My Journal
Journal #1- May 13, 18U First official practice of season
Our first summer practice for the 18U Wildcat Pride Softball team is tonight. I am pretty excited because I get to experience coaching with the help of head coach, Don Juersivich. I have some experience with helping with this team last year with practices and scouting players to play on this team for the 2015 summer season. Tonight we have our first practice to get prepared for the first tournament in Toledo. Coach Juersivich has put me in charge of setting up the equipment for practice, such as the Bow-Net we use for hitting softballs off a hitting tee and for soft toss into the net. These nets are kind of tricky to set up by myself, but once I figured out where the net hooks up to the poles it was easy. I am also in charge of warming up the players throwing and the starting pitchers with warm-up pitches. We first have to have a sit down player welcome meeting so that we can go over where everyone is since high school or college spring seasons. After the meeting I work with the pitchers of the team. We have two starting pitchers and one relief pitcher. Coach Juersivich is doing drills with the infielders and the other assistant coaches are working out in the outfield with the outfielders. The pitchers are then ready to throw live hitting. I am watching each of the players hitting mechanics and observing what the coach is saying to them to help them hit. Our practice is two and a half hours so it is time to take the nets down gather team softballs and team bats. I also have to record the players phone numbers to form the group team texts and emails. We conclude with uniform distribution. Overall this was a very productive practice and I have observed which players need some extra work before our first games and which ones look good to begin the season.
Journal #2- May 20, Second Team Practice and First Tournament
Today is our second practice and we have to figure out the players tentative positions so we are ready to go for the Toledo Tune Up Tournament. I am in charge of giving out the players' ASA certification cards and the uniforms to players that were not at the first practice. We have the players field at their chosen positions and the pitchers throw bullpens. I discuss the starting roster with the coaching staff. We discuss each players' strengths and weaknesses at each position in order to figure out starting roster. We conclude practice with final comments and questions about the upcoming tournament. I gather the equipment for Coach Juersivich and he explains to me whether we will do a regular score book or Game Changer app on a tablet. We decide that I will be in charge of a regular score book and composing the roster throughout the season. This practice taught me how to observe different players at each fielding position and to help decide how the best player fits each position.
Journal #3- June 3, Third Practice of Season
Today is the last practice before the first tournament of the season. I have to get the girls ready for their hitting drills and get the pitchers ready for each day of the tournament. Today we decide who is starting first game and we will decide from there who will bat in which spot after we see how everyone does the first day of the tournament.
Today is the last practice before the first tournament of the season. I have to get the girls ready for their hitting drills and get the pitchers ready for each day of the tournament. Today we decide who is starting first game and we will decide from there who will bat in which spot after we see how everyone does the first day of the tournament.
Journal #4- First Tournament- The Toledo Tune-Up-June 12-2015
Today is the team's first tournament of the season in Maumee, OH. It is called the Toledo Tune-Up and it is a six game guarantee and the top two teams go on to be in the national USSSA qualifier. I am excited as I arrive at the fields to get my coach's pass to get into each game. I meet my team and the other coaches at the team warm-up area to prepare the team before the first game of the day. I help set up hitting equipment and then start warming up the starting pitcher. I make sure she knows the signs for different pitches and that she is hitting her different spots for the different pitches. I go over the starting line-up with Coach J. and make up the line-up cards to give to the opposing team and field umpires. I then prepare the score book to keep score and plays during the game. The game is ready to begin and I help Coach J. in deciding what pitches to call for the catcher to signal to the pitcher. This works well because it help the pitcher know what pitch is the best pitch for certain hitters. This is where my own pitching experience helps. I keep score during the game and we shut out the other team 10-0! We are in good shape going into tomorrow's pool play games. We go back to the hotel to get ready for our team dinner that night. We ended up finishing 2nd in the tournament and we are qualified to play in the USSSA national tournament.
Journal #5- June 13- Day Two
Today the team heads into pool play games. We are looking good for the first game and our 2nd starting pitcher is ready to go. I go to the other team's coach to get their line up and give them our line up to put in the score book. I also talk to the umpires to go over the rules of the field and we are set to go after we get home team on the coin flip. We end up winning this game and go on to the head of our pool for tomorrow's games. We head back to the hotel to get something to eat and get to bed early.
Today the team heads into pool play games. We are looking good for the first game and our 2nd starting pitcher is ready to go. I go to the other team's coach to get their line up and give them our line up to put in the score book. I also talk to the umpires to go over the rules of the field and we are set to go after we get home team on the coin flip. We end up winning this game and go on to the head of our pool for tomorrow's games. We head back to the hotel to get something to eat and get to bed early.
Journal #6- June 14- Finals Tournament
Today we head into the bracket play and we are in the head of our pool to play other pools. We have our number one starter pitching so we should be good against this really competitive team made up of mostly college freshmen players. We start off hitting pretty well but our defense is not fielding well. We let them score right away but our bats come alive in the 6th inning. We win 6-5 and move on to the semi-finals where we win again to face the other remaining team in the other 18U Pool. We pitch our number 1 pitcher again and she was incredible after the first few innings but she got tired and we put in our 3rd starter. I kept track of her pitch mechanics and we ended up placing 2nd in the tournament but qualified for the USSSA national tournament.
Today we head into the bracket play and we are in the head of our pool to play other pools. We have our number one starter pitching so we should be good against this really competitive team made up of mostly college freshmen players. We start off hitting pretty well but our defense is not fielding well. We let them score right away but our bats come alive in the 6th inning. We win 6-5 and move on to the semi-finals where we win again to face the other remaining team in the other 18U Pool. We pitch our number 1 pitcher again and she was incredible after the first few innings but she got tired and we put in our 3rd starter. I kept track of her pitch mechanics and we ended up placing 2nd in the tournament but qualified for the USSSA national tournament.
Journal #7-June 15- Calculating player statistics
One of the many tasks that I had to do as an intern and one that I really enjoyed was to calculate each player individual and team statistics following a weekend tournament. I would get the information of their performances for the game score book to determine what they did at each at bat. I was able to calculate their batting averages, on base percentages, base-hit and extra bases earned. I also kept track of pitching stats like ERA, strikeouts, innings pitched and their WHIP. I would then email these statistics to Coach J. and the players so that they could review them for the next tournament. This task will be helpful in my future career because it can give me the experience of looking at a player's stats to determine how they perform offensively and defensively. I can also use this knowledge when I become an athletic coach to determine what player is the best fit for my team.
Journal #9- June 17, Team Practice
Today we are having our team practice to get ready for the Wizard Farley tournament in Toledo. It is going to be a shorter practice for today because a lot of the girls can't be there because of work or other commitments. We do our usual warm-ups and I get the first set of girls hitting at the tee and then soft toss to get their bats ready to go. We are going to have live pitching today so all of the pitchers have to be ready to throw. We do our hitting and the pitchers are looking good against the hitters. I advise them to slow themselves between pitches. We conclude with a team meeting and then pack up and go home.
Today we are having our team practice to get ready for the Wizard Farley tournament in Toledo. It is going to be a shorter practice for today because a lot of the girls can't be there because of work or other commitments. We do our usual warm-ups and I get the first set of girls hitting at the tee and then soft toss to get their bats ready to go. We are going to have live pitching today so all of the pitchers have to be ready to throw. We do our hitting and the pitchers are looking good against the hitters. I advise them to slow themselves between pitches. We conclude with a team meeting and then pack up and go home.
Journal #10-June 19, The Wizard Farley Tournament- Toledo, OH
Today we are in Toledo again for the Wizard Farley Tournament. This team has competed in this tournament for three years and they always play very competitive teams from all around Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania. We are scheduled for two games on Friday the first day of the tournament. We meet at the field for a late afternoon game starting at 4:00pm. I notice the girls are not moving with much enthusiasm as they were the last tournament. I try to get them pumped up for the upcoming games. I get the starting pitcher warmed up and she seems to be all set to go. Our other starting pitcher is dealing with an on going shoulder injury so we are not sure how much she will be able to pitch in this tournament. This is a 7 game guarantee which means that we are guaranteed to play at least 7 games weather permitting. The girls take the field for game one and we just can't get our offense going. They are not seeing the ball very well and are either striking out or popping out. We end up losing the first game 2-1 and we have another game about to start immediately after this game. We are at bat first for game 2 and we start of the same way of not hitting well. I try to talk to the girls in the dugout to be more selective at the plate and don't swing at every pitch. I am quickly learning how to communicate with the players and to try to get them to comprehend suggestions without them thinking I am being mean or critical. We are losing 10-0 until the 6th inning and then it is like a switch turns on and our bats come alive! We start producing runs and tie the game 10-10 in top of the 7th. We end regulation time in a tie so we have to have a tie breaker. We get beat by a nail biter in the end 12-11. The coaches and I encourage the players to not get down on themselves and come back tomorrow ready to take it all.
Journal #11- June 20, Pool Play
Today is bracket play for Saturday to go into the finals for tomorrow. The girls seem like they are in a better spirit today and that they want to play hard. I get the pitchers warmed up for the first game. We are playing a pretty tough team but we can beat them because we beat them last tournament. We win first two games and the third got rained out for the day. We go to a team dinner then back to the hotel for down time and rest. I go to a coaches meeting and we talk about this tournament as well as the big tournament next week in Virginia Beach.
Today is bracket play for Saturday to go into the finals for tomorrow. The girls seem like they are in a better spirit today and that they want to play hard. I get the pitchers warmed up for the first game. We are playing a pretty tough team but we can beat them because we beat them last tournament. We win first two games and the third got rained out for the day. We go to a team dinner then back to the hotel for down time and rest. I go to a coaches meeting and we talk about this tournament as well as the big tournament next week in Virginia Beach.
Journal #12- June 21, Finals and Championship Games
Today we are ready for the exciting bracket play. We got a bye for the first round because we were the 2nd seed in our division. We need to win this one to make it to the Championship game later in the afternoon. I set up the warm-up tee and nets to get the players ready to go. They do their throwing and we get our practice in and wait for the 8:00 am games to finish. We are ready to go and the coach lets me make up the line-up for the game and talk to the umpires. We play a hard fought game and we win 7-2. We make it to the championship game and we go against a very tough competitor, The Ice Gold team from Cincinnati. We fight very hard and play really well but we lose in final inning 7-5. We again take 2nd place and we need to make some adjustments if we are going to win the next tournament.
Today we are ready for the exciting bracket play. We got a bye for the first round because we were the 2nd seed in our division. We need to win this one to make it to the Championship game later in the afternoon. I set up the warm-up tee and nets to get the players ready to go. They do their throwing and we get our practice in and wait for the 8:00 am games to finish. We are ready to go and the coach lets me make up the line-up for the game and talk to the umpires. We play a hard fought game and we win 7-2. We make it to the championship game and we go against a very tough competitor, The Ice Gold team from Cincinnati. We fight very hard and play really well but we lose in final inning 7-5. We again take 2nd place and we need to make some adjustments if we are going to win the next tournament.
Journal #13- June 22 , Toledo Statistics
Today I work on calculating the Wizard Farley tournament statistics. I am seeing an improvement in the hitters being more disciplined at the plate. Some of the players that were striking out too much in the first two tournaments are being more patient and it shows in their averages. The pitchers need to work on not giving up so many walks but they do have a good strikeout percentage as a staff. I prepare the stats for the coaches, players and parents and email them to the team email.
Today I work on calculating the Wizard Farley tournament statistics. I am seeing an improvement in the hitters being more disciplined at the plate. Some of the players that were striking out too much in the first two tournaments are being more patient and it shows in their averages. The pitchers need to work on not giving up so many walks but they do have a good strikeout percentage as a staff. I prepare the stats for the coaches, players and parents and email them to the team email.
Journal #14- June 24, Practice Day
Today we have an important practice to get ready for the Virginia Beach Tournament. All players are required to be there so we can tune up our skills to be ready for strong competitive teams that come from all over the U.S. to play in the tournament. I set up equipment and help the players warm up throwing. Coach Don asks me what we should work on most based on the stats of the players and what each one is doing. We make up a simulation tourney line-up and practice live game situations. We also have the pitchers work on their weakest pitches so that they are able to use them better at game times. Our hitters look strong at practice and we practice our fielding drills over and over until it gets dark. We have a post meeting and conclude for the night.
Today we have an important practice to get ready for the Virginia Beach Tournament. All players are required to be there so we can tune up our skills to be ready for strong competitive teams that come from all over the U.S. to play in the tournament. I set up equipment and help the players warm up throwing. Coach Don asks me what we should work on most based on the stats of the players and what each one is doing. We make up a simulation tourney line-up and practice live game situations. We also have the pitchers work on their weakest pitches so that they are able to use them better at game times. Our hitters look strong at practice and we practice our fielding drills over and over until it gets dark. We have a post meeting and conclude for the night.
Journal #15- July 2, The Big Tournament- Midwest Showcase-Virginia Beach, VA
This week in my internship is going to be a big experience of assistant coaching our team in an out of state showcase tournament that has over 50 teams just in the 18U age division. I can't wait to get to the fields and start winning some games! The team is staying right by the beach in an oceanfront hotel and we will be right on the beach for July 4th celebrations. But first we are here for softball and for some heavy competitions. There are teams from all over the United States as I am looking at the schedule of teams playing in the tournament. We all head to the Princess Anne Sports Complex that is about 20 mins from the hotel. I am in charge of getting nets, softballs, tees and bats set up to warm-up before the first game of the day. This tournament is a 5 day tournament and we have an 8 game guarantee. I hope our pitchers are healthy and ready to work because this is going to be a lot of games in a lot of days. We did not start out well our first 3 games we got shutout every game. Coach Juersivich and I have a meeting with the coaching staff of what we think we should do to help the players start winning. We have the option of batting our whole 11 player line-up or just bat the 9 players that are hitting the best. We make the decision of just hitting our 9 best hitters for the rest of the tournament.
Journal #16- July 3- 2nd Day of Midwest Showcase
Today we start the 2nd day of the Showcase and I need to get these players motivated and focused on how to better themselves and be ready for the competition. We have the option to hit all 11 players in the line-up or just hit the 9 best players that are hitting the most. The coaches and I decide to try just hitting our best 9 hitters to see if that improves our scoring chances. We start the first game doing really well they don't score any off us until we are up by 2 in the 5th inning. We put our best pitcher in to relieve and she is struggling a bit today because she has arm pain. We let up 5 runs and end up losing 5-2 in the first game. We still have not won a game in the tournament and the girls are getting discouraged.
Today we start the 2nd day of the Showcase and I need to get these players motivated and focused on how to better themselves and be ready for the competition. We have the option to hit all 11 players in the line-up or just hit the 9 best players that are hitting the most. The coaches and I decide to try just hitting our best 9 hitters to see if that improves our scoring chances. We start the first game doing really well they don't score any off us until we are up by 2 in the 5th inning. We put our best pitcher in to relieve and she is struggling a bit today because she has arm pain. We let up 5 runs and end up losing 5-2 in the first game. We still have not won a game in the tournament and the girls are getting discouraged.
Journal #17- July 4- 3rd Day of Showcase
Today is the 4th of July and we have two games tonight then back to the beach to watch the fireworks on the beach. It is a beautiful day out and we get going to the fields after we relax on the beach and get lunch. We are going to stay with our 9 players line-up to see if it can improve our scoring again. Some of the parents of the players that are not hitting are upset because this is a college showcase and their daughter needs to be seen by college coaches. I try to explain to some of them that if they want to be noticed by college coaches they need to improve on their hitting as well as personally speak to the interested coaches and set up a time to speak to them after games about their colleges. Most of the coaches represent D-III and NAIA colleges and are all from the southern states and most of the girls are not interested in playing out of state anyway. We start our first game of the day and we start to play much better than we have been. We played an evenly matched team and beat them 10-5. We play our second game right after and our pitchers are getting tired but they help each other out to get the job done. We lose this one 2-1 but we still have tomorrow to come back and get in this thing to move up in the brackets.
Today is the 4th of July and we have two games tonight then back to the beach to watch the fireworks on the beach. It is a beautiful day out and we get going to the fields after we relax on the beach and get lunch. We are going to stay with our 9 players line-up to see if it can improve our scoring again. Some of the parents of the players that are not hitting are upset because this is a college showcase and their daughter needs to be seen by college coaches. I try to explain to some of them that if they want to be noticed by college coaches they need to improve on their hitting as well as personally speak to the interested coaches and set up a time to speak to them after games about their colleges. Most of the coaches represent D-III and NAIA colleges and are all from the southern states and most of the girls are not interested in playing out of state anyway. We start our first game of the day and we start to play much better than we have been. We played an evenly matched team and beat them 10-5. We play our second game right after and our pitchers are getting tired but they help each other out to get the job done. We lose this one 2-1 but we still have tomorrow to come back and get in this thing to move up in the brackets.
Journal #18- July 5, Last Day of Games at the Midwest Showcase
Today is the last day of games and we are excited to get some wins! I get all the equipment ready at the fields and the girls get there early to start warm-ups. We could have up to 5-6 games today if we continue to win. The first game we start hitting right off the bat and we score 7 in the first inning. Our best pitcher is having leg shin pain and does not want to be taken out. I get her some ice to put on her leg in between innings. She goes back out there and shuts down their offense we win first game 7-1. We go right to our 2nd game of the day. This team does not seem that they are that difficult to play so we put our number 2 pitcher to start. I adjust our lineup and we are ready to go. She is having shoulder pain but we underestimated this team's skill and power at the plate. They drive in 5 runs in the first inning. Players are getting down and I try to encourage them we have a lot of game left and go out and do what I know they can do. We end up winning in last inning 8-7. So we are looking good going into semi-finals. Our pitching staff is getting tired but we do what we can with them. They rest and hydrate and we go to lunch. After a small break and coaches meeting we are back at game 3. We see how big these girls are and we get kind of intimidated. We go out there and start strong hitting and score 1 in first inning. Our pitcher is pitching great and although we were doing well they woke up their bats too and beat us 5-2. We head to our consolation game because that was our last chance to get into the finals. We are all tired and we go back to our hotel.
Today is the last day of games and we are excited to get some wins! I get all the equipment ready at the fields and the girls get there early to start warm-ups. We could have up to 5-6 games today if we continue to win. The first game we start hitting right off the bat and we score 7 in the first inning. Our best pitcher is having leg shin pain and does not want to be taken out. I get her some ice to put on her leg in between innings. She goes back out there and shuts down their offense we win first game 7-1. We go right to our 2nd game of the day. This team does not seem that they are that difficult to play so we put our number 2 pitcher to start. I adjust our lineup and we are ready to go. She is having shoulder pain but we underestimated this team's skill and power at the plate. They drive in 5 runs in the first inning. Players are getting down and I try to encourage them we have a lot of game left and go out and do what I know they can do. We end up winning in last inning 8-7. So we are looking good going into semi-finals. Our pitching staff is getting tired but we do what we can with them. They rest and hydrate and we go to lunch. After a small break and coaches meeting we are back at game 3. We see how big these girls are and we get kind of intimidated. We go out there and start strong hitting and score 1 in first inning. Our pitcher is pitching great and although we were doing well they woke up their bats too and beat us 5-2. We head to our consolation game because that was our last chance to get into the finals. We are all tired and we go back to our hotel.
Journal #19- July 7, Vacation Day on the Beach and Player Picnic
Today is our day to enjoy the beach and bond as a team before we take the long drive back to Ohio. We spend the day at the beach and have a team picnic. We have a good time bonding and I help clean up the lunch and set up a small wiffle ball game to play in the sand. It was so much fun because we played players vs. coaches and parents. We go shopping and then I have a coaches meeting to go over the stats and talk about our next tournament.
Today is our day to enjoy the beach and bond as a team before we take the long drive back to Ohio. We spend the day at the beach and have a team picnic. We have a good time bonding and I help clean up the lunch and set up a small wiffle ball game to play in the sand. It was so much fun because we played players vs. coaches and parents. We go shopping and then I have a coaches meeting to go over the stats and talk about our next tournament.
Journal #20- July 8, Arrive back home and Stats
Today I get back home and I need to calculate the player statistics and season stats to determine the line-up and the direction we need to go in. I take about 2 hours to complete them and email them out to the players and coaches. I also email them a hitting video for them to watch and practice with for the next games.
Today I get back home and I need to calculate the player statistics and season stats to determine the line-up and the direction we need to go in. I take about 2 hours to complete them and email them out to the players and coaches. I also email them a hitting video for them to watch and practice with for the next games.
Journal #21- July 10, The SGS Shootout Tournament- Middle of my Internship-July 10-12, 2015
We are back in Toledo, OH again and we are ready for the competition since we are fresh off the Virginia Beach tournament and tough competitors. I have calculated all of the statistics of the players so the coaches know where each girl stands going forth with the rest of the season. After calculating the batting averages and on base percentages, I have noticed that there is one player that is consistently hitting above .400 and is getting on base for a good .500% for most tournaments. When I see Coach J. at the field he asks for the stats sheet and I bring up to him about the player that is consistent in her hitting and I suggest to him that maybe she should be our lead off hitter because she can get on base for our power hitter to be able to hit her in. He likes my idea and we tell her that she will try the lead off spot in the next game to see how it goes. We do our basic warm ups to prepare for the game and we have a 6 game guarantee in this tournament. Assistant Coach Dave has found us another starting pitcher because our two main starting pitchers are injured. I watch her warm up and she throws pretty well.
Journal #22- July 11, Day 2 of the SGS Shootout Tournament
Today we win our first games and are able to make it to the semi-finals. I work with the players on some of their batting techniques and help them with any problems they may be having. We started off good in the semi-final game and lose by 1 run to a good Cincinnati team. The team is getting better we just have to find a way to get that win in the championship game.
Today we win our first games and are able to make it to the semi-finals. I work with the players on some of their batting techniques and help them with any problems they may be having. We started off good in the semi-final game and lose by 1 run to a good Cincinnati team. The team is getting better we just have to find a way to get that win in the championship game.
Journal #23- July 12, Team luncheon at hotel/coaches meeting
Today we decide to have a team luncheon at the hotel we are staying. I have to set up the tables and chairs as well as get the grills going. I make sure that all of the food is set out on the tables and that the players have seats. The coaches and I sit around and discuss strategies for next week's tournament and I gain knowledge of how the coaches pick what player they want to sit and what player is needed for runs.
Today we decide to have a team luncheon at the hotel we are staying. I have to set up the tables and chairs as well as get the grills going. I make sure that all of the food is set out on the tables and that the players have seats. The coaches and I sit around and discuss strategies for next week's tournament and I gain knowledge of how the coaches pick what player they want to sit and what player is needed for runs.
Journal #24- July 13, Calculate stats for SGS Shootout Tournament
Today I have to calculate the stats for the weekend's tournament and the addition of the new pitcher is helping with the pitching staff. I also calculate the season stats so far and email them to the coaches, players and parents for review. We will discuss them at this weeks practice.
Today I have to calculate the stats for the weekend's tournament and the addition of the new pitcher is helping with the pitching staff. I also calculate the season stats so far and email them to the coaches, players and parents for review. We will discuss them at this weeks practice.
Journal #25- July 15, Team Practice
Today is the team practice to get ready for one of the favorite tournaments for the Wildcat Pride. We do the usual warm-up routine and then work more on fielding drills and running drills. We did not work on hitting this practice but focused more on defense and pitching. The girls are going to make special t-shirts for this Cancer fighting tournament.
Today is the team practice to get ready for one of the favorite tournaments for the Wildcat Pride. We do the usual warm-up routine and then work more on fielding drills and running drills. We did not work on hitting this practice but focused more on defense and pitching. The girls are going to make special t-shirts for this Cancer fighting tournament.
Journal #26- July 17, Hope's Turn at Bat- Mayfield Hts., OH
This weekend we are playing in a tournament to fight cancer. This is a special tournament to everyone on the team that has someone affected by cancer. I have lost three of my grandparents to cancer and many of my friends parents are battling the disease. This tournament is a little closer to home so we do not have to stay in hotels. We meet at the field to get warmed up for the games and Coach J. and I decide to change the batting line up back to where it was because our good hitter does not like leading off and isn't doing well there. We have our regular starting pitcher back but her shin is still bothering her. We are ready for our first game and we start pretty well. By the 5th inning Coach J. notices our starting pitcher breathing hard so he asked for time and tells me to go out to the mound to see if she is alright. Being a pitcher myself I can relate to stress and heat making it hard to pitch good when needed. She assures me she is fine and I give her a drink of water and she is ready to go. We end up winning our first days games and we are scheduled to play at 9:30am on Saturday morning. We get to field by 8:00am the next day and find out we are playing a really tough team from Pennsylvania. We get everyone warmed up and have a little pep talk to get us ready. We pitch our new pitcher for us and we are facing a Division I recruit for the other team. She is throwing pretty hard but we begin to notice a pattern to her pitches. I advise the girls of what pitches she is throwing most accurately and tell them to be patient with her off speed stuff. We get to the 7th inning and we are still tied with no score. We decide to put our regular starting pitcher in and she shuts them down. We go into extra innings and we get two on base. Our regular pitcher, Chrissy, gets up to bat and hits a bomb off the fence to score the winning run. We get to advance to the finals! We get to play against a team from Cleveland and they have won this tournament for the past three years. We really want to win the title this year. We start our regular pitcher and she does really well. We come up to bat and we score 2 runs right off the bat. By the 4th inning they catch up to our score and then move ahead by one run. We get to the 7th and we are still down 6-5, we get our last at bats and we just can't get the clutch hit. We finish getting runner up to this team again. It was a fun and an emotional day for a good cause. I was proud to be on the coaching staff of this team with the perserverence that they showed out there today.
Journal #27- July 18, Day 2 Hope's Turn at Bat
Today we get to the field by 8:00am and find out we are playing a really tough team from Pennsylvania. We get everyone warmed up and have a little pep talk to get us ready. We pitch our new pitcher for us and we are facing a D-I recruit for the other team. She is throwing pretty hard but we begin to notice her pattern to her pitches. I advise the girls of what pitches she is throwing most accurately and tell them to be patient with her off speed stuff. We get to the 7th inning and we are still tied with no score. We decide to put our regular starting pitcher in and she shuts them down. We go into extra innings and we get two on base. Our regular pitcher, Chrissy gets up to bat and hits a bomb off the fence to score the winning run! We get to advance to semi-finals after we play a couple of easier teams after that.
Today we get to the field by 8:00am and find out we are playing a really tough team from Pennsylvania. We get everyone warmed up and have a little pep talk to get us ready. We pitch our new pitcher for us and we are facing a D-I recruit for the other team. She is throwing pretty hard but we begin to notice her pattern to her pitches. I advise the girls of what pitches she is throwing most accurately and tell them to be patient with her off speed stuff. We get to the 7th inning and we are still tied with no score. We decide to put our regular starting pitcher in and she shuts them down. We go into extra innings and we get two on base. Our regular pitcher, Chrissy gets up to bat and hits a bomb off the fence to score the winning run! We get to advance to semi-finals after we play a couple of easier teams after that.
Journal #28- July 19, Finals Day
Today we start our regular pitcher and she does really well in the two semi- final rounds. Our new pitcher starts in the championship game and she does not start well. We put Chrissy back in and she does well. We come up and score 2 runs right off the bat. By the 4th inning they catch up to our score and then move ahead by one run. This is a really emotional game as everyone wants to win so badly. We get to the 7th and we are still down 6-5, we get our last at bats and we just can't get the clutch hit. We finish getting runner up to this team again. It was a fun and emotional day for a good cause. I was proud to be on the coaching staff of this team with the perserverence that they showed out there today.
Today we start our regular pitcher and she does really well in the two semi- final rounds. Our new pitcher starts in the championship game and she does not start well. We put Chrissy back in and she does well. We come up and score 2 runs right off the bat. By the 4th inning they catch up to our score and then move ahead by one run. This is a really emotional game as everyone wants to win so badly. We get to the 7th and we are still down 6-5, we get our last at bats and we just can't get the clutch hit. We finish getting runner up to this team again. It was a fun and emotional day for a good cause. I was proud to be on the coaching staff of this team with the perserverence that they showed out there today.
Journal #29- July 20, Statistics and learning videos
Today I spend time calculating the stats for the weekend tournament. I am impressed how every player on the team had great at bats and contributed in some way to the wins of the tournament. They have really improved in every category of hitting and fielding since the first tournament of the season. Our pitchers have pitched a lot of innings and have kept the ERA's to under 2.50 and are doing great with strikeouts and WHIP. I decide to send them a hitting drill video to keep prepared for the next tournament. This way they can get practice in on their own so they can come to regular practice ready to show their stuff.
Journal #30- August 3, Meeting of the coaches at BW3's
The team coaches wanted to get together for an informal meeting to discuss the team and how we can be more aggressive in the remaining tournaments. We decide to meet at BW3's in Medina. I bring my scorebook and stat sheets to look over each player performances. We decide to only bat the top 9 hitters instead of batting the full 11 lineup. We told the girls at each game that who ever produces the best in hitting will be the ones in the lineup. They thought it was fair because they do not want to come in 2nd again. We are thinking about having a team end of season party to give awards and to have a final get together before the girls go back to school and/or start college. The coaches thank me for the good work I have done throughout the season and for helping them with the players.
Journal #31- August 5, Team practice before the Northwest Tournament
We are having a final team practice before the final two tournaments of the season. I set up the nets and equipment and wait with the coaches for all the players to show up. We have a team meeting before we begin practice. We discuss the idea of using just the 9 hitter line up and the girls are fine with it because we want to win and the strongest hitters will be able to get more at bats. We also discuss if everyone watched the hitting drill video that I sent and if they practiced any of the drills that were shown in the video. Most everyone had watched and some of them practiced the drills everyday in order to improve their swing. We get going doing hitting drills as seen on the video, and I warm up the pitchers to get ready to throw live hitting. We wrap up the practice with any questions the girls might have about the upcoming tournament and I discuss how they need to all come to the tournament with a fresh outlook and to just go out and give the best they have and just have fun.
Journal #32- Making scrapbook for Coach Juersivich
The players text all the assistant coaches because they want to make a special scrapbook for Coach Don because he's been a great coach to them for the last three years and for many of the girls it will be their last season to play for him because they will be going off to college. They ask me to write a small letter of how Coach has helped me and to write a little bit of how he inspires me to become a coach. I tell them I will be happy to do that and I send them a picture I have with him when we were runners-up in the Hope's Turn at Bat tournament. I think this is such a great example of how coaches can have a positive effect in their players lives and they can go on in life with life lessons from on and off the field.
Journal #33-August 7, The Northwest Tournament- Canal Fulton
This weekend's tournament is in Canal Fulton and just down the road from Coach J.'s house. The team likes this tournament because they can go to the coaches house in between games. We all arrive at the field for game one of the day and I can just tell the girls were not there to play ball. They all seem to be dragging and not wanting to be there. The Coach is noticing the same thing and he is not very happy. I get my line up card made up and take it over to the other team's coach. We are playing a team called the Pennsylvania Lady Pirates. We saw them at the Hope's Turn at Bat Tournament and they are pretty good. They have a really good pitcher that is being recruited by at least 5 Division I colleges. I talk with the umpires about the rules for the tournament and make sure they have enough water to drink because it is over 85 degrees out already. The girls are warming up and I go to talk to them to see if they are mentally prepared for the game and they all say they are, but I don't know. We take the field to be the home team and start off pretty well. We get up to bat and we just fall flat. The pitcher is throwing hard but we can hit her if we were trying. We do not get a hit the entire game and the we coaches are getting really frustrated with them. Their defense began to fall apart as well with errors and just mental defeat. We lose first two games 11-0 and 5-0. The coach has a meeting before we go to his house for lunch. He says that is the worst display of playing that he has ever seen. The girls just weren't mentally in the game is what I put into the conversation and we need to get our minds back into why we are here and what we need to do. The lunch at the coaches house is going to be pretty quiet I'm afraid.
Journal #34- August 8, The Northwest Tournament- Day 2
It is day 2 of the tournament and we are set to play one of the easier teams in the 18U division. We do our practice before game one and the girls seem in a more positive mood today. All of the girls were on time and we noticed our center fielder still wasn't there and game was supposed to start in five minutes. I call her on my phone and she says she is pulling in now. She comes limping up to the field and shows the Coach that she has a bad infection on her foot and can't wear her cleats. She never told anyone about it until now. Now we lose our best center fielder but the game must go on. We pitch our pitcher that has missed most of the season with a shoulder injury. She does great and we start hitting the ball to the wall. We score 5 runs in the first inning and we end up winning 11-0. Our next game is a semi-final and we have to play the Lady Pirates again and of course they are pitching the best pitcher from yesterday. We go out there to day with a fight that was not there yesterday. We get to third inning and we start hitting the ball hard. The score is us 2 them 3. We try the rest of the game to get the go ahead runs but we just couldn't do it. The girls are disappointed but they knew they played hard today. We decide to have a team dinner at Coach J.'s house even though we were not advancing we want to have fun.
Journal #35- August 9, The day After
I am calculating the stats for the Northwest Tournament and for the season so far. I really like doing this task because I can see the improvement that each player had demonstrated throughout the season. I get them ready to email and I write my letter about Coach Juersivich. He is a really good coach and I am grateful that he is my supervisor and has given me this opportunity to finish my internship with a really great team of players and coaches. I reflect on how he teaches the girls with such patience and understanding. He gives them advice on not only on the game of softball but on life in general. He's been coaching and umpiring for a long time and he really has a great understanding of the game and its evolving rules and regulations. I hope to one day be able to coach with such admiration, knowledge and determination that Coach Don does. I have learned a lot from him and the other coaches.
Journal #36- Special Practice
Some of the players want to get an extra practice in before our last tournament of the season. I call Coach Don and he says he can get a field that we normally practice on for Wednesday and he tells me to see who all wants to come to the practice. I get about six players that can come that are not working so we have a practice scheduled. We work on hard grounders and hitting up the middle. We also work on discipline at the plate and laying off bad pitches. We have a really good practice and I thank the girls that came to practice and put forth the extra effort to wanting to get better. I told them that extra ambition and determination works well with college coaches. I am glad I am able to relate to them my college experiences and that they feel comfortable asking me questions of what they need to prepare for.
Journal #37- The Big Let Down
We are contacted by Coach J. that we won't be playing in the Dawg Daze Tournament in Huron, OH. They do not know what happened to our registration or tournament fee. They said they got it in the mail and it was somehow misplaced by someone and now the tournament is full. It is too late to get registered for another tournament and Coach J. is really upset with the Huron tournament organizers. He calls a director in Orrville that is having a tournament for this same weekend but there are only 3 teams signed up for the 18U age division. It is also a rec league tournament so there would not be any good competition. We ask the girls what they want to do and the majority of the team do not want to play in a tournament that does not have more teams and better competition. We decide that this is the end of our season and it is really a let down. We were all looking forward to facing some good teams to show our stuff for our final tournament together. We decide on having the team award dinner at Coach Dave's house in Westlake, OH for the following Saturday. This experience has taught me that organizations are not always fair in their business practices and by not letting our team know ahead of time that our registration was lost and that we will not be able to participate is really bad business. They assured Coach that we will get a refund of all money and they have their sincere apologies.
Journal #38- Final Season Stats
I am finalizing the final stats of the season so I can present them to the coach and players at the team dinner. I have really enjoyed this internship opportunity. I have learned a lot of skills of how to run an organized competitive sports team and what is required to be a successful leader and coach. I have improved my communication skills with how to speak and relate to players and give them advice on what they can do to improve their game. I have learned how to do extensive stat and score keeping in competitive tournaments. I have learn how to communicate with parents, opposing coaching staffs and game day officials. I have learned what is involved in registering for tournaments and booking accomadations for players, staff and parents. I really enjoyed being supervised by Coach Juersivich. He is a very good coach the has extensive knowledge of the game and how to relate to players, parents, opposing teams, game officials and tournament administrators. He was very patient with me and gave me some of the best advice that I can get about coaching and life in general. I think that I did a pretty good job of assisting him all season and I helped him learn a thing or two as well.
Journal #39- Team end of season dinner
The team all arrives at Coach Dave's house and he is grilling food on his grill as each player brings a dish to enjoy. I have my stats all ready to go to present to the team and parents. We all arrive and we gather to eat out on the patio and back yard. We have some really good food and fun conversation as we talk about the season and all the fun we had. Coach J. stands up and presents the awards to the players. He begins to tear up because he has coached this group of girls for three years and many of them will be too old to play in this organization next season. The girls stand up and present each one of the coaches with a team picture and thank you cards. I got one too and it made me feel special. They made a really good speech about Coach J. and he was really getting teared up at the end. I have really enjoyed my summer with these people and I am grateful that I got to do my internship doing something that I would love to make into a lifelong career.
Journal #20- Final Thoughts
This experience has taught me that you can be a good coach and teacher but also relate to each person on a personal level. You can give your players all the tools that you know to succeed out there in the game but it is up to them to use what they have learned and put their best into everything they do. This internship had influenced my career objectives in that I want to be a professional coach and be a successful and inspiring to my players in the process. I have used what I have learned in the classroom and on the playing field to help inspire and teach these girls what the next level of play is all about. If other students considers being an assistant coach with this organization as an intern, it will be one of the best experiences of your life. it will also give you valuable career tools to help you pursue future career goals. I want to thank Coach Don Juersivich, Coach Dave Mancini, Coach Rick Einhaus, and the players of the Wildcat Pride 18U Softball Team.