Head coach Kevin Shelton and assistant coaches Tracy Beard, Lisa Hough, Lynette Shelton, Chaley Brickey and Aaron Weintraub of the Texas Glory (South Central) have been selected as the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s National Travel Ball Coaching Staff of the Year, the NFCA announced today.

Here’s the text included in the NFCA release:

Regarded as a groundbreaking summer from an 18U South Central Region perspective, the Glory finished fifth (highest in their region) in the U.S. Club Rankings.

Working with 21 future Division I student-athletes, the staff guided their squad to several top six finishes, highlighted by winning the 18 Power Pool of the Colorado Fireworks Super 64. The win in Aurora was the first for a team out of Texas in several years and also snapped the Firecrackers (Calif.) six-year winning streak.

The season also included a 1^st place showing at the 2013 Ronald McDonald top bracket, 3^rd at the exclusive SoCal Invitational and 6^th at the TC/USA Nationals.

In addition, the Glory finished the season 4^th in total on-field points as recorded by USA Softball rankings.

For their work this season, Kevin and Lynette Shelton, Beard, Hough, Brickey and Weintraub also garnered the NFCA South Central Region Travel Ball Coaching Staff of the Year accolade.

***

The 2014 NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year winners for this season were:

NORTH REGION – Beverly Bandits (Ill.)
Coaching Staff: General Manager: Bill Conroy – Head Coach: Jenn Tyrell – Assistant Coaches: Meg Kelly and Emily Naegele
Noteworthy: 16U Premier Runner-up at PGF National Championships… Won DeMarini Invitational and Northern Territory Gold Qualifier… Third at 16U division in Boulder, Colo… Recorded 66-7-2 mark in 2014… Finished fourth in final 18U U.S. Club Rankings, placing third and fourth in the ballot and CPI rank, respectively… Tied for second in 16U Club Rankings

SOUTH REGION – Tennessee Fury 97 (Tenn.)
Coaching Staff: Head Coach: Randy Coppinger – Associate Head Coach: Keith Perry – Assistant Coaches: Chuck Sugg, Kevin Earls and Bob Fortel
Noteworthy: ASA Gold U16 Champion… Finished eighth in 16U U.S. Club Rankings final poll

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Texas Glory (Texas)
Coaching Staff: Head Coach: Kevin Shelton – Assistant Coaches: Tracy Beard, Lisa Hough, Lynette Shelton, Chaley Brickey and Aaron Weintraub
Noteworthy: NFCA National Travel Ball Coaching Staff of the Year… won 18U Power Pool of Colorado Fireworks Super 64… 1st place at 2013 Ronald McDonald…3rd place at So Cal A’s Invitational… 6th at TC/USA Nationals

WEST REGION – OC Batbusters (Calif.)
Coaching Staff: Head Coach: Gary Haning
Noteworthy: 18U Premier Champion at PGF National Championships… Second in 18U U.S. Club Rankings, including a tie for first in the ballot points