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| Wesley Wolverine sophomore #23 MI Brooke Retkowski (Baltimore, MD). |
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
CONDITIONING 1-31-2018
CLICK HERE FOR 35
WORKOUT, WED. JAN. 31, 2018
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From top, left-to-right, Wesley Wolverines
junior #8 OF Megan DiRubbio (Smyrna, DE),
sophomore #2 3B/SS Karina Cardona (Cooper City, FL),
sophomore #23 MI Brooke Retkowski (Baltimore, MD),
freshman #32 OF Kelly Palmer (Hershey, PA),
junior #13 UT Ashley Royer (Lititz, PA),
freshman #1 MI Bianca Newsom (Edison, NJ),
freshman #12 C/INF Mykayla Bird-Clahar (Egg Harbor City, NJ).
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24 DAYS, CAPTAINS!
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Bottom graphic, from top,
left-to-right, Wesley Wolverines
senior #99 OF Lauren Hoffman (Bear, DE),
junior #13 UT Ashley Royer (Lititz, PA),
junior #8 OF Megan DiRubbio (Smyrna, DE).
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Tuesday, January 30, 2018
PITCHERS, CATCHERS WORKOUT 1-30
CLICK HERE FOR 65
PITCHERS, CATCHERS WORKOUT
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| From top, Wesley Wolverines freshman #5 UT Amanda Curry (Williamsport, MD), sophomore #6 P/UT Allison Mills (Leonardtown, MD), freshman #1 MI Bianca Newsom (Edison, NJ), freshman #9 OF/C Miranda Kinney (Bethlehem PA), freshman #17 P/ 1B Juli Neel (Haddon Township, NJ), junior #8 OF Megan DiRubbio (Smyrna, DE), freshman #25 P/ 1B Dori Loukopoulos (Chambersburg, PA), freshman #12 C/INF Mykayla Bird-Clahar (Egg Harbor City, NJ), freshman #4 P/ UT Abbey Mayse (Cecilton, MD). |
NEW CATCHER'S GEAR
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| Wesley Wolverine sophomore #2 3B/SS Karina Cardona (Cooper City, FL) wears the new catcher’s gear for the 2018 season. CLICK HERE FOR A SMALL PHOTO ALBUM of Karina as she worked out with pitchers this evening. |
OUTFIELDERS
Monday evening, January 29
Capturing action shots of the fastpitch outfielder is always difficult. On the field, whether it’s game time or even at practice, she is a lone figure that’s almost always positioned at a far away distance. Outfielders’ movements also are hard for even a telephoto lens to anticipate: suddenly bolting, racing great lengths, backward, forward, left or right, across the field to make a play. This past Monday was no different, except the camera found the Wesley Wolverine outfield crowded together within the confines of the Wesley West Fieldhouse for a rainy day practice!
CLICK HERE FOR 80+ PHOTOS
INSIDE, OUT OF THE RAIN
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| From top, left to right, Wesley Wolverine freshman #32 OF Kelly Palmer (Hershey, PA), freshman #5 UT Amanda Curry (Williamsport, MD), sophomore #7 OF/C Brandi Dalious (Harrington, DE), senior #99 OF Lauren Hoffman (Bear, DE), freshman #9 OF/C Miranda Kinney (Bethlehem PA), sophomore #6 P/UT Allison Mills (Leonardtown, MD), junior #8 OF Megan DiRubbio (Smyrna, DE). |
Monday, January 29, 2018
BE HAPPY!
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| Wesley Wolverine junior #13 UT Ashley Royer (Lititz, PA). |
The professional softball Scrap Yard Dawgs of Conroe, Texas, the reigning Cowles Cup champion, have announced that the team will no longer be affiliated with the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league.
This will leave the NPF with the Akron Racers, Chicago Bandits, and USSSA Pride, as well as two global representatives, The Aussie Pride and the Beijing Shougang Eagles.
BREAKING UPDATE (1/29/2018)… New unconfirmed reports are that the Akron Racers also are leaving the NPF, or considering it, and will be replaced by a second Chinese team, leaving the NPF now with the Chicago Bandits, and USSSA Pride and three global representatives
In a press release, the Dawgs pledged to “continue to compete at the highest level as an independent team playing a full summer schedule that includes major venues and globally televised events in packed stadiums against the top-ranked teams in the world.”
The Dawg’s 2018 schedule includes a season opening home series at The Scrap Yard Sports Complex against the 2018 USA Softball Women’s World Championship team, followed by another home series against the 2018 USA Softball Women’s All-Star team.
To be sorted out, the Dawg’s roster currently has five players also on 2018 Team USA scheduled for the opener. They are Monica Abbott (Tennessee), Taylor Edwards (Nebraska), Ali Aguilar (Washington), Kasey Cooper (Auburn), and Hannah Flippen (Utah).
Going forward, the Scrap Yard Dawgs promise player contracts that will include significant salary increases with players having a much stronger voice and vote in all strategic owner/management decisions — a level of compensation and representation, the Dawgs claim, was unavailable to them under the NPF structure.
Sunday, January 28, 2018
26 DAYS + PITCHING
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| THE FRESHMEN, CLASS OF 2021 with a peak at 2018 fastpitch uniforms, from top, left-to-right, Wesley Wolverines freshman #9 OF/C Miranda Kinney (Bethlehem PA), freshman #17 P/ 1B Juli Neel (Haddon Township, NJ), freshman #25 P/ 1B Dori Loukopoulos (Chambersburg, PA), freshman #12 C/INF Mykayla Bird-Clahar (Egg Harbor City, NJ), freshman #4 P/ UT Abbey Mayse (Cecilton, MD), freshman #1 MI Bianca Newsom (Edison, NJ), freshman #32 OF Kelly Palmer (Hershey, PA), freshman #5 UT Amanda Curry (Williamsport, MD). |
The art and beauty
of fastpitch hurling
Quotes below are from an article by Amanda Scarborough
titled “Why Fastpitch Pitching Leaves So Many In Awe…”.
Pitchers especially, please click here to read the full story.
“I love everything about fastpitch pitching. It’s an art – physically and mentally. A very small percentage of people in this world can say that they have taken a stab at it…
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| Wesley Wolverine sophomore #6 P/UT Allison Mills (Leonardtown, MD). |
“There is a certain splendor in watching someone perform the action of underhand pitching, and actually doing it well.
“Let me be the first to tell you – pitching is not easy because of how unique the motion is and how each part of your body does something on its own while it still contributes to one full, complete, pitching circle. Softball pitching leaves fans who aren’t around the sport jaw-dropped…
“What makes pitching so beautiful is the motion, the dedication and the pressure…
“The pressure a pitcher goes through in a game is extraordinary…
“In the middle of the pitching circle there is no hiding...
“Not everyone can pitch. It’s mysterious, it’s difficult, it’s a never-ending project.”
– Amanda Scarborough
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| From top, Wesley Wolverines freshman #4 P/ UT Abbey Mayse (Cecilton, MD), freshman #17 P/ 1B Juli Neel (Haddon Township, NJ), freshman #25 P/ 1B Dori Loukopoulos (Chambersburg, PA). |
HEY CATCHERS!
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From top, Wesley Wolverine
freshman #12 C/INF Mykayla Bird-Clahar (Egg Harbor City, NJ),
freshman #9 OF/C Miranda Kinney (Bethlehem PA),
sophomore #7 OF/C Brandi Dalious (Harrington, DE),
freshman #5 UT Amanda Curry (Williamsport, MD).
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Saturday, January 27, 2018
27 DAYS
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| From top, Wesley Wolverines sophomore #23 MI Brooke Retkowski (Baltimore, MD), sophomore #2 3B/SS Karina Cardona (Cooper City, FL), sophomore #6 P/UT Allison Mills (Leonardtown, MD), sophomore #7 OF/C Brandi Dalious (Harrington, DE). |
MYRTLE TEAM PHOTOS
Wesley Wolverine practice at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic, North Myrtle Beach, SC, has been set for 2:00 PM, Sunday, March 11. The workout is not open to fans.
However, if this year repeats previous years' schedules, prior to the March 11 practice, weather permitting, fans can snap photos of the Wolverines in uniform on the beach in a variety of team, group, and individual poses.
CLICK HERE for a sample of the North Myrtle Beach team photos from last year (2017).
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| Wesley Wolverines posing for photos at North Myrtle Beach 2017. In the center of both bottom photos is junior #8 OF Megan DiRubbio (Smyrna, DE). On left is sophomore #23 MI Brooke Retkowski (Baltimore, MD). On right is senior #99 OF Lauren Hoffman (Bear, DE). |
FAN BENEFITS
Spring fast approaching
Local softball games
offer many fan benefits
This spring and summer, take me out to the LOCAL fastpitch (or slow pitch) softball game, whether it’s Little League, club ball, company leagues or college. It’s just down the road!
Here are a few benefits of catching a local softball game with an emphasis on college fastpitch.
1. SMALLER FIELD than baseball with fans much closer to the action and players. Every seat is a good seat.
2. RELAXED SOCIAL SETTING where most fans know or are related to players, are enthusiastically cheering and eager to talk to one another.
3. ENTERTAINMENT that allows fans to simply follow just the balls, strikes and hits – or guessing moves and strategies, becoming seriously involved with the intricacies of the game.
4. COSTS. Local softball games are usually free or very moderately priced with ease of parking – and a short drive home!
5. WATCH IN COMFORT. Most local venues allow fans to bring folding stadium chairs and/or to pack food from snacks to a picnic for the whole family.
6. TIME. A full game is 7 innings or about two hours. Often a second game is played or several games on a complex of fields. Stay all day, a few hours or only a few innings. Very easily come and go as you please.
7. ADMIRE THE PLAYERS. Fastpitch is for everyone: tall, thin, short, strapping, fast, strong, slap hitters, singles hitters, power hitters – all kinds, types, shapes, while everyone on the field has one or more of an amazing amount of individual skill sets, which she has spent hours and weeks training for this game, this moment in the game.
8. IT’S NOT THE PROS. You are watching young women playing hard and determined to win, but when the dust settles, these are kids just like everyone else with higher, more important educational and societal goals in mind.
Local softball games
offer many fan benefits
This spring and summer, take me out to the LOCAL fastpitch (or slow pitch) softball game, whether it’s Little League, club ball, company leagues or college. It’s just down the road!
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| Wesley Wolverine sophomore #23 MI Brooke Retkowski (Baltimore, MD). |
1. SMALLER FIELD than baseball with fans much closer to the action and players. Every seat is a good seat.
2. RELAXED SOCIAL SETTING where most fans know or are related to players, are enthusiastically cheering and eager to talk to one another.
3. ENTERTAINMENT that allows fans to simply follow just the balls, strikes and hits – or guessing moves and strategies, becoming seriously involved with the intricacies of the game.
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| Wesley Wolverine sophomore #2 3B/SS Karina Cardona (Cooper City, FL). |
5. WATCH IN COMFORT. Most local venues allow fans to bring folding stadium chairs and/or to pack food from snacks to a picnic for the whole family.
6. TIME. A full game is 7 innings or about two hours. Often a second game is played or several games on a complex of fields. Stay all day, a few hours or only a few innings. Very easily come and go as you please.
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| Wesley Wolverine freshman #1 MI Bianca Newsom (Edison, NJ). |
Friday, January 26, 2018
28 DAYS
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| From left, Wesley Wolverines freshman #5 UT Amanda Curry (Williamsport, MD), freshman #32 OF Kelly Palmer (Hershey, PA). |
PRACTICE 1-26
CLICK HERE FOR 50+
BATTING, PITCHING PRACTICE
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| From top, left-to-right, Wesley Wolverines freshman #4 P/ UT Abbey Mayse (Cecilton, MD), freshman #1 MI Bianca Newsom (Edison, NJ), sophomore #7 OF/C Brandi Dalious (Harrington, DE), freshman #25 P/ 1B Dori Loukopoulos (Chambersburg, PA), freshman #9 OF/C Miranda Kinney (Bethlehem PA), second picture of #7 OF/C Brandi Dalious, freshman #5 UT Amanda Curry (Williamsport, MD), freshman #17 P/ 1B Juli Neel (Haddon Township, NJ), freshman #32 OF Kelly Palmer (Hershey, PA). |
Thursday, January 25, 2018
WBSC
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CLICK HERE FOR THE
WBSC HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO WHO IS WHO: The International SOFTBALL Federation (ISF) is the international governing body, recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), for the sport of softball with its world headquarters at Plant City, Florida. In 2013 the organization merged with the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) to operate now as a division of the World Baseball SOFTBALL Confederation (WBSC). |
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| Wesley Wolverine freshman #32 OF Kelly Palmer (Hershey, PA). |
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
INFIELD PRACTICE 1-24
CLICK HERE FOR 36
ON THE DIRT TODAY, JAN. 24
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| From top, left-to-right, Wesley Wolverines sophomore #23 MI Brooke Retkowski (Baltimore, MD), freshman #4 P/ UT Abbey Mayse (Cecilton, MD), freshman #17 P/ 1B Juli Neel (Haddon Township, NJ), freshman #25 P/ 1B Dori Loukopoulos (Chambersburg, PA). |
DREAMS & AMBITION
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| Wesley Wolverine freshman #1 MI Bianca Newsom (Edison, NJ). |
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| Wesley Wolverines after preseason 2017 fall-ball game. |
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
SOFTBALL LESSONS
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| CLICK HERE FOR THE ARTICLE HEADLINED: What My Sport Taught Me: ESPN analyst and softball standout Jessica Mendoza |
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| From left, Wesley Wolverines senior #99 OF Lauren Hoffman (Bear, DE), junior #8 OF Megan DiRubbio (Smyrna, DE), freshman #32 OF Kelly Palmer (Hershey, PA). |
ALL-AMERICANS
TWO FPN ALL-AMERICANS TO PLAY AGAINST
OUR WOLVERINES THIS COMING 2018 SEASON
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| Alyssa Barlow |
Two players who are honored will visit the DuPont Softball Field for games against our Wesley Wolverines this coming 2018 season.
They are…
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| Leanne Collins |
FIRST TEAM senior OF #8 Leanne Collins (Sparks, MD) of the Salisbury Sea Gulls for an afternoon doubleheader on Saturday, April 7.
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| Wesley Wolverine freshman #5 UT Amanda Curry (Williamsport, MD). |
HAVE FAITH
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| Pictured, Wesley Wolverine freshman #12 C/INF Mykayla Bird-Clahar (Egg Harbor City, NJ). LINKS: ■ Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) ■ Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). |
Monday, January 22, 2018
PRACTICE 1-22
2018 SEASON IS NOW!
CLICK HERE FOR 80+
FIRST DAY ON DIRT AND GRASS!
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| From top, left-to-right, Wesley Wolverines sophomore #7 OF Brandi Dalious (Harrington, DE), senior #99 OF Lauren Hoffman (Bear, DE), freshman #1 MI Bianca Newsom (Edison, NJ), sophomore #23 MI Brooke Retkowski (Baltimore, MD), freshman #25 P/ 1B Dori Loukopoulos (Chambersburg, PA), freshman #32 OF Kelly Palmer (Hershey, PA), junior #13 UT Ashley Royer (Lititz, PA), freshman #9 OF/C Miranda Kinney (Bethlehem PA). |
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