******************************************************************************************************************
CONGRATULATIONS TO SS STUDENTS KRYA SNYDER AND MEGHAN MCCLURE
WINNING THE NEW MEXICO QUALIFIER TO SECURE A BERTH AT
THE 2013 PREMIER NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
*******************************************************************************************************************
SS STUDENT 10U
ASHLEY TUGGLE
WITH 1ST PLACE SMILE AND HARDWARE
ASHLEY PLAYS FOR MAROON II IN SAN CLEMENTE
***********************************************************************************************************************
SS STUDENTS DISPLAYING THEIR HARWARE
at End of Season RTGS Tournament
L - R
Sun Devils Cadi W. and Jessie L. (10u championship pitcher and catcher)
Stanfords Lindsey M. (10u runner up)
*****************************************************************************************************************
SS student and Championship winning pitcher
in RTGS 8u Division
Bruins Carley Bowles
*******************************************************************
10U RTGS RILEY REED -
****************************************************************************************************************
Haley and Iggy
RTGS 10u
**********************************************************************************************************
CASSIDY GUSTAFSON -
(TRABUCO HILLS HIGH SCHOOL / FIRECRACKERS)
( Full athletic scholarship to UOP - University of Pacific)
ALL TOURNAMENT AT SADDLEBACK AND NORTHWOOD TOURNAMENTS
***************************************************************************************************************
L-R HANNA NILSEN (SO A's / MISSION HIGH) MEGHAN ARANETA (BREAKERS/TRABUCO HILLS HIGH)
***************************************************************************************************
SS STUDENTS
ALI HERBERS AND MOLLY MCNULTY
CELEBRATE WITH 10U TEAM "STARS and STRIKES" ON WINNING
MVGS MID SEASON TOURNAMENT
ALI THREW A COMPLETE GAME NO-HITTER IN FINALS!
***********************************************************************************************
10U SS STUDENT ALI STEINKER HITS 55MPH
MARCH 2013
*************************************************************************************************
SS STUDENT 8U HANNA WATSON.
HANNAS TEAM, "THE QUEEN BEES!"
TOOK HOME THE RUNNER UP SLOT IN MVGS MID SEASON TOURNY
************************************************************************************************
WITH SS STUDENTS ALI STEINKER AND HALEY MEYERS HANDLING THE PITCHING
10U TEAM AZTECS WIN RTGS 2013 MID SEASON TOURNAMENT.
************************************************************************************************************************
Kaitlin Seapy
March 2013 - 12u Hurricanes
************************************************************************************************
KYRA SNYDER
March 2013 - 14U McCOWAN BATBUSTERS
********************************************************************************************************************
TOO YOUNG TO LEARN PROPER MECHANICS?
Many coaches, parents and instructors seem to believe the myth that if the student is under the age of 10, they won’t be able to handle advanced instruction. That they,“just won’t be able to do it”. While there is something to be said for the developement of motor skills, all too often we underestimate the ability of a youth-level player to understand and implement what we adults perceive to be a complex idea or movement.
I recently had a conversation with a coach of one of my 9-year old students. Our opinion on the importance of a pitchers mechanics was vastly different. He didn’t care how she did it,he just wanted his pitcher to feel comfortable. That asking her to use “advanced” pitching mechanics could dissuade her from wanting to pitch. So he was completely fine with allowing his pitcher to use incredibly poor, unbalanced mechanics, despite the perils of doing so in a game.
What is “advanced” and what is “youth-level” is not the issue. In my opinion there is a right way and a wrong way . The sooner we teach the right way, the easier it will be for those players to build consistent efficient movements when their body development catches up to the muscle memory.
***********************************************************************
The Three (3) Levels of a Pitch
from Coach Gary
I constantly hear this question from softball coaches to pitchers, “ Oh, you only have three pitches. You need more.” I’m simply amazed at that answer. Did you know that 95% of DI pitchers only have three-four pitches? And yet some coaches feel that to be successful you need the drop,drop curve, rise, rise curve, change up,off-speed, screwball, screw drop, screw rise, the curve, well, you get the idea.
At Strictly Softball, the emphasis is not on how many pitches, but learning the three (3) levels of a pitch. Learn these three levels and you will separate yourself from the pack.
LEVEL I - Learn the pitch. What ever pitch it is, learn the proper rotation and speed the pitch should be thrown at.
LEVEL II – Learn to locate the pitch. Being able to place the pitch inside or out, high or low, will take the pitcher to the next level II.
LEVEL III – Learn to throw the pitch ON ANY COUNT. Many pitchers supposedly have 5 or 6 pitches. Yet when they get behind in the count, they always throw the same one pitch. By learning just 3 pitches and being able to throw any of them on any count to any location, the hitter cannot “sit” on just one pitch or one location, which now gives the pitcher a distinct advantage.
*******************************************************************
"K Row Syrup" and " Megameister" during a photo break! Both play for McGowan 14u Batbusters.
**********************************************************************
SS student Catlin Lewis in action. Catlin plays for 12u OC Elite.
***************************************************************************
10u "GOLD" RTGS TOOK HOME SECOND PLACE AT RECENT PUMPKIN CLASSIC!
SS STUDENTS - LINDSEY MANHART, ALI STEINKER, AND CADI WILLIAMS!
**********************************************************************
12u Cal Cruisers - Paige / Coach Gary / Ally
Lyndsey, Coach Gary, and Cadi
*******************************************************************
SS student Haley Putnam was selected for the all division V CIF team announced on Tuesday, June 12, by the Southern Section office.
Putnam, a junior pitcher, won nine games for Laguna this season as the team finished 15-8, a school record. Putnam also hit .571 to lead the team in batting, banging out 40 hits including eight doubles, five triples, and five home runs. She is only the third softball player to receive the honor joining Sue Gunderson (1990) and Jessica Roche (1996).
*******************************************************************
SS STUDENTS (L) CASSIDY GUSTAFSON AND MEGHAN ARANETA, TEAMATES AT TRABUCO HILLS HIGH. CASSIDY PLAYS FOR THE FIRECRACKERS, MEGHAN FOR THE BREAKERS.
********************************************************************
2012 - SS student Hanna Nilsen(14u) in action.