Top (l-r): Madi Brown-Bishop, Blaire Bass, Kendall Veach, Andrea Kindrick, Morgan Nelson, Libby Sugg; Bottom (l-r): Morgan Podany, Reagan Dykes, Madi Moore, Bree Fornis, T Statman.

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Team pictures are often lifeless as the players pose like they’re getting ready for dental work.

Not here with the Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier team coached by Richard Shea, the former Auburn defensive end who has now assembled one of the top fastpitch teams in the country at any level.

Last summer, the Bolts opened some eyes when they finished tied for 5^th at PGF 18U Premier Nationals and most of the elite talent returns.

Plus, there have been several key additions including Hot 100 players like T Statman (2015 pitcher, signed with Arizona) and Morgan Nelson (2015 middle infielder, Northwestern)—both of whom are from Arizona.

Another addition is the sole Floridian on the team, Kenzi Maguire (not pictured here), who is considered one of the top senior prospects in the country (although we hear she suffered a serious knee injury so her availability is questionable). The shortstop signed with South Carolina and was rated as the No. 9 overall prospect in the Full Count Softball 2015 Hot 100.

The Premier team is pretty diverse in terms of geographic location as only three players are from within state borders with other players coming from Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

You’d think it would be hard to build camaraderie and team unity with so many coming from far away, but a source close to the program says it’s quite the opposite.

“I believe what Richard has put together between the coaches, the girls and the unselfish play and attitude of all of them is going to create a fantastic, fun successful summer for these young women,” says this person, “as they all push and encourage each other as players in such a positive way.  They all live across the country and they all communicate and pull for each other.”

As for the picture, the Bolts players are having fun which is all that matters. Why and what they’re point at I haven’t been able to figure out, but you could speculate they’re pointing at future opponents saying, “We’re coming for you.”

With the talent Shea and staff have assembled, they likely have the firepower to back it up.