Eastern Region softball all-star team

[Lynn Burke]

I've been asked to start a thread on the selection process for the all-regional team. Who is eligible, how are the teams selected and when is the team selected?

Anyone ......

[humblepie]

I`m not sure how this team is selected but I`m sure we will see some surprises
on this years team.I know of a few players from the PD that are well deserving.
The Gloucester team has been well represented in the last three years. Rightfully so they should be.Teams that don`t make it to regionals are their players eligible to make the regional team?I will predict a few and you can share your opinion if you would like? It`s not that big of a deal but it will look good for the ladies that want to play at the next level and be able to have something to look back on one day.
I will say that I think that from Gloucester Stephanie Coates, Brennna Thomas and Taylor Saulman should be 1st team candidates. There are a few that could be 2nd team or honorable mention. Lauren Kiser , Leta Bressin and Samantha Johnson.
From Warwick I think Tra Byrd, Sarah Atkins and Va. King 1st team honors. Alex Ward, Chelsea Dawson and Ashley Trumble 2nd team or honorable mention.
From Woodside 2nd team or honorable mentions to Kristie Hoeffer, Gabby Adino and Regina Rodriguez maybe Daisy Estevez
From Bethel Jenna Ryan , Brittany Hicks and Gabby Gonzales 2nd team or honorable mention.
From Kecoughtan 2nd team or honorable Kate Alexander
From Menchville 2nd team or honorable mention Kelsey Woods

I think also that Stephanie Coates will also be a great nominee for regional pitcher or player of the year.Bu there are alot of talented players in the Beach and Chesapeake teams that could put up a good fight for that one.Coates had it all not only can she pitch but she can hit.

[sportsguy71]

Good luck getting any players that didn't make it to regionals on an all region team. There are 8 teams represented in the regional tournament, which is over 70 players to choose from. 10-12 first teamers and 10-12 second teamers out of that group will make up the regional team. If a player from any district whose team didn't make it to regionals makes that team, she must have really, really stood out. And the coaches whose teams are in the regional tourney vote for the all region team. They will be looking to take care of their own players, which they should.

[sportsnut]

Lynn Burke. Any results in to the Daily Press about the
All Eastern Region Softball Team? Any Peninsula District players make it?When will you put the results on HR Varsity?:cheer2: for those of you that did make the team.
Great job. And to those of you that didn`t and should of
well I`m little :confused: .

[Lynn Burke]

Lynn Burke. Any results in to the Daily Press about the
All Eastern Region Softball Team? Any Peninsula District players make it?When will you put the results on HR Varsity?:cheer2: for those of you that did make the team.
Great job. And to those of you that didn`t and should of
well I`m little :confused: .

Haven't seen anything. I'll make some calls on Monday.

[Peninsula fan]

The selection takes place the first weekend after completion of the eastern regional tournament. The organizer is Dennis Nixon from Princess Anne High School. Each District is represented by the coaches from the top two teams from each eastern region district.
No player is eligible for nomination unless they were selected first team all district in their respective districts. The same process is used for selection of the all-state teams.
The eastern region selections were done Yesterday afternoon. Dennis usually notifies and faxes the information to the respective newspapers within the next two days.
All the coaches present their nominations for each position together. Stats, accompolishments for that season are used. Past history is not allowed as it does not represent the current season of play.
The players are then voted on. Players receiving the highest number of votes at each postion are first team. Those who were nominated but did not receive enough votes for first team are automatically on the ballot for second team. Any additons to be voted on can be added at this time.
They then vote on second team. Any player who was nominated for second team but did not receive enough votes is now automatically eligible for honorable mention selections. The process continues. Voting on the eastern region team is very difficult due to the large number of players in this region alone. The process is not perfect, but then none of them are. In my experiences with eastern region voting, it has been done with the utmost integrity and fairness to all players represented. There inlies the weakness. The coaches must show up to represent and defend the players from their respective districts. They know the players better than anyone else. Hope this helps in understanding the process.:)

[sportsnut]

So if what you are saying is true and I donot doubt that.
The Peninsula District top two teams should of sent
the coach from Gloucester and the coach from Warwick.
Correct?And if one of those two coaches did not go then either they had a really good excuse or that just didn`t care and didn`t want to be bothered.But I guess after the district selection I can understand why maybe.But naturally the coach that did go will take care of his players first and maybe try and take care of a one or two others.I know that the selection process woud be
difficult because of the extent of talent thourghout the tidewater area. But I feel like the selections should not be all one district either or from one team either.The Peninsula District has just as many talented players . Some really good ones a matter of fact .Warwick and Gloucester proved that this year from their regional results.And the buck just doesn`t stop with them Bethel, Woodside, Kecoughtan,
Menchville, Denbigh, Heritage, Hampton and Phoebus all
have talent.I do see some great players being left out of
a accolade well deserved.

[Peninsula fan]

Based on your reply it seems like you are questioning the integrity of the coaches from each district who are involved in the voting process. Well, having exerienced that selection process many times I must give you a split decision on that one. You are very correct in your assumption that there are great players who are possibly noteworthy but for some reason did or not did not get selected. The same can be said for all state selections and especially all-american selections. Processes in which I have also been involved. The hope is that the best job can and will be done at every level in a professional manner, one in which the best possible choices are made, and of course there will always, I repeat, always be reasons for debate. Things will never be done in such a way as to satisfy the opinions of everyone!Thats one of the beauties of these silly blogs. People can express their opinions, right or wrong, and agree to disagree with how things should or should not be done. Finally when any selection has to come down to only 10 or 12 players vs. 70-100. Those 10-12 must truely standout, and sometimes being on an exceptional team creates that image for you. The players on those less successful teams(teams which by the way are less successful for many reasons)must put up tuely outstanding qualities during the course of a season. Truely good players standout no matter who they play for. In the end they all have to hit the ball and make plays that impress.

[sportsguy71]

Sportsnut,

You mentioned 8 teams from the Peninsula District alone having players that might get left off the regional team. The regional selections represent the best of 4 districts, almost 40 teams, narrowed down to the top 10-12 players on on first team, 10-12 for second, and the same for honorable mention. Just a guess at maybe 16 girls per team (probably more on some teams) and that means more than 600 players. The teams you mentioned finished middle of the pack in their own district, how can you possibly expect them to make an all region team? As Peninsula fan said, the process is a very difficult one for all the coaches involved. Usually the very good players make their teams better and those teams advance to district tournaments, regional tournaments and beyond. That is the basic player pool the coaches have to choose from. At the regional tournament, coaches from other districts get to see the talented players from the Peninsula from the top two teams. Same goes for the peninsula coaches getting a chance to see other team's best players from other districts. I guarantee no matter who makes the all region team there will be parents from every district saying their kid that didn't make it is better than someone that did. You have to draw the line somewhere.

[sportsnut]

Hello Sportsguy 71. I was not trying to say that I think there should or will be any players from the teams from the middle of the pack of the Peninsula District going to make the all regional team. I simply did not want to leave this ladies out because these teams do have some girls that are very talented and stand out on their
particular team.My concern is that if the top two coaches were suppose to go to the regional selection and only one of them went what possibilty do the players that play for that team have to be put up for nomination.
It should be what the player has done all season and not just what they have done in the district and regional tournament. Their chances I would say are alot less to make it because their coach is not there to talk about their accomplishments, stats etc.. And like I said before the coach that attends is going to take care of his players first.There will be girls not from the top teams that made it to regionals that are elected and if they are then they probably deserve it.

[sportsguy71]

I agree, sportsnut, that if a team is in the regional tournament and the coach (or a qualified representative) does not show for all region selection, then the chances for his/her players are slim and even slimmer for other players from his/her district. Every district coach should feel obligated to attend all district meetings, every regional participant should feel the same about showing up at the regional meeting, even if it is on the southside and maybe a long drive. For an interesting voting process (and maybe some hope for the girls you are talking about), check out the all eastern region baseball selections that were just announced. Menchville had three kids make first team all region and they lost in the quarterfinals of their own district tourney (after finishing fourth during the regular season). Not sure how that happened, but the coach must have been very persuasive. And to his credit, how many teams that do not even make it out of their own district have a coach that attends the regional selection meeting? I am guessing that is a very, very short list.

[The Clutch Hitter]

So my question is......why didn't the Warwick's Coach Jimmy Dawson go to the the selection?????

[sportsguy71]

Sounds like a question for the school's AD. And with three coaches listed for them, you figure at least one of them could have made an appearance.

[The Clutch Hitter]

Amen Sportsguy 71!!!!

[Lynn Burke]

Are there any PD softball coaches on here who might have a copy of the team? I've made some calls on the other side of the water, but haven't had any luck.

Lynn Burke

[sbfan9]

Here is the All-Eastern Region Softball Team as reported today in the Virginian Pilot.

SOFTBALL
All-Eastern Region
(Selected by coaches)

First team
Pitchers: Kendra Knight, Salem, jr. (pitcher of the year);
Stephanie Coates, Gloucester, jr.

Catchers: Tamra Griffin, Kellam, sr.
Michelle Lighton, Hickory, jr.

Infielders: Miranda McCoy, Princess Anne, soph.
Kristen Cheesebrew, Great Bridge, jr
Jenny Buck, Wilson, sr.
Taylor Saulman, Gloucester

Outfielders: Nichole Simmons, Hickory, sr.
Aja Pleasant, Lake Taylor, sr.
Ashley Mani, Great Bridge, sr.
Maddi Ridenour, Nansemond River, sr.

At Large: Stephanie Kemp, Kellam, sr. (Player of the Year)
Rose Gressley, Green Run, sr
Brittany Bryan, Princess Anne, sr
Whitney Holland, Kings Fork, sr.

Second Team
Pitchers: Chelsea Henline, Great Bridge, jr.
Katie Raulerson, Hickory, sr.

Catchers: Ashley Huffman, Salem, soph.
Gabby Gonzalez, Bethel, sr.

Infielders: Kelli Porter, Kellam, jr.
Kelsei Saunders, Nansemond River, jr.
Brittany Spencer, First Colonial, sr.
Kristie Hoeffer, Woodside, fresh.
Kristin Fungo, Lake Taylor. Sr.

Outfielders: Joy Mapanoo, Princess Anne, sr.
Virginia King, Warwick, jr.
Brenna Thomas, Gloucester, jr.

At Large
Sarah Atkins, Warwick, jr.
Ashley Cornell, Churchland, soph.
Vicky Madden, Kempsville, sr.
Tra Byrd, Warwick, sr.

Coach of the Year: Jason Barefoot, Salem

[The Clutch Hitter]

CONGRATULATIONS TO STEPHANIE COATES, TAYLOR SAULMAN, GABBY GONZALEZ, KRISTIE HOEFFER, VA KING, BRENNA THOMAS, SARAH ATKINS AND TRA BYRD FOR REGIONAL HONORS! GOOD JOB LADIES! WAY TO REPRESENT THE PD DISTRICT!!!

:cheer2:

[sportsnut]

I second that Clutch Hitter congratulations to the players selected to the Eastern Region All District Team.
But what is At Large maybe Peninsula Fan or Sportsguy71 can answer that for me. Is it a step above honorable mention or is it considered a part of the second team . I`m so :confused: . And isn`t Tra Byrd a junior.
It would of been nice to of had these selections along with the Regional Baseball and Bay Rivers Regional Softball Selections that were in the Daily Press today. I know the DP was not at fault here it looks like Lynn Burke was trying to find out something sooner.Good luck Gabby Gonzales at Va. Tech and Taylor Saulman at Mary Washington. The Peninsula District will truly miss you.

[Lynn Burke]

I second that Clutch Hitter congratulations to the players selected to the Eastern Region All District Team.
But what is At Large maybe Peninsula Fan or Sportsguy71 can answer that for me. Is it a step above honorable mention or is it considered a part of the second team . I`m so :confused: . And isn`t Tra Byrd a junior.
It would of been nice to of had these selections along with the Regional Baseball and Bay Rivers Regional Softball Selections that were in the Daily Press today. I know the DP was not at fault here it looks like Lynn Burke was trying to find out something sooner.Good luck Gabby Gonzales at Va. Tech and Taylor Saulman at Mary Washington. The Peninsula District will truly miss you.

I'm guessing At Large are like utility players, players coaches want to get on the team, but who don't fit into a specific position.

While someone posted these from the Virginian-Pilot today, we're still waiting for an official copy at the paper. We're supposed to get it tomorrow.

[sbfan9]

Good catch Sportsnut - Tra Byd is a junior. Sorry Tra, I tried to graduate you a year too soon. When the official list gets to the DP, I'm sure it will correctly list you as a junior. :o