Stryde Training Softball

@mzerkleee So good!!

Yesterday was a tough day at the plate. I hit a riseball (NiJa’s might I add) on the ground to 2nd base… If I was coaching I would’ve told my athletes it was a good miss. As a player, I wanted to scream. Later on in the game I hit an outside drop ball in the air to left field… once again, I would’ve said it was a good miss. As a player all I could think about was that I stranded the tying run at 2nd base & failed my team. I say this because I’m 20+ years into this sport & still learning to trust the process. To expect more but not overthink & go crazy. Softball is so dang hard some days. But I sure am grateful for another day!

My team played well today going 1-1 and placing 2nd for our bracket! In our pool play games today I was on base 6 times. I went 4-4, 4 runs scored, 2 walks and 2 stolen bases. Got my OBP up to .595, and my BA up to .493. We start bracket play tomorrow at 1:15. Come out and watch us play.

Awesome job Rese!!

2-3 with a double and 2 RBI’s

Not the outcome we were looking for this previous weekend but my bat came to life as the weekend progressed. I also got to help my team out in the outfield and at 2nd base! @WascoDiamonds @WD16uJE @strydetraining ⬇️are a few highlights from the weekend including a diving catch in left, a diving stop at second, a catch in short centerfield, and a drop step at second.

KATIE LET’S GO I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!

Awesome job Erin, keep it up!!

Up next… New Lenox Lightning invitational. Come see the Wasco Diamonds in St. Charles, IL this weekend! @WascoDiamonds @WD16uJE @strydetraining

Keep working hard Carlie, love to see it!

Come see us in St. Charles this weekend at the New Lenox Lighting Invitational! @CoachHarbecke87 @strydetraining

🤣🤣

Nice work Katie!

Sitting in one’s garage, watching @theAUSLofficial listening to storms roll in is great! @strydetraining

I’m grateful I had the opportunity to attend the Kansas City connect camp in Shawnee, Kansas yesterday. I learned a lot and met a lot of new people. I can’t wait for the rest of my season with the Wasco Diamonds! @WascoDiamonds @WD16uJE @strydetraining @PNHSAD @DDSBandEvents @PurdueSoftball @UCF_Softball @AppStateSB @DukeSOFTBALL @GaTechSoftball

Nice work Rese!! Keep it up

Love to see it Carlie!!!

Thank you @umichsoftball, Coach Tholl, and all of the coaches and players who helped out! I had a great time these past 2 days competing and learning drills. I can’t wait to be back in Ann Arbor! @btholl @CoachBrundage @Cheetahs_Gel16u @strydetraining @mnilles3 @harner_heather

🌶️ Unpopular take but.. It’s pretty ridiculous to rank 9U baseball players in any serious or public way. Here’s why: ❌Huge developmental differences: At 8-9 years old, kids are growing at wildly different rates. Some are bigger, more coordinated, or more mature simply because of birthdate or genetics. A “top ranked” kid can easily get passed by others in a year or two. ❌Small sample sizes: Most 9U games and showcases are noisy. One good (or bad) weekend doesn’t mean much. ❌Pressure & psychology: Public rankings at this age can create unnecessary stress, entitlement, or discouragement. Many kids this young are still figuring out if they even like the sport long-term. ❌Questionable motives: A lot of 9U “rankings” come from travel ball orgs, showcases, or social media accounts trying to build hype, sell services, or drive registrations not from objective, qualified evaluators! Legitimate uses at 9U: ✔️Internal team evaluations by qualified coaches to decide playing time, positions, or practice focus. ✔️Private, constructive feedback from experienced coaches (not public lists). What actually matters at 9U: ✔️ Fundamentals (throwing, catching, hitting mechanics) ✔️ Love of the game and fun ✔️ Work ethic and coachability ✔️ Basic athleticism and coordination ✔️ Age-appropriate skill development The best youth coaches and organizations focus on long-term development, NOT who’s #1 on some arbitrary list. MLB scouts and serious programs know most “can’t-miss” 9U prospects don’t pan out exactly as predicted. The late bloomers often catch up and surpass the early standouts. If someone is publishing public rankings of 9U players and charging for it treat it with heavy skepticism. It’s more entertainment/marketing than serious talent identification.