WPCNR PRESS BOX. By Chris Kulk, Coach White Plains Explosion 14-Unders. August 7, 2003: The sport of girl’s fastpitch softball is one of the fastest growing sports in area. Interest in the sport has lead to the organization of the White Plains Girls Softball Association, which now sponsors three summer fastpitch teams. The White Plains Explosion. 14 & Under, 12 & Under and 10 & Under age groups.
2003 WHITE PLAINS EXPLOSION 14-U
Left to Right: Christine Portillo, Juliana Bailey, Jill Gordon, Tracy Avery, Jen Gilch, Molly Gottshal, Kailey Meccia, Lauren Kroutil, Lisa Tompkins, and Laura Cedrone. Madalyn Petralia, not pictured. The team won 12 out of 16 games this summer.
Photo by WPCNR Sports
The Explosion is a select travel fastpitch team playing other teams as far north as East Fishkill and south as Bronx. The players are selected from the best White Plains female athletes during tryouts in the fall. The selected girls each have a strong commitment to learning the game of fastpitch softball. They commit to playing approximately 18 games starting the last week of June and lasting until the end of July. The Fastpitch season is resumed again in the fall for an extra six weeks when the Explosion teams enter fall leagues. Fall fastpitch adds another 12 games as the teams compete in weekly Sunday double headers.
The Explosion teams, now in their second year have found their success in the philosophy of teaching fastpitch fundamentals in a positive atmosphere through competitive play. The teams limit the number of players accepted on the team in order to ensure a maximum amount of playing time for each of the girls.
The interest in the sport has driven demand for softball clinics. Ted O’Donnell White Plains High varsity softball coach has filled that demand over the years by offering both pitching and skills clinics to White Plains girls 4th grade and up. Ted O’Donnell’s White Plains Fastpitch also sponsors it own team. The White Plains Stix. The Stix are a 16 U tournament level travel team traveling weekends throughout the tri-state region The Stix end each season by traveling to a week long National tournament, this year held in North Carolina.
. The White Plains business community has reached out with financial support to make this a big success. Many thanks to Stephen Sules State Farm Insurance, Kent Plumbing Supply, Dooley Macs Pub, Smith Barney, Remodeling Consultants, Klhar Glass, Frank Gambelli of City Line Deli, White Plains Firefighters, Statewide Title Insurance, and Radel Corp. all off of which gave freely to support girls fastpitch softball in White Plains.
Girls interested in softball clinics or playing for the White Plains Explosion can contact the organization via email WP.Explosion@verizon.net
