Team New Jersey Fall College ShowcaseOct 6, 2015 by Brentt Eads
Team Profile: Rhode Island Thunder 18U
Team Profile: Rhode Island Thunder 18U
One of the top club programs in the East—if not the whole nation—is the Rhode Island Thunder started and run by Dave Lotti.The Thunder has produced players
One of the top club programs in the East—if not the whole nation—is the Rhode Island Thunder started and run by Dave Lotti.
The Thunder has produced players at, or going to, top conferences ranging from the ACC to the Big Ten and the SEC and this weekend the East Coast team will be playing at the Team New Jersey Fall Showcase in Edison, N.J.
You can watch the team play starting bright and early—at 8 am EST—and playing through Saturday as FloSoftball will be streaming games live at the Edison Angels Complex where top 18U and 16U will take the fields.
Join Now to make sure to see the Thunder as part of 90 games that will be shown here!
We caught up with Coach Lotti on Monday to find out the history and background of the Thunder and to learn more about the line-up of this year’s 18U squad… here’s what he had to say:
***
When did the Rhode Island Thunder start and how did it come to be?
We’re going on 16 years for us now which is hard to believe! I started it because I had two daughters playing and once they went off to college I couldn’t get it out of my blood. I still had the desire to coach and loved what the kids were getting out of it, hitting their goals and realizing their dreams.
Where are you based and where do your athletes come from?
We’re based out of Plainville, Massachusetts and when I first started we practiced in Rhode Island—I was from there at the time. Once we became established, I didn’t want to start over just because I was living across the border. I am right on the state line and I could walk to Rhode Island in 30 seconds! Our team and organization is drawing players from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and we usually have one or two from Connecticut. Now, we have kids from Florida and Ohio kids. We’re starting to branch out a little bit more nationally, but I strongly believe in having my practices heavily attended so we’ll stick with mostly local players. I’m a big believer in cohesiveness and team chemistry.
What was the purpose of creating the team when you started 16 years ago?
When I first started it was for the girls to have a place to play and then it developed into the showcase thing. When my daughters started, they were 12 and 10 and it was basically to have them learn the game.
What would you say have been some of your primary successes in terms of winning or doing well at top events?
In 2010 we tied for 3rd in Boulder and that was a very nice team. Our first year at PGF two years ago we tied for 13th and I thought that was a big accomplishment for us back then.
What makes the organization unique, would you say?
Right now we have 15 teams in the organization from 10U to 18U and we have a youth coordinator who does a tremendous job of making sure all the young teams are doing the same type of drills with the younger kids that we do with the 18Us. We have the luxury of drawing from within our organization so what we teach at the 18U level is fundamentally a lot easier since they’re learning how we do things when they’re younger.
What has been a key moment or defining experience in the team's history?
Back when we just trying to make a name for ourselves, we went to the Team NJ Fall and it was our first time ever—I believe it was 2006. We were trying to get into the event the following summer and Jim (Barsalona, the Event Director) said that to do well and make it to the summer, you have to do well in the fall. We ended up mercy ruling his loaded Team New Jersey team 10-2 after they led 2-0. I’m sure Jimmy won’t like reading that! But it was when they had the all-star coaching staff and great players and we had to show well and we did. I believe we went undefeated the rest of the weekend.
What is your primary focus or goal with this team?
My primary goal with the organization is to get these kids as ready as I possibly can for the collegiate level. We stress that all the time, we want to run it as close to a college program as possible, making the girls better players and better people.
What do you think are the strengths of the team?
I’m going to go with it’s us being a veteran team. We have some younger kids sprinkled in, but with the six seniors we have we have a lot of veteran leadership. We have four pitchers so we should be fine in the circle and have a good mix of speed and power too.
If there is one thing you would say that separates you from other club programs, what would it be?
The time we put into practice. It’s basically the man-hours we put in and what we do in the practices. We spend a lot of time teaching what many might not teach; for example, we spend a lot of time on base running. I want smart players and we try to educate them and make them the smartest players we can. Our coaches definitely love teaching them the game.
***
Pictured: standout pitcher Mary Haff of the Rhode Island Thunder.
Here is a player-by-player run-down of the entire Rhode Island Thunder team with comments from Coach Lotti--- IF Liana Antonelli (2019, uncommitted)
“Playing shortstop for us this year, Liana’s overhand speed is 65 mph and she has a cannon. She went to Penn State about three weeks ago and they’re interested.”
--- IF Megan Gorman (2019, Central Connecticut State)
“Megan just committed two weeks ago. For us, she can play second base and outfield. Megan is a super athletic kid with above average speed and can play anywhere in the field. She’s also a former hockey player.”
--- P Nicole Teague (2017, uncommitted)
“Nicole is a really, really good dropball pitcher—she’s one of the best I’ve seen in years. She won’t be on the market long.”
--- OF Christa Wagner (2016, Penn State)
“Christa will be our top base stealer this year and we’re going to have her do a lot more swinging away after mostly slapping last year. She also has good power.”
--- C/IF Kaitlin Mattera (2016, St. John’s)
“Kaitlin has been with me for four years now and is the most versatile player for us by far. She can do everything and even pitches for her high school team.”
--- OF Guiliana Hathaway (2016, Central Connecticut State)
“Guiliana also committed about two weeks ago. She is a big, strong outfielder who hits for power. Incidentally her sister is a sophomore at UMass.”
--- P Mary Haff (2017, Arkansas)
“Mary had a really big summer for us last year and we’re expecting even bigger things this year. She’s throwing in the mid-60’s with a good curve, rise and change.”
--- SS Ashley Hession (2016, St. Joseph’s)
“Ashley is probably my best defensive player. She can play second base, third, and shortstop. Ashley is also one of the best defensive players I’ve had since I’ve been coaching.”
--- P Adrian Smith (2016, St. John’s)
“Adrian is very new to us and Team NJ will be my first look at her. She has a good rise and a great change and is an absolute bulldog in the circle.”
--- IF Kayla Baptista (2020, uncommitted)
“Kayla, only an eighth grader, is going to be a stud. Penn State invited her on campus for a visit next month. Kayla is a top of the order type kid as a slapper. Right now she’s 2.8 seconds down the line. Kayla is also great defensively.”
--- IF/OF Gabriella Conca (2017, St. John’s)
“Gabriella verballed to St. John’s after having a huge camp down there. She may have had the best fall session of anyone on my team. St. John saw her at the right time.”
--- IF Julia DaCosta (2017, Villanova)
“Julia is one of my middle-of-the-order kids and she hits for power and can play short and second. I’ve been watching her since she was in sixth grade. She’s a big, strong kid for us.”
--- C/IF Emily Critch (2017, uncommitted)
“Emily is catching and playing first base for us this year. We project her as a middle of the lineup kid as well. She has great size and a college-type body already.”
--- MIF Emily Piergustavo (2018, UConn)
“Emily is one of my best defenders, I can put her anywhere in the infield and she will make it happen.”
--- C/UT Mackenzie Beyer (2018, Coastal Carolina)
“Mackenzie is out for the fall with a knee injury which really hurts us. She was my clean-up hitter and she’ll be missed, but she’ll be ready for the summer.”
--- P Vanessa Oatley (2019, Penn State)
“We’re expecting big things for Vanessa and have known her since we grabbed her in the eighth grade. Her maturity is great as she’s faced highest-level competition and now, with a year under her belt, has developed a good curve and change-up. The experience with a year under belt will do wonders for her.”
--- IF Thais Gonzalez (2016, Michigan)
“Thais is my lead-off batter and centerfielder. She’s one of my key players and what makes us tick. Thais is the heart of the team.”
The Thunder has produced players at, or going to, top conferences ranging from the ACC to the Big Ten and the SEC and this weekend the East Coast team will be playing at the Team New Jersey Fall Showcase in Edison, N.J.
You can watch the team play starting bright and early—at 8 am EST—and playing through Saturday as FloSoftball will be streaming games live at the Edison Angels Complex where top 18U and 16U will take the fields.
Join Now to make sure to see the Thunder as part of 90 games that will be shown here!
We caught up with Coach Lotti on Monday to find out the history and background of the Thunder and to learn more about the line-up of this year’s 18U squad… here’s what he had to say:
***
When did the Rhode Island Thunder start and how did it come to be?
We’re going on 16 years for us now which is hard to believe! I started it because I had two daughters playing and once they went off to college I couldn’t get it out of my blood. I still had the desire to coach and loved what the kids were getting out of it, hitting their goals and realizing their dreams.
Where are you based and where do your athletes come from?
We’re based out of Plainville, Massachusetts and when I first started we practiced in Rhode Island—I was from there at the time. Once we became established, I didn’t want to start over just because I was living across the border. I am right on the state line and I could walk to Rhode Island in 30 seconds! Our team and organization is drawing players from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and we usually have one or two from Connecticut. Now, we have kids from Florida and Ohio kids. We’re starting to branch out a little bit more nationally, but I strongly believe in having my practices heavily attended so we’ll stick with mostly local players. I’m a big believer in cohesiveness and team chemistry.
What was the purpose of creating the team when you started 16 years ago?
When I first started it was for the girls to have a place to play and then it developed into the showcase thing. When my daughters started, they were 12 and 10 and it was basically to have them learn the game.
What would you say have been some of your primary successes in terms of winning or doing well at top events?
In 2010 we tied for 3rd in Boulder and that was a very nice team. Our first year at PGF two years ago we tied for 13th and I thought that was a big accomplishment for us back then.
What makes the organization unique, would you say?
Right now we have 15 teams in the organization from 10U to 18U and we have a youth coordinator who does a tremendous job of making sure all the young teams are doing the same type of drills with the younger kids that we do with the 18Us. We have the luxury of drawing from within our organization so what we teach at the 18U level is fundamentally a lot easier since they’re learning how we do things when they’re younger.
What has been a key moment or defining experience in the team's history?
Back when we just trying to make a name for ourselves, we went to the Team NJ Fall and it was our first time ever—I believe it was 2006. We were trying to get into the event the following summer and Jim (Barsalona, the Event Director) said that to do well and make it to the summer, you have to do well in the fall. We ended up mercy ruling his loaded Team New Jersey team 10-2 after they led 2-0. I’m sure Jimmy won’t like reading that! But it was when they had the all-star coaching staff and great players and we had to show well and we did. I believe we went undefeated the rest of the weekend.
What is your primary focus or goal with this team?
My primary goal with the organization is to get these kids as ready as I possibly can for the collegiate level. We stress that all the time, we want to run it as close to a college program as possible, making the girls better players and better people.
What do you think are the strengths of the team?
I’m going to go with it’s us being a veteran team. We have some younger kids sprinkled in, but with the six seniors we have we have a lot of veteran leadership. We have four pitchers so we should be fine in the circle and have a good mix of speed and power too.
If there is one thing you would say that separates you from other club programs, what would it be?
The time we put into practice. It’s basically the man-hours we put in and what we do in the practices. We spend a lot of time teaching what many might not teach; for example, we spend a lot of time on base running. I want smart players and we try to educate them and make them the smartest players we can. Our coaches definitely love teaching them the game.
***
Pictured: standout pitcher Mary Haff of the Rhode Island Thunder.
Here is a player-by-player run-down of the entire Rhode Island Thunder team with comments from Coach Lotti--- IF Liana Antonelli (2019, uncommitted)
“Playing shortstop for us this year, Liana’s overhand speed is 65 mph and she has a cannon. She went to Penn State about three weeks ago and they’re interested.”
--- IF Megan Gorman (2019, Central Connecticut State)
“Megan just committed two weeks ago. For us, she can play second base and outfield. Megan is a super athletic kid with above average speed and can play anywhere in the field. She’s also a former hockey player.”
--- P Nicole Teague (2017, uncommitted)
“Nicole is a really, really good dropball pitcher—she’s one of the best I’ve seen in years. She won’t be on the market long.”
--- OF Christa Wagner (2016, Penn State)
“Christa will be our top base stealer this year and we’re going to have her do a lot more swinging away after mostly slapping last year. She also has good power.”
--- C/IF Kaitlin Mattera (2016, St. John’s)
“Kaitlin has been with me for four years now and is the most versatile player for us by far. She can do everything and even pitches for her high school team.”
--- OF Guiliana Hathaway (2016, Central Connecticut State)
“Guiliana also committed about two weeks ago. She is a big, strong outfielder who hits for power. Incidentally her sister is a sophomore at UMass.”
--- P Mary Haff (2017, Arkansas)
“Mary had a really big summer for us last year and we’re expecting even bigger things this year. She’s throwing in the mid-60’s with a good curve, rise and change.”
--- SS Ashley Hession (2016, St. Joseph’s)
“Ashley is probably my best defensive player. She can play second base, third, and shortstop. Ashley is also one of the best defensive players I’ve had since I’ve been coaching.”
--- P Adrian Smith (2016, St. John’s)
“Adrian is very new to us and Team NJ will be my first look at her. She has a good rise and a great change and is an absolute bulldog in the circle.”
--- IF Kayla Baptista (2020, uncommitted)
“Kayla, only an eighth grader, is going to be a stud. Penn State invited her on campus for a visit next month. Kayla is a top of the order type kid as a slapper. Right now she’s 2.8 seconds down the line. Kayla is also great defensively.”
--- IF/OF Gabriella Conca (2017, St. John’s)
“Gabriella verballed to St. John’s after having a huge camp down there. She may have had the best fall session of anyone on my team. St. John saw her at the right time.”
--- IF Julia DaCosta (2017, Villanova)
“Julia is one of my middle-of-the-order kids and she hits for power and can play short and second. I’ve been watching her since she was in sixth grade. She’s a big, strong kid for us.”
--- C/IF Emily Critch (2017, uncommitted)
“Emily is catching and playing first base for us this year. We project her as a middle of the lineup kid as well. She has great size and a college-type body already.”
--- MIF Emily Piergustavo (2018, UConn)
“Emily is one of my best defenders, I can put her anywhere in the infield and she will make it happen.”
--- C/UT Mackenzie Beyer (2018, Coastal Carolina)
“Mackenzie is out for the fall with a knee injury which really hurts us. She was my clean-up hitter and she’ll be missed, but she’ll be ready for the summer.”
--- P Vanessa Oatley (2019, Penn State)
“We’re expecting big things for Vanessa and have known her since we grabbed her in the eighth grade. Her maturity is great as she’s faced highest-level competition and now, with a year under her belt, has developed a good curve and change-up. The experience with a year under belt will do wonders for her.”
--- IF Thais Gonzalez (2016, Michigan)
“Thais is my lead-off batter and centerfielder. She’s one of my key players and what makes us tick. Thais is the heart of the team.”
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