Top Select Softball Team is Fully Funded

Select Softball can be an expensive sport, especially when your daughter plays for a highly competitive team.  In addition to uniforms, softball equipment, pitching & hitting lessons, field rentals, and indoor facilities; there is travel, food and lodging when top teams travel to tournaments.

The Texas Travelers have been chosen to represent Texas in the 2015 ASA/USA National Championship in Illinois.  This year, they have traveled to Louisiana, Arkansas and later this month will be playing in the Triple Crown in Oklahoma City at the home of Women’s Softball World Series against the likes of Texas Chaos, Fury 04, Diamond Sports Hotshots, Corinth Lady Tigers, Texas Bombers, Heartland Havoc, Texas Stealth, Oklahoma Steele, OC Batbusters and other highly rated teams across the country.  Of course, all of these tournaments and travel can cost families thousands of dollars just to have their daughter play softball.

The Travelers and their players are very thankful to their sponsors and proud to be a fully funded team where they have not had to pay anything for their daughter to enjoy playing softball.  As a matter of fact, Texoma Shirt & Cap located at 501 Quail Creek CR in Pottsboro, Texas has donated all of the Texas Traveler Apparel to Texas Travelers coaches, players and fans alike.

This highly rated softball team is proud to be comprised of girls who other teams have overlooked, or minimized their softball abilities to field a team that has the ability to play at a very high level as well as earning their berth to the ASA National Championship in Normal, Illinois.  These girls are coached to respect the game and carry themselves with class on and off the field.  They play with heart, and don’t let off until the last call of the game is made.  The Texas Travelers are one of the most talked about teams in the United States, and look forward to adding to their strong softball reputation.

The Texas Travelers are not interested in making money on players and their family.  They are excited about developing the girls preparing them to play as a freshman on their high school varsity team and then having the ability to play at the D1 Collegiate Level upon graduating from high school.  With their rich history and strong connections to college coaches across the country; the girls just have to work hard, show heart, keep their academics strong and continue to be coached by the best.

For more information about the 04 Texas Travelers contact Coach Kyle Bennett at 972.679.7702 or follow The Texas Travelers on Facebook.  The Texas Travelers are a 10 U 2004 team that plays ASA competitive softball.  To follow particular players, games, practices or see any other information about the North Texas Select Softball team visit: 04 Texas Travelers News Site.

Am I a Softball Mom?

The Texas Travelers Select Softball Team spends hours of practicing, traveling to tournaments, and the girls participate in many private lessons.  They have a desire to play softball at the highest level.  The coaching staff is preparing the girls to become 4-year starters for their Varsity High School Teams as well as positioning themselves to play at a collegiate level. The environment the elite softball organization has created is on which players can reach their full potential and achieve the self-confidence and positive self-esteem necessary to be successful both on and off the field.  From time to time, parents are asked to share their experience and Kara Adams, mother of Kelsie Adams, utility player for the Texas Travelers has shed some insight on what it is like to be a softball mom.

It first started because my kid had more energy than sense. I signed her up for softball at 4 years old. At first they were just so darn cute. They didn't really know how to throw or catch. They would forget there was a second base and run straight to third from first. And if they hit the ball to the grass they thought they were superman. As they grew so did their skills. We began to see that our daughter was a bit more competitive and driven than the others on her rec team and began to search out select softball. Holy cow did we get our eyes opened. There are so many talented girls out there. Where our kid always stood out before, she was suddenly lost in the group.

So began the lessons and camps. She was determined to not only stand out, but to be the best at what she did. I watched her through hours of practice, always trying to be what she needed at that time. Sometimes she just needs to be motivated. For me to remind her of why she is out in the 110 degree heat practicing her base running. Sometimes she needs a little TLC. For me to wipe away the sand and blood, patch her up and send her back out. Sometimes she needs me to be her and her dad’s (coach) mediator. I have to sit them down and remind them they are on the same team. Sometimes she just needs her mom. To be told she is my superstar, that she is loved and always will be. Through the ups and downs, the strike outs and the home runs, the scorching heat and freezing cold, me and my fellow softball moms proudly sit by the fence and watch our girls play.

Am I a softball mom?  Yes, because my girl is a softball player. She shows me every day the true meaning of hard work and determination. She sets goals and works endlessly to achieve them. She has learned what being a member of a team means and by that the meaning of lasting friends. These are priceless life lessons. Not only does she still have more energy than I, she is a softball stud and earned it all. It makes all the money spent, vacations missed, sunburns, dirty laundry, and near strokes worth it. Yes, I am a softball mom and wouldn't have it any other way.

For more information on Kelsie Adams, the Texas Travelers, or any other players; you can follow the team on Facebook or visit the Texas Travelers News Network Site.

Payton Smythe Throwback Thursday Softball Spotlight

Payton Smythe comes from a strong softball family.  She is one of the most caring individuals you will meet and enjoyable personalities.  She is known as “Pay-Pay” to her team and can be heard leading the cheers when she is in the dugout.  Pictured is Payton when she played for the Havoc which is a softball team based out of Mesquite, Texas.

Today, Payton can be seen playing the outfield for the Texas Travelers where she is known for making some unbelievable catches in the corners.  She also contributes in the infield adding to her reputation as the ultimate team player.

The 04 Texas Travelers organization exists for the specific purpose of developing a competitive youth fast-pitch softball program whose goals are to develop players capable of competing at the highest levels in the country with the demonstrated skills necessary to earn a college scholarship. Our dedicated coaches and volunteer staff facilitate our athlete’s growth by conducting challenging practices and scheduling the highest level of competitive activity available. However, reaching these goals must be accomplished within the proper framework by instilling character, self-esteem, confidence and sportsmanship with the young athlete.

Achievement of these lofty and worthwhile objectives within the appropriate environment can only be reached through the mature behavior and exemplary conduct of the coaches and parents of the Club. Their relationship with the players must be of the highest ethical and moral standards and be based upon concern and just principles that ensure equitable treatment will prevail in all circumstances.

An aggressive desire for victory combined with the procedural and graduated development of softball skills through exceptional coaching and advanced training techniques is of paramount importance. Nevertheless, everyone should realize that, fast-pitch softball is only a game and is the forum we use to help our athletes mature into responsible adults.

The 04 Texas Travelers play ASA Softball, and plan to compete in ASA Nationals for 2015. The strong North Texas Softball Club has won at IFA-VTD, USSSA, and ASA levels and continues its push to become the 2015 ASA National Champion held in Normal, Illinois. In addition to playing in the ASA National Tourney; the Texas Travelers will also play in each of the national Qualifier Texas Challenge Series, and the Hall of Fame Softball Tournament in Oklahoma City. The team is a fully funded endorsed softball team that intends on continuing its great success in the softball world.

For more information about the 04 Texas Travelers contact Coach Kyle Bennett at 972.679.7702 or follow The Texas Travelers on Facebook.  The Texas Travelers are a 10 U 2004 team that plays ASA competitive softball.  To follow particular players, games, practices or see any other information about the North Texas Select Softball team visit: 04 Texas Travelers News Site.

Texas Travelers play Easter One Day Event

The Texas Travelers will be playing this Saturday, April 3rd, in the Easter One Day Event held in McKinney, Texas at the Ballfields at Craig Ranch located at 6151 Alma Rd.

Your Travelers are coming off of the first leg of the Texas Challenge Series and utilizing this tournament as a warmup for the second leg held in College Station the following weekend.  Teams that have committed to play are Texas Pride, Texas Glory, Mizuno Impulse, Texas Elite, Texas Fusion, Shockerz, Southern Force, Texas Twist, DeMarini Bulldogs, Firecrackers, Black Widows and the Texas Shock along with the Texas Travelers.

Each team will compete in two pool play games which will determine the seeding for the Gold and Silver Bracket and will play by USSSA rules.  The Travelers are scheduled to play Texas Glory at 9:30 AM on field 5 and then the Black Widows at 3:30 for their Pool Play Games.

Bracket play will begin on the same day starting at 5 PM with the championship game scheduled to begin at 9:30 PM.

The Texas Travelers would like to wish all teams’ good luck and have a safe tournament.  We look forward to competing with you on the field.

For more information about the 04 Texas Travelers contact Coach Kyle Bennett at 972.679.7702 or follow The Texas Travelers on Facebook.  The Texas Travelers are a 10 U 2004 team that plays ASA competitive softball.  To follow particular players, games, practices or see any other information about the North Texas Select Softball team visit: 04 Texas Travelers News Site.

Hayeli Acosta Throwback Thursday Softball Spotlight

Hayeli’s first T-Ball game was in 2008 when she was 4-years old.  She played for the Mesquite Bears.  Her parents were not sure if she would like the game, but they are sure glad that she did, explains Yolanda Acosta- Hayeli’s mom.  If you ask her about having a pink glove, she’ll say “I never had a pink glove, I don’t even like the color pink!” However, we have proof, don’t we?

Today, Hayeli plays centerfield and catcher for the Texas Travelers Select Softball Team.  She can be seen controlling the outfield making outstanding catches for her team.

The 04 Texas Travelers organization exists for the specific purpose of developing a competitive youth fast-pitch softball program whose goals are to develop players capable of competing at the highest levels in the country with the demonstrated skills necessary to earn a college scholarship. Our dedicated coaches and volunteer staff facilitate our athlete’s growth by conducting challenging practices and scheduling the highest level of competitive activity available. However, reaching these goals must be accomplished within the proper framework by instilling character, self-esteem, confidence and sportsmanship with the young athlete.

Achievement of these lofty and worthwhile objectives within the appropriate environment can only be reached through the mature behavior and exemplary conduct of the coaches and parents of the Club. Their relationship with the players must be of the highest ethical and moral standards and be based upon concern and just principles that ensure equitable treatment will prevail in all circumstances.

An aggressive desire for victory combined with the procedural and graduated development of softball skills through exceptional coaching and advanced training techniques is of paramount importance. Nevertheless, everyone should realize that, fast-pitch softball is only a game and is the forum we use to help our athletes mature into responsible adults.

The 04 Texas Travelers play ASA Softball, and plan to compete in ASA Nationals for 2015. The strong North Texas Softball Club has won at IFA-VTD, USSSA, and ASA levels and continues its push to become the 2015 ASA National Champion held in Normal, Illinois. In addition to playing in the ASA National Tourney; the Texas Travelers will also play in each of the national Qualifier Texas Challenge Series, and the Hall of Fame Softball Tournament in Oklahoma City. The team is a fully funded endorsed softball team that intends on continuing its great success in the softball world.

For more information about the 04 Texas Travelers contact Coach Kyle Bennett at 972.679.7702 or follow The Texas Travelers on Facebook.  The Texas Travelers are a 10 U 2004 team that plays ASA competitive softball.  To follow particular players, games, practices or see any other information about the North Texas Select Softball team visit: 04 Texas Travelers News Site.

Why do we want to watch our Kids Play Sports?

So for the last four weeks, tournaments have been rained out leaving countless numbers of kids disappointed not getting to compete for the title of weekends best!  However, after reading the social media wires, I think parents are as disappointed as the kids if not more.

Those of us who have kids who play sports (my kids are currently playing select baseball and softball) have weekends that revolve around traveling North Texas and places like Gulf Shores, Panama Beach, Orlando, Oklahoma City, Houston, Normal, Illinois and other great places in the United States.  A local tournament for me usually consist of playing in a city just over an hour from where we live.

We spend thousands of dollars every year just in travel alone.  That doesn’t even include equipment, lodging, team fees, hitting & pitching lessons, or food.  We leave work early and sometimes unfinished.  We slack off on taking care of the yard work or daily chores of the house.  Our cars have too many miles and in need of a serious wash.  Yet, we continue to support our children every weekend.

Then when it comes to the games, many great God fearing parents can be seen yelling at the other teams, mocking the umpires, or questioning the decisions our child made on the field.  We create high expectations with sometimes unachievable results.  I have seen marriages fall apart and friendships lost over our kids’ games.  We push our kids to achieve greatness in a little league ballpark in hopes for what?  Are they going to be turning pro next year?  The anxiety of watching our kids can become great as we hope for success and pray they don’t fail.

I have a confession to make!  I have been known to have been described in some of these situations, and a lot of my friends who have kids may even think I am writing about them.  (In full disclosure- I do use my friends’ experiences as material for blogs.  I just won’t use their names- so friends- keep giving me the material!)

So why do we as parents continue to enjoy watching our kids play sports?

In truth- I love watching my kids play sports.  I love seeing them practice and then achieving the results on the field.  Sometimes they win and sometimes they experience losing.  I feel there are lessons to be learned throughout the whole process from practice to winning and losing on the field.  I think these experiences will help my kids as they enter high school, graduate from college and start working in their careers.

In past blogs, it has been explained that a lot of parents live through their child because they never achieved the results they wanted as a kid.  There have been explanations that parents get their self-worth from the success of their child.  I feel for some (they seem to be the most vocal at games and practices) this may be true; however for most parents this is not the case.

Youth sports allows parents to get away from the daily grind of paying the mortgage, cleaning the house, going to a job with a boss they may not like, dealing with an angry customer, or worrying about all of the curves life continues to throw at us.  It is a couple of hours that we can sit back and regain our innocents which was lost a long time ago.  You know what I’m talking about!  The memories where the only thing you had to worry about was if the rain will hold off long enough to allow the game to go on as scheduled.

The rain was usually our biggest disappointment in the spring or summer months.  It was the one thing that kept us from doing what we wanted to do that day.  It really was the only thing we had to worry about.  So for all you parents, let’s hope the rain holds off this weekend, so we can regain a bit of our youth and enjoy some baseball or softball!

For more information about the 04 Texas Travelers contact Coach Kyle Bennett at 972.679.7702 or follow The Texas Travelers on Facebook.  The Texas Travelers are a 10 U 2004 team that plays ASA competitive softball.  To follow particular players, games, practices or see any other information about the North Texas Select Softball team visit: 04 Texas Travelers News Site.

Texas Travelers prepare to play in The Lone Star Shootout

Weather permitting, the Texas Travelers Select Softball Team will competing in their first tournament of the Spring Season at Big League Dreams in Mansfield, Texas February 28th and March 1st.

The USSSA Fast-Pitch open tournament billed as the Lone Star Shootout will consist of 13 of the top girls softball teams in North Texas most notably Texas Shock, Texas Glory Blue, Oklahoma Angeles and of course North Texas favorite team to watch; The Texas Travelers.

Recently, the Texas Travelers faced a few of these teams in a friendly tournament style format winning handily against the Texas Glory & Angels while tying Texas Shock with a 1-1 combined no-hitter by Elizabeth Schaefer and Kelsey Adams.  Other teams participating in the DFW tournament are 04 Texas Glory, Next Level, Texarkana Xtreme, Texas Fusion, Firecrackers DFW, Texas Flex, EC Explosion, Midwest Elite and Texas Twist.  This tournament will be a great warm-up for The Texas Travelers as they travel to Alabama to play against some of the top select softball teams in the south the following week in the USFA Turf Wars tournament.

The Lone Star Shootout is a sanction USSSA Fast-Pitch Qualifier.  The format will consist of two pool play games which will feed into single elimination bracket play.

Although, many of the Texas Travelers are finishing up championship games for basketball in their respective leagues; the team will be at full strength for Sunday’s bracket play games.  After a few months of not playing on the Softball Diamond, the girls are ready for some competition.  This tournament will be the final step in getting them in game-ready condition as they take their talents out-of-state and then travel the softball tournament circuit on the road to becoming the 2015 ASA National Champion in Normal, Illinois.

The strong North Texas Softball Club has won at IFA-VTD, USSSA, and ASA levels and continues its push for excellence on and off the field.  The team is a fully funded endorsed softball team that intends on continuing its great success in the softball world.

For more information about the Texas Travelers Girls Select Softball Team contact Coach Kyle Bennett at 972.679.7702 or visit their Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/04-Texas-Travelers/774587365960430.