Nor Cal To Play Softball in Italy "America's Team"

[kl43dad]

What a great opportunity!!! I am sure this will be a chance of a lifetime and what a great time for all involved.

Kelly Jackson and Keri Casas will be taking a team to Italy this summer, July 23-30, 2012. We will play local Italian teams and represent "America's Team" as we begin travel from Milan and end our touring in Rome. We will also be provided a tour guide and bus as we experience what Italy has to offer.
***Entering 9th grade-Signed (graduated) high school athletes only

Try-outs are December 10, 2011
Pitchers and Catchers: 10-11am
All Positions: 11-1pm

All positions are available.

Please register for try-outs through Keri at Keri@softballschool.com

Please contact Keri regarding questions you may have about the trip.

We hope to see you out at try-outs!!

[Sftball Junkie]

What an awsome thing for the girls of Nor Cal. It says tryouts will be Dec 10, do you know if they will be held at All American or out doors at Bryte Fields where their Org tryouts are normally held.

Just a little bit of Kelly Jackson's Back round from the All american website.

At All American Softball, Inc. professionally training coaches and athletes for 15 years
Inductee in the ASA Hall of Fame in Oklahoma
Lead instructor for USA Softball Coaches Clinics
1996 Team USA Olympic Team Finalist
Four year full scholarship athlete and graduate of Arizona State University
ASU leading hitter - NCAA Div. I
PAC 10 All-Conference and All-Region NCAA Div. I athlete
1993 Team USA Gold Medal Winner
Coached in the NCAA at University of Oregon, ranking in the top 10 1989-1990
Coached NCAA Division 1 All Americans, All Pac 10, All Pacific Region and Academic All-American Athletes.
Seven-time ASA All-American
USA Representative in World Games

[kl43dad]

The out door location will be:

Alyce Norman-Bryte Playfields
725 Todhunter Ave
West Sacramento, CA 95691

I have had a few pm's asking about details such as practice and scheduling so that athletes are still able to play with there current A Ball team while getting ready, cost, possible sponsors etc... Unfortunately I do not have any of that info I have only had a few coversations with Kelly and Keri about what they will be doing. I noticed the add on another website and posted it here just to get the word out. I know they will be looking for the best Athletes in the area to represent the America's Team
Contact Keri for more details Keri@softballschool.com

Thanks
Jamie

[Old Darter]

You all do realize that this is the same week as PGF Nationals? How many kids in this age group, other than those with signed NLI's, are going to pass on the biggest single recruiting week of the year? I doubt that too many A ball teams will allow their players to do this and stay on their team, and Kelly knows that. Which means this is just another way for her to recruit to HER school and prep program. Again, questionable......

And Junkie, you forgot to add to your list former ASA JO Commish with a huge conflict of interest.

[luvmy8]

Old Darter you are way off base. She wanted to go on a vacation to Italy and what a better way to go then FREE. Let me guess she is going as a "chaperone," funny how that works out. There is only one thing she cares about more than softball and that is the gift that is always the right size and always the right color, MONEY! great experience for the girls it's a shame it comes at a price, college prep program, lessons, and shop at her store, probably a requirement.

[Bleacher bug]

Darter You hit the nail on the head all right!!!
It is all a big conspiracy to keep girls from playing PGF and getting recruited!!! As a matter of fact, when Italians and America's team put the schedule together and sent the information out for coach's to apply, the header read Lets Screw PGF and anyone who wants the chance to get recruited!!!! Ever think maybe this has to do with when it works for all other countries involved including the host Country. WOW!!! KJ must have some pull though to get all the teams from the different countries together in this Grand Plan to kill PGF Nationals. Do you honestly think this was put together yesterday? This has been in the works for teams through out multiple countries for months.

If my daughter's coach would have such an issue with her missing PGF that he would not allow her to play for him the entire season I would find a coach who get's it. Maybe it is time to let the coach in on a little secret... very quietly... This is not about him...

If your daughter is good enough to make this team and go over do you really think she is going to have an issue getting seen by the right school. Besides with the pull that KJ has aligning all of these countries to screw PGF she must have enough pull to get your daughter into any school in the Nation.

At least the jinjet95's daughters coach realized that this is a team sport and if you develope all of your Atheletes you can still win when missing one or two. Looks like he saw what type of chance this was for a player on his team and didnt kick her off the team for wanting to enjoy a great expeirence.

Taken from Fastpitch boards How far has Travel ball taken you

Yes- it was America's team

She had a GREAT time- my wife has a lot of family in the Como/Milan area- got a great picture of her with them in her softball uniform in front of the famous Milan Duomo

Teams they played ranged from very weak to a semi-pro team with an Australian Olympic Medal winning pitcher(Kelly Hardie-my DD had a single and rbi off of her) My DD had been to Italy several times before, but saw parts she never saw before and had a great time with the team

Thanks for the info. We're really looking forward to it. The only drawback is she'll miss pool play at Nationals, but her coach is okay with it. It's too good an opportunity to pass up. She's just a freshman in HS, so still has a few years of Nationals left to play.

[Iluvblue]

This is not about him...


Has nothing to do with a coach feeling that everything is about him or her. When players sign up for a team, they need to be committed to that team. There are some cases in which a player can miss a week here or there, but nationals is not one of them.

Id love to see how you, as a parent would respond to the coach who after his team qualifies for nationals, lets you all in on a secret. Sorry girls, but I will not be at nationals, as my wife and I will be off on vacation that week. Have one of your dad's coach the team.

I will let you in on a little secret.... its not all about the team. So I need to do what I need to do for me as well at the expense of the team? Lol yeah right. See how many parents/players return to your team the next season after missing a qualifier or nationals so you can go on vacation.......... thats a good one.



this is a team sport and if you develope all of your Atheletes you can still win when missing one or two.



Football is the ultimate team sport.... how them Colts doing right now?
Take anyones ACE pitcher away from the team and they likely can not beat the other top tier teams. You are correct it is a team, and teams have players that are committed to the team.

Playing on that team is more about who can afford it than who is the best players. So you think playing on that team is going to get you tons of exposure???

[luv2teachthegame]

Have to agree with Darter and ILB. I think it is a great opportunity to be able to travel to Italy to play ball against other countries, but how can you say that a coach thinks it is all about HIM if he won't keep a girl on his team that plans on going to Italy.

So a coach should keep a kid on the team that will play with them until late July, right before Premier, and then take that same team to Premier missing what should be one of their top players?????? ILB hit it on the head....a player makes a commitment to their teammates and coaches, and sometimes that comes at a cost of sacrificing other things. If a player thinks their priority should be going to Italy, which is a great opportunity, then they have to understand that the coach must make the best decision for the rest of his or her team.

Is it fair to the rest of that team to qualify for Premier or Nationals and then be missing their #1, starting SS, starting C, or other important piece?

[sportykids]

And here we go again....bashing another female who is doing something that you don't like or aren't a part of..Some of you have too much time on your hands..

[Iluvblue]

Im not bashing anyone.

One of my wishes in the next 4-5 years is to take my wife to Europe, and specifically ITALY.

I just agree with the other poster, a family will simply need to decide if they want to make that trip to Italy or play on a top Summer team.

Some teams would be willing to allow the player to do both. I personally would not. I find no issue with the kid that wants to do this, and I certainly do not knock the coach that is taking this on.

Hell, get to coach softball, get to go to Europe, get to spend a few weeks in Italy...... that is a dream come true. GO FOR IT.