Texas Dirt Divas Courtney Blades-Rogers Takes the Reigns in 16U

Texas Dirt Divas Tournament Photo

by Ross Jacobs – Fastpitch Network

On paper, the [ 16U ] Texas Dirt Divas have a strong team primed to compete for the PGF Championship. For many teams that would be the goal, but for new manager Courtney Blades-Rogers, her goals go further.

“If we had all 25 kids (in the 2023 class) verbally committed, that’s a successful season,” said Blades-Rogers. “Wins and losses are great – and I want to win – but the reality is that it is all about their future.”

Blades-Rogers understands softball success quite well. Her accomplishments as a player are extensive. She was the 2000 Honda Sports Award Softball Player of the year as an All-American pitcher for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. She’s left her mark on the sport with the second most wins in college softball history while ranking fifth all-time in strikeouts. In 2012, she became a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

Texas Dirt DIvas 16U
Texas Dirt Divas 16U
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South Carolina’s Beverly Smith Adjusts to New Normal

South Carolina Gamecocks

By Ryan Greenwood – Fastpitch Network

As Beverly Smith heads into her 11th season at the helm as head coach of the South Carolina softball program, who better to deal with change and the often-heard phrase “new normal.”  She has dealt with change since she took over the program in 2010.  That change resulted in the Gamecocks going to NCAA postseason play 7 of the 10 years.  Those changes saw her become only the 2nd softball coach in South Carolina history to get over 300 career wins. 

That experience in dealing with adjustments and the ability to stay on top of the ever-changing landscape of the COVID-19 world that we all work to adjust to, could be the difference in how the season plays out for the Gamecocks. 

Gamecocks Softball Coach Smith Leads the Huddle Before the Game
Gamecocks Softball Coach Smith Leads the Huddle Before the Game
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“Mighty Are The Women!” – Heather Tarr & The Washington Huskies

Heather Tarr Head Coach Washington Huskies

By Kyle Parmley – Fastpitch Network

Heather Tarr wants to make sure you know where Washington is on a map of the United States.

Heather Tarr Head Coach Washington Huskies
Coach Heather Tarr University of Washington Huskies

Not Washington, D.C., on the East Coast, but Seattle, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest.

Seattle has more than coffee and the Space Needle. It also boasts one of the top college softball programs in the country at the University of Washington.

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Coach Hutch Showing No Signs of Stopping

Carol Hutchins University of Michigan Softball Program Head Coach

Kyle Parmley- Fastpitch Network

Carol Hutchins University of Michigan Softball Program Head Coach
Carol Hutchins Michigan Wolverines Softball Program Head Coach

Legendary University of Michigan softball coach Carol Hutchins considers herself fortunate that the beginning of her tenure in Ann Arbor overlapped with that of immortalized football coach Bo Schembechler.

Schembechler instilled the creed, “Those who stay will become champions” into the fabric of the Michigan football program, which he led from 1969-1989.

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