Today we spotlight one of the top 16U teams in the country, the Birmingham Thunderbolts 98 team coached by Ryan Greenwood. The team has several players committed to major programs including seven going to SEC schools.

Here’s a closer look at the team that will be at PGF 16U Nationals running from August 1-8…

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FloSoftball.com: When did the team/program start and how/why did it come to be?
Ryan Greenwood: I originally came to the Bolts organization in 12U as an assistant with Jeff Horton. When the organization decided to combine the 97 and 98 teams in the fall of 2013, Horton moved up to take the 97’s, along with one of my daughters, Carmyn.   I stayed back with the 98 group that we had, along with my younger daughter Cassady, to rebuild that team. To make it more confusing, Carmyn—who moved up to the 97 team—is a 98. My daughter Cassady that stayed with the 98 team is a 99. Fortunately, they both enjoy the challenge of playing up.

FS: Where are you based?  Where do your athletes come from… are they all local or do some come from out of state?
RG: The Birmingham Thunderbolts organization is based out of Birmingham, Ala. Currently, we have kids on our roster from Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Mississippi.

FS: What was the purpose of creating the team: was it to showcase players, win titles, develop skills or something else? 
RG: This team, like all created within the organization, was created to develop their skill sets, help them learn about the game, prepare them for the next level, showcase to colleges,and compete on a national level.

FS: What have been some of your successes in terms of winning or placing at events?
RG: After the merger, we have worked hard to find the right kids to help get this group back to where we were before some of the team moved up. We now have 10 of the 16 girls committed with the remaining uncommitted getting a good bit of interest. We have commits representing four SEC schools (Auburn, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Ole Miss). We just won the Sparkler 16U Open in Colorado going 11-0 for the week.

FS: What makes the organization unique?
RG: Richard Shea, owner and founder, has worked hard to develop successful relationships with college coaches. Those relationships benefit our players during the recruiting process. Also, having our own practice facilities, both indoor and outdoor, allow for flexibility when it comes to laying out practice plans, dealing with inclement weather, and hosting tournaments.

FS: What’s your softball background and how did you get to the point of leading the team?
RG: Like most men in softball, I played baseball in high school and college. After having all girls, my fate was sealed with softball! From recreational to the travel world, I was fortunate to coach all three of my daughters at various levels.   Once we merged the two teams, I stepped back into a head coaching role again.

FS: How many teams are there in the Bolts organization overall?
RG: We currently have 11 teams throughout the age divisions within the organization.

FS: Has there been a key moment or defining experience in the team’s history?
RG: I think the recent wins and championship at the Sparkler in Colorado was a cultivation of the new additions gelling with the existing roster to really click to form a team effort. It was special to see them all come together at once.

FS: What is your primary focus or goal with this team?
RG: Our primary focus is helping to get the rest of our players committed to a softball program that is a good fit for them to let them live out their dreams of playing at the next level. As we continue our recruiting efforts, we also want to strive to be competitive on a national level.

FS: What do you think are the strengths of the Bolts 98 squad?
RG: Without being cliché, our strength has been the balance of consistent hitting, aggressive base running, mistake free defense, and timely pitching.   In the 11 games in Colorado, we turned over 20 double plays. That is a pitcher’s best friend!

FS: If there is one thing you would say that separates you from other club programs, what would it be?
RG: I think our practice regime and facilities help us accomplish more in terms of player preparation for the next level than most clubs. Rocky Thompson, who coaches our Premier team and helps coordinate our practices, runs as efficient practice as you will see.

It’s not just the time on the field for practice, but also how much you get out of it. It is very much like a college style practice. We also take a vertical approach to our philosophy and approach to the game. The Premier team (highest level) is taught the same techniques and positional responsibilities as our 12U group.

Once you learn it at a younger level, it is a matter of building on the basics and adding a broader understanding of the game. It allows us to interchange players from team to team if needed, knowing they will be on the same page.

Also, having two artificial turf fields is a tremendous advantage to not only having guaranteed field space, but minimizing rainouts and missed practice time. When we have players drive two to three hours for practice, the last thing we want is to waste their travel time. With the new added indoor facility right next to the outdoor fields, we can also utilize that space while we wait for the rain to stop.

FS: What do you enjoy about your team as far as culture or fun off the field?
RG: Given we have players from around the Southeast, it is always fun to see them learn about their different backgrounds and culture in which they grew up. I believe they collectively think they can sing, but not sure any would win a karaoke contest! We do have some of the best when it comes to photo-bombers and selfies. If we could learn more ways to use their phones for practice and development, the sky would be the limit (hint hint to those developing softball apps)!

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Here are comments on each player of the Birmingham Thunderbolts 98 team from Coach Greenwood…

— 3B/OF Harley Stokes (2017, uncommitted)
“Harley is new to us and has a lot of untapped potential. She has quick hands and tremendous bat speed through the zone. The more pitching she sees, the better she will get. She plays with raw ability in the field and will only get better as she learns more. She already has a lot of interest from bigger schools.”

— OF Taylor Houck (2017, University of Montevallo)
“Unfortunately, Taylor was injured just weeks before the summer season started and will probably miss all of the summer. Her hitting has been missed. We have also missed her ability to keep the team loose in the dugout with her personality and antics.”

— OF Carmyn Greenwood (2016, Auburn)
“Carmyn has brought her experience and leadership to the 3 hole for us this summer. She is the unique combination of speed and power. She hits for average and power along with being an extremely aggressive base runner. She has the tracking ability and arm to play all the outfield positions. “

— OF Jessica Perley (2017, uncommitted)
“Jessica is a right hander that has thrown well for us. She is able to spin the ball well and has a lot of movement to help keep batters off balance. Her screwball has the velocity to be able to sneak in on righties. She also has added a drop that works well in and out on lefties.“

— SS/3B Lindsey Williams (2016, Mississippi State)
“Lindsey is the type of defensive player that can make the hard play look routine. She has a really soft glove and recognizes the ball off the bat as well as anyone. Combine those abilities and her experience with her second baseman, and you have tremendous double play connection.“

— C/1B Cassady Greenwood (2018, uncommitted)
“Cassady is the youngest player on our team. She has the ideal size and frame that you want in your catcher, along with having a good blocking ability and soft hands behind the plate. That also translates well to first base. She hits with power from the left side, so that has a lot of schools looking hard at her.“

— 3B/UT Kennedy Ward (2016, Auburn)
“Kennedy is the type of player that has the ability and instincts to play any position. Her footwork and anticipation allow her to play at a fast speed. Good hand eye coordination and bat control allow her the ability to hit in any spot in the lineup.”

— 2B/OF Whitney Hinton (2016, Samford)
“Whitney is the definition of a hard nosed softball player. She has the instincts of a seasoned veteran. Those combinations make for a really dependable softball player that brings it each pitch. She is really quick and smooth around the bag too.“

— 1B/3B Tiffany Watson (2016, uncommitted)
“Tiffany is a strong kid that is a home run threat every time she steps in the batters box. She has the ideal size to be a cornerstone at first base with good range. Don’t let her size fool you, because she runs the bases with enthusiasm. Her strength and size is garnishing her the interest from colleges that will help her reach the next level.“

— P McKenna Gillespie (2017, uncommitted)
“McKenna has the size you like in your pitcher. When you combine that with the way she has thrown over the last few weeks, it generates a lot of schools that are interested. She will not be uncommitted for long. She has really shown that she can command the mound and go head-to-head with the best batters.”

—OF Cailin Hannon (2016, Tennessee)
“Cailin is new to us, but the type of player you wish you had more of. She is a hard worker in practice and in games. She is extremely coachable with a great personality. Add the combo of a solid slapper and hitter, great speed, and a smart player, and you have an extremely well rounded player. She will fit in well at Tennessee.”

— 1B/3B Destinee Cole (2016, University of Mobile)
“Destinee brings her game on a steady basis. Whether at either corner position, she plays smart and is comfortable in the field. She is a gap type hitter and has really applied what she has learned as a base runner, to be dangerous. “

— MIF/OF Ashlee Sanders (2016, Mississippi State)
“I couldn’t mention Ashlee, unless I refer to her as I always do, which is “SBK”. In the early years, she chose that nickname which stands for “Softball Kid.” It could not fit anyone better. She is really well rounded and has the fastest feet I have ever seen. Add the knack for making the big play in big moments, and you have SBK.”

— C/OF Abbey Latham (2017, Mississippi)
“Abbey is the ultimate steady player. She controls the pitchers well when behind the plate and has one of the strongest arms on the team. She has tremendous hand eye coordination, so that keeps her very consistent at the plate. She is a hard out each at bat, while hitting for power and average.”

— P Karley Williams (2017, uncommitted)
“Karley is a right handed pitcher that finds ways to get outs. She has a good drop and a curve with natural downward movement that allows her to stay down in the zone and get ground ball outs.   As she develops a complimentary pitch to go with her arsenal, she will gain even more attention from the scouts.”

— C/1B/OF Lexi Malone (2016, Mississippi State)
“Lexi is another new player that we are excited to have. Unfortunately, she injured her hamstring at the start of workouts and has not been able to get on the field much. In her brief stints of hitting, she has shown she is a force to be reckoned with in the future.”