GTSPS Season Recap

U16 Blaze
The 16U Blaze finished 2-2 at the final tournament. It was nice to have the whole team back for the last weekend with Sarah and Maggie back from the concussions and broken fingers. Even though she could not pitch this weekend, Sarah showed that the time off due to the concussion did not slow her down on the bases. It was good to see some new girls join us this season as well as some that had been away for a few years. Overall, the team improved each week during the season. Congratulations to all the teams and players in the Burnsville Girls Traveling Slow Pitch program for a very successful season.
 

2016 FALL BALL!!

Click here for more information and to sign up for the 2016 Fall season 

http://bacgihsb.assn.la/
 

GTSPS Season Recap

U12 Thunder

The Burnsville Thunder started out the season with a mixed group of individuals. Some with years of experience and great hitting, and some being brand new to the game. Taking each and every player as critical to our team, we worked through the year and focused on all elements of the game. At times this ended up being repetitive in nature, but good practice for the veterans, and new experiences for the others!

At times, the team struggled to find their place and keep positive during difficult times. Each and every lady on the team continued to battle weather it was a small victory, or a large win! Group unity and teamwork were the key factors we, as manager, strived to focus on. Knowing that if each player took little steps and focused on small accomplishments, like hitting the ball, driving the run in from 3rd base, or making a great play in the field, we would build each one up and it would be large accomplishments for the team.

We have many things to recognize as a team, tournament awards, new player development, new player positions, alertness in the field, as well as the key element of knowing where to go with the ball BEFORE the pitch is thrown. Hard thing to remember, but coaching and telling them to constantly be thinking like that would be critical to our success (or failures) as a team.

I'm very proud and excited to have coached a wonderful group of ladies! My most proud moment was after losing in South Dakota and placing 3rd, our team held their heads high and gave best of luck wishes as well as high-fives to the Brooklyn Park team coming in after us to play in the championship game (even getting a nice note from their coach after put a smile on my face).

Some team accomplishments were taking 2nd in the State Preliminary, 3rd place in Watertown, South Dakota, consolation championship in Richfield, as well as 3rd at the end of the season at the State Tournament!

At the end of the year as I reflect on the season, I feel as a team we accomplished many things most didn't think we could. But as individuals, we learned to maintain a positive attitude by cheering other teams on that might have just beat us to advance the next level of a tournament, or missing a routine ground ball, or striking out. Staying positive, having fun, and holding their heads high is what gave the team their elements.





 

GTSPS Season Recap

U16 Firestorm

The Burnsville 16U Firestorm finished the season 37-10. Bringing home championships in the USSSA State Qualifier, the Golden Valley tournament, and the Midwest Invitational.

As coaches we were able to witness a great group of young woman grow and mature! They played hard all the time and literally became a family. We could not be prouder of them!

Thank you to the parents for all of your support all season. Thank you to Lisa Missling for being the team Mom. Thank you to Todd Lesteberg and Doug Hamblin for the many, many hours of coaching and dedication to the girls.

Finally, Thank you to Greta Donnelly, Sam Shadick, Alayna Hamblin, Kylie Lesteberg, Hannah Fisher, Sarah Leahy, Maddie Schwab, Natalie Domek, Kersten Decker, Bethany Gearman, Emma Missling, and Kate Ruth for being so awesome and dreams to coach. I love you all!!!!

 

GTSPS Season Recap

U12 Blaze
The 12U Blaze started the season with four goals for 2016: 1) Be a team; 2) Always Improve; 3) Play for a Championship and 4) Finish with a winning record. As the youngest team in the program the Blaze can proudly say they accomplished all of their goals. 
Goal #1 - The Blaze went from a bunch girls wanting to play some softball, to a team that played for each other on the field and had a ton of fun off the field. As a coach my favorite memory of this team will be how fun the players were to be around, all the nicknames that the girls gave each other and how they consistently encouraged each other (Ya Mon!).
Goal #2 – Every player improved as a player this season. They did it by listening and working extremely hard. What this team lacked in size and strength, they made up for in heart and determination. This team played great defense, claiming 3 shutouts during the season.
Goal #3 – Our first tournament in Edina was an eye opener for these first time travelling players. At that tournament they learned the rigor of playing back to back games, and waking up early Sunday morning only to lose if they weren’t ready to play. At Richfield, the Blaze applied some of those initial lessons. The Blaze came one out away of beating a very strong Brooklyn Park team in the semi-finals. At Golden Valley, the Blaze broke through to play in the championship against the Golden Valley Flurry (Big Mac). Despite losing that game the young Blaze realized that they can play with anyone. We also fondly remember the “victory” arch that the 16U Firestorm gave us after the game. In the final three tournaments the Blaze did well advancing to a third place finish at the Burnsville Tournament. And more than held their own in Watertown and at State. 
Goal #4 – The Blaze finished the season 23-20, with one second place and one third place tournament finish. And if you take out the 10 games played against Brooklyn Park and Golden Valley Flurry (the two best teams at 12U) the Blaze had a 23-10 record. This team is poised to have a very favorable run next year.


 

GTSPS Season Recap

U14 Blaze
The season went well for the U14 Blaze. They finished strong winning four of their last five tournaments. They were 23-8 in tournament play with half their losses coming in the first two tournaments. They were 9-1 in their last 10 tournament games. They got Revenge for their loss in the
first round of state finals to Golden valley with second game victory by ten run rule on a walk off homerun.


 

2016 USSSA State Tournament

U12 - Burnsville Thunder started Saturday morning at 10AM vs. Maple Grove Mudcats - Thunder started strong and scored 4 runs in the first inning. The Mudcats were held to 2 runs until the 4th inning when they scored 4 more runs getting up to 6. Thunder won the first game of state double elimination winning 16-6 with the help of an impressive grand slam by Nat Teal! Game two advanced to play against a strong Golden Valley Flurry team. Both teams held scoring down to only a few runs. Flurry were up 4-3 after 2 innings. During inning 3, the Flurry racked up 7 more runs getting a significant lead. Thunder rallied back scoring 4 more runs, but Thunder couldn't catch up. Thunder lost 17-7 game 2 being pushed into the loser bracket. Sunday game 1 started against their peer team, the Burnsville Blaze. The Thunder got the bats rolling early and had a commanding 7-2 lead into the 4th. Blaze were not going without a fight, showing strength and determination tied the game in the last inning 10-10. With having last ups, and with a runner on 1st base, the Thunder were able to squeeze another solid hit, and with the quick speed on 1st base, we were able to score and won the game 11-10 advancing the next round in the loser bracket.
U12 - Burnsville Thunder played the Brooklyn Park Illusions for the next game. Thunder started off slow, down 5-2 after 2 innings. Battled back and forth and gained lead 13-9 which was held for the final 3 innings. Thunder won game 2, 13-9 to advance to the next round. We then played the Golden Valley Rockets. For the first few innings the score was even, with the help of Thunder player Anna as she smacked a grand slam getting the Thunder within-in 1 of Golden Valley (score being 7-6)!. Golden Valley continued to gain runs, but the Thunder was unable to keep up. Thunder lost the game 12-7 ending their season.
The Thunder took 3rd place in the State Softball tournament.

The 12U Blaze went 1-1 on Saturday of the 12U State Tournament losing to the Golden Valley Rainbow Rockets and beating the Bloomington Bombers. Sunday morning the Blaze played the Burnsville Thunder. After falling behind early 7-2, the Blaze battled back to tie the game 10-10 in the top of the 6th inning. However, in the bottom of the 6th the Thunder pushed across the winning run ending the Blaze tournament run. Congratulations to the Thunder for taking 3rd place.

The U14 BLaze went 4-1 to win the USSSA state at Lac Lavon.

The U16 Blaze-

The U16 Firestorm came up just short of winning it's 3rd consecutive State Title, losing the title game to the Bloomington Jazz. The Firestorm opened the tournament with an 11-0 victory over the Bloomington Vortex. It then defeated the Richfield Breeze 13-3. An opening loss Sunday morning to the Jazz put the Firestorm in the Loser's Bracket. After defeating the Bloomington Shock, the rematch with the Jazz was set in the Championship. The Firestorm came up just short in the championship game, leaving the bases loaded 4 times.