Today’s Labor Day version of the Daily Update puts us to work (see what I did there?) looking at two championship winning teams and the players who make them great as well as a pair of club teammates who know where they’ll play in college.  Finally, be sure to check out the Labor Day “10 interesting facts” list!

 

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TEAM SPOTLIGHT: Tulsa Elite ‘95

In 2012, the Tulsa Elite ’95 was named the No. 1 16U team in the nation by Softball Today Magazine and Co-No. 1 by TCSports Rankings (tied with Team Mizuno-Stith).

The Oklahoma-based squad had one of the best summers of any travel team winning the 2012 ASA/USA 16A National Championship, three big tournaments in the Colorado Fireworks 16U, the ASA 16A Hall-of-Fame and the Kansas City Memorial Weekend 18U along with many other local tournaments.

In 2013, they followed that up with a 5^th place finish at ASA 18Gold Nationals as a first year 18U team with only three seniors.

Tulsa Elite ‘95 also finished 33^rd at Colorado Fireworks and won the Tulsa Elite Summer Invite and the ASA Northern Territory Gold Qualifier in St Louis.

“In 2014,” says GM Jeff Filali, “the Elite are going for one more championship before they head to college.”

“In 2012, the chant was ‘dogpile’ all year as they knew if they worked hard they had the talent to win it all,” Filali continues. “For 2014, the chant is “one-more-ring” as they will pursue ASA 18Gold National Championship and will also be attending Colorado Fireworks and either Triple Crown USA Nationals or Premier Nationals.”

The Tulsa Elite ’95 is coached by Head Coach Steve Bevan and Assistant Coaches Jo Gho and Kelly Beason, under the direction of Filali.

The team did graduate three seniors: Taylor McElhaney (shortstop, Kansas), Nicole Nease (catcher, Pitt State) and Sam Smith (outfield, Southern Nazarene) and to replace those key players, they brought on four new faces.

Here are the new players with comments by Filali:

— SS/3B Morgan Bohanan (2014, uncommitted)
“The loss of McElhaney left a huge hole at shortstop, so the team brought Morgan over from our Gold team that was mainly seniors.  She hit three-hole for our other team and recently de-committed from Wichita State.  Morgan hits lefty with some big-time power and consistency.”

— MIF Morgan Neal (2015, Tulsa)
“Morgan is from Springdale, Ark. and recently committed to the Univ. of Tulsa. With the additions of Bohanan and Neal, that really solidifies the infield along with returners Emily Bevan (2014, Missouri-Kansas City), Kelsey Goodwin (2014, Missouri-Kansas City) and Kelsey Leach (2014, uncommitted but deciding soon).

— C Jordan Chimento (2014, Boston College)
“Catching was the biggest hole to fill as Nease had carried at least two-thirds of the catching duties for the past two seasons, with Goodwin handling the job as needed.  When looking for the best catcher available, it didn’t take long to figure out that we wanted Jodan.  She’s by far one of the best 2014 Catchers in the region and has a big bat also.”

— P/SS Lindsay Wade (2016, uncommitted)
“The team needed to add a solid pitcher to complete the rotation with Kaitlyn Beason (2014, Missouri St) and Mallory Collins (2014, Oklahoma St).  We looked at several pitchers who we already knew were good and couldn’t find the right fit.  Then while watching a high school tournament (Oklahoma plays high school ball during the fall, from August-October), we noticed this sophomore pitcher who was holding her own against some of the best teams in the state. Then, the next day, Lindsay showed up for our 16U tryouts and tried out as a shortstop and was very good and could hit well.  She stayed and tried out for pitching also, was throwing very well with great movement and velocity in the 59-61mph range.  We were pretty confident that she was going to be special if she would continue to work hard. There’s the final piece to the puzzle.”

 

The ’95 team is senior loaded this year except for Neal and Wade, who will merge with Tulsa Elite ’96 for the 2014-15 season.

“The Elite merged their best players from their 96 and 97 teams following finishing 3^rd at Colorado Fireworks and 13th at ASA/USA 16A Nationals,” continues Filali, “so the ’96 team is loaded with D1 commitments and many others receiving offers.

“Add that to Tulsa Elite ’98 team that finished 7^th at ASA/USA 14A Nationals and is now moving up to 16U with many 2016s and 2017s already starting unofficial visits and the Tulsa Elite will be strong in the upper age groups for some time to come.”

 

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TEAM SPOTLIGHT: GEORGIA ELITE 16U

The team known as 98 Georgia Elite is moving up to the 16U level after finishing tied for 9^th in the 14U division at PGF this summer.

“I’m extremely excited about the team that will comprise the 2013-2014 roster,” says Head Coach Australia Hoover.

“With very few changes, the team returns with a couple of new faces.  One notable change to the team is the absence of last season’s Associate Head coach Victoria Sanders, who has moved on to a coaching position at Georgia Highlands College.”

As for players, the majority of last year’s team will return with the exception of a starting outfield spot.  That opening was addressed during tryouts, which resulted in two newcomers being added: Andria Booth and Kristan Lizardi.

Here’s the team roster including the coaching staff with the player comments coming from Coach Hoover:

Head Coach: Australia Hoover
Associate Head Coach: Fred Ablan
Assistant Coaches: Kevin Toney and Kent Wilcox

 

— P/3B Amanda Abian (2016, uncommitted)
“Amanda Ablan, the right hander made a huge impression at PGF in July, showcasing her outstanding riseball and changeup that helped propel the team to a 9^th place finish.  Ablan, who has a powerful bat and is also rock solid at 3^rd base, has offers from all over the nation and is taking her time to consider all of the offers seriously before committing.  Amanda is the daughter of Associate Head Coach Fred Ablan.”

— 1B/OF Alia Booth (2016, uncommitted)
“Alia Booth is Georgia Elite’s returning power-hitting, left-handed first baseman who will team up with her sister, Andria, on our team.”

— OF/3B Andria Booth (2015, uncommitted)
““Andria is an exceptional talent with tons of speed and athletic ability.  Andria is the sister of Alia Booth.”

— P/1B Kathryn Carter (2016, uncommitted)
“Kathryn is a Savannah, Ga. native joined Georgia Elite late last season after playing with another travel organization earlier in the season.  Carter was a member of the 12U Worth Cobras team, which included many of the players who now comprise the Georgia Elite team.  A strong pitcher with great presence and a composed demeanor, Carter pitched a tremendous number of innings at PGF as well, which firmly put her on the map as a top pitcher in the nation.  Having Kat back for an entire off season of training and practice will go a long way to make us an even stronger team than we were last year.”

— MIF Jordan Dogett (2016, uncommitted)
“Doggett, also a speedy lefty slapper with outstanding leadership qualities, is also being heavily recruited by several top DI programs in the country and it is possible that she may be ready to make a decision about her college plans shortly.”

— MIF Makenna Dowell (2017, Arkansas)
“Makenna, a lefty slapper who can also hit for power, finished a tremendous 2013 season which was capped off with her verbally committing to play softball at Arkansas.”

— C/UT Alexa Emanuel (2016, uncommitted)
“Lexee is relatively new to softball, where she played baseball for many years and switched over to softball just a couple of years ago.  Her power at the plate is phenomenal and it is really just a matter of time before Lexee is able to refine her skill set to the fastpitch game against elite pitchers.  She is definitely one to watch.”

— C/UT Breanna Gutierrez (2016, uncommitted)
“Gutierrez, an all around solid player who hits for power and can play nearly anywhere in the field.  Gutierrez plays for Buford High school, a perennial powerhouse in Georgia’s Class AAA softball.”

— C/IF Jaimie Hoover (2016, Florida)
“Jaimie, who announced her committed to Florida in June, handled the lion’s share of catching last season.  Leading the team in batting average, homeruns and RBI’s she has really come into her own as she prepares to play ball at one of the nation’s top programs in 2016.”

— OF/UT Kristan Lizardi (2015, uncommitted)
“Kristan rejoins the Elite organization, where she played for Leonard Moody’s 2^nd year 16U team in the past.  She decided not to move up to 18 Gold with Moody’s team last season, and is excited to be able to rejoin Elite on this year’s 16U team.  Kristan, a speedy slapper, outfielder is sure to make a fast impact on a team already built on a ton of speed. “

— C/OF Brittany Maresette (2016, uncommitted)
“Brittany returns to the team where she served as last season’s starting centerfielder.  A real playmaker with exceptional quickness and a fearless approach to playing the game, she will likely get some additional time behind the plate this season as well, showcasing her versatility. “

— OF Iman Muhammad (2017, uncommitted)
“Iman, an exceptionally fast slapper, has entered just high school this year. She is expected to lead our team in stolen bases this season. ”

— P/IF Kamryn Toney (2016, uncommitted)
“Kamryn is a quiet force in the circle, whose ability to work especially well low in the zone makes her a very tough pitcher to face.  Toney is really starting to develop physically into a dominating pitcher who will break out to a new level here pretty soon.  Kamryn is the daughter of Assistant coach Kevin Toney. “

— C/UT Grace Wilcox (2016, uncommitted)
“Newcomer Grace Wilcox comes to the 16U Georgia Elite from the 18U Georgia Elite, where she played up for a season.  Grace is a very talented player who can catch, play infield and outfield and has a very big bat.  Adding her arsenal of skills to the roster is very exciting for us this season.”

 

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VERBAL NEWS

— Mackenzie Boesel (@mackenzieboesel), a 2016 shortstop who plays for the Mizuno Batbusters, announced over the weekend via Twitter where she’ll play in college:

I am now officially committed to University of South Carolina!!!!

— Mackenzie Boesel (@mackenzieboesel) August 29, 2013

 

— Another 2016 Mizuno Batbuster, Vanessa Taukeiaho, made her choice known when she committed to Oklahoma.

Vanessa, who can play outfield and infield positions, has played for Coach Mark Campbell on USA Victory teams in the past; Campbell, of course, lead the Team Mizuno 14U team to the PGF National Championship in July.

The winning pitcher on that team, Mariah Lopez, is also headed to Oklahoma.

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LABOR DAY: 10 INTERESTING FACTS

*** We hope you’ve had a great Labor Day, which unofficially is the start of Fall and, to me, means I only have 3 ½ months to shop for Christmas!

We can be educational as well as informational here at Student Sports and thought you’d find the list below of 10 Interesting Facts About Labor Day (Source: Dan-Taylor.com)

 

1. Labor Day originates from our neighbors to the north
Most Americans consider Labor Day a uniquely American experience, but in all reality, Labor Day has its origins in Canada. Stemming from 1870’s labor disputes in Toronto, in 1872 a parade was held in support of a strike against the 58 hour workweek. As a result, 24 union leaders who were responsible for organizing the event were arrested under anti-union laws.

2. First US Labor Day observance was in the form of a parade
The first US observance of Labor Day came in the form of a parade. Sponsored by the Central Labor Union, On September 5th, 1882 ten thousand workers paraded through New York City. This is commonly considered the first observance of Labor Day in America.

3. The 12 hour work day norm
What’s outrageous enough to spur ten thousand people to parade through NYC? A 12 hour workday! In the late 19th century, the average working day consisted of 12 hours. Held on a Tuesday, the first Labor Day rally was held in order to gain support for the 8 hour workday.

4. Oregon first to declare Labor Day an official holiday
In February of 1887, the great state of Oregon was the first in the Union to pass law making Labor Day and officially recognized holiday.

5. Grover Cleveland makes Labor Day a national holiday
Making Labor Day an official national holiday as part of his political campaign, in 1894, President Grover Cleveland made good on his promise, and signed a law making Labor Day an officially recognized US holiday.

6. Not just in the US
Although Labor Day hails from Canada and the US, a large number of industrialized nations around the world celebrate Labor Day as a time to respect and reflect upon workers around the world. While not all celebrate it at the end of summer, the concept is similar, and is sometimes celebrated in combination with May Day.

7. First Waffle House opens on Labor Day
In 1955, in Avondale Estates, Georgia, the very first Waffle House opened its doors to the public. 25 states and 50 years later, Waffle House now counts over 1500 establishments. Yay waffles!

8. The White border
Labor Day has been traditionally the unofficial “pack up the whites” border, and was often considered a fashion faux pas, if worn post-Labor Day. This tradition has been steadily decreasing over the past decade(s), and is often now just remembered as the “something that once was.”

9. 150 million working Americans
As of 2008, there were 154.4 million people over the age of 16 in the US with jobs. Around ¾ of these workers receive paid vacation time, but an extra day off is certainly nothing to sneeze at.

10. Unofficial NFL season kickoff
99.44 percent of the time, the NFL plays its first official season game the Thursday after Labor Day.

 

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