Stars National Cutler/McAllister (Stars Gleason)

@_coachrachel 🏃‍♀️

Recruiting SPEED!! 💨🥎

@RealMrBean99 @AJSimcox Bingo. Self tossing is lost art. Creates timing AND accuracy. Short toss and you have to speed up…high toss and you to wait and time it.

@AJSimcox This reminds me of watching an interview long ago of Tony Oliva. When asked how he learned to hit, he replied “I had a broomstick & I would throw rocks in the air & swing & hit them with the stick.” Career .304 hitter. Baseballs must have looked like basketballs to him!

Did this drill in the backyard for a week straight when I was 14 years old. The next week, my team had a travel ball tournament in Kansas City. I went 1-16 with 13k’s. Never hit another basketball.

@AJSimcox Not a fan of stopping the swing. Never want to introduce that into a real swing or the thought of the athlete.

@ErskineSoftball Love your gifs!! Well done Coach.

Gaffney here we come !!!! ( Rain Rain go away ) looking for great athletes , high energy and big softball IQ……

@Leni1680234 Time is undefeated

They reunited 12 years after high school… and everything has changed.

@KeyaunaThompson @SoftballPortal @D1portal @YAthletesF @tampagleason18U Can vouch. Played in the Alliance Championship. Fast, havoc on the bases, great personality and great family. 🏃‍♀️💪

🚨TRANSFER PORTAL ATHLETE: OF/Slapper Get to know me- *Leads by example/sets the standard *Unmatched work ethic & consistently bring teammate(s) to do extra work *Positive attitude & a great teammate *Turn 18yo at the end of June *Finished the year with a 3.21 GPA + taking additional Calculus course

@_coachrachel Love those slappers 😉

Regional HOST Advantage! 🥎 It starts with the grounds crew. They can prep the field to fit their team’s style of play. Examples? Playing a speedy team with good slappers? Soak the field so the ball doesn’t bounce as fast or as high. Plus, muddy dirt in your cleats slows down fast kids. Got a lineup full of slappers and speed? Keep the dirt especially around home plate hard as a rock so the ball skips faster, bounces higher, and gets through quicker. Watch how the field conditions change from game to game today at some complexes 👀

@dees_44 @SoftballSwu Big numbers!!! Congrats.

What a year for @SoftballSwu again. - Shattered the single season win record again with 37 - Back to Back SW ConChamps - Single season 2B record broken with 87 - 5 all conference players - First region ranking ever -Lowest single season ERA - Top 5 in the country in shutouts

@howieDsoftball @_coachrachel JUCO is not a bad option and spot on…have to produce!

Roster caps , programs behind are pushing kids out to go portal shopping . 7 out and 7 committed coming so out go the walk on or bench back up . In comes the fresh lower level player with full pockets and nothing but upside. HS kids below the top level will see dreams fad. They head to JUCO to play and hope to impress enough for the jump .

Rumor has it some top players already know where they’re transferring to…

@_coachrachel So repeat of last year

@MegRemSoftball @Emerson_mcall02 right conditions…deadly. 💀

Slappers putting pressure on the defense in the SEC Championship. I will always stand by slappers being a huge threat in the game of softball. Defense has ZERO room for error. Even if the defense fields it perfectly, you still may not throw her out. Texas SS could not have played that ball any better. Bama 2nd baseman maybe could have come in but even then I don’t think she’d be able to get a favorable hop on that play. But that’s the beauty of slapping! If you can put it on the ground, it’s up to the defense to make the split second decision on how to field it + make a quick perfect throw all in about 2.8 seconds.

@evadestito2025 @SoftballPortal @MustangsGleason @tampagleason18U ❤️💪

❌❌🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️ @SoftballPortal @MustangsGleason @tampagleason18U

@CoachTinaSB Got a kid who loves it when the ground is right! x.com/Emerson_mcall0…

The Chop Slap! 🔥 Just saw it live in the Ole Miss vs Tennessee SEC Tournament game two days ago (May 6, 2026). 13-seed Ole Miss pulls off a huge 4-1 upset over No. 5 Tennessee… and this chop slap was a big part of the chaos that kept the Rebels alive. Slappers create absolute chaos in the infield, and the chop slap (bounce slap) is one of the most disruptive weapons in the toolbox. It’s an aggressive downward attack that drives the ball right in front of the plate — producing a sharp, high, or erratic bounce that eats up time while you’re already gone. Teaching the Chop Slap: A mix of these cues works best depending on the athlete: ➡️Swinging down / chopping: Hands start high and stay inside with a steep downward bat path. ➡️Hitting the top of the ball: Skim or hammer the upper inside half deep in the zone for max downward force. ➡️Rolling the hands at contact: Adds control + topspin (or kills the bounce slightly). Many slappers combine this with the chop. Why use it? ➡️Creates unpredictable high bounces right in front of the plate — nightmare to field cleanly. ➡️Forces infielders to make awkward, off-balance plays. ➡️Slows the entire defense down while your speed is already in high gear. Best Situations: ➡️Infield playing back at normal depth ➡️Corners crashing for the bunt (punish them!) ➡️Runners on base (safe advancement + pressure) ➡️Pressure at-bats when you just need a baserunner Environment Matters!!! This slap thrives on hard fields and turf — the ball stays lively and bounces true. On soft, wet, or slow dirt? It dies. Shift to a hard slap or power slap instead. Always read the field. When a slapper has the chop dialed in (just like we saw in that Ole Miss upset), the defense never gets comfortable. They stay guessing, on their toes, and out of position. Chaos created. 🔥

@KeyaunaThompson @SoftballPortal @PA_recruit @DiamondAddicts @D1portal @D1Softball @SBRRetweets @PrepSoftball @SoftbalAmerica @Carolinaelitesg Can vouch, great kid on and off the field. Great family as well. Has wheels 🏃‍♀️

Entering the Transfer Portal 🥎 17yo | D1 workload under my belt High-ceiling athlete ready to impact a winning culture immediately ⚡️ Elite Track Speed 🧤 Elite Range: If it’s in the air, it’s an out 💨 OF/Slapper CONTACT: Shaun Gleason: 843-338-3364 Summer schedule below⬇️

@CoachLisle Well said Coach

Being gifted doesn't mean you've been given something. It means, you have something to give.

@_coachrachel Agree 100%. Rather players learn that sooner vs in college.

You have to—it’s about life lessons. That’s why the players who stay in our program & graduate with us typically succeed in college. We’ve had four freshman position players who all started at shortstop at some point at the DI level this season… it’s so much more than just skill.

If you don’t learn how to earn playing time on a 16+ player travel ball roster, how are you going to earn playing time on a 20+ player college roster?

@NJCheetahsGonz @SoftballPortal 25/26 are already in college.

@StarsNationalCM @SoftballPortal Yes. But will definitely have parents think twice about reclassifying..

🚨Looks like 5 for 5 is going to happen! The NCAA DI Board of Directors directed the Cabinet to advance age-based eligibility: up to 5 years starting the academic year after turning 19 (or HS graduation, whichever first). Keeps current rules for 2025-26 players (no retroactive changes)

@SoftballPortal Sucks for 25/26 grads.

This is evolving quickly (possible vote in May, implementation potentially June or fall 2026). Allowed Exceptions • Pregnancy / maternity leave • Military service • Religious missions Not Allowed • No redshirts (including medical redshirts/hardship waivers). • No general injury/illness waivers or medical exceptions. • No broad “circumstances beyond control” waivers. • Most other traditional waiver requests would be eliminated.

@ElliottSaysWhat Until you have an opportunity, few can understand how impactful this game can be to the players and coaches. Congrats Coach, you are helping build strong independent women. Well done sir.

SENIOR DAY for these wonderful humans tomorrow. I HATE senior day; it just reminds me that my time with them is close to over. They have changed me in ways I never would have imagined. Grateful for their loyalty, commitment and love. They also happen to be average at softball.