OC Batbusters - Team Mizuno Merger

[mavericksfp]

The Orange County Batbusters and Team Mizuno will merge to create a unique opportunity this Fall. Longtime head coach Gary Haning of the OC Batbusters, one of the most storied softball programs in America, along with Mike Stith and Mark Campbell of Team Mizuno, one of the most rapidly growing programs in the softball community, will join together in this endeavor. Together these coaches represent 23 National Championships.

Gary Haning, Mike Stith, and Mark Campbell, combined with their existing staffs, will now run the 18 Premier team. They will, also, combine to coach an 18U developmental team to accommodate the bright young players that are coming through the two organizations. Jesse Gonzales, Mike Fox in San Diego, Ken Briggs and Troy Ybarra will also coach at the 18U level to continue to develop players coming through our program.

Mike Smith will now run the OCBB/TM 16U team and prepare players for the elite 18U levels.

All of the existing OC Batbusters and Mizuno teams will be welcomed into the new organization if they feel it is a good fit for them and their teams. We will have an updated list of teams in the next couple of days to give everyone an idea of the scale of the program.

The Team Mizuno program works with players, coaches, and teams across the country. They work with coaches in methods to help train and prepare athletes for the rigors of softball at the next level. At the same time provide insight on what it takes to be a top level player in the sport.

Tryouts are posted on Heybucket with most, also, posted on the Team Mizuno website. All teams that have posted are committed to the OCBB/TM program but, due to logistical situations, will run their own tryouts as they see a need in their area.

As this organization develops there will be bumps in the road as there was with the growth of Team Mizuno. However, the spirit, focus and commitment of the coaches, players, and parents will come through to make this a very special group. With the history of the Orange County Batbusters, the strong organizational foundation built at Team Mizuno, and the help of Mizuno USA, this will truly be a strongly run and deeply committed organization to help develop today's softball athletes.

The updated website is close to being completed so all coaches contact info will be available for questions if needed. For contact and tryout information
you can go to http://www.teammizunosoftball.org

Thank you,
Gary Haning, Mike Stith, Mark Campbell
OCBB/TM

[Andysan77]

Is the organization at all worried that its too much too quick? I mean 11 teams in 14u is quite a bit and all these parents are forking out a lot of money for this "experiment" project?

[Pale Rider]

Columbus was a *tad* worried about the flat Earth theory also...

[Andysan77]

Im not trying to bash them But as a parent of player potentially on one of those 14u teams it makes me wonder. I'm well aware they were together for a long time. When they were together they had at most 3-4 teams per division not 11. It definitely changes things when you are trying to manage that many teams especially when Mike is coaching multiple teams.

[Onemorechance]

Im not trying to bash them But as a parent of player potentially on one of those 14u teams it makes me wonder. I'm well aware they were together for a long time. When they were together they had at most 3-4 teams per division not 11. It definitely changes things when you are trying to manage that many teams especially when Mike is coaching multiple teams.

I feel bad for the 11 plus teams that have to use mizuno bats. No need to move gates back now..

[NumeroUno]

Congrats to all involved, they have all always been successful, and I reckon nothing will change

[TooOldToCare]

Im not trying to bash them But as a parent of player potentially on one of those 14u teams it makes me wonder. I'm well aware they were together for a long time. When they were together they had at most 3-4 teams per division not 11. It definitely changes things when you are trying to manage that many teams especially when Mike is coaching multiple teams.

I feel bad for the 11 plus teams that have to use mizuno bats. No need to move gates back now..

I'm guessing the 2nd place finisher at PGF 18's used Mizuno Bats. Too bad for them!

[Sftbll4ever]

And quite honestly, the Easton bats from last year SUCKED!!! I know some schools that are dropping Easton.

[blue1956]

if they have so many teams all ready why are they having a org tryouts? is it to fill more spots on teams throughout the organization? lol finalizing a few roster spots on 11 teams in 14u

[Bob Uecker]

So does that mean new uni's? $$$$ If so, that's a plus for the Batbusters. Sorry, but to be honest those uni's were UGLY!