What Does Being a Part of a Team Mean?

Almost 20 years ago I had a conversation with my sister during one of her collegiate volleyball seasons.  She was disappointed that her playing time had diminished.  I asked her, “Would you rather be a star player on a losing team, or a contributor on a National Championship Team?”  Let that question sink in for a minute.

Today, we are in a society that we earn our worth by how many likes we get on a social media post.  We write reviews on businesses instantly and think the rest of the world truly cares what our opinion is.  As parents we sit in the stands and feel the winning percentage of the team defines who we are as parents instead of enjoying the opportunity to watch our kids play a game they love.  Kids coming out of college expect a $60,000 a year job and ownership of the company they are working for.  Half of the population is protesting something and the other half is upset at the protestors.  It’s no wonder the “Team Concept” is getting lost in youth sports.

You have probably seen the following scenario:

The score is tied and going into the second International Tiebreaker.  Your team has a runner at second and your best batter is up at the plate.  The count becomes full and just like a storybook ending; a powerful swing sends the ball deep into the gap scoring the winning run!

These plays are exciting and as long as I can remember, there is always that one player who seems to get all of the glory.  For whatever reason, there is “that player” who has the opportunity to deliver the big result when the game is on the line.  Unfortunately, behind the fence there is the other player’s parent who is upset because “that player” wasn’t their kid.  Isn’t that a sad fact of youth sports?

Softball teams are made up of more than just the nine players who are in the field.  Softball teams are comprised of specialized baserunners, designated players, and backups.  Everyone on the team has a role and it is important for the success of the organization.

The key to a successful team is the acceptance of your role to help the team accomplish its goals.  Now, I want to make it very clear that if your daughter is not a starter on the team; she does not have to be satisfied with that particular role.  I encourage every player to have big dreams and strive to reach for those dreams as it will allow her to do great things.

Softball teams only have 9 spots on the field.  Therefore, if your daughter is not one of the starters can she still be a good teammate?  Can you as a parent help your player grow into a mature adult?

Anyone can throw on a jersey and call herself part of the team, but there is so much more to it than that. When you put on your jersey, you are not only becoming part of a team but part of a family. Whether you get along or not, all your problems should be pushed aside, for the sake of your team.

A good teammate understands that no matter what position you may play, whether you are the best player on the team or on the field, you are nothing without your teammates. The key to a good teammate is being willing to give up anything for your team, sacrificing whatever it takes.  A good teammate will continue to battle with you and not run away when things get tough.

Teammates are supposed to be responsible for one another and look out for each other on and off the field.

The best teammates are ones who pull for each other, even while competing for a position; you should continue to root your teammate on because you are both vital to the team’s success.  You should always want the best outcome for your teammates.

There is no room for negativity on a team. A good teammate should never put another player down; they should always pick each other up, especially on their lowest days. Teammates stick together, even on their worst days. No matter what a player may go through, just think how much more difficult it would be if they were doing it alone.

Learn to Listen or be coachable.  This is a huge one because no matter who is on your team, you can always learn from them. Drop your ego, listen when a teammate talks to you, thank them for their advice and think about what they said. Maybe it wasn’t good, maybe it won’t help you, but you won’t know if you don’t listen to them or the coach.

Be Supportive.  A team full of players who support each other will do better and have more fun than a team full of a bunch of individuals who aren’t a part of the same common goal. What I mean by supporting your teammates is that when they make a good play – tell them. Congratulate them. When they screw up, don’t get on their case. They know they made a mistake. They’re already beating themselves up about it. So don’t make it worse and call them out on it.

Be Accountable.  In order to be a part of your team, it’s good to know what your role on the team is and what the team can expect from you. Again, this doesn’t mean to not get better at another position that you desire.  However, it does mean to be the best you can possibly be at the position or role you are asked to play.  Iron always sharpens Iron!

Set Goals.  Define some goals for yourself.  Basically this comes down to being realistic with yourself about how much time you can commit to the team, what you can expect to bring to the team based on your skill development and what you yourself expect to get out of the season.  Once you define your goals write down how you will accomplish those goals.  Are you going to spend the extra time in the batting cage, add an extra pitching lesson in each week or work on fielding drills you have researched on the internet?

Exhibit flexibility.  Roll with the punches when things change. The ability to take advantage of an opportunity, even if it means changing plans, is huge.

Work as a problem-solver.  Good teammates are problem-solvers, not problem-dwellers. They don’t look to blame others, but rather find a way to make things work.

Being committed to a team is the same as being committed to school or a job. Your bosses and teachers rely on you to be there, and they expect you to work hard to become your best. Becoming your best for the sake of the whole is a great teammate quality and also a valuable lifelong trait. This, along with the other teammate traits mentioned, builds our character and shapes us for a future of happiness and success.

Texas Travelers add Big Bat and Defense to Softball Team

Recently, the Texas Travelers finished 3rd in one of the most prestigious select softball tournaments in the country; the 2015 ASA/USA National Championships.  The softball team fought and clawed their way into becoming one of the top select softball teams in the country, but fell short of their goal to win the 81 year-old tournament.

The Texas Travelers, although strong, look to improve and continue to pursue competing against the most elite teams in the country.  Recently, the Travelers added one of North Texas strongest bats and great defensive players.  Rylie Rumfield joined the Texas Travelers and will see time at 3rd base, shortstop, 2nd base as well as the outfield.  She can also pitch if asked to do so.  In short, Riley is a complete ballplayer and will help shore up the Travelers potent lineup.

“When Rylie asked to play for the Travelers, she said she wanted to play wherever the team needs her.  This is a trait that is lost on many of today’s youth.  She has already proven she could play at certain positions on winning teams, but she is unassuming and wants to help the Travelers win at the highest level” states Head Coach of the Texas Traveler, Kyle Bennett.

Rylie Rumfield is a proven winner helping her former teams with the 03 Texas Elite and 04 Texas Shock.  She has been playing softball since the age of 3 and has become one of the top hitters in the country at the 10U level.  She has helped her teams win the 8U VTD World Series where she was the Defensive MVP, 9U USSSA World Series earning Most Valuable Player, and recently helped her team earn a 3rd Place finish in the PGF National Championships.  She was chosen as 10U USA Select Elite All-American Midwest Region Top Performer as well as the Elite All-American Midwest Region Team.

Rylie will eventually be playing for Joshua High School helping them earn a State Championship when the time comes.

The 04 Texas Travelers are a very competitive select softball team and part of a rich tradition of success.  Each team at each age group is hand selected.  The organization as a whole is small in nature, but has the success and great reputation as the larger organization giving its girls the highest advantage when it comes to their future having sent over 175 girls to play college softball.

The 04 Texas Travelers were chosen by ASA, which is the governing body of softball to represent Texas in the 2015 ASA/USA National Championship held in Normal, Illinois.  However, the winning record of the 04 Texas Travelers is not what defines the team.  This team was built from the ground up having taken girls out of recreational softball to be able to compete and win at the highest level.

The coaches, led by Coach Kyle Bennett prepare the girls to be strong independent young women.  They are getting their players ready to be able to start as a freshman on their high school varsity teams, and with the organizations connection and strong alumni support; the Texas Travelers girls will be able to attract the attention of some of the top softball programs in the country.  As a matter of fact, Jordan Strickland, Baylor Bears history making shortstop, is on the coaching staff of the 04 Texas Travelers.

The 04 Texas Travelers is also a fully funded team.  This is a plus in today’s select softball world where playing for teams require you to pay for their uniforms, coaches, team lessons on top of the travel expense to play at a high level.  The softball players that play for the Texas Travelers save thousands of dollars for their parents because of the support they receive from the continued donations.

In addition to being a fully funded team, the 04 Texas Travelers have a marketing program second to none.  DeliveryMaxx has donated its patent-pending services to help market the 04 Texas Travelers as well as each of their players which will help when the girls become old enough to start the recruiting process.

The 04 Texas Travelers are one of the top 10U teams in the country.  They will be a first year 12U team, but they have already found success playing in several 12U tournaments recently winning the 2015 Summer Swinging 12U Championship.  Even though they have some of the top rated players at their position, the players are always looking to add to the roster giving them a heighten level of competition even in their own club.  The players and coaches both agree that their performance at practice, off the field, and tournament play determines their time of play in competition.  The coaches look at each player as an individual and identifies how the player can best help the team reach its goals.

The 04 Texas Travelers will be completing their roster for the fall season as they prepare to become 2016 National Champions.  For more information about the 04 Texas Travelers visit the team on Facebook or contact Coach Kyle Bennett at 972.679.7702.

Elizabeth Schaefer Strikeouts 1000th Batter

In 2012, Elizabeth Schaefer asked her father if she could pitch for her softball team.  Not knowing much about softball and even less about softball pitching; her father, James Schaefer said, “Go watch a softball pitcher on YouTube and then practice with your brother.  If I think you look like you might be able to pitch, I will find someone that can help you.”  Elizabeth did exactly what her father asked, and 1,000 strikeouts later they are celebrating her accomplishments.

On June 14, 2015 while E’s 10u Texas Travelers were facing the 02 Texas Glory in the 12u Summer Swing Tournament Championship game; she stuck out her 1000th batter on an outside fastball.

Somehow the stars lined up correctly to get Elizabeth the right instruction as well as find the right team to allow her to flourish as an elite softball pitcher at the 10u level.  James was very involved with his son’s select baseball and football teams.  Joseph, Elizabeth’s older brother by 2-years was practicing at a high school facility in Rockwall, Texas.  An acquaintance of James happen to be at the field taking his daughter to pitching lessons in the building next to the field.  James asked him to introduce them to his friend’s daughter’s pitching coach.  That is where Elizabeth was paired with Coach Rick Lee.  Coach Lee has put several girls into D1 colleges and has a plethora of starting varsity high school pitchers across the Dallas and Fort Worth area preparing for the ranks of college.  Coach Lee called Elizabeth’s dad after the first lesson, and said that if she sticks with pitching she would be successful as long as she continued to put in the work.  “Elizabeth is rare in that she combines terrific velocity with an ability to move the ball and change speeds with command.  She has also shown a great work ethic while seemingly enjoying the work it takes to reach the top” states Coach Rick Lee.

However, accomplishing this feat doesn’t end here.  Elizabeth wasn’t always thought of as a softball pitcher. Even after going through 3 months of pitching lessons, the team she played for at the time never let her see the mound.  After that 2012 fall season of not getting to pitch, her dad had her play a Season and half (spring and fall) in the Rockwall recreational league.  She quickly earn a reputation as being one of the fastest pitchers with good control.  After the 2013 fall season, both Elizabeth and her dad wanted to see how she stacked up in a more competitive select organization.  Her dad made some inquiries of some North Texas Softball teams, and scheduled tryouts.  There were several teams that had shown a little interest in her, but most of the teams already had pitchers they were happy with.  The Schaefer’s were just looking for a select organization that wanted to give her a little mound time and grow into a strong pitcher.

Enter, the Texas Travelers Select Softball Organization.  A friend of Elizabeth’s dad recommended her to try out for the Texas Travelers.  He said, it would be a great fit as they already had two 2003’s and Elizabeth being a 2004 player; it would help her grow into the role of being a select softball pitcher.  This would prevent Elizabeth from being thrown to the wolves in her first season as a select softball pitcher.

When Elizabeth tried out for the Texas Travelers, it was less than a stellar performance.  She was nervous.  It was cold, and she had just gone through the Texas Travelers hitting lessons (hitting and swinging the bat over 1000 times).  “Elizabeth had blisters on her hand and four coaches standing in the cage as she threw pitches to their catcher.  It seemed like every tenth pitch was a strike.  I thought for sure they would not want her.  However, the coaches invited her out for another look at an outdoor practice” adds James Schaefer.  The next practice was a lot better as Elizabeth was in her element on the softball diamond.  Her second performance earned her a spot on the Texas Travelers softball team.

The spring season, Elizabeth was committed to a basketball and volleyball team which the Travelers accommodated her to play.  However, Elizabeth quickly became the “Go-To” pitcher helping them win several tournaments and a berth to the USSSA World Series in Florida.  The 2014 fall season, Elizabeth and her team set a goal to play ASA/USA tournament ball which is the most prestigious governing body in Women’s softball.  Their goal was to earn a berth to the 2015 ASA National Championships in Normal, Illinois.  Today, they have accomplished that goal as being chosen as the State of Texas representative to the tournament and added another lofty goal; to become the ASA National Champion.

Elizabeth’s, or better known as “E” to her teammates and fans is still the “Go-To” pitcher for the Texas Travelers.  As she is winding down her second year of select softball she has reached a milestone few players her age have accomplished.  She has struck out over 1000 batters since she started pitching.  Even more impressive is she rarely walks a batter averaging 1 base on balls for every 20 batters she strikes out.  When you add her WHIP (Walks plus Hits given up per inning pitched) she has a state best of .81.  Not counting pitching for her rec team this season, Elizabeth has had 11 no-hitters thus far for the 2015 season and batters are batting less than .155 against her.  There have been many games where she has struck out every batter she has faced in a game.

Turning 11 years old in March, Elizabeth has earned these stats in a very impressive manner.  First, her 10u team plays the most competitive ASA tournaments in the country so she is facing the best hitters around.  She rarely pitches against weaker teams that would easily have boost her stats.  At 9 years old (last year) she also pitched for a 12u team leading them to win the league championship.  This year, in addition for playing for the Texas Travelers, she also pitches for a 14u Rec team where she has had 5 no hitters.  That’s pretty impressive when you think about the players she is facing.  By the time Elizabeth gets into high school as a freshman, the 14u girls will have already graduated.

Elizabeth has 3 pitches she uses.  Her fastball has been clocked at 53 mph at the 43 feet (high school level) with her drop ball registering at 51 mph.  Her deadliest pitch is the 36 mph flip change making batters look downright silly.   When she pitches from 35 feet (10u softball pitching distance), Elizabeth has been clocked as high as 56 mph.  Most of her strikeouts have come from the drop ball which looks like her fastball, but then drops just under the swing at the last second.  Currently, her pitching coach is developing her curve and rise ball with the screw ball to follow.  However, Coach Lee does not want to add those pitches until the 12u season as it could interfere with the effectiveness of her fastball.

Her goals are pretty straight forward.  She wants to help her Texas Travelers win ASA Nationals.  When she enters high school, she would like to win a State Championship or two.  She would like to be recruited and play for a D1 College helping them to a National Championship.  Then her ultimate goal is to be chosen as one of the top 18 girls to represent the United States playing for Team USA.  To accomplish these goals; Elizabeth knows there is a lot of work that still has to be done.  She knows she will have to increase her velocity into the upper 60’s and continue to understand how and what pitch she should deliver to tough batters.  At 5’5”, Elizabeth is still growing which will allow her to increase her strength helping her achieve this criteria.  She has yet learned to maximize her leap, but once she masters this, her velocity will increase even more.

Elizabeth is a pretty special player and sure to be seen at a higher level in the future if she continues to put in the work.  Her workout schedule includes practices with her 10u team, practices with her 14u team, pitching lessons with Coach Lee and then working out on her own with her dad or anyone else willing to catch her.  Elizabeth loves everything that comes with pitching on the mound and enjoys her team looking to her to deliver excellent results.

For more information about Elizabeth Schaefer, her teammates, or the Texas Travelers you can follow them on Facebook or follow the Texas Travelers News Network Site.  Coach Kyle Bennett can be reached at 972.679.7702.