Softball Clinic comes to Texas June 21st and 22nd

Wisconsin Softball Associate Head Coach Randy Schneider will be coming to North Texas teaching coaches and players alike offensive strategies, hitting and fielding.

Because of the popularity of this event and the special access players and coaches will be receiving with Coach Schneider, there will be a limited number of players accepted into the clinic.  The coach’s clinic will take place the evening of June 21^st and the players’ clinic will follow June 22^nd.  The players’ clinic will be split into 10U-12U from 8 AM until 11 AM and 14U thru 18U from 12 Noon until 2 PM located at the Mesquite Softball Complex.

Coach Schneider will also be talking with players and parents about recruiting and collegiate opportunities.

More about Coach Randy Schneider

After serving four seasons as an assistant coach at Wisconsin, Randy Schneider will begin his second season as associate head coach of the Badgers during the 2015-16 season.  Schneider speaks nationally for National Sports Clinics, NFCA and conducts 20-30 camps yearly from coast to coast.  He also has 3 videos completed through Championship Videos: Biomechanics of Hitting, Physics of Hitting and Effective Practice Planning and drills. 

Over the last five years, the team has posted an impressive 165-106 overall record and 58-52 conference record in the Big Ten.  In the last five seasons, Wisconsin has had four 30-plus win seasons after only previously having five 30-plus win campaigns in 15 seasons.

The 2015 senior class, led by walk-on Maria Van Abel (2015 All-Big Ten defensive team) along with Marissa Merch and Megan Tancill, went down as the second-winning class in school history.

In 2015, thanks to offensive mastermind Coach Schneider, the Badgers clinched the highest season on-base percentage (.389) in school history and claimed the Wisconsin single-season walks record (176). The team shattered the single-season record for stolen bases (118 stolen bases), and acclaimed the highest single-season batting average (.296).

The move to associate head coach came following another record-breaking campaign for the Badgers in which they won 36 games, including 15 in Big Ten play--both tied for the second most in school history--and reached the conference semifinals and NCAA Regional Championships for the second-straight year.

In 2013, Schneider's hard work paid off at the plate for the Badgers as the team set single-season records in seven offensive categories -- slugging percentage (.443), OPS (.826), runs (283), hits (458), RBI (247), total bases (678) and walks (173). The team tied a program-best with a .300 team batting average and recorded the second-most doubles (67), home runs (47)hit by pitch (40), stolen bases (100) and stolen base percentage (.806) in school history.

Mary Massei set school records in batting average (.421), slugging percentage (.672), OPS (1.156), at bats (195), hits (82), runs (51), triples (6) and total bases (131), while Stephanie Peace recorded a school-record 35 walks.

The Badgers qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005, setting a school record with 44 wins and recording a program-best .772 winning percentage. UW's 16 Big Ten wins were the most in school history and its 28 non-conference wins and 24 neutral site wins also topped the list.

Wisconsin won the 2013 Big Ten Tournament for the first time in program history, defeating Northwestern, No. 6 Michigan and Minnesota on its way to the title. The victory over Michigan marked the Badgers' first win over the Wolverines since the 2002 season.

Schneider's offensive coaching prowess was evident in 2012, as Whitney Massey was named first team NCFA All-Great Lakes Region. Massey had a record-breaking season, hitting 22 doubles for the Badgers. The team's batting average of .300 and on base percentage of .385 were school-bests since the program started in 1996.

With Schneider's help, the Badgers recorded 30 wins in 2011, hitting the 30 win total for just the sixth time in school history. Wisconsin set a new stolen base record with 107 on the year and new individual records were set by Jennifer Krueger for all-time stolen bases and Michelle Mueller for stolen bases in a season by a freshman. The team was one of the youngest in Wisconsin history, with 73 percent of the roster comprised of freshmen.

Before joining Wisconsin, Schneider served as the head coach at Valparaiso for seven seasons, leaving as the program's all-time winningest coach. The Crusaders enjoyed winning seasons in each of the past four years and won 20 or more games in six of Schneider's seven seasons after reaching the mark just three times in the program's first 22 years.

"I am thrilled to have Randy Schneider join the Wisconsin softball family," Healy said. "He is one of the most innovative, enthusiastic, and respected coaches in our game. His ability to teach and mentor young athletes has made him one of the top recruiters in the country. Randy is best known for identifying and attracting elite Gold players from the West Coast, to blossom and excel in a supportive Midwest, family environment.

"The program will immediately become more successful on the field, in the community and in the classroom under Randy's leadership. I'm thrilled to have a coach and person of his caliber join the Badger softball family."

Schneider was named the Horizon League Co-Coach of the Year in 2008 after his team, which was in its first year in the conference, finished in second place. In 2009, he led the Crusaders to a school-record 35 wins and a third-place finish at the Horizon League Championship. In addition, Schneider had 26 players awarded All-League honors and guided the program's first NFCA All-Region honoree in 2010.

"I'm really excited," Schneider said. "It's a wonderful opportunity to work for Wisconsin and to have the opportunity to work with Yvette. She is an outstanding softball coach and is poised to do great things. Obviously it's pretty exciting for myself and my family."

Off the field, Schneider's teams proved successful as well, boasting 36 NFCA Scholar-Athletes, eight CoSIDA Academic All-District honorees and the program's first Academic All-American in over 20 years. In the community, he helped the softball program start the "I Need a Hug" initiative, a program run by the softball student-athletes which in its six years of existence has grown exponentially and has placed many thousands of stuffed animals into local schools.

To reserve your spot, contact Kyle Bennett of the Texas Travelers at 972.679.7702.

ASA Fall Preview features Texas Travelers

Every September there is talk of cool weather in Texas being just around the corner.  Football season is underway.  Doves are being taken down by the dozen.  However, every softball fan knows that the most prestigious road to crowning the National Champion for Girls Fastpitch will begin with the Dallas ASA Fall Preview.

Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13th, Veterans Park in White Settlement, Texas will host softball teams such as the Texas Travelers, American Freedom 03, D1 03, Impact Gold 03, Texas Fusion 03, Firecrackers, Waco Heat, Batbusters, Texas Elite, Dallas Tigers and Texas Glory.

The 04 Texas Travelers will be playing the 2015-2016 softball season as a first year 12U softball team after finishing 3rd in the prominent 2015 ASA/USA 10U National Championship held in Normal, Illinois.  The team has made off-season additions which will surely turn the 03’s heads as they compete on the field.  Their roster includes two of the top 4 pitchers in the country (Elizabeth Schaefer and Karley Wolf).  In the offseason, the fastpitch organization has added the Arkansas Elite legend, Maddison McClarity, Emily Jonte (Texas Glory’s Ace Pitcher),  USA Select Elite All-American Midwest Region Top Performer Riley Rumfield, and a physical hard playing catcher, Kailee Bautista to go with All-Star shortstop Kaydee Bennett who led the team in every offensive category for the Travelers.

In addition to the high profile players on the 04 Texas Travelers squad welcome back girls who became the backbone of the Texas Travelers success such as starting catcher Emily “Moose” Forrester; shutdown first baseman Cadence Hopgood; speedster Zariah London; complete utility player Kelsie Adams; highest softball IQ Jessa McDonald; infield vacuum Bailey Ford and elite pinch hitter Payton Smythe who actually has eligibility to play for the 05 team.

The 04 Texas Travelers are scheduled to play Saturday against Texas Fusion 03 at 9:30 AM followed by American Freedom 03 at 12:30 PM.  The evening games will feature the Travelers versus Texas Fusion- Nicholson at 5 PM and then Texas Black Cats at 6:30 PM.  All games will be 1 hour and 20 minutes or 7 innings.  Bracket play will begin Sunday seeded by Pool Play and Single Elimination with the championship game scheduled for 1 PM.

Last year, the 04 Texas Travelers competed in several 12U tournaments winning the 2015 Summer Swinging 12U Championship playing the 03 Texas Glory in the finals.  Recently, the squad looked really strong in their scrimmages against the Texas Travelers 03 team and D1-03 softball organization.  The softball team continues to set their goals high as they compete across the country playing some of the most elite softball teams.  They are utilizing the ASA Fall Preview to get ready for the 2015 ASA/USA Texas Championship Series where the points winner will receive a berth to the 2016 ASA/USA National Championships held in Salem, Virginia.

For more information on the Texas Travelers, players, coaches, or schedules visit the Texas Travelers News Network or follow the team on Facebook.

Texas Travelers welcome Head Coach Lee Kuyrkendall for the 03 Travelers

The world of select softball is very small and well connected.  The Texas Travelers organization, founded by John Wardlow in 1995, has a great reputation and is known for developing great softball talent.  The Travelers organization has helped place over 175 girls in softball at the collegiate ranks.

Today, select softball has become a multimillion dollar business.  It seems everywhere you look a big organization will swallow up a small team and then break the team apart to feed a Gold Team.  This wouldn’t be a bad thing, except the fees that come with being part of a big organization start to limit the opportunity for many girls who want to play for the love of the game.  Coach Wardlow was not interested in making the Texas Travelers an organization that he would profit from.  As a matter of fact, he still allows the Texas Travelers softball teams the use of his hitting facility at no charge to the girls or the teams.

Enter Coach Kyle Bennett.  Bennett was a coach of one of the teams that were part of a large softball organization.  However, he saw an opportunity that made better sense for his daughter to play select softball at a higher level without all of the fees that are associated with the larger softball organizations.  He met with Wardlow and the two agreed on this same philosophy.  This has proved to be a great relationship as Coach Bennett’s 04 Texas Travelers are one of the top teams in the country, as well as being selected to represent the state of Texas in the 2015 ASA/USA National Championship held in Normal, Illinois.

As of August 2015, the Texas Travelers organization will welcome the Texas Travelers 03 team. This group will be led by Head Coach Lee Kuyrkendall of Rockwall, Texas.  Coach Kuyrkendall’s story is very similar to Wardlow and Bennett.  He is excited to carry on the rich history of the Texas Travelers and brings a wealth of knowledge to the team.

Currently, Kuyrkendall is an Associate Scout for the Texas Rangers, charged with the scouting of amateur players at the college and high school level. Since 1991, he has been an assistant or head baseball coach for Delta State University, Mississippi College, North Florida Community College, and Southwest Community College.  At the four-year level, he helped lead Mississippi College to three league titles in his seven seasons as head coach, and was the NCAA Regional Tournament host in 2003.  His players personally achieved individual recognition as the 2006 NCAA leader in home runs, 2004 NCAA leader in saves, 2002 NCAA leader in strikeouts per 9 innings pitched, American Southwest Conference records for most home runs in a single season – 2006, most home runs in a single game – 2000, 2002, 2006, Conference leader in every offensive category – 2006, and most saves in a single season – 2004. His recruiting efforts resulted in league Player of the Year awards – 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and the Freshman of the Year – 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004.  At the community college level, he saw 68 of his former players sign with four-year institutions. In 17 total seasons as a head coach he had 23 players drafted or signed with professional organizations. The most recent was Kade Scivicque of LSU, who was drafted this year in the fourth round by the Detroit Tigers. Scivicque finished his senior season as the All SEC catcher and was the only Tiger player named to this year’s All College World Series team in Omaha. He was also a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award, given to the nation’s top collegiate catcher.

However, Coach Kuyrkendall was most proud of his teams achieving 90% graduation rates or higher and a 3.00 GPA or better.

Kuyrkendall’s personal honors include being Chairman of the MACJC Community College Coaches (2011 – 2014), NCAA West Regional Selection Committee (2006), American Southwest Conference Coach of the Year (2002 and 2003), American Baseball Coaches Association Recognition for milestone achievements of 100, 200, 300 and 400 wins, Head Coach – North Team, Central Florida Coaches Association All-Star Game (1997), North Florida Community College Professional Achievement Award (1996), and the USA Baseball Clinic Assistant – Olympic Team Summer Tour (1995 and 1996).

Now some could say that Lee Kuyrkendall only knows baseball.  However, that is far from the end of the story.  In addition to playing baseball at the collegiate level, he also played men’s fastpitch softball for several years during a time when it was a very strong sport around the country. He was fortunate to play with and against some great players such as Glenn Moore, current Head Coach of the Baylor University softball team.

“After 24 years of coaching baseball, plus my experience playing men’s fastpitch and helping my own daughter get started in the sport, I can tell you that I am right at home coaching the Texas Travelers and loving every minute of it. Fastpitch softball has grown tremendously and the outstanding Texas Travelers organization embodies everything youth sports should be.  I look forward to giving back to the girls and the softball community.  Our organization will work with the parents to develop strong, confident young women, and together we will help prepare them to play high school softball, as well as have an opportunity to play at the collegiate level” shares Coach Kuyrkendall.  “We are excited to have Lee and his family as part of the Texas Travelers organization.  In addition to his coaching experience and history of success in helping young people grow and mature, he will have valuable relationships that will be beneficial for the future of Texas Travelers players.  I can’t think of a better, more qualified individual to coach the 03 team. The girls and their families will love this guy and how he will coach them” adds Coach Kyle Bennett of the 04 Texas Travelers.

This is the second high profile coaching addition the Texas Travelers organization has added. In May, the 04 Texas Travelers added Baylor Bears legendary shortstop Jordan Strickland to their coaching staff, where she recently helped coach the girls to the 2015 Fastpitch & Firecrackers Championship, as well as a third place finish in the ASA/USA Class A National Championship Tournament.

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 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.

Emily Forrester Throwback Thursday Softball Spotlight

When someone talks about a wall and you are around the softball diamond; rest assure they are talking about Moose! Emily “Moose” Forrester captains the defense for the Texas Travelers.

She has been playing softball since five years old, and has always been one of the top catchers in the game.  She has a 2.2 Pop-Time which means she doesn’t allow runners get in scoring position very often.

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.

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.