We head down to Texas today to check out the Bombers and their 23-team organization.  We also profile a SoCal recruit heading back East who right at the time of her verbal suffered a tragic and painful loss.  There’s a video clip of a Jersey girl who’ll be wearing Irish green next year and we have a seasonal photo that shows what can come out of a good team bonding activity!

 

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CLUB PROFILE: TEXAS BOMBERS

If the Texas Bombers organization looks like it’s run with military precision… well, it probably is.

Scott Smith, the Program Director of the 23-team program based in New Braunsels, Texas, has been in Army for 20 years and, an infantry first sergeant, is now in charge of a recruiting team that can get as big as 75 people.

It makes running the 265 softball girls who call themselves Texas Bombers not much different than what Coach Smith does for his day job.

“Sometimes people tell me I do softball for a living and the Army is my hobby,” the coach laughs, “but it’s the other way around.  There are, though a lot of similarities between the two, like how we structure the organization.”

The coach has been in the Army all his life, joining right out of high school where he was a baseball standout at Canyon High School in New Braunsels, Texas and went to state twice.

“If you would have said I’d be in softball someday, I’d have laughed at you,” he explains.  “When my daughter, Jade, was eight years old she needed a rec ball coach and I got hooked.  It’s a sport I never envisioned being part and now I can never envision not being part of it.”

Today, Jade is a sophomore outfielder at Texas-San Antonio and Smith also keeps busy following his son, Gunner, who’s a 16-year-old high school junior who plays football.

Twelve years ago, Smith founded the Bombers’ organization and today has grown it where it covers four regions.

“We basically built our program from nothing in an environment where adding programs can be very difficult,” he states.  “We’ve been for fortunate in that we have a lot of really good people helping us and structurally we’re set up like the military, basically, as we have units and people within a chain of command.”

The Texas Bombers organization is based in the same city, New Brausels, where Smith grew up—about hallway between Austin and San Antonio.

“This isn’t a traditional hotbed of talent,” the Army recruiter continues,” and it was an uphill climb from the beginning.  There’s a lot more talent in Dallas and Houston, so to get close to that point where we could be competitive, we had to strategically grow in those areas to supplement our overall lack of players.”

Smith explains that the idea was to build regionally strong foundations and use the talent base in these areas to compete with best teams in country.

“Our headquarters, if you’d call it that, has our South Texas teams which includes my 18U Gold team, a 16U Futures team, a 14U Prospects team and a 12U Elite team.  These are what we call National level teams made up of players from all over the state.”

The Bombers teams in this South Texas region have the abbreviation “STX” after their name (for “South Texas”).  The other three regions are Houston (“HTX”), North Texas, which covers the Dallas area (“NTX”) and the newest division, Central Texas including Austin and Waco (“CTX”).

While the first three regions have teams from 10U to 18U—and some age groups having more than one team—the Central Texas only has 16U and 12U teams.

“We’re not trying to have the most teams in the state,” he states.  “We probably won’t have that much more growth.”

The coach says that, because of the large geography pulling in these players, the military-like structure is important.

“Our players might tell you it feels like they’re in the military,” he laughs, “but there is a flavor of that, no question.”

Being a relative newcomer in a state with storied and prestigious organizations like the Texas Glory, Impact Gold, Texas Storm and Houston power, just to name a few, Smith says the Bomber players know they’re the new kids on the block.

“We’re still the youngest in the sense of organizations and we tell our kids every jersey is a road jersey.  Our kids relish being an underdog and understand that it’s OK to be the ones that don’t have the most history, but that they can make history.  We embrace that.”

Each January, the Texas Bombers have a banquet where all the teams and players gather.  Including parents and coaches, the ballroom dinner reaches close to 700 people.

“It’s sort of overwhelming if you look at the overall numbers,” Coach Smith concludes, “but it’s very neat and fun to see the growth of our program and where we’ve come in only 12 years.”

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Here’s a player-by-player look at the Texas Bombers Gold team with comments by Head Coach Scott Smith:

— SS/IF Mariah Garcia (2014, Houston)
“Mariah is a tall shortstop who looks more like a basketball player, but is a rocket on the field.  She plays at a speed our opponents are uncomfortable playing.  She’s a five-tool player and I think her speed at her size is what separates her.  Mariah can steal bases but also hit for power.”

— 3B/C Miranda Grotenhuis (2014, Louisiana-Lafayette)
“Miranda is big and strong and has a sense of the game at a level most people don’t.  She has an uncanny ability to make pitchers pay for mistakes they make.  She’s a great athlete and a difference maker. She will be special in college.”

— 1B/SS/2B Mallory Hayden (2014, Southern Miss)
“Mallory is another kid who’s been a Bomber most her life.  She’s become more of a first baseman after starting off at short and it’s good to have a first baseman with those shortstop type of hands. She has good pop and hits for power and, equally important, is a super good kid.”

— C/1B Krystina Holguin (2014, West Texas A&M)
“Krystina has been injured as she tore her ACL in high school ball, but when healthy she’s a big, strong catcher who hits with power.  A lifelong Bomber as well, she’s a solid player who plays the game the right way.  She should be back on the field in the next month or so.”

— OF/UT Morgan Klaevemann (2014, Florida State)
“Morgan has been a Bomber her whole life, she started when she was 10 years old. She’s our leadoff hitter and I will arguably say that when she makes contact with the ball and gets the bat out of her hands she’s the fastest player I’ve seen getting out of the box and down the line. She plays the game fast and is very crafty.  If Morgan gets a bunt down, it’s a double because she’ll steal second on you.”

— 2B/OF Sandra Mendoza (2014, UT Arlington)
“Sandra is a kid you’d want to be your daughter. She’s an amazing kid who was a Homecoming Queen.  She has the best hands on our team, is slick with the glove and can run.  She’s what you want when you’re trying to figure out the top of your order and who to lead you offensively.”

— OF Jocelyn Phillips (2014, uncommitted)
“Jocelyn is a player who was on our 16U team last year.  Few know about her but she’s probably going to commit in the next week to Mississippi Valley State.  She’s athletic, you can put her in the outfield or at second and she’ll do well. Jocelyn, in a game, can be a difference make.”

— OF Nicole Shedd (2014, Houston Baptist)
“Nicole is super athletic and can hit for power and run.  She’s got a strong arm and when I think of Nicole the thing that comes to mind is solid.  She’s also versatile and can do a lot of things right.”

— C/IF Haley Rebar (2014, Texas A&M)
“Haley is a 6-foot tall catcher who’s big, strong and a super, super quality hitter.  She’s crafty behind the plate and picks off as many as she throws out.  She’s a valedictorian which shows you how smart she is.”

— CF/2B Brittany Cruz (2015, uncommitted)
“Brittany is a rocket in every sense, she’s one of those kids who can fly. She’s right-handed and hits for power.  She also has the strongest arm on the team, is one of the fastest players we have and can throw players out.  Brittany was late getting to us but people are starting to discover her.”

— 2B/UT Kenzie Dawson (2015, UT-Tyler)
“Kenzie is brand new to the team, she just came to us in September.  We needed some depth in our infield and she’s athletic.  She’s a good solid softball player and just last week committed to UT-Tyler.”

— P/UT Madison Strunk (2015, Seton Hall)
“Madison is a bit, strong pitcher who has an incredible dropball and that’s the pitch that got colleges chasing after her.  She is a solid ‘get you out’ pitcher and we’re blessed to have Maddie.  She just committed to Seton Hall about two weeks ago.”

— P/IF KyLee DeCock (2016, uncommitted)
“KyLee is probably the player who’s drawing the most interest on our team right now.  She didn’t play last year because of an injury.  She’s been nothing short of amazing and already has three full-ride offers this fall and that was after being seen one time.  People are started to figure out KyLee may be one of the best players in our state.  She throws in the mid 60’s and has a great off-speed pitch that keeps hitters off-balance.”

— P/1B Sidney Holman (2016, uncommitted)
“Sidney is a big, tall kid who’s another hard thrower, in the mid 60’s, and has schools like A&M and Ole Miss after her.  She’ll be one of the top pitchers on our team and has a variety of pitches that gets batters out which makes it difficult as hitters can’t sit on one pitch.”

— C/UT Haydn Parker (2016, uncommitted)
“Haydn is from Louisiana and comes a long way to play for us.  She’s athletic and is a solid catcher with amazing skills behind the plate.  Our pitchers love throwing to Haydn because they know she’ll get it.  She has really good power and can hit the ball out of the park.”

— OF Miranda Price (2016, Lamar)
“Miranda is another life-long Bomber who’s not the biggest of kids, but she’s as good and crafty of a hitter as there is.  She rarely strikes out and is very good on getting on-base.  She’s a solid outfielder and is a prototypical outfielder with her skill set.”

— C/UT Amanda Thacker (2016, uncommitted)
“Amanda was on one of our 16U teams and could be a steal down the road.  We’re building her into the catcher we want her to be as she was originally a first baseman.  A lot of people don’t know about Amanda, but she’ll be one to watch and pay attention to.  She has power, is a great kid and is the hardest working player I have on my team.”

— SS/2B Rachelle Benavides (2017, Florida State)
“Rachelle, we call her “Rock,’ which is how everybody knows her. She was recruited by a large number of programs including Oklahoma.  She’s a fastpitch version of Derek Jeter and you struggle to put into words how effective she is on defense.  Rachelle makes plays others can’t and she’s a hard-nosed, tough player. People gravitate towards her because of the way she plays the game.  She has a presence that’s rare.”

 

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RECRUITING PROFILE: MCKAYLA TAYLOR

Grad Year: 2014
Pos: 3B/SS/2B
Club Team: Riptide Gold (Newport Beach, Calif.)
High School: John. F. Kennedy (La Palma, Calif.)
College: Pittsburgh

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McKayla Taylor is one of the top senior players in Orange County, Calif. and her recent commitment to Pitt should be one of the highlights of her young life, but it comes with bittersweet emotions.

A few weeks ago, her club coach for the Riptide Gold, Barry Grumman, passed away after suffering a heart attack.  McKayla and her mother, Lori, tell us that Coach Grumman was a guiding force in making Pitt aware of his prize infielder.

Here’s more on the SoCal standout and the details around her commitment…

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StudentSportsSoftball.com: How did Pitt find out about you?  
McKayla Taylor: Pitt found out about me through one of the several emails that my Riptide coach, Barry Grumman, sent out to all of the college coaches attending a showcase.   In his email he would send a short write-up about all of his unsigned players.  This peaked the interest of Pitt because they were looking for a player that matched my ability.  Pitt was not one of the colleges on my list at this time.

SSS.com: Tell us about the recruiting process and how it got to where you were offered?
MT: Pitt’s assistant coach, Jen Chamberlin, came out to watch me play in the fall of 2012 and after seeing me play expressed how much she liked me.  I began researching Pitt and felt that Pitt offered everything that I was looking for in a college.  I then sent Coach Chamberlin a follow-up email thanking her for coming out to the games along with my skills video and let her know how interested I was in Pitt and from that point on we kept a dialogue going.

Pitt’s head coach, Holly Aprile, then came out to watch me play again a few months later and also really liked me.  After watching me play for a second time, Coach Holly told my coach that she was ready to make me an offer and would like for me to set up an unofficial visit.  I set up my visit for January, 2013, during my junior year.   She had communicated with my coach what my offer would be before I went on my unofficial visit and officially offered it to me when I was there in January.

SSS.com: Tell us about how you committed…
MT: After visiting the campus, I fell in love with all that Pitt had to offer.  I spent two full days with the coaches and the team and I was sure that I wanted to commit to Pitt on that visit.  And that’s exactly what I did!

SSS.com: You just got back from your official visit, how did that go?
MT: Even though my visit was short, I had the time of my life out there. I was able to attend a baseball game and football game and I absolutely loved it.

SSS.com: How did you get along with the players?  What were some things you did during the weekend?
MT: The freshman softball players were very welcoming and really easy to talk to. The upperclassmen that I met made sure I was having a great time.  I also got to meet some of the other athletes and get a feel for what college life was really like.

SSS.com: What are your thoughts, being a Calif. girl, about going back to Pitt and the cold weather?
MT: I feel that being a Cali girl and being so accustomed to warm weather and the beaches that it will take some adjusting to get used to the weather in Pittsburgh.  But after talking to some of the other girls from California on the team, they assured me that it is easier to adjust to then you would think.

SSS.com: What do you feel are your strengths that got you your college scholarship?
MT: I feel like my versatility and commitment to the game was a big part in getting me a scholarship. I have put in a lot of hard work and dedication to softball for many years.  Pitt liked the fact that I could play 3rd and short which is what they were looking for.  I think that being able to play more than one position and having a strong bat puts you a step above everyone else.  My hitting definitely peaked their attention.  I usually hit 3rd in the line-up, I have a great on base percentage, and hit with power. I had great at bats every time Pitt was at a game.   I also believe that my strength in the classroom caught the eye of the coaches.

SSS.com: Describe your relationship with Coach Barry…
MT: Over the past three and a half years, Coach Barry and I had developed a close-knit bond. He believed in me, took me under his wings when I was just 14 and transformed me into the player I am today.  Without his guidance every step of the way I honestly don’t know where I would be today.

The more we were around each other the closer we became.  He soon became not only my coach, but my best friend. He always knew when there was something wrong with me and never failed to turn that around and put a smile on my face.  He would always send me a text when Pitt was playing.

Barry was one of the most influential men in my life and I’m so glad I got the chance to not just play for him but bond on such a high level that most players don’t get the opportunity to do. Coach Barry truly cared about his players and I am really going to miss him.

Quick Hitters:

What’s your favorite cereal? Frosted Flakes
If you have a free day, would you be more likely to go snow skiing or water skiing? Water skiing
What’s the funniest movie you’ve ever seen? Stepbrothers
Would your friends say you’re more goofy, smart, quiet, quirky or sarcastic? Definitely sarcastic
Favorite mode of transportation: sports car, motorcycle, scooter, bicycle, horse or other (and why)? I would say a sports car because I love the look of them
Favorite pro sports team: Green Bay Packers
Fill in the blank… if I’d go live in Europe for a year, I’d not go without: the beaches

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RECRUITING VIDEO: BAILEY BIGLER

Senior outfielder Bailey Bigler from New Hope, N.J. is one of the top players in the Garden State and will be singing with Notre Dame.  She’s also one of the top student-athletes in the 2014 class as she carries a 4.2 GPA

We caught up with the Jersey Intensity athlete recently and found out she does have one vice/talent… which too many of us have!  Watch and find out what it is!

 

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PIC OF THE DAY:

Tip of the hat to the Boston College softball team which found a seasonal way to promote team bonding: pumpkin carving.

Many of these are really good, but what made the experience poignant, at least to me, is seeing the one on the bottom right that says “Boston Strong.”  You may remember that was the rallying cry after the terrible bombings during the Boston Marathon on April 15 of this year.

Here’s to Boston—and these cool athletes—having a great Halloween and continued good luck and success…

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