trout

Taking the next couple of weeks off and we are just doing tryouts. The girls need a break to recharge their batteries before we start back up. WE got a lot of good looks in Dallas and I believe that all of our 2012 have visits lined up and hopefully will be locked up very soon. We are attempting to get this done before the Fall season so that we can show case the younger kids. The team looks good and we have a great future and with our young kids.  Everything is on track right where it should be.

We will be having several tryout dates so that anyone wanting to should have an opportunity to make at least 1 of them. All tryouts will be held at West Brook High School the dates are Thursday 8-4-11 from 6 to 8.  Sunday 8-7-11 starting at 2. Thursday 8-11-11 from 6 to 8. Sunday 8-14-11 starting at 5. If anyone has any question you contact me at 409-658-9056 just ask for Trout or email me at [email protected]. If anyone has any conflicts with these dates please feel free to contact me.  I would also like to do something that I don't normally do which is brag on the team. We have gone on a winning streak and won our last 10 games. 5 in Houston at the Impact Gold Exposure tournament and 5 in Dallas at the American Freedom Gold Exposure tournament with the team scoring 82 runs and only allowing 15. Proud of the group of kids that we have and looking forward to adding some new ones to the team. Hope to see you at tryouts. Thanks for reading.

[quote name="badndn" post="1023111" timestamp="1310134463"]
Did all 24 signees get some form of scholarship? Just asking to get a gauge on percentage of signees getting schollies overall not just from GT Shockers.
[/quote] Everyone of them recieved scholarship money to play softball in college and in the DIII schools they all recieved acedemic money we made sure. We also have always helped and made sure that any  JUCO kids that wanted to continue playing softball we helped them find someplace to play everytime. We do stay in contact with former players and help anywhere we can.

[quote name="CRUSHCOACH" post="1020973" timestamp="1309187217"]
[quote author=Chrisf link=topic=85141.msg1020541#msg1020541 date=1308884947]
It sounds like your all showing a bad example for the kids by arguing. I just hope your not doing this in front of the girls.

[/quote]

  I don't think its arguing.... I really thought we were just stating our opinions. Right or wrong its just OUR opinions.
[/quote]stating opinions and agruing are both part of life the kids know this. everyone wants what we think is best for the kids. my Shocker team practices a lot, not evryone wants to do that and we practice in Beaumont not everyone wants to drive that far for practice, that in no way means that they are not seroius about softball or do not want to go to college. I yell a lot and run a tough practice just because a kid does like that does not mean that they are not a good, seroius softball players. each kid has different reasons for where they play let the kids and their parents make up they own mind. in Houston they some very good teams but there is no one team that gets all the great players. they are spread around to several top tier teams. I also coached with Verde on Blast Gold and we did not get all the best players. we got some good ones and the best we could to help them develop the same thing that all the coaches are doing now. we got lucky and had a very talented group of kids that were willing to do anything to get better. we had kids go and come back at different times we just did the best we could and Verde was a GREAT coach and an even GREATER PERSON. I am proud to have been a part of it but that was then and this is now. I believe that all the coaches are doing the best they can, the best way that they know how. sorry to be so long but when I get started hard to stop some times. 

[quote name="osue200" post="1014207" timestamp="1306411659"]
Feelings are hurt.  You didn't invite me Craig :'(
[/quote] Hey osue200 bring Lindsey when you come. I bet she could teach the kids a thing or two maybe even Craig would learn something. Good luck 

Man I just love when a plan comes together or falls apart I can't remember which is which. Guess I am just getting to old.

How has Lamar been doing? I have not heard anything lately.

Please can this be over!

Most youth coaches start out coaching their DD when the are young so the coaches get better as there DD gets older so most of the best coaches are coaching the older kids. I feel like I have been very sucessfull in the years I have done this. I can promise you that I have learned a lot over the years and it does take time. Give the coaches a break and do what you can to help teach the kids what you know and maybe others can learn from you. If you know what the other coaches are doing wrong maybe you should be the one doing the teaching. I learned almost everything I know from some else so be the leader to help change things to help the kids. 

[quote name="SUPERSOFTBALLMOMMA" post="825793" timestamp="1281902956"]
[quote author=JohnnyT60 link=topic=71322.msg825768#msg825768 date=1281897716]
[quote author=SUPERSOFTBALLMOMMA link=topic=71322.msg825709#msg825709 date=1281880944]
[quote author=tpriddy link=topic=71322.msg825623#msg825623 date=1281843988]
SUPERSOFTBALLMOMMA, were you a parent who was involved in any of this? If so, speak for yourself.  My daughter was one that was "invited" to play with the team that went to Lufkin.  And the person that invited her is a parent whose daughter is on the Blast.  The way *I* remember it, we did not have all the details of the how and why prior to the first meeting.  We were invited to play and we agreed.  However, after the first meeting/practice, enough information was given to understand enough about why it was put together.  If people didn't like it after the first meeting/practice, why did they show up for the second practice and play in the tournament?  How that fits into DADS from the new GT Shocker team being deceitful, I have no idea.   Troy and I never once felt like we were being deceived.  The initial invitation has led us to where we are right now and for that I am thankful regardless of the hows and whys it all came about.

Craig's point was that there are no dads coaching the new GTS team.  The girls were not given spots based on the fact that one of their dads was going to help coach.  Simple as that.  

Are you saying that the girls on the GTS team did not make the team based on their skills?  Were you at the tryouts and did you see the girls that tried out?  If not, then how would you know who should have received spots?  

I second what Dottie said....I believe that the decision to join the GTS team is one of the best decisions we have made for our daughter with regard to softball.  They did bust their butts at tryouts (both of them) and continue to bust their butts at practices and have earned their spots on the team.  If you don't believe me, come check out one of our practices.  These girls have been practicing extremely hard and are still coming back for more.  They know all their hard work will only make them better.  So don't knock it until you try it.

Why people (especially anonymous people) feel the need to create conspiracy when there is none, I will never understand.  Get over it and move on.  We sure have and are extremely happy with our decision.  We are looking forward to the upcoming season and are not looking back.

Amy
[/quote]

Wait a minute...[b]I never said anything negative about ANY girl on that team[/b]. I have nothing negative to say about those girls, but for Craig Soignet to come on here and say that no spots were taken is completely FALSE, because they were. There was a reason you didn't know details prior to the first meeting, it was because a dad was orchestrating it that way. He kept it very quiet what his true intent was, because he knew that was the only way he would get parents to agree. I'll be happy to let the so called "controversy" go away, but I will not sit quietly while people spew half-truths.

I am very glad you are happy.
[/quote]

But you did when you said that those girls only made it because there Daddies were going to coach. Don't you see.
[/quote]

I don't think I said any daddy was going to coach. Please show me where I said that a daddy was going to coach. What I said was daddies were INVOLVED, and I stand by that.

Soignet showed up at the practice to get ready for the Lufkin tournament and turned it into a parent meeting/tryout. That isn't what we thought we were showing up there for. I just want Soignet and all of his minions to quit splitting hairs and be honest.

Soignet attacked a poster for saying that most all teams have a few spots taken before tryouts happen. He says that isn't so in his organization. All I'm saying is, it IS so. Even in the case of the GT Shocker GOLD team, I would think this is the case. Craig Soignet is the "President" of the Shockers non-profit corporation, so it would be unlikely that his daughter didn't have a guaranteed spot. I'm not saying she isn't good enough. I'm not even knocking the fact that this takes place; it's just a fact of life.When you work to build an organization, and you are the one "hiring or firing" the non-dad coach, your kid probably will have a spot on the team. All I'm saying is that people need to quit spinning the facts.

One more thing. The way I remember it, this started out as a tryout thread for the Blast, and for some reason  certain people felt a need to create controversy around that team (where there was none) and used this thread to do it. I read it and tried to ignore it for a while, but eventually I felt the need to call Bull$**t on it. If that makes me unpopular on this board, so be it. The only reason I can come up with for the BS that has been spewed is because the people doing it are either afraid of the competition or are just pissed off that certain parents chose to go somewhere other than the Shockers. As Dottie stated before, there is enough talent to support both teams, but for some reason, certain people are just very opposed to that, which is very puzzling to me.
[/quote] I am coach Trout and I and Jesica Lemoine and Jimmy Weise pick our Gold team. Nobody else is asked their opionion and nobody elses opionion matters. Craig comes to our practices and sits with the other Dads and watches like everyone else. I like Craig but he has no influnce over what we do as a team. Anyone that says otherwise is a LIAR AND DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT. END OF CONVERSATION  and please do invole my Gold Team again  if wish to call my # is 409-658-9056.

[b]Admin note:  No need to name a specific girl in this.  If this is going to be fight amongst the adults, keep it amongst the adults.

[quote name="bleed orange" post="822205" timestamp="1280548192"]
[quote author=whsalum link=topic=71217.msg822161#msg822161 date=1280531994]
Most programs have a brochure that is given out before the seasons begin that cover what is expected of any athelete.I can't believe how many people don't realize how important team chemistry is and it is developed during the pre season practice. I have no ax to grind with the select squads but they have to make up their mind which is more important to them and pursue that sport to their fullest.It isn't fair to the school kids that make the sacrifice during 2 a days only to be displaced by girls who were off playing a select summer sport.The best solution would be for the folks over the ASA and the UIL to work something out over the scheduling conflicts where the kids could play both and not have a scheduling issue.
[/quote]

Good post Whsalum. The problem I see with select is, It has becomes an individual sport Instead of a team sport. Parents only care what their kid does instead of what the "Team" does. When select ball started is was a good thing but not any more. High school sports are still the purest form of team competition.
[/quote] You must never have had a kid be part of a real select team? The team is where a lot of strong personal friendships are formed.

Our softball program the G.T. Shockers Gold has helped 14 kids to college sholarships right now and we also have 3 2010s signed, 1 2011 and 2 2012  comitted for a total of 20 kids in 3 full years as a program. So if your kid is comitted to putting in the work and doing things the right way she has a great chance of being rewarded with a sholarship. We have had 100% sign rate so far. We have signed kids to D1, D2, D3, NAIA and Junior Colleges so the hard work at this it does pay off.  How many scholarships has the High Schooll volleyball team gotten signed in the last 3 years? Just wondering?

[quote name="AggiesAreWe" post="821180" timestamp="1280268021"]
What happened to just having fun in youth sports? ::)
[/quote] How old are the kids and what do they want out of it?  Kids that are looking for a scholarship are very serious about their teams, how they play and prepare for games.  If they love the game all the hard work is fun, especially when you are able to see the results on the field.

Colleges don't have time to recruit when High School is going on because they are playing at that same time also. So the only time they can recruit is during the summer and fall when they are off.  That is why you never see them at any High Scholl games.

[quote name="BHBLUE" post="821098" timestamp="1280259677"]
[quote author=WeedBegone link=topic=71234.msg821072#msg821072 date=1280256501]
Any smart HS coach.....[/quote]

Now you've shrunk the pool drastically.  ;D
[/quote] Just wait until we start talking about umpires.

This softball tournament is a National Tournament with teams from 5 or six different states attending. There will college coaches there recruiting with scholarships. If this was just a normal tournament I would see missing it for a High School practice or game but this is a National event. In the fall we have softball tournaments also and the softball players are instucted that their High School comes first because it is their schools season. Well it is still Summer Balls (select teams) main season and if the High school can be patient for just a couple of days I am sure the kids would do what ever make up work the coach would require be done. If we all just wanted to get along and work together.

Katy Jo Williams  plays SS and Pitcher for the G.T.Shockers Gold. She has verbally committed to play for Texas Women's University. Katy attends Hardin Jefferson High  School and will be a 2012 graduate. She will be just a Junoir when High School starts so this is a early verbal committment. Katy has done it the right way and I am proud of what she has accomplished. She has shown a real committment to be at every practice, always works hard, plays & pratices with heart and does it the way it should be done. Coach Trout and the entire G.T. Shocker family wants to congradulate her and let her know we are all proud of  Katy Jo on her verbal committment to TWU.

Congrads to Hit Away Gold it will be a trip to remember, enjoy.

Thanks for the info

Our pitcher is doing fine now. I think it was a little warm today and she got a little warmed than most. It was tough on everyone, cograds to the Intensity on making as far as they did. It was a good day of softball.

thanks for the update

Still waiting, hopefully there will a updated list soon.

Congrads to a good kid from a good family from the GT Shockers Gold.

Do what ever you want, play where ever that you want, but until you go win in Houston you have not done anything that really counts. To be the best you have to go beat the best.

Shannon Sain 3rd base and pitcher for G.T. Shockers Gold made a verbal commitment to Blinn today for a full ride scholarship. Shannon will graduate from Hampshire Fannet in 2011 so this is an early commitment to Blinn. She will be a senior when school starts. Shannon is a extremely hard worker, great kid and it has been her desire to go to Blinn ever since we started her recruiting process. I am very proud of Shannon and very glad she is getting to go excatly where she wanted to go from the very start. I know that this is a great day for Shannon and her family. Congradulations from Coach Trout and everyone in the G.T. Shocker family great job, we are all proud of you.