The official All-PD softball team...

[Dave Johnson]

ALL-PENINSULA DISTRICT
SOFTBALL TEAMS
Player of the Year: Stephanie Coates, Gloucester.
Coach of the Year: Mike Tallon, Woodside.
FIRST TEAM:
P—Stephanie Coates, Gloucester. P—Sarah Atkins, Warwick. C—Gaby Gonzalez, Bethel. 1B—Taylor Saulman, Gloucester. 2B—Andrea Gray, Menchville. 3B—Daisy Estevez, Woodside. SS—Kate Perry, Menchville. OF—Va King, Warwick; Brittany Hicks, Bethel; Brenna Thomas, Gloucester. UTL—Kristie Hoeffer, Woodside.
SECOND TEAM:
P—Katie Alexander, Kecoughtan. P—Jenna Ryan, Bethel. C—Sofie Rodriguez, Woodside. 1B—Gabby Andino, Woodside. 2B—Lauren Fraser, Bethel. 3B—Shanickqua Ballard, Denbigh. SS—Karli Robb, Gloucester. OF—Ellie Staples, Menchville; Iiesha Ricks, Denbigh; Samantha Johnson, Gloucester. UTL—Travonna Byrd, Warwick.
HONORABLE MENTION: Serina Overton, Bethel; Morgan Jenkins, Bethel; Jamie Powell, Bethel; Hope Riddick, Bethel; Mary Fletcher, Denbigh; Carlie Wallace, Denbigh; Lauren Kiser, Gloucester; Amber Stevens, Gloucester; Ashley Moore, Gloucester; Leta Bressing, Gloucester; Melanie Graham, Hampton; Sarah Roby, Hampton; Jessica McCarty, Heritage; Brittany Thorpe, Heritage; Maureen Loughran, Kecoughtan; Amber Plair, Kecoughtan; Revonda Daily, Kecoughtan; Casey Robinson, Kecoughtan; Samantha Dail, Kecoughtan; Kelsie Woods, Menchville; Jessica Nightengale, Menchville; Alyson Laughrun, Menchville; Heather Miller, Menchville; Tabby Whatley, Menchville; Stephanie Mode, Phoebus; Nepatinnie Wallace, Phoebus; LaJoyia Bruce, Phoebus; Mary Swain, Phoebus; Chelsea Dawson, Warwick; Ashley Trumble, Warwick; Tiera Gostomski, Warwick; Alex Ward, Warwick.

[sportsguy71]

54 players listed for all district? I understand the first and second teams may leave out one or two deserving players but come on. Some schools listed as many as 5 honorable mentions? That list totally takes the prestige out of being named to an all district team. If the coaches are just listing as many girls as they want so the parents get to see their kids mentioned then sports in general are sliding in the wrong direction.

[whocares]

Thats because to gt honorable mention all that has to happen is your own coach nominate you, and atleast one coach vote for you (your own coach).

[justafan]

Congratulations to all selected!! Keep working hard and keep your goals high. No matter where your name is on this list there is always room to get better so continue to challenge yourselves. Good Luck to all in your future endeavors.


PD COACH'S - While some of the 1st team and 2nd team selectees are on point the rest of the list clearly shows which coach's are friends off the field. That may be a harsh statement but it just cannot be far from the truth.

Your system is in need of a quality control program. I look at that list and see all those girls whom you have overlooked for 1st team and 2nd team in that last couple years forcing them to climb "the ladder of progression" (justifiably so in my opinion) and they have done very very well. Then you speak just the opposite by selecting brand new players to the top of the list. What a great message you all have sent out to every player in the PD! Congratulations.

Why did'nt you put yourselves in for OF because "You are way out there in left field this year".

[The Clutch Hitter]

Congratultions to all the players! I totally disagree about new players, I think no matter if you are a freshman or Sophmore and your numbers are on point, you deserve to make 1st team. That is just my opinion! :)

[softball93]

Wow, on 1st or 2nd team, break it down in order of finish:
GHS - 5
WaHS - 4
BHS - 4
WoHS - 4
KHS - 1
MHS - 3?
DHS - 2???
That has to say something, but I'm not sure what.:) :confused: :eek:

[Peninsula fan]

First of all. I think coaches on all levels should strive to be friends off the field. That is a healthy thing. Competition should remain on the field. Secondly, there is politcs at every level in every professon. Thirdly. Years in school and years on the field has nothing to do with a players ability. Being good on a team one year has nothng to do with the other years, that would be consistency over a period of time. Worthy, yet it has nothing to do with now. Lastly, the very best always rise to the top and will eventually be noticed. Players play the game hopefully for more reasons than just to be on someones list. We start all this mess when kids are young. Receiving awards just for showing up, massive large trophies for a rec league game. Adults cause this stuff to happen. Kids being told they are so much better than they really are at a young age. Its all relative. The big picture should be how they develope in life. Just an opinion, thats all. We should praise all kids who try to do more than the norm, not praise them for just showing up. They're supposed to do that.:rapture:

[softball93]

Where is the third base from Hampton. She seemed to be the only real threat to hit the ball hard. Is her name Travis or something like that.

[pdandbrdfan]

Courtney Travis played shortstop and 3rd base for Hampton this year. To me, she was the best player on that team, however, that was a very weak team.

We sometimes forget the intangibles a player has, that do not show up on the stat sheet, like moving a runner over, hits or defensive plays made in key situations, etc. The coaches know these things and take all of it into consideration when voting. I honestly believe this had a lot to do with where some people ended up in the voting. Again, congratulations to all the girls who were nominated, whether 1st, 2nd team or honorable mention. :peace:

[ballin4u]

pdbrdfan that's a really good point you made

[trifectajoe]

To sportsguy71....

Why must you try and belittle the award these girls have achieved? They should be getting a congrats from ALL OF US for representing their respective teams and doing the best they can.

It is a true jerk move by you to make a comment like you did. I just hope that none of these players see what you said. This is a HIGH SCHOOL SPORT. These are TEENAGE KIDS. Why must you try to de-value the awards and accolades they have been given?

Please think before you criticize 15-18 year old girls. If you are bitter, take it out elsewhere. You should be applauding every girl who put on a jersey representing their school this year. It takes a lot to do that.

[sportsguy71]

trifectajoe,

It is not belittling anyone to question how you can name over half the position players in the entire district to an all district team. No other sport does this. For example, Gloucester had 9 PLAYERS end up with all district honors, Warwick had 8, Bethel had 8, Menchville had 8. Are you telling me that between those four teams alone there are 33 all district caliber players? That is almost every starting kid on the field for these teams. In all other sports you get one honorable mention per team, and that is usually reserved for a coach to give it to a person that either didn't make the first two teams or a person on the team he/she feels deserves recognition.

Everyone has a right to their opinion. This is high school, not rec league anymore. The all district teams are supposed to recognize the best players at their positions in the district. Is this list truly representative of that?

[The Clutch Hitter]

AMEN TRIFECTAJOE!!!;)

[trifectajoe]

I know this is high school and not rec league. In rec league everyone gets a trophy and at this level at least you have to be good enough to get one. However, the fact you got on a public board and essentially attacked 15-18 year old IMPRESSIONABLE young ladies is what bothers me. If you are upset, take it to the AD, Coach, Principal, etc. How would you like to have a daughter who looked atthis board smiling because she got an award and have it attacked? Can you imagine the hurt you have done? And no, I am not a parent, coach or umpire of PD softball. I just hate to see kids be called out and humiliated.

I am by no means saying the process is fair, I know what goes on in those meetings makes congressional fillibusters look petty, but let us treat these student athletes with respect. Twenty years ago when all-district teams were chosen no one sought out players to say they were not good enough. No one had a message board to do that. The banter was in a bar about what should have happened and peopel were as passionate then as now. I just think we should keep our opinions there and not in the eyes of the kids who have worked for years to get this accolade. Many of these kids are graduating and this may be the last "addagirl" they get for a long time. Let them enjoy it.

[Hawkeye06]

So, after reading all of this back and forth i have to ask, What is the offical process for selecting 1st, 2nd, and honorable mention. and is it the same process as other sports say football , baseball and basketball. If its not the same why is it not.

i understand what sportsguy was saying, what he said he probable could have gone about it a different way but i understand. there shouldn't be a softball team where 8 girls get awards. That would be the equivalent of 18 starters on a PD football team receiving honors, or 4 of the 5 starters of a basketball team.

I guess if we are careing for these girls that may or may not read these post , you have to take in consideration the one or two on those teams with 8 honors winners. How do these girls feel when they see every starter on the team recieved an honor but them. I really feel sorry for them. How do you announce that to your team. I would feel less than dirt. Because i know that 9th girl contributed to the team in great ways.

The bigger probable is that we make awards bigger than they should be. This sport should be all about the team, and how far your team reached. When a team wins district does anyone know who gets a trophy......the principal and its put in a school glass case, thats it. There should be some more team awards. Where is the team sportsmanship awards. Yes you should honor a couple standouts that put the time in during the off-season and come early to practice and stay late, and the ones that ask for 2 more balls at batting practice and perform great on the field.

The coaches have to get together and work this thing out because it does look bad for the sport to have that many Honorable mentions. Maybe the girls on the teams should have a vote and say they can't vote for their team. I bet they would get it right politics aside.

Last thing, if you ever want to see girls playing for the love of the sport come and check out a jv game or two. These girls know there is no playoffs no awards no media coverage nothing but their team and playing softball for the love of the sport.



Go in Peace.

Congrats to the Ladies honored

[SplitTime]

I think the girls are put up by each coach for what they think they deserve. If you were put up for 1st team and didnt get it, you might get voted in for second team. If you didnt get second team, you get an honorable mention. Does this make sense, once on the list for 1st or 2nd and you didnt make it you automatically get an honorable mention. :)

[softball93]

Hawkeye, I agree with you. I love to watch the JV teams play boys or girls. I really enjoy JV football games on the practice field or little league baseball/softball.

[trifectajoe]

I never once said that maybe something was not amiss. What I said was that people need to watch how they say it. The last thing these boards are meant to do is criticize these young ladies. This is THEIR spotlight, not any of hours. Let them enjoy it.

[justafan]

Even thought the Varsity games are generally faster and cleaner with regards to errors I will agree that the JV games are much more fun to watch. They are not afraid to try things and be aggressive overall. They are learning and preparing for the next step. Unfortunatley, something is lost between JV and Varsity. The nature of the Varsity games almost mandate the game be run more like a business and sometimes I believe the ladies are restrained and cannot play with the spirit and drive that drove them to love the game like they do. :ballchain:

I guess that is just the nature of it all.

The good news is if you watch College games on TV.....they go back to trying things and making things happen. So for those who are fortunate enough to continue softball in college....:rockon:

[Peninsula fan]

The thing that might be lost between Varsity and JV. Wow! How about the pressure to win is magnified by 100 for the players and coaches. The higher up you go the more competitive it gets. There are way too many other factors involved also. Getting older, other interests, grades, social growth. Then at the college level they've been through that process and they refocus on playing because they are all competitive. At the JV level it should be fun, and it should be developmental for those who can't yet play for a varsity team. ITs also a new experience for them too. Way too many elements to consider, but I do agree they are fun to watch.

[justafan]

Oh I agree! The pressure to perform is way too high. The outside influences and social activities....endless and vicious.

[Hawkeye06]

other intrests = boys? Why is it that girls get soooo distracted by boys and young men can play a sport 100% and have female intrest?

Just curious does anyone know the last Varsity head coach that was replaced due to performance?

I was wondering because it doesn't seem like the pressure is there across the board. well there might be pressure to have winning season or win the district but there is no where near the pressure that is on the Football teams in the area. The pressure to beat Hampton or Pheobus or for hampton or pheobus to win state. anytime your team is expected year in and year out to compete for the State Championship, you have tons of pressure. I don't understand the pressure that the softball teams in the PD have.

On another note what was the last Eastern Region team to win state Championship, the last PD team?

[sbfan9]

Kempsville was the last Eastern Region team to win state and I believe Woodside was the last PD.

[softball93]

sfbfan9 I believe you are right. I am not sure when Kempsville won but the Eastern Region is very strong in the state competition. PA and Great Bridge have won the state multiple times in the past 10 years or so. Woodside won the state in either 2000 or 2001. It was Micki Rodrigues' freshman year and she played right field that year. The pitcher was I think Holly Miller.

[SportsRMyLife]

You are correct, softball93. Holly Miller was the pitcher, Laura Drebitko was the catcher, Mickey was in right field and I think Nuzzo was either SS or 3B but it was a great team for Woodside when they won state!!

[sbfan9]

Reply to Softball93: Kempsville won AAA state in June 2005 when they beat nationally-ranked, undefeated Osbourne High School by the score of 1-0.

[Peninsula fan]

Slight correction there. Nuzzo was the SS, Drebitko was the 3rd baseman, Jenny Harrison was the catcher and Miller and Rodriquez were on point. Woodside to date, is the only Peninsula team to ever win either a regional championship or a state championship, and they've been to two regional finals and two state tournaments.
To the parent who made the female comment. If you think for one minute that boys do not play a part in a female athletes lives during first two years of high school ( if you are lucky) either don't have daughter or you've never coached high school female athletes. Their are exceptions of course, but not the majority.
To the people who wonder about coaches and their jobs, also is obviously not an educator. Coaches are under the gun in all sports, there is simply more emphasis put on other sports at certain schools because of tradition and demographics. Its hard to get kids to play for programs that have never been successful, and harder still to find coaches willing to fit all the necessary qualifications to be successful. High school coaches don't all have the luxury of picking and choosing every player they have.
Summer ball is an entirely different animal. The atmosphere is much more relaxed and so is the pressure to win, period. Kids play mainly within their own age groups with the exceptional few being allowed to play up. Their is nothing the same at any level. Some high schoolers make great summer ballers because they have better overall hand picked talent around them. They get to high school where they are expected to carry the load, they can't handle the added pressure of carrying a team. Way to many variables including coaching, parenting, and other interests.

[Peninsula fan]

By the way. One more correction. Princess Anne has won only one state championship and that one was after Woodside won theirs.. the multiple winner over their was Great Bridge when they had Jenny Fletcher... they won 3 in a row, then Woodside knocked them off on their way to a fourth. The Beach and southeastern have consistently sent teams to the states, but they have not dominated the championships.

[Hawkeye06]

My point was that nobody in softball has lost there job for not winning games like in areas major sports. Most AD's are happy with not haveing to deal with problems. Meaning if the program is being run smoothly and well organized and there aren't any issues coming up for that sport on a daily basis then the AD is okay with that coach. Anyone that has ever coached any sport at the high school level knows that playing the games and winning is the easy and fun part, all the behind the scenes work is how a coach keeps his job in the AD's eyes.

[softball93]

Having coached in high school and having been around for quite some time I can tell you a coach would have to commit some horrible crime in some schools in order to be removed from their position. There are some terrible coaches out there that do not know beans about the sports they coach or the game has just passed them by and they are not willing to change with the game. The comment about the AD's is so true. These horrible coaches are buddies with the ADs and the AD (she or he) will not fire an incompetent coach regardless of how many scholarships they do not get for their players or how many players these has beens ruin the game for and ruin the chance of playing at the next level just because they are friends or they can raise money or what ever. There needs to be some accountability. It is true that you have to play with what shows up but for goodnss sakes try to improve what shows up and let the kids hav esome fun.

[Peninsula fan]

Totally agree about A.D.'s not wanting to deal with problems, nobody does, especially problems that involve spoiled players and spoiled parents who think they know more than they really do. I guess if coaching were so easy anybody could do and do it well. Could be that there is simply a shortage of people out there who want to devote the time year round that is now necessary and who have the expertise to excercise the necessary knowledge to do so. By the way, a coach can help players get noticed, but players have to be good enough to stay noticed. Part of the problem we see these days are that too many AAU and ASA organizations are promising these kids, and parents that if they play for such and such and organization, they will get them a scholarship. No college coach is going to recruit a kid soley on another coaches word unless that coach has been successful for years and years and developed a worthy reputation for developing players. Even then the kid must be a player and show their stuff. Today most college coaches want to see how players interact with their high school teams - not their summer travel teams. Another problem today is getting the kids to put in the time in to develop:yo: fundamentals, not just play. Maybe the people who get in the coaching game today just aren't as dedicated as they used to be because of all the stuff they must put up with these days. Its different than coaching your own daughter or son in the summers like many do these days. Just mild observations from someone who has done both for over 32 years.

[coach]

[
good point











quote=Hawkeye06;6884]So, after reading all of this back and forth i have to ask, What is the offical process for selecting 1st, 2nd, and honorable mention. and is it the same process as other sports say football , baseball and basketball. If its not the same why is it not.

i understand what sportsguy was saying, what he said he probable could have gone about it a different way but i understand. there shouldn't be a softball team where 8 girls get awards. That would be the equivalent of 18 starters on a PD football team receiving honors, or 4 of the 5 starters of a basketball team.

I guess if we are careing for these girls that may or may not read these post , you have to take in consideration the one or two on those teams with 8 honors winners. How do these girls feel when they see every starter on the team recieved an honor but them. I really feel sorry for them. How do you announce that to your team. I would feel less than dirt. Because i know that 9th girl contributed to the team in great ways.

The bigger probable is that we make awards bigger than they should be. This sport should be all about the team, and how far your team reached. When a team wins district does anyone know who gets a trophy......the principal and its put in a school glass case, thats it. There should be some more team awards. Where is the team sportsmanship awards. Yes you should honor a couple standouts that put the time in during the off-season and come early to practice and stay late, and the ones that ask for 2 more balls at batting practice and perform great on the field.

The coaches have to get together and work this thing out because it does look bad for the sport to have that many Honorable mentions. Maybe the girls on the teams should have a vote and say they can't vote for their team. I bet they would get it right politics aside.

Last thing, if you ever want to see girls playing for the love of the sport come and check out a jv game or two. These girls know there is no playoffs no awards no media coverage nothing but their team and playing softball for the love of the sport.



Go in Peace.

Congrats to the Ladies honored[/quote]

[justafan]

Having been a part of virtually all levels of competition ranging from Little League, City Rec, ASA, NSA, High School, and College; the High School sports programs are by far and away the hardest to coach. All programs except High School have large areas (talent pool) to choose players from and in some cases such as ASA,NSA, and College the players are virtually hand picked from anywhere abroad. It is easy to see why there is a shortage of quality coaches in High School. IT'S HARD!!!! and it's even harder to do well! While my experiences come from the midwest I am sure that High School sports are the same no matter where you are from.

[softball93]

That is so true especially for those schools who do not have a "magnet". Some area schools have a magnet offering a "specialty" such as Technology, IB, Performing Arts, or Aviation. My hat goes off to those schools who do not have magnets and still perform well. It is really disheartening to see players who are zoned for their school playing for an opponent just because they are in the "Technology Program". We all know someone playing out of zone and it is "Legal". My hat also goes off to those athletes who stay at their school and shine anyway.

[Peninsula fan]

Good points all. Wish we could all go back to the neighborhood situation, but the parents are the real culprits and its really hard to blame them if they think its the best thing for the kids. The kids, even in high school tend to go where their friends are though. Most of the so called recruiting is done through the AAU and ASA coaches who are also high school coaches and are approached by the parents. See it every summer, every year. The only ones who can stop it are the ones causing it. The parents. Enough said.:spider:

[justafan]

I agree on all points given. Trying to figure out what is right for our kids is an ongoing struggle. Unfortunately, there are some parental concerns and there is actually weight given over a particular high schools ability to perform in a given sport. We have all either seen or heard of this. Rediculous!!!! These parents actually believe their student athlete will recieve scholarships if they attend these schools who do well in that sport.

The fact is only a very small percentage of players recieve scholarships in sports of any kind. 99% of student athletes in high school will end their sports career in high school. Just a bit of reality for those parents out there who have to many eggs in that basket. But then again....how can a person be blamed for trying. Easy to understand...hard to justify.