In our third of an ongoing series spotlighting top club teams from around the nation – including ones that will be at the So Cal Athletics Invitational (Los Alamitos, Calif.) from June 20-22 – we go to the Lone Star State to learn about this year’s version of the Texas Glory led by Kevin Shelton

Well coached and fundamentally sound, the Glory is a threat whenever they play and this year’s version promises to be more of the same…

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Club Team:  Texas Glory
Head Coach: Kevin Shelton

 

LAST YEAR (2013)

2013 Record:  No idea – we do not typically keep track of that.  How we finish when it counts is all that matters.  That, and if your kids find good college homes and turn out to be productive citizens is the measure we track.

Key Accomplishments:  took 3^rd at the Colorado Fireworks Super 64, 9^th at Triple Crown Nationals, 3^rd at PGF Nationals and 1^st at Ronald McDonald in the bracket with the highest seeds.

Top Players Returning:
— SS Ariel Ortiz (2014, Texas State)
— IF Madison Yannetti (2014, Arkansas)
— IF Taylor Lynch (2015, Oklahoma State)
— IF/OF Maddie Sue Montgomery (2015, Oklahoma State)
— OF/IF Morgan Turkoly (2015, La. Tech)

Top Players Lost:
— P Sydney Littlejohn (graduated, now at Alabama)
— IF Kelli Schkade (graduated, now at Missouri)

 

THIS YEAR (2014)

StudentSportsSoftball.com: What do you think are the strengths on this year’s team? 
Kevin Shelton: Team chemistry, team speed and a deep bench.

SSS.com: What area(s) concern you or will you be working to improve on this team? 
KS: We have a big roster (21), so ensuring all the athletes get an opportunity to continue their development against quality competition.

SSS.com: Who are 1-2 newcomers you expect to have an impact?
KS: One would be 2014 pitcher/infielder Monique Garcia who’s going to North Texas.  She’s legit, a fighter who refuses to lose.  Another would be 2014 infielder/outfielder Morgan Groppe who’s headed to Baylor.  Morgan is well trained, versatile and consistent.

SSS.com: Name 1-3 players you think will really emerge and impress this year?
KS: Here are three I would list as ones to watch:
— OF/IF Erika Zimmer (2014, Missouri State): Erika has speed, aggressiveness and tremendous attitude.

— C/IF Aubree Turbeville (2015, McNeese State): Aubree controls the running game and her improved aggressiveness and confidence at the plate will pay off.

— OF/IF Maddison Kettler (2016, Baylor): Maddison is just a go getter and a dugout “must have.”

SSS.com: What tournaments/events will you be playing this summer?
KS: This list is where we’ll be:
— Triple Crown State Tournament (June 13-15 in McKinney, Texas)
— SoCal Invitational (June 20-22 in Los Alamitos, Calif.)
— CO Fireworks  (June 30-July 5 in Aurora, Col.)
— Triple Crown Nationals (July 14-17 in Atlanta, Ga.)
— Legacy Showcase  (July 18-19 in Atlanta, Ga.)
— PGF Nationals  (July 26-August 3 in Huntington Beach, Calif.)

SSS.com: How do you expect this team to play style-wise?
KS: I think we are strong across the board.  We have a solid pitching staff highlighted by the Texas Girls Coaches Association 4A/5A Player of the Year, Monique Garcia.  Offensively, we have a nice balance of power and speed.  Six of our athletes that can be triple threats at the plate complemented by veteran right-handed power.  Defensively, we return six of our eight regulars from a year ago.  Our experience should help us handle the big moments.

 

SO CAL ATHLETICS INVITATIONAL

SSS.com: What is your primary goal in playing in this event?
KS: We are pleased to be invited again to such an exclusive tournament.  Every team in the event is among the best in the nation.  Our focus for the weekend is continued improvement and development of our players.  We have some who you may not have experienced this level of competition very often and for them, this event can be an eye opener.  It’s early in the summer, so we look to see areas where need to improve before the big events at the end of the summer.  Additionally, we enjoy seeing the rest of the field and the tremendous group of athletes that gather over the three days.

SSS.com: What players/teams are you excited to see or play against?
KS: All of them.  They are all great.  As coaches it’s fun to renew acquaintances with the other leaders.  We all know each other fairly well after years of competing.  Our players will enjoy seeing the kids they’ll go to school with.  Seeing future teammates connect in that environment is always fun. 

SSS.com: What will determine if this is a successful event for you?
KS: As long as we compete hard and maximize our effort throughout, I’ll be pleased.  Our mindset is winning each pitch and importantly – make the routine plays routine.  If we can keep our focus on the process, then we will have gotten the training we need and it will be successful.

 

MISC.

SSS.com: What keeps you coming back as a coach?
KS: Helping young ones down the path is the most rewarding thing I have had a chance to do besides helping my wife raise our own kids.  It is so much fun to have the chance to work with great athletes and watch them grow and mature into adults.  It sure helps that we have a great game as a backdrop for that development.  The speed, athletic ability and dedication required to play at a high level is something I find stimulating and challenging.  Every time I’m at the ballpark, I see something I’ve never seen before and learn something new about the game or myself.

SSS.com: What would you say has been a highlight of your career?
KS: So hard to say.  So many great kids!  So many great moments.  Maybe it hasn’t happened yet or it happens everyday? For me the highlights are the singular moments when athletes discover their power through the recognition that they can achieve anything through hard work, dedication, faith, reliance on one another and perseverance.  When the kids graduate from college or get married or have kids themselves or get a real job in the world it brings a smile to my face.  When we see an athlete embrace the idea that serving is its own reward, then I know we have made long term positive difference.  No bigger highlight than that.

SSS.com: What do you look for in a player you’re considering adding to your team?
KS: A team attitude, coachable, uncommon athletic ability and build, body awareness and parents who “get it” or are at least coachable.  For Texas Glory we typically look for a kid that has been in our system for years.  We look for parents and athletes that know what it means to “get both feet in” and work to build something.  Understanding the TEAM is the thing and that subjugating our ego gives us all the best chance to succeed individually in the team environment.

SSS.com: Finally, who have been some of your former players you’re most proud to say you coached? 
KS: All of them continue to make us proud.  Most stay on a nice steady constructive path, which is our hope for them.  Over the last 14+ years we have had such a great group of young ladies and families come through the program and so many of them have gone on to excel on and off the field.   I really do not feel like it would be fair to try to pick a few kids out of the long list.