2015 ASA-USA National Championship

Each year since 1934, over 30,000 players and thousands of teams try to qualify for the ASA National Tournament.  Teams earning a berth to the United States most notorious event held for softball will have an opportunity to compete to be called the nation’s best softball team in the country.  Since each competitor must earn their berth into an ASA national through a network of qualifying tournaments conducted throughout the season, the champion goes home as the unchallenged best team in the nation for their respected division each year.

There are many tournaments each year, but only one tournament that is synonymous with Team USA and is the National Governing Body of Softball.  Without competing in the ASA/USA National Championship, a team will not see the most elite softball teams in the nation and have the opportunity to call themselves a true National Champion.

The 04 Texas Travelers set a goal at the end of the 2014 season to play in the most prestigious tournament in the country.  The Travelers stuck to their plan, and were awarded the right to represent the State of Texas to play in Normal, Illinois.

This tournament will feature some of the strongest teams across the country such as Tennessee Diamond Gems, St. Louis Chaos, East Peoria Black Express, EC Bullets, Worth Cobras, NWI Sox, Lasers 04 Gold, Naperville Diamonds, Wabash Valley Warriors, North Georgia Connection, Chattanooga Force, AASA, Windy City Ice, Birmingham Vipers, Oly Fire, Ohio Stingrays, Atlanta Vipers, Mudd Dawgs, BNGSA Angels, Tennessee Elite, Carolina Crush, Heartland Havoc, East Cobb Bullets and of course, your Texas Travelers.

Pool Play will begin for the Travelers at 2 PM July 27th against East Cobb Bullets.  The winner and loser of this game will play either the winner or loser between the Carolina Crush and Heartland Havoc.  Pool Play will determine bracket play with the championship game scheduled for Friday, July 31st at 1 PM.  This will be a double elimination tournament.

The 04 Texas Travelers have worked hard all season as all of these teams who have qualified for the tournament.  They have had hundreds of individual lessons and practices.  The girls have traveled all over the country playing top teams.  Based out of Mesquite, Texas; the Travelers have faced nationally ranked teams just about every weekend.  At the beginning of the year, nobody gave the Texas Travelers a shot at qualifying for the National Tournament, and today they are one of the most talked about teams on all of the softball forums.  Recently, the Travelers finished 3rd in the Junior National Championship as they utilized the local tournament as a warmup for the upcoming week of competition.  No matter where the Texas Travelers finish, they have stayed true to themselves and their game plan giving them every opportunity to be known at the 2015 ASA/USA National Champions.

Good Luck and safe travels to all of the teams.  The Texas Travelers look forward to healthy competition and building great memories for these young softball players.

For more information about the 04 Texas Travelers contact Coach Kyle Bennett at 972.679.7702 or follow The Texas Travelers on Facebook.  To follow particular players, games, practices or see any other information about the North Texas Select Softball team visit: 04 Texas Travelers News Site.

Kelsie Adams Throwback Thursday Softball Spotlight

Kelsie Adams first season playing softball was in 2010 for a 6u softball team.  She might be one of the smaller girls on the team, but don’t tell her that as her heart is one of the largest on the field.  In her second year, her team qualified for state and finished 4th out of 16 teams.

Today, Kelsie can be seen playing any position for the Texas Travelers Select Softball Team.  She is also a great pitcher for the Travelers.

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 local Real Texas Fastpitch Softball Tournament

Recently, the Texas Travelers have been competing across the state in tournaments such as ASA Texas Challenge Series; which the third leg of the tournament will be held in Houston, Texas next weekend.  However, this weekend Saturday, April 18th and Sunday, April 19th; softball fans will be able to catch a glimpse of some of the best talent select softball in North Texas has to offer.  That’s right, the Texas Travelers will be competing in the Real Texas Fastpitch tournament held at the Mesquite Girls Fastpitch Complex in Mesquite, Texas located at 1717 McKenzie Road.

The Texas Travelers are coming off of a powerful weekend scoring 75 runs which was the most in the ASA Texas Challenge Series only giving up 13 in this ASA National Qualifier.  The bats are hot, the arms are strong, and the Travelers softball fans cheer for the teams showing complete class.  It’s an exciting time when the Texas Travelers play as they have the top rated players in Texas at several fielding positions in addition to their strong sticks!  Fans will be delighted to see great plays, the best pitching, and excellent hitting.

There are 16 girls’ softball teams that have entered the tournament which is a MoneyBall Qualifier Tournament.  The tournament will consist of two Pool Play Games and Bracket Play will be Double Elimination with the championship game scheduled for 2 PM on Sunday afternoon.  Currently, the teams that are registered are Central Texas Buzz, Havoc, Sneaky Cleats 04, Black Widows, Texas Elite, Texas Glory, Sneaky Cleats 05, Waco Heat, MoJo Ultimate, Inferno, Zebra Crush, Texas Havok, 2022 Texas Glory, Ennis Cyclones, and the Batbusters in addition to your Texas Travelers.  The Texas Travelers will be playing the Black Widows at 8 AM and then the Batbusters at 9:30 on Saturday.  From there, they will be seeded accordingly for Bracket Play which will begin on Saturday and finish Sunday afternoon.

The Texas Travelers are one of the top teams in Texas and the most talked about team in the country.  The select softball organization is deep with talent and competes at the highest level.  The roster is loaded with special players at each position.

Elizabeth Schaefer is the Texas Travelers starting pitcher and one of the strongest pitchers in the country for girls select softball.  She currently has 112 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched.  Even more impressive is she has only walked 13 batters and has a WHIP (Walks, Hits per innings pitched) of less than 1.  Elizabeth threw two no-hitters last week and has combined with the other pitchers (Kelsie Adams and Kylie Morton) for two others.  Elizabeth has struck out a total of 818 batters since she started pitching in 2012 up to last weekend.

Catching Elizabeth is Emily “Moose” Forrester.  Emily is a proven winner having won first place in the USSSA World Series and first place in Star Drill at USSSA World Series.  She boast a 2.4 pop-time and throws out over 30% of the runners trying to steal.  Moose plays like she is 7 feet tall, and helps captain the defense on the field.  Her 74% on base percentage leads the team and contributes to the Texas Travelers high power scoring offense.

Kaydee Bennett is known as the best shortstop when it comes to tournament play.  However, she is also the best leadoff hitter in Texas.  Kaydee leads the team in RBI’s, Homeruns, Batting Average, and any other hitting category you can think of.  The most interesting thing about this is that she does it from the one-hole position for the Travelers.  There is not a pitcher she has faced that has been able to control her from getting on base.

Jessa McDonald has one of the strongest softball IQ’s on the field.  She has spent time at third base, second base, catcher, outfield and recently first base.  She is a coach’s dream when it comes to being able to put her in a place to help the Travelers win.  Jessa puts the ball in play almost 70% of the time and is one of the team’s leaders in RBI’s.

Kelsie Adams is a utility player for the Texas Travelers.  She has played every position on the field except for catcher; however, she would play that position if asked.  When Kelsie is on the mound, she has struck out 24 batters in 13 innings and has an 80% winning percentage.  She is a speedster on the bases and that is tremendous as she puts the ball in play almost 70% of the time.

Holding down the hottest corner in all of softball is third baseman, Kaycee Bock.  Bock is known as “The Tank” for the Texas Travelers because of her cannon of an arm.  She has power from the plate getting an RBI for almost every hit she makes.

Olivia Bauerschlag is one of the quietest girls on the field, but one of the most solid hitters on the team.  Her bat certainly speaks volumes as she has put the ball in play almost 70% of the time with authority.  Olivia or “O” to her teammates is a solid fielder playing 2nd base, third base and outfield for the Travelers.

When big hitters come up to the plate, the first place they look is to see who is in centerfield.  They become deflated when the see Hayeli Acosta.  Hayeli makes Sports Center worthy plays when fly balls travel her way, and isn’t afraid to dive every chance she gets.  She also plays catcher, second and first base.

Zariah London is one of the fastest players in select softball.  She plays outfield for the Texas Travelers, but her primary role for the Travelers is to become a scoring machine.  Anytime, the Travelers can get her on base; they are assured multiple stolen bases and very likely a run across home.

Payton Smythe plays one of the corner outfield position as is quickly becoming a power hitter for the Texas Travelers.  She is the youngest player on the team, but fans can’t tell.  She finds a way to get on base by being patient at the plate.  Her quality at bats are one of the highest on the team.

Kylie Morton is one of the hardest working ballplayers in softball.  There is never a time she can be seen sitting.  Her positive attitude is effectively contagious and she is always ready to spell her teammates.  Kylie is one of the pitchers for the Texas Travelers and pitched a No-Hitter against the Texas Glory on just 50 pitches.

Madison McClarity is one of the Texas Travelers part-time players, but an important player when she is in Texas.  She currently splits time between her Arkansas team and the Travelers; however, when she is with the Travelers she is a dominating pitcher and hitter for her North Texas Club.

The 04 Texas Travelers will be playing in the 2015 ASA Nationals in Normal, Illinois and have the goal to win the championship.  On their path, the North Texas Select Softball Team will be competing in Turf Wars in Birmingham, Alabama, Dallas ASA Preview, Stage 1-3 Texas Challenge Series (in DFW, College Station, and Houston), Hall of Fame Qualifier (Fort Worth), and the Hall of Fame Series in Oklahoma City in addition to numerous other softball tournaments in North and East Texas.

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.