Bases Loaded Weekly Article V By: Marissa Moore

What has softball done for people like Extra Innings General Manager Josh Renshaw (16u Coach) and Patrick Adams (18u Gold Coach)?

It has given them the opportunity to create an organization that develops athletes in a family style environment. Extra Innings began with a 10u and 12u team as well as three baseball teams. Since then they have had the opportunity to nurture the organization. It has developed into a program that represents the desire to impact the lives of athletes who play with passion. Patrick explained that Extra Innings feels just like a family. “We spend so much time together and we truly care about each and every girl and their family.”  He went on to say that if you’re looking for a home and a sense of comfort than Extra Innings is the place for you.

Extra Innings currently consists of 10 softball teams and five baseball teams with the potential to see continued growth. The organization stands by its independent drive and ability to give their players a support system that expands beyond the field. Josh Renshaw created this concept when he began coaching his daughters’ t-ball team and from there had the opportunity to start this organization with just two teams. For Extra Innings softball is a platform for everyone involved. Josh explained, “As coaches we have a tremendous opportunity to reach young people and make a positive difference in their lives.” The passion on behalf of coaches and parents is evident in the growth that the organization has seen within the past three years.

Josh said that the goal for Extra Innings is to continue its success and grow to be “the most respected organization around. Both on and off the field.” The organization calls a 16,000 square foot indoor facility home. The facility has a workout area and pro shop located in Plano, Tx. They also have an outdoor facility that is located on the campus of the University of Texas at Dallas. The organization is anticipating growth and looking to expand by opening a facility and/or complex in the Tarrant County area. You can check out information regarding the facility by visiting the site.

Extra Innings is an organization that focuses on the game of softball and the passion it brings. It is small moments around the game that impacts the lives of coaches and players. For Patrick and his team it was the best decision for them to step into the Extra Innings world. 

Patrick started in the program eight years ago when his girls began lessons at the Extra Innings facility. He said “We had been to many facilities and have had many instructors but there was just something so irreplaceable about our experience with EI.” Extra Innings wants their athletes to feel valued and respected on and off the field and they have continued to develop this reputation.  

Extra Innings currently has a staff of people who jump at the opportunity to help their athletes. Their coaches know how much they can impact their teams. For example Patrick said that “as a coach it is my role to be a good role model for the young ladies on my team and it’s my job to ensure that they continue to excel on and off the softball field.” More importantly Extra Innings wants to make their organization feel like a home. This organization is so much more than winning games. They have built the foundation for an environment that sees the opportunities within the sport of softball. They have the ability to establish a sense of respect for their brand that will impact the development of athletes into successful individuals.

Further more, I asked Patrick and Josh as a coach what do you see in the future for Extra Innings?

“I feel confident that Extra Innings has a bright future. When you have people that care about their athletes and want to see them succeed, it means everything. It’s our job as coaches to get them where they need to be on the field but more importantly we need to provide the support that helps them get to the next level off the field. You can’t beat that.”

-Patrick Adams

“We’re growing our program everyday by doing it the right way and with the right people.”

-Josh Renshaw

For a list of alumni click the link.

Bases Loaded Weekly Article IV By: Marissa Moore

Stepping up to the plate is Texas Glory Adkins…

The organization has had a long-standing partnership with the Flower Mound Youth Sports Association. Bakersfield Park in Flower Mound has granted them with the opportunity to host tournaments and skills clinics for the youth in surrounding areas such as Lewisville. When necessary Glory Adkins also utilizes the indoor facility known as Game Train in Roanoke, Tx.

The organization holds a spring and fall youth clinic each year to promote the game of softball. This passion to educate the youth stems from the organizations mentality to nurture the skills and abilities of young athletes. Their goal is to concentrate on inviting recreational leagues and players who are interested in the next level of softball. It’s so much more than showing them new skills but to see that love for the game and the opportunities they could have as female athletes.

You may assume that the organizations across the area all are the same but Texas Glory Adkins truly finds a way to stand out. Their establishment in fundamentals and basic training mean nothing without athletes who dedicate their time and effort. The organization focuses on athletes who show their desire to grow and learn. They have found their trademark for success in nurturing a young athlete with the desire to accomplish great things without fear. 

Gold Director of Glory Adkins, Keith Allen, was sure to acknowledge that the organization is one of a kind because of the “good kids and good families that keep joining the organization and making it into the family.”

For Keith and the coaches within the organization it’s all about seeing how softball has changed a player’s life. “Nothing feels better than seeing a kid reach a goal or a milestone in their life.” It seems as though Texas Glory Adkins has truly harnessed opportunity and preparation to ensure that they are beyond qualified to instruct these athletes in more than just softball.

“To be a player who succeeds in the world of softball you must be someone with esteemed character, a good teammate, and you must be willing to learn and grow throughout the process.” This is the kind of athlete you can find within their program. More specifically for Glory Adkins you must be willing to be dedicated on and off the field regardless of a win/loss record.

This concept continues to be reflected in their Philosophy of a player first environment. Simply put when you place all of your focus on your athletes their work ethic and success will positively reflect your organizations identity and reputation.

What else sets Glory Adkins apart?

Keith stated that they create an atmosphere of  “Fearless Freedom.” Glory Adkins wants their players to understand that not only are they the top priority but they have the ability to play without the fear of making mistakes. Growth happens when you push your limits outside your comfort zone.”

“Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.”

-Bobby Unser (American Former Automobile Racer)

This quote is exactly what came to mind when Keith and I had the opportunity to dive deeper into HIS world of softball. In his earlier life, Keith was a baseball player who was able to spend some time after high school playing at the next level. Inevitably things changed forever when he was “blessed with a daughter who fell in love with softball around the time she entered fourth grade.” In his experience he spent some time coaching boys baseball, but he began his career with softball in 2006.

Keith recalls how different the boy world was vs. the girl world, so this is what led him to decide to go the extra mile in making himself qualified to step into the world of softball. “I became a sponge, and went to every clinic, camp, coaching seminar and event I could find.” Keith was driven by the love for the game and the desire to properly prepare his daughter. This drive gave him the desire to understand the differences between his worlds of baseball and softball, but most importantly he cared enough to find those connections.

So what does softball mean to Keith? Why would he go the extra mile to become well prepared and properly trained?

The first thing to immediately standout to Keith was how fast paced the world of softball truly can be. “Baseball seemed so much slower than softball.” Early on Keith was able to help young girls harness their skills and abilities to compete at a higher level. With this group of girls Keith led them to win the USFA World Series in Panama City Beach 10u. Later Keith would take the same team and join Texas Glory Adkins. From here his team had the opportunity to grow.

Under his belt Keith has:

Multiple top three and top five finishes while playing in Colorado.

Multiple top 10 finishes while playing in the ASA National Championships

Multiple top 20 and top 13 finishes competing in the PGF National Tournament in Huntington Beach, CA.

“My history over the past 12 years has been about building our players.” Keith went on to say, “It is crazy that at the end of each season, I am brought to tears knowing we gave it all we had and did our very best, and another year moves on.”

What’s in store for Texas Glory Adkins?

The program is continuing to grow in areas like Houston and Arkansas. For teams in North Texas and West Texas they are maintaining that positive reputation of nurturing talent all while seeing tremendous growth. The organization has prioritized preparing their coaches and directors to ensure that there is development within their athletes as individuals. The organization is a playing partner with Louisville Slugger and the Wilson Family of companies. They will continue to find ways to benefit their players through continued and mutual support with Louisville Slugger. Keith went on to say, “We believe the future is bright, because our Gold Program continues to churn out high finishes in National Tournaments and our players continue to find their place in college programs.” Texas Glory Adkins stands out as a highly successful organization that prioritizes the fundamental growth of their athletes who love the game. If you want a strong environment driven by passion then this is the organization for you.

For link of alumni click here

Visit their website for list of teams and more information

Bases Loaded Weekly Article III By: Marissa Moore

Excel Elite appears to standout when it comes to ensuring that every single one of their athletes finds a “home.” Excel is a relatively newer organization establishing its name in November of 2017. The organization currently consists of 19 teams spreading across the south, with teams in Louisiana, East Texas, and of course DFW.

Since then Director of operations and Recruiting Liaison, Kristell Williams, has devoted countless hours to building a long list of staff and connections. The goal? To ensure they are dedicating their time to prioritizing every girl’s future. Some of the coaches you may be familiar with; Brian Menefee, Shannon Williams, Greg Taylor, David Newcomb, as well as, J.D. Swindall and Anthony Lotief.

For directors like Kristell it’s all for the love of the game and that incredible feeling of helping a girl find a place where she is passionate on and off the field. Kristell began her journey with softball about thirteen years ago when she and her husband began coaching their daughter. Since then Kristell has dedicated years to establishing herself as a recruiting Liaison, more specifically some of her experience stemming from her work with Christway Sports.

From the beginning, Kristell has found a sense of joy in teaching these young girls about what it takes to be a strong powerful woman who isn’t afraid to chase her dreams. Founder Michael Lotief had one thing in mind when putting the program together and that was, “providing the special opportunity to positively impact the youth in ways that go beyond the softball field.” As founder, Michael Lotief is bringing over his skills and knowledge from his experience as a former head softball coach at Louisiana-Lafayette. Coach Mike has a long history of success leading the Ragin Cajuns to three Women's College World Series (2003, 2008 and 2014). More importantly the graduation rate for his players stood at 99% with a consistent GPA of a 3.0 and above. This is evident in his establishing mission of pursuing excellence. 

Having the opportunity to speak with Kristell was reminder that, as long as you have a passion to make a difference then you can truly leave a positive mark on someone’s life.

Kristell made it clear that the focus for Excel Elite exceeds placing a girl in college. She said that for the organization “we focus on the right fit for the kid.” It’s more than playing for the right school but it’s important to remember that everyone has perfect fit for their education as well. For Excel as a newer organization they will harness the ability to establish their brand.

Many of the athletes within the organization have been working under the current staff since the beginning of their softball careers. This has created relationships that go past creating competitive athletes. For Excel Elite they have been able to nurture strong and driven athletes who aren’t afraid to make decisions for themselves. As an organization their goal is to not focus so much on looking for the next best athlete but to look for those girls who are truly interested in growth. It’s safe to say that mental growth should be as prioritized as physical for the girls playing within the Excel organization.  

In the past few years’ competition within the softball world has increased. Everyone is looking for a scholarship. Excel Elite wants to remind their girls that falling in love with what softball teaches you is just as important as how far it can take you. The organization may be new but it is racing ahead at standing out in a competitive area like DFW. There’s no doubt that their dedicated staff and coaches are willing to put in the extra mile to change these young athletes lives. Excel Elite will continue to pursue excellence.

For a list of alumni click the link.

For more information be sure to visit their site.

Bases Loaded Weekly Article II By: Marissa Moore

I’m sure you’ve all heard of the Dallas Tigers Baseball club, but what do you know about the softball sector. The Softball side has had the opportunity to expand with the help of Sara Hernandez and her ties to the “family business.”

The softball organization is spread across Texas and currently consists of 10 teams. There are two Dallas Tiger facilities and private fields in Rockwall that the Dallas Tigers East teams own and use, and those located near the University of A&M Commerce have the opportunity to utilize those fields.  However each team has their own practice location and they also have been a part of FMYSA in Flower Mound for many years and have utilized these fields for team trainings and workouts.

The organization makes it a priority to give back to their community by participating in different Toys for Tots tournament every year for the last few years. They make it a goal to fill up a truck and a trailer full of gifts and toys for the kids. Sara mentioned that “have amazing Tiger Alumni families that still come back and help with donations of bikes and bigger gifts every year” has contributed heavily to the organizations giveback.

So, What led Sara Hernandez to take on the responsibility of spearheading the Softball sector? Well Sara started playing softball in the fifth grade and since then has dedicated endless amount of time and energy to bring a “different perspective and reality to the select softball world.”

For Sara, softball forever changed her life. She said “I did not seek out to do this when I was younger, nor did I know taking my uncle’s recommendation to play the game in college versus soccer (a sport I planned to play in college since I was four) would be the best decision of my life.”

Each step of Sara’s journey allowed her to connect softball and life experiences and she accredits that to the person she is today. Because of softball Sara had the ability to graduate from a Division I school and be the first in her family to graduate college. It was clear that Sara wants to use her story to show girls that softball can help them in more ways than one.

So, what makes this organization stand out in an area like DFW?

Well in an environment where most organizations are ran by males, Sara has a personal connection as director of Dallas Tigers. Sara explained that by “being one of the few female Club owners I’ve personally lived and gone through what these ladies are aspiring to reach, and I was fortunate to do so at a competitive Junior college & on the Division 1 level.” Softball is a girls world and having the ability to connect with someone who has experienced the process can bring a positive light on many these girls journey.

For the Dallas Tigers it seems necessary for the entire organization to work cohesively. Sara said that through her experience she has had the opportunity to meet amazing college coaches who have given insight on the college coaching perspective and it’s her duty to pass that along. One of those coaches currently holds the position of Director of Dallas Tigers and that would be Richie Bruister. Bruister is the current head coach at Texas A&M Commerce (D2). Another coach apart of our college focused program would be Gay McNutt former Division one head coach. These coaches have been a vital part of realigning the goal for the Dallas Tigers. 

How is the organization changing? In the past Sara has had the opportunity to coach Dallas Tigers teams in the higher divisions but her new role as Lead Recruiter will allow her to focus on the personal relationships she creates with the girls who are just as passionate about softball as she was and is.

For Sara and the future of Dallas Tigers the goal is to make the organization feel like a home. The organization wants to focus on “getting to know the girls better and figure out what their goals are for their next level of ball and life and how to help them get there.”

Sara and the Dallas Tigers are excited to move forward. Sara explained that the organization has “been working very hard this offseason to put strategies into action that we feel will help elevate the great young ladies in our organization for many years to come.”

The organization feels that physically they will be putting an emphasis on providing college level training and educating the girls on nutrition and injury prevention. As the program has grown they have established the concept of working for the future. It is clear that the Dallas Tigers want to provide their girls with as much training and knowledge to ensure their success at the college level.

The Dallas Tigers define themselves as a faith based organization that dedicates their time to the complete development of their student athletes. They stand out as a girl power organization in a girls world. Throughout the years their success can be attributed to the many coaches, family, and staff who want to ensure the best future for all who have become apart of their family.

For a list of notable alumni who went on to play at the collegiate level click on the link.

For team listings and general information be sure to visit their website.