WEIGHT ROOM

Strength, agility training
Weight room workouts,
college athlete’s routine
 

In case you thought the first week of college for the Wesley Wolverine softball team was all about settling-in, arranging schedules, buying books, meeting professors, attending classes, and catching up with friends at the college center, you are 100% right. 

But there also is the Peter Bielfield Weight Room, which is now a regular routine wedged between the Wolverines' classes.

Here are a few cell phone shots of the softball squad from Thursday (August 28)...

VOLLEYBALL OPENER

Friday & Saturday
If you're a NJ, PA Wolverine fan,
volleyball may be playing near you

If you are a Wesley College sports fan, especially if also a Wolverine softball family, living in, around, or near Northern New Jersey or the Philadelphia suburbs, you might consider stopping by a Wesley College women's volleyball game over the next couple of days.

These volleyball Wesley Wolverines will be far away from home this Friday (Morristown, NJ) and Saturday (Media, PA)! They would surely welcome any fan support.

2014 Wesley Wolverine volleyball team

The volleyball Wolverines start their season on the road with two games against opponents' New Jersey City University Knights and John Jay College of Criminal Justice Bloodhounds tomorrow, Friday, August 29,at 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM at College of St. Elizabeth, 2 Convent Road, Morristown, NJ.

Then, these volleyball Wolverines head back toward campus with a stop outside Philadelphia for another set of games against the Bryn Mawr College Owls and the Penn State Brandywine Lions on Saturday, August 30, at Penn State Brandywine, Commons/Athletics Center, 25 Yearsley Mill Rd., Media, PA.

The volleyball Wolverines, who lost just two seniors last year, are coming off a 15-13 and expect to improve on that mark this season.

The volleyball team has two direct links to Wesley softball, i.e. head coach Juli Greep, of course, is at the helm for both the volleyball and softball teams, while sophomore #1 OH Arnelle Akakpo (Rahway, NJ) served as last season's softball team manager.

For further information, please visit the Wesley College volleyball blog at www.wesleyvolleyball2014.blogspot.com

BARBEQUE

Team barbeque
Wesley Wolverines 

back for new season

Pla-a-y Ba-a-all!

Or, better yet maybe just start with more relaxing contests, like Kanjam and horseshoes instead, on this first evening of classes at Wesley College, which is exactly what they did yesterday.

THEY ARE BACK – and EVERY member of the 2014- 2015 Wesley Wolverine softball team gathered together last night at a welcome-to-campus barbeque hosted by Head Coach Juli Greep. 

Even the team's two dual-sport athletes, co-captains junior #32 C/3B Kayla Fromal (Middletown, DE) and junior #22 C/UT Morgan Seymour (Smyrna, DE), broke from field hockey practice to celebrate the new school year with last year's teammates as well as the new freshmen players now joining the squad.

“It was nice to have them all in the same spot at the same time,” said Coach Greep.

The third co-captain, junior #6 MI Breanna Hartman (Red Bank, NJ), headed up the team bonding exercises, which included a blindfolded version of the human knot plus disclosing an amusing fact about themselves, announced by each gal, while sitting in a team circle.

It wasn't all fun and games, however. Coach Greep also touched on the important business of completing NCAA paperwork and spelling out the team rules for the new season.

No rest for the weary, either. After the second day of classes today, there's the start of team lifting and conditioning at 6:00 PM. at the Wesley West weight room this evening. 

“Everyone seems excited to get started!” added Coach Greep.

The fall doubleheader is exactly four weeks from today. It's an away trip to the Chesapeake College Skipjacks for a 2:00 PM start time.
______

More photos below, all supplied by Coach Greep, from the team building barbeque...

LL PEP TALK

Crushing loss
"Everybody heads up high” 

says coach after elimination

This post has nothing to do with softball or even collegiate sports. 

It does address, however, the difficulty in accepting a defeat when a team has given their all and how one coach handled it.

Dave Belisle: “you guys are going to bring back, 

something that no other team can provide but 

you guys, and that's pride. Pride.”

Last Monday night, Rhode Island's Little League squad, representing the NorthEast, was eliminated from the Little League World Series in a heart-breaking 8-7 loss to Illinois.

The team's coach, Dave Belisle, stepped up to deliver an off-the-cuff pep talk to his team that the sports world is calling inspirational, meaningful, and heartwarming.

Here are parts of it...

Dave Belisle: “I'm getting to be an old man, 

I need memories like this, I need kids like this.”

"Everybody heads up high, let's talk for a moment... 

Look, I gotta see your eyes, guys. There's no disappointment in your effort...

“You're going to take back for the rest of your life what you provided for a town in Cumberland. You had the whole place jumping. You had the whole state jumping. You had New England jumping. You had ESPN jumping.

“Because you wanna know why? They like fighters. They like sportsmen. They like guys that don't quit. They like guys that play the right way.  

"I love you guys. I'm going to love you forever. You've given me the most precious moment of my athletic and coaching career...

Dave Belisle: “I want everyone to come in

here for one big hug and then we're going

to go celebrate.”

"So for the last time we're going to try to suck it up and we're going to yell 'Americans.'

"One, two, three, Americans!"

For the full video speech, 

click on the link below:

► www.espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:11373945 ◄

TINCHER PITCHING

A free flow of energy
Fluid Dynamics offers
new approach to pitching

It's called Tincher Pitching's “Fluid Dynamics”.

Certified Tincher pitching
instructor Nicole Thomas.

It's a fastpitch softball pitching style “showing pitchers that they can throw like a girl, not be herky-jerky as I like to call it, and feel effortless when they pitch,” says certified Tincher pitching instructor Nicole Thomas.

► Nicole Thomas

Nicole Thomas lives in Warwick, Maryland, which sits in the beautiful countryside just outside Middletown, Delaware.

This summer she added a new student to the 100+ softball pitchers currently seeking her instruction. The newcomer is Wesley College Wolverine sophomore #9 P/OF Lily Engel (Dover, DE). Lily has been working weekly with Nicole since late last June.

Wesley Wolverines Nina Marcano
and Morgan Seymour 

Nicole has a large, brightly lit pitching area in her basement which allows lessons come rain or shine. She is a real enthusiast for the Tincher pitching mechanics.

In her student days, Nicole was part of Delaware's 1999, 2000, and 2001 high school state championship teams, where she earned all-state honors. 

In college, Nicole went on to hurl for Morehead State University as well as Wilmington University.

► Wesley Wolverines join the pitching lessons

Lily did not trek alone each week to Warwick for lessons. Pitchers need catchers.

Wesley Wolverines Lily Engel
and Kayla Fromal 

Several Wesley players graciously joined Lily from time-to-time at the pitching sessions to assist in the catching, where they, too, gained a better understanding of the Fluid Dynamic technique.

These teammates are:
● co-captain junior #22 C/UT Morgan Seymour (Smyrna, DE),
● co-captain junior #32 C/3B
Kayla Fromal (Middletown, DE)
● sophomore #18 catcher
Nina Marcano (Middletown, DE).

► Mechanics of Tincher's Fluid Dynamics

How is Tincher's Fluid Dynamics different from the ways traditional fastpitch pitching is typically taught?

In Fluid Dynamics, the “emphasis is on utilizing the female body in the way it was designed so that it can build energy from the ground upward and allow the free flow of energy from the legs to the fingertips,” per the Tincher website.

► Denny Tincher

Fluid Dynamics has been developed by Denny Tincher after exhaustive research – which is also an ongoing process for Tincher pitching – into the studying and tracking of precise bio-mechanical advantages for pitchers.

Lily Engel hurling in the pitching area of Nicole Thomas' basement. 

“I am a work in progress” Lily admits, not yet ready to serve 

as a model for the Tincher Fluid Dynamics style.

Denny Tincher is father to flame-throwing (68 MPH) former Virginia Tech All-American Angela Tincher, who lists among her accomplishments from the circle: ● 2008 College Player of the Year, ● lowest national ERA for two consecutive years, and ● among top three in NCAA record books for total strikeouts and average number of strikeouts per game. 

The entire softball world especially took notice of Angela when she tossed a no-hitter against the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. In the game, she walked only one and did not let a ball leave the infield! (See last three outs in video below.)

On left, pitching instructor Nicole Thomas
leans against a wall of signed hand prints
from her more than 100 players who take
lessons from her. On right, she demon-
strates a Tincher Fluid Dynamics pitch.

► Certified instructors

Now, not just anyone can teach the Fluid Dynamics approach, either. 

Certified Tincher pitching instructors, like Nicole Thomas, must spend a substantial number of hours in extensive training before showing others how to throw using the Tincher's Fluid Dynamics method. 

At this time, there are just 28 certified instructors conducting these lessons across the United States, specifically from Maryland to Ontario to Atlanta to Arizona.

Nicole Thomas attracts students from the Eastern Shore, Northern Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Northern & Central Delaware – and, this past summer, one Wolverine pitcher and several Wolverine catchers from the Wesley College campus!

 

VIDEO: Tincher's Fluid  Dynamics 

pitching promotional piece...

VIDEO: last three outs of Angela's Tincher's 

no-hitter against 2008 U.S. Olympic Team...

NPFC GAMES

All games broadcasted
National pro fastpitch championship
games scheduled for Weds.-Saturday

There is, of course, TEAM USA and 15 other nations in the Netherlands right now batting each other on the dirt for the XIV Women's Softball World Championship, but here in the United States the professional softball players have plans of their own for an exciting winner-take-all showdown.

Cat Osterman of USSSA Pride

It is the star-studded 

NATIONAL PRO FASTPITCH CHAMPIONSHIP games starting this Wednesday, August 20 and running through Saturday, August 24 (if necessary) in Hoover, AL.

► Determining top seed

This past Saturday night decided the top seed for the series. It was not easy.

The USSSA Florida Pride needed a win over the Pennsylvania Rebellion in yesterday evening's doubleheader at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, FL. A victory would clinch the 2014 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league title for them, which earns top seed in this week's championship event.

They did not get it in the first game. It wasn't even close.

Then, the Rebellion scored first in the second game.

However, a couple of home runs later and the Pride was cruising to an eventual 5-1 triumph. Fan favorite Cat Osterman didn't play until the fifth inning where she recorded a save on the night. CLICK HERE for the full story.

► National Pro Fastpitch Championship games

Saturday's victory ensured that the Pride with a 32-16 record on the season will meet the fourth-seeded Rebellion again in this week's first elimination games played for the championship title.

The full series features all four pro teams – USSSA Pride, Akron Racers, Chicago Bandits, and Pennsylvania Rebellion – with a best-of-3 final series to determine the 2014 champion.

► Broadcast schedule

The championship’s concluding games (August 22, 23) will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network. All games (August 20-23) can be followed via radio or Internet streaming. CLICK HERE for the media schedule and links to the broadcasts.

Courtney Liddle of Pennsylvania Rebellion

WBSC PHOTOS

Undefeated so far
TEAM USA playing toward
world championship playoffs

The WBSC has shared 32 photos on their Facebook page from the XIV Women's Softball World Championship being played this week in Haarlem, Netherlands. 

World Baseball Softball Confederation

 TEAM USA is currently undefeated in its first games against the Netherlands, Botswana and Chinese Taipei. 

The playoff games to determine the world champion are set for this Friday, Saturday, Sunday, August 22-24. 


Click here for the ISF report on the eight games played in the first two days of the tournament.
 
  
CLICK ON THE FACEBOOK POST BELOW for the slideshow album.

Post by WBSC.

VOLLEYBALL ASSIST

Helping the coach
Steph and Nina combine
softball/ volleyball chores

They are doing double duty – maybe even triple or quadruple duty. 

Steph and Nina at Volleyball pizza party

It's serious softball recruiting mixed with a welcome to campus for the new semester with pizza and barbecue parties for the 2014 Wesley College volleyball squad.

Assisting volleyball/ softball Head Coach Juli Greep, junior #8 OF Steph Caracozza (Melbourne Beach, FL) and sophomore #18 C/3B Nina Marcano (Middletown, DE) have several work assignments today and into the evening.

First, earlier this morning, it was meet with a new softball recruit who was touring the campus. The young lady from Baltimore County, MD, had been referred by another Wesley softball recruit who was impressed with her own visit a week ago.

Then, it was join the Wesley College volleyball team's moving-in day pizza party – and help with the clean up afterward. Later these two will aid Coach Greep who is grilling chicken this evening for the volleyball team's team-building barbecue dinner.

____________________ 

CLICK HERE for pizza party post
at Wesley College volleyball blog

 ________________________

Nina with volleyball/ softball Head Coach
Juli Greep and Assistant Coach Bel Fakaosi

Plus, Nina has volunteered to assist Coach Greep and Assistant Coach Bel Fakaosi with the volleyball workouts, which begin bright and early Saturday morning!

ISF GAMES

USA not defending champion
Softball world championship games
kick off this morning in Netherlands

The XIV Women's Softball World Championship starts today, Friday, August 15. The games, featuring sixteen nations in 56 matches, are being played in Europe for the first time. The host city is Haarlem, Netherlands.

Megan Timpf of Team Canada makes diving catch. 

“We like our chances,” she says. “We have our eyes 

on the podium." CLICK HERE for that story.

This International Softball Federation (IFC) 10-day event includes national teams from... 

● Australia

● Botswana, 

● Canada

● China

● Chinese 

● Taipei

● Cuba

● Czech Republic

● Dominican Republic, ● Great Britain, ● Italy, ● Japan, ● Netherlands, ● New Zealand, ● Puerto Rico, ● Russia, and USA.

ESPN reports that TEAM USA, usually heavily favored, faces a major challenge at the tournament...

“American entries are nine-time champions in what was the sport's signature event prior to softball's Olympic inclusion in 1996, regaining that status when that Olympic era ended in 2008. The rest of the globe, in the form of Australia, Japan (twice) and New Zealand, can claim just four world titles. But for the first time since 1986, the United States is not the defending champion, having lost the final to Japan in extra innings two years ago. And for the first time, factoring in Japan's surprise gold medal in the 2008 Olympics, Team USA faces the prospect of losing three out of the four most recent major championships should it come away from Holland with anything less than gold.”

CLICK HERE for the full ESPN story.

A problem faced by the USA Team is a talent pool split between this national team and the increasingly popular USA professional softball league.

For a fee, all games are web-streamed at www.isf.sportzcast.net. In addition, the bronze and gold medal games on August 24 will be broadcast throughout the United States. Check local listings for availability.

Video preview of TEAM USA...

duPONT FIELD

Come watch a game!
Reynolds duPont Field is home
of softball's Wesley Wolverines!

The venue for Wesley College's Lady Wolverines softball home games is the Reynolds duPont Field.

The field is located behind the Wesley West Field House, where there is a gymnasium, athletic training room, locker rooms, indoor batting facilities, and a student lounge for use by the softball squad and other athletic teams.

► Field GPS address: 500 Mary Street, Dover, DE.
Click here for directions to Wesley College's athletic facilities.

There's seating at the field for 100 fans, though bring a folding chair for a seat close to home plate or down the base lines. No pets permitted. Parking limited with street parking available. No admission charge for most games.

► Related softball athletic links: Athletics Mission Statement /
Sports Medicine / Peter Bielfield Weight Room

Reynolds duPont Field, home of Wesley College's Lady Wolverines.

Softball field is behind Wesley West Field House, 511 Mary Street, Dover, DE.

Scoreboard and visiting team's dugout.

Seating for 100 fans, but bring a folding chair for a seat along the base lines.

View from behind second base into Wolverine dugout. Wesley West in background.

Back of Wesley Wolverine's dugout, facing parking lot.

View from centerfield.

Backstop behind home plate.

FALL BALL

Fall-ball nears
Wolverines schedule October games,
doubleheader at Chesapeake College

The Wesley Wolverines will have completed their first month of classes when the first day of Autumn arrives, Tuesday, September 23, and that means they will be on the dirt for a fall-ball doubleheader the following week, Sunday, October 5!

Wesley will travel a short distance south on the Delmarva Peninsula to Wye Mills, MD, for two games against the Chesapeake College Skipjacks. Starting time is 2:00 PM. A third college may be added for a three-team triple header. Check the team schedules for changes as the date nears.

The Wesley Wolverines' ended the 2014 season with a 17-17 record, which is the team's most victories since the 2005 and the first .500 season since 2001.

The Chesapeake Skipjacks are projected to deliver a third straight winning season in 2015 and their fifth in the last six years.

The Chesapeake College field is located on campus at 1000 College Drive, Wye Mills, MD. Average temperatures for Wye Mills in October can range from 70 to 44 degrees.

BEACH LEAGUE

Her final report from Myrtle Beach
Nina Marcano on Beach league,
"an experience I will never forget"

As followers of last season's Wesley College softball blog know, sophomore #18 catcher Nina Marcano (Middletown, DE) has supplied via e-mail and text messages many reports about her experience this summer at The Beach League, a Myrtle Beach softball league that attracts topnotch college players, mostly from the major DI conferences of the northeast. 

Below is Nina's final entry of her Beach League diary... 

“Me saying goodbye to my roommate 
Leigh Ward from Chowan University.
Leigh was typically my gym partner
and was a great roommate.”
– Nina Marcano

“It's been a few days since I finally returned from my three week adventure at The Beach League in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 

“The league was an experience that I will never forget.

“I was given the opportunity to play against, and with, some of the best collegiate softball players in the country.

“The last couple of days brought some rain, which canceled some games, but it did allowed for more gym time.

“We played one final series. Unfortunately, we had to cut the league's season a little short when some key pitching decided to leave early.

“Me and Jess Burroughs from FSU
in between innings” – Nina Marcano

“I got a lot of quality at bats and had a great experience catching for these pitchers. Their work ethic and pace is something I look forward to bringing back with me to Wesley.

“The last couple of days at the beach I had the opportunity to spend time with my family. Our two dogs even came along for the ride.

“On the last day I was even able to see my Wesley College roommate, Bre Hartman (who was visiting), coach her little sister's team at the Nationals in Myrtle.

“The league was a great experience and I still keep in touch with some of the girls I met there everyday!” -Nina Marcano

About photo on left, 

Nina writes... 

“A good roommate, Emily Mcdonough from St.Bonaventure and I before we went to Señor Frogs for paint night!” – Nina Marcano

“Beach trip with some of the girls. Emily Mcdonough (St Bonaventure), Erika Hansen (Limestone), Hailey Bator (University of Washington), me, Rebecca Eatough (University of Saint Mary), Leigh Ward (Chowan University), Kasey Stanchek (University of Washington), Dani Braun (University of Washington).” – Nina Marcano

A representative group of Beach Leaguers 2014. A few players had left before photo was taken. Top row from left: Dani Braun (University of Washington), Hailey Bator (University of Washington), Kim Souza (University of Washington), Leigh Ward (Chowan University), Emily Mcdonough (St Bonaventure), Lexi Valone (Purdue), Mary Beth Latham (Richard Bland College), Bri king (Iona), Erika Hansen (Limestone).

Bottom row from left: Kasey Stanchek (University of Washington), Olivia Golden (Mississippi State), Alex Powers (Florida State), Morgan Revels (Patrick Henry), Jess Burroughs (Florida State), our own Nina Marcano (Wesley), Rebecca Eatough (University of Saint Mary).

SOFTBALL FORUMS

National softball forums
Fastpitch discussions online provide
comments, analysis, insight into game

Online forums have been around since the beginning of the Internet. 

43 FT at www.43ft.com/43FT/index.php

 These boards are a great place for those who want to participate in, or just read through, open discussions from individuals with common interests.

Now most softball forums tend to be crowded with topics focused on club ball and college recruiting, though larger sites also have discussion center on college teams.

“43 Ft” is a national fastpitch softball forum, which has just launched a drive to attract new members to what the site boasts is the “ leading fastpitch softball community in the United States”. Its forum seems somewhat oriented to the western states, though it asserts it’s national in scope and, indeed, there are posts from East Coast members.

The forum strives for “positive conversations about softball”. No ridicule or bashing is allowed. There is no charge for posting or membership.

“43 Ft” also claims it’s new server technologies make the site speed the fastest on the web, delivering 100% up-time over the past year.

-------------------

Hey Bucket is another national forum with a large membership which has been around for a long time. It bills itself as “Your Fastpitch Softball Bible”.

Hey Bucket at www.heybucket.com/index.php