NEED A TEAM FOR FALL TRAVEL SOFTBALL?

SPARKS '02.  This is for girls born in 2002.  Reminder: We will be holding tryouts this Saturday, July 26 from 9-11Wednesday, July 30 from 5:30-7:30 (pitchers and catchers only) and Saturday august 2 from 9-11. All tryouts will be at the Westco Fields at Palmer Park in Madison. Please be warmed up prior to start time. All serious athletes and dedicated families welcome. This team will focus on high intensity training, top level competition and advanced development. Any questions please contact. 
  huntsvillesparks02@yahoo.com.

FALL SOFTBALL SIGNUPS

LCGSA will be doing Fall Softball...You may sign-up a full team/Partial team or Single girl. We are having 6u, 8u, 10u, 12u and 14u....Season will start September 6th and run through October 11th! The fee will be $35.00 for the first child, $30.00 for the second and third will be FREE! Please share this and get the word out....We are welcoming anyone from anywhere and your team does not have to be from your school...You can build from anywhere to make a full team! We will have a registration form uploaded soon...Any questions please contact Missy Crowe or Dawn Ridgeway...Thanks!

2014 DECATUR DAILY ALL AREA SOFTBALL TEAM

The Decatur Daily published its All Area 3A-1A Softball team, June 15.  This all star team recognizes the best softball players in the area.  Elkmont had two players that were selected to the first team this year.
Designated Hitter: Brandi Bentley

The sophomore catcher hit .337 with five homers for the Red Devils. This is her second year on the first team all area.  She was a honorable mention as an eighth grader

Outfield: Rebekah Inman

This year as a sophomore, Rebekah the Lady Devils with a .452 batting average with a homer and seven doubles.

Honorable Mention:

Bailee Gooch

Stephanie Peek

Special thanks to Down Home Portraits - Elkmont's Sports Photographers

2014 MVP COUNTY SOFTBALL TEAM

The Athens News Courier released it MVP County Softball teams, June 22.  The Elkmont Lady Devils had a five players that were recognized for outstanding individual seasons.  Congrads to our softball ladies.

First Team:

Brandi Bentley-Elkmont

Rebekah Inman-Elkmont
Morgan Hughes-Ardmore
Miranda Mitchell-Ardmore
Marissa Barnes-Clements
Alysia Anderson-Clements
Kaleigh Tribble-East Limestone
Kailynn Pressnell-Tanner
Tesslynn Howard-West Limestone

Second Team:
Stephanie Peek-Elkmont

Chelsie Vining-Elkmont

Stratton Hobbs-Ardmore
Alexus Morrison-Ardmore
Danielle Scholl-Clements
Daraisha McCullough-Clements
Preslee Powers-East Limestone
Hope Dildine-West Limestone
Breanna Tarpley-West Limestone

Honorable Mention:

Autumn Davis-Elkmont

Cayla Dendy-Clements
Karlie Turner-Clements
Haley Riddle-East Limestone
Kasie Suttles-East Limestone
Kirstin Brown-Tanner
Kari Elliott-Tanner
Madison Hastings-West Limestone

SPARKS TOURNAMENT BRACKET RESULTS

Link to USFA tournament bracket

 More will be posted as info comes in. 

Saturday Morning:
Well.....our spring season is over. Lost 3-2 in ITB again....heartbreaking again but we are going to try and enjoy the last night here! The Sparks came in sixth in the World Series so that is something to be excited about.

Friday Night: Sparks win 5-1! Next game at 9:30 am.  Sparks are assured a sixth place finish but they are still looking to win a championship.

Friday Morning:
Sparks won 11-5! They beat MJ Elite; Next game at 8 pm tonight!

Thursday Night:
Sparks lost 5-4 in ITB. Just have to do this the hard way....win out of the loser's bracket! Back at it at 9:30 in the am!

Wednesday: 
Sparks win against Impact Gold 8-0! Keep it going girls!

THE SPARKS '03 AT THE WORLD SERIES

It isn't all dusty diamonds and uniforms.  The girls are taking time to enjoy themselves at Panama Beach between games.  They play later today in more pool play games. First game of day is scheduled for 3:30 eastern time. Tournament starts tomorrow.

Sparks win 4-3 against American Freedom from Texas. Bracket plays begins tomorrow for us!

OUR ELKMONT BASEBALL ALL STARS - 10 AND UNDER

Meet your 2014 Limestone County 10U All Stars: Bryce Camp (Ardmore), Camden Shields (LLCA), Camryn Peden (Elkmont), Chance Pepper (Elkmont), Christian Smith (Elkmont), Gavin Sides (Elkmont), Jonah Smith (Elkmont), Mason Burns (Elkmont), Rowe Allen (Elkmont), Seth Mitchell (LLCA), Shane Boger (Elkmont), and Ty Roberts (Elkmont). They are coached by Shannon Boger, Tim Pepper, Tadd Mitchell, and Jason Burns.

     This team is made up of one very talented group of ball players. They have worked hard and fought to win the District Championship. This moved them into the Regional Tournament where they battled hard and placed 2nd, which qualified them to play for the State title this weekend.

     Their first game will be at 12:30 this Friday, July 11. The State Tournament is being played at Palmer Park in Madison, AL. Come out and show your support by cheering them on while they battle for their spot to play in The World Series!

WHAT IT TAKES TO PLAY AT THE NEXT LEVEL

One reason Elkmont High School softball is a perennial power is the number of Elkmont girls that play travel ball.  An extended season, large number of games and a high level of competition allows young athletes to fully develop their talent.  Regardless if it is sports, music or dance, it takes hours and years for people to be the best they can be.  These teams aren't about equal playing time, just having fun and nobody feeling bad; spring rec teams are for that.  Travel ball teams develop players to their fullest potential, winning is important and reaching the next level is the goal. Travel ball teams aren't for the faint of heart.  It is about winning and losing.  Some of Elkmont's finest are playing for some of these travel softball teams. These teams start young and the Sparks '03 is one of the 10 and under teams.  

As these girls get older, the game gets harder and the stakes are higher.

The Fusion is one of these teams. They recently were crowned the Tennessee State Champions








The best players at the high school level go through a bone-grinding sorting process.  If they want the exposure for college recruiting, they attend college camps and play almost all year round on one team or another.  These travel teams are not made of all local players or tri-county players but are made up of players from different states. Elkmont has one of these as well,  Brandi Bentley.  She is being looked at by several colleges and is making the college camp circuit.  Brandi is also playing on the Southern Force. It's a 16 and under team out of Illinois-Kentucky. The Southern Force has players from Illinois, Kentucky, Alabama and Tennessee.  Last weekend, they played in a national qualifier. Winning that tournament is sending them to Virginia to compete at nationals. This weekend, Brandi is playing in Kentucky at the state tournament.

Brandi has played so many games she isn't sure of the number but as she says, "We have seen a lot of college coaches and are playing against top competition."

It isn't for everyone but this is what it takes, regardless if it's softball or concert musician.  Extreme commitment by player and family, focused discipline and sacrifice toward the goal of being the best they can be.  There is no room to lose sight of that goal.  Family vacations are at the ball field.  A social life is put on hold. Many a talented athlete stumbles during the high school years as they

become distracted, quit working as hard and don't make the mark.   It takes a lot of work and a certain amount of luck as well as good genetics to make it to the next level. Next time you see a talented athlete who has succeeded, rejoice in what they have done, rather than grumble it isn't fair.  They earned it.

SPARKS AT THE 10U SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES

One reason Elkmont High School softball is never a easy team on the schedule is the number of Elkmont girls that play travel ball.  

One such team is the the Sparks '03. This  is a 10 and under softball travel ball team that plays the tournament circuit from March thru July. Elkmont's Brilee Miller is the only girl from Limestone County that was selected to play for this team.  The team is based out of Madison.  There are 3 players that are from Henagar, Scottsboro and Pisgah.  The rest are from the Madison area. The Sparks won their first tournament at Turf Wars in Fultondale and by April 12 had played in six tournaments and had played in 31 games.  They qualified to play in the 10U Softball World Series in Panama Beach, Florida.  

Brilee and the Sparks '3 play in pool play today before being seeded in the tournament on Wednesday.  Best of luck to Brilee.

Monday:
Day 1 -  Sparks beat Louisville Stunners 7-2!

Sparks lose 2nd game 4-2 against Texas Bombers! Man.....do they grow them big out there....lol