DaNia Brooks Strong Bat Helps Team

Denia Brooks In the Circle

by Ross Jacobs – Fastpitch Network

If you see DaNia Brooks, she likes to keep it simple. She likes to smile and puts a premium on having fun, which drives her and her team on the softball field.

The 15-year-old, rising Junior for the Tampa Mustangs 16U squad primarily plays the hot corner and pitches for her coach Rene Ciccarello Jr., whom she’s played for since 2014.

“She is a remarkable player, and probably the toughest out to get on the field,” said Ciccarello. “You throw her a change up and you wish you didn’t. You throw her a rise pitch and she gets  her barrel on it. DaNia has always been a tremendous athlete with incredible strength and hand-eye coordination.”

Denia Brooks Tampa Mustangs Rene
Denia Brooks Tampa Mustangs Rene
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It’s in their DNA – #GAPfamilia drives Georgia Power

GA Power Tunon Signs 5-0 for a Photo Op

by Tracy Yoder – Fastpitch Network

Strike up a conversation with coaches José Tuñón and Eric Forbes with the Georgia Academy Power Softball Club, and it doesn’t take long to find out what drives their passion – it’s family. José Tuñón, President of the Georgia Academy Power Softball/Baseball Club, and Eric Forbes, Chairman of Softball for Georgia Power, started coaching together when their daughters competed in 8U.

Tuñón and Forbes have impressive resumes in the sport of baseball, with Tuñón a former athlete for the Panamanian National Baseball Team, and Forbes a former NCAA Division I athlete sidelined early with injury. They transferred their love of baseball to the sport of softball when they were both blessed with daughters.

The Georgia Academy Power Softball Club (aka Georgia Power) is based in Woodstock, GA with 18 girls fastpitch teams, with local talent ranging from 10U to 18U. The club is a non-profit 501(c)(3) and focuses on key metrics such as a commitment to service, integrity of athletes and coaches, and teaching the values of sportsmanship.

Georgia Academy Power Logo
Georgia Academy Power Logo
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Virginia Glory Plays With a Purpose

by Rachel Pfeiffer – Fastpitch Network

All travel teams strive to play with skill, intensity and power, but Virginia Glory teams also play with a deeper purpose.

Founder Suzy Willemssen started the organization with just a single team. As time went on, others asked if she’d consider taking on additional teams. Over 20 teams now represent Virginia Glory, including a couple of teams in the Midwest. Former Glory players compete for Power Five schools and take home both individual and team trophies, a testament to the excellent instruction they received.

In building this organization, Willemssen was, and still is, interested in finding coaches and players dedicated to the organization’s vision of purpose-driven softball.

Virginia Glory Team Chemistry
Virginia Glory Team Chemistry
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Turnin2 on the Precipice of National Recognition

Turnin 2 Organization National Softball Club

by Ryan Greenwood – Fastpitch Network

Rodney Robeson and Ron Pezzoni were just a couple guys who wanted to teach the game of fastpitch softball game the right way.

The duo connected in 2013, and in less than a decade since, they have been the catalysts in building the Turnin2 club organization into one beginning to earn national notoriety.

The organization has grown into having 26 teams, the most at any point in its history. Turnin2 is based in Brighton, Michigan, about 30 miles north of Ann Arbor.

High 5 From the On-Deck Batter After a Turnin 2 Home Run
High 5 From the On-Deck Batter After a Turnin 2 Home Run
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Team NC Finds a Role for Everyone in their Rise to the Top

Team NC

The organization has been competing at a national level for several years and finally broke through in the summer of 2019, as Nate Eaton’s 14u team won the Triple Crown/USA Nationals championship in Georgia.

Eaton’s team finished in third at nationals the year prior but triumphed by beating the Texas Bombers to cap off a 9-0 run through the tournament.

Eaton’s group, which now competes at the 16u level, is one of over 20 teams in the Team NC program, but its story is one that epitomizes what the fastpitch organization is all about.

Team NC Makes its mark in National Championships
Team NC Makes its mark in National Championships
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Empire State Huskies Provide Valuable Resources

Empire State Huskies Pitching

by Ryan Greenwood – Fastpitch Network

When you grow up in the northeast, hockey is the sport of choice to maximize your time outside playing sports and hanging out with friends.  For John Knopf, that was where he cut his teeth in sports and how he ended up getting drafted and spending time in the Vancouver Canucks organization.  

“As a hockey player, it was great growing up in the northeast. I played hockey from October on outside,” said Knopf.

After his hockey days were over, friends convinced him to give fastpitch softball a try, given his athleticism and his need for a fun way to burn youthful energy. Those times were fast and furious but gave him an indoctrination into the game.  

Empire State Huskies provide position aa well as Team Workouts
Empire State Huskies provide position aa well as Team Workouts
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O’Donnell’s Intensity Sustained by Inspiration, Hard Work, and Mastery

Intensity Softball - Awareness

by Ryan Greenwood – Fastpitch Network

Some might wonder if you can start a softball team, much less a softball organization, with just ten players.  Kevin O’Donnell, of the Intensity Softball organization, would have no doubts based on his experience. 

When O’Donnell started his first New Jersey Intensity softball team in 2002, they only had ten girls on the team.  

“We started with a group of ten committed girls,” said O’Donnell.  “We came from a town team.”

Intensity Softball - Success
Intensity Softball – Success
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