Team Profile: KC Peppers-Clinton 16U
Team Profile: KC Peppers-Clinton 16U
One of the most rewarding things for us to do at FloSoftball is to profile talented teams and players who don’t get the publicity or attention they should a
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One of the most rewarding things for us to do at FloSoftball is to profile talented teams and players who don’t get the publicity or attention they should and today’s team spotlight is a good example.
Greg Clinton’s KC Peppers 16U team took 2nd at the PGF Platinum Nationals this summer and finished 3rd in the Colorado Sparkler Silver Division and returns all but two players back so this team is poised for big things in 2016.
However, none of the players are committed yet and Coach Clinton says his players have been “flying under the radar somehow.” Perhaps it's because they're from Kansas and Missouri, but we think that the lack of attention will change this fall and when we come out with 16U Rankings you can expect to see the Peppers on the list…
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FloSoftball.com: When did the team and program start and how and why did it come to be?
Greg Clinton: This team started in 2009 as a 10U team with a core group of kids as the result of another team breaking up and players going different ways. We still have four of those core kids from the original team and there are three more players that have been together now for five years as well so the team has had very limited turn over and has good chemistry. The overall KC Peppers organization was formed by Dan Eakin in the 1980’s and in 2009 it was decided to add in younger teams in order to start a sort of “farm system” to help develop athletes that could ultimately end up playing for the organizations 18 Gold team that is coached by Dan Eakin.
FS.com: Where are you based? Where do your athletes come from (all locally, some out of state?)
GC: The team is based out of Olathe, Kan. and consists of mainly local Kansas kids, but has kids from Missouri as well on the team. A couple of kids drive up to two hours for practices during the week.
FS.com: What was the purpose of creating the team, was it to showcase players, win titles, develop skills or something else?
GC: The purpose of the team was and is to develop fundamental skills in order to prepare the players to play at a higher level, whether that be at a high school level when they are in the younger 10U-14U level or as they are preparing and hoping to play at the collegiate level. Now, the purpose is to develop and showcase the players in order to help get them recruited.
FS.com: What have been some of your successes in terms of winning or placing at events?
GC: The group of kids has placed 4th at a USSSA Nationals in 12U in 2012 , placed 3rd in the Colorado Sparkler at 14U in 2013 in the Silver Bracket and in 2015 placed 3rd in the Colorado Sparkler Silver Division and runner-up at the PGF 16U Platinum Nationals.
FS.com: What’s your softball background and how did you get to the point of leading the team?
GC: Like most coaches, I played baseball all through high school and transitioned over to softball. I started coaching in 1999 just to help out and since then I’ve attended numerous camps and have spent a lot of time with hitting and pitching coaches in private lessons. I came to lead this team after I had helped take a previous group of players up through the ranks and when they started graduating I dropped back down and took this team on. It’s been a fun ride and the most gratifying thing about this experience is to watch the players you helped develop have success at the higher levels.
FS.com: How many teams are there in the organization overall?
GC: Overall there are seven teams in the organization ranging from 10U to 18 Gold.
FS.com: Has there been a key moment or defining experience in the team's history?
GC: I would have to say that the defining experience for this team was this past year’s PGF Nationals and the run we had there. This is when the team as a whole realized they could truly compete with any one.
FS.com: What is your primary focus or goal with this team?
GC: The primary focus for this team is to compete and to perfect the little things. Along with that, we want to be mentally tough and never quit even when things get tough. The main goal is to be in—and win—a national championship.
FS.com: What do you think are the strengths of the team?
GC: The strength of this team is the chemistry, the “never say die” attitude and work ethic. It’s a team of athletes that likes to compete at a high level and leave their egos at home.
FS.com: If there is one thing you would say that separates you from other club programs, what would it be?
GC: I would say that it’s our “bring it on” attitude. We never back down from a challenge and even when we get blown-out we look at that as an opportunity to succeed by learning from our mistakes, instead of looking at it as a failure and getting down on ourselves.
FS.com: Anything else interesting or fun people might not know about your team?
GC: We are a team made up of athletes that are overlooked because of where we come from and our size which is deceiving and that works to our advantage most of the time. We have put in a lot of hard work and effort to accomplish what we have so far and live by our motto to “never be satisfied.”
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Here is a player-by-player rundown of the KC Peppers-Clinton 16U team with comments from Coach Clinton, seen above, with his coaching staff:
--- P/1B Brylie Bassett (2018, uncommitted)
“Brylie is a mentally tough pitcher who has a great work ethic and moves the ball around. I’m looking for her to be a key player in our pitching rotation this year and to help carry the load for us. She throws a drop-curve, screw, change and fastball. On the offensive side, she’s a good contact hitter who is working on developing into a power hitter. She’s a hard worker and is easy to coach.”
--- SS/3B Lenae Salinas (2018, uncommitted)
“Lenae is new to the team this year and her thing is she is a hard worker with a strong arm and fast bat. I’m looking at her to help give a little more pop to our lineup. She also has a good field presence.”
--- 3B/SS Abby Hyde (2017, uncommitted)
“Abby is new to the team this year as well and her thing is she is a motivated player with a strong arm and good bat. We hope she will help solidify the left side of the infield and to add consistency to the lineup. I see her as a potential No. 3 hitter.”
--- OF/1B Shayna Espy (2018, uncommitted)
“Shay goes by the nickname “Sniper” for the number of players she’s thrown out from centerfield. In the outfield she reads the ball well and has a strong accurate arm. She’s our leadoff hitter who can slap as well as hit with power. On the bases she’s likes to put pressure on the defense and is a heads-up base runner.”
--- UT Amanda Moore (2017, uncommitted)
“Amanda is a true athlete and personifies utility player. She plays outfield, short and second base and is very athletic and quick to the ball. Amanda is very coachable and is willing to do whatever is asked of her without a single complaint. She’s a very good bunter and has a good eye for the ball.”
--- C/OF Alysa Clinton (2018, uncommitted)
“Alysa is another athlete that is overlooked due to size. She surprises teams with her arm and her power at the plate. When playing outfield she is a great counterpart to Shay and doesn’t get run on a lot. Behind the plate she has a great eye for seeing the opposing offense’s weakness, working with her pitchers and she isn’t afraid to throw. On the offensive side, over the past year she’s developed into a long ball hitter and on the bases she loves to attack dormant catchers and the defense by taking advantage of their mistakes or lack of focus.”
--- P/1B Marissa Davis (2017, uncommitted)
“Marisa has great mound presence and never shows emotion. She spots the ball well and has a good change up and curve. I’m looking for her to be key in the pitching rotation and to help carry the load this season like she did for us last year. At the plate Marissa has a good eye for the ball and makes solid contact.”
--- 2B/OF Makenzie Cooper (2018, uncommitted)
“Makenzie is a workhorse. She’s a strong kid with a strong arm and a fast bat. On the field she’s a solid second baseman who just consistently makes plays. At the plate she’s a strong hitter with a very fast bat and good power but can also bunt. I’m looking for her to really step up her game this year.”
--- C/3B Cassidy Greer (2017, uncommitted)
“Cassidy is a talented athlete who is strong and fast. Behind the plate she blocks well and has a very quick release. She’s got a strong arm and isn’t afraid to show it. At third base she’s quick to cover bunts as well as she receives grounders hit towards the middle. At the plate she’s a left-handed power hitter who can also slap and drag to keep the defense honest.”
--- 2B/SS Kristen Kelly (2017, uncommitted)
“One word to describe “KK” is “competitor.” She’s also very quick and strong. Kristen is another player who will do whatever is asked of her without a single complaint. On the field she’s quick to the ball with good range and has a quick release. At the plate she has a fast bat and can hit with power or can drop a bunt and run. On the bases KK has the green light to take a base at will and is very good at reading defenses. The one player I’ve worked with in the past that KK reminds me of is Alex Hugo.”
--- 1B/C Megan Miller (2019, uncommitted)
“Megan is new this year to the team. She’s a strong kid with great potential. We are looking for her to bring additional power to the lineup and to help carry some of the load behind the plate. She has a strong arm and big bat.”
--- P/1B Michaela Jackson (2018, uncommitted)
“Michaela is a strong athlete who is just starting to realize her potential. On the mound she’s a hard thrower with a fastball, screw and change-up. At the plate she’s a power hitter.”
--- 1B/3B Claire Anderson (2017, uncommitted)
“Claire is a smart, strong athlete who has a great attitude and is a good teammate. On the field she’s helped to solidify the right side of the infield for us and has good hands. At the plate she’s one of the team’s best bunters but can also smoke the ball. On the bases Claire is deceptively quick and takes advantages of defenses when given the opportunity.”
Greg Clinton’s KC Peppers 16U team took 2nd at the PGF Platinum Nationals this summer and finished 3rd in the Colorado Sparkler Silver Division and returns all but two players back so this team is poised for big things in 2016.
However, none of the players are committed yet and Coach Clinton says his players have been “flying under the radar somehow.” Perhaps it's because they're from Kansas and Missouri, but we think that the lack of attention will change this fall and when we come out with 16U Rankings you can expect to see the Peppers on the list…
***
FloSoftball.com: When did the team and program start and how and why did it come to be?
Greg Clinton: This team started in 2009 as a 10U team with a core group of kids as the result of another team breaking up and players going different ways. We still have four of those core kids from the original team and there are three more players that have been together now for five years as well so the team has had very limited turn over and has good chemistry. The overall KC Peppers organization was formed by Dan Eakin in the 1980’s and in 2009 it was decided to add in younger teams in order to start a sort of “farm system” to help develop athletes that could ultimately end up playing for the organizations 18 Gold team that is coached by Dan Eakin.
FS.com: Where are you based? Where do your athletes come from (all locally, some out of state?)
GC: The team is based out of Olathe, Kan. and consists of mainly local Kansas kids, but has kids from Missouri as well on the team. A couple of kids drive up to two hours for practices during the week.
FS.com: What was the purpose of creating the team, was it to showcase players, win titles, develop skills or something else?
GC: The purpose of the team was and is to develop fundamental skills in order to prepare the players to play at a higher level, whether that be at a high school level when they are in the younger 10U-14U level or as they are preparing and hoping to play at the collegiate level. Now, the purpose is to develop and showcase the players in order to help get them recruited.
FS.com: What have been some of your successes in terms of winning or placing at events?
GC: The group of kids has placed 4th at a USSSA Nationals in 12U in 2012 , placed 3rd in the Colorado Sparkler at 14U in 2013 in the Silver Bracket and in 2015 placed 3rd in the Colorado Sparkler Silver Division and runner-up at the PGF 16U Platinum Nationals.
FS.com: What’s your softball background and how did you get to the point of leading the team?
GC: Like most coaches, I played baseball all through high school and transitioned over to softball. I started coaching in 1999 just to help out and since then I’ve attended numerous camps and have spent a lot of time with hitting and pitching coaches in private lessons. I came to lead this team after I had helped take a previous group of players up through the ranks and when they started graduating I dropped back down and took this team on. It’s been a fun ride and the most gratifying thing about this experience is to watch the players you helped develop have success at the higher levels.
FS.com: How many teams are there in the organization overall?
GC: Overall there are seven teams in the organization ranging from 10U to 18 Gold.
FS.com: Has there been a key moment or defining experience in the team's history?
GC: I would have to say that the defining experience for this team was this past year’s PGF Nationals and the run we had there. This is when the team as a whole realized they could truly compete with any one.
FS.com: What is your primary focus or goal with this team?
GC: The primary focus for this team is to compete and to perfect the little things. Along with that, we want to be mentally tough and never quit even when things get tough. The main goal is to be in—and win—a national championship.
FS.com: What do you think are the strengths of the team?
GC: The strength of this team is the chemistry, the “never say die” attitude and work ethic. It’s a team of athletes that likes to compete at a high level and leave their egos at home.
FS.com: If there is one thing you would say that separates you from other club programs, what would it be?
GC: I would say that it’s our “bring it on” attitude. We never back down from a challenge and even when we get blown-out we look at that as an opportunity to succeed by learning from our mistakes, instead of looking at it as a failure and getting down on ourselves.
FS.com: Anything else interesting or fun people might not know about your team?
GC: We are a team made up of athletes that are overlooked because of where we come from and our size which is deceiving and that works to our advantage most of the time. We have put in a lot of hard work and effort to accomplish what we have so far and live by our motto to “never be satisfied.”
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Here is a player-by-player rundown of the KC Peppers-Clinton 16U team with comments from Coach Clinton, seen above, with his coaching staff:
--- P/1B Brylie Bassett (2018, uncommitted)
“Brylie is a mentally tough pitcher who has a great work ethic and moves the ball around. I’m looking for her to be a key player in our pitching rotation this year and to help carry the load for us. She throws a drop-curve, screw, change and fastball. On the offensive side, she’s a good contact hitter who is working on developing into a power hitter. She’s a hard worker and is easy to coach.”
--- SS/3B Lenae Salinas (2018, uncommitted)
“Lenae is new to the team this year and her thing is she is a hard worker with a strong arm and fast bat. I’m looking at her to help give a little more pop to our lineup. She also has a good field presence.”
--- 3B/SS Abby Hyde (2017, uncommitted)
“Abby is new to the team this year as well and her thing is she is a motivated player with a strong arm and good bat. We hope she will help solidify the left side of the infield and to add consistency to the lineup. I see her as a potential No. 3 hitter.”
--- OF/1B Shayna Espy (2018, uncommitted)
“Shay goes by the nickname “Sniper” for the number of players she’s thrown out from centerfield. In the outfield she reads the ball well and has a strong accurate arm. She’s our leadoff hitter who can slap as well as hit with power. On the bases she’s likes to put pressure on the defense and is a heads-up base runner.”
--- UT Amanda Moore (2017, uncommitted)
“Amanda is a true athlete and personifies utility player. She plays outfield, short and second base and is very athletic and quick to the ball. Amanda is very coachable and is willing to do whatever is asked of her without a single complaint. She’s a very good bunter and has a good eye for the ball.”
--- C/OF Alysa Clinton (2018, uncommitted)
“Alysa is another athlete that is overlooked due to size. She surprises teams with her arm and her power at the plate. When playing outfield she is a great counterpart to Shay and doesn’t get run on a lot. Behind the plate she has a great eye for seeing the opposing offense’s weakness, working with her pitchers and she isn’t afraid to throw. On the offensive side, over the past year she’s developed into a long ball hitter and on the bases she loves to attack dormant catchers and the defense by taking advantage of their mistakes or lack of focus.”
--- P/1B Marissa Davis (2017, uncommitted)
“Marisa has great mound presence and never shows emotion. She spots the ball well and has a good change up and curve. I’m looking for her to be key in the pitching rotation and to help carry the load this season like she did for us last year. At the plate Marissa has a good eye for the ball and makes solid contact.”
--- 2B/OF Makenzie Cooper (2018, uncommitted)
“Makenzie is a workhorse. She’s a strong kid with a strong arm and a fast bat. On the field she’s a solid second baseman who just consistently makes plays. At the plate she’s a strong hitter with a very fast bat and good power but can also bunt. I’m looking for her to really step up her game this year.”
--- C/3B Cassidy Greer (2017, uncommitted)
“Cassidy is a talented athlete who is strong and fast. Behind the plate she blocks well and has a very quick release. She’s got a strong arm and isn’t afraid to show it. At third base she’s quick to cover bunts as well as she receives grounders hit towards the middle. At the plate she’s a left-handed power hitter who can also slap and drag to keep the defense honest.”
--- 2B/SS Kristen Kelly (2017, uncommitted)
“One word to describe “KK” is “competitor.” She’s also very quick and strong. Kristen is another player who will do whatever is asked of her without a single complaint. On the field she’s quick to the ball with good range and has a quick release. At the plate she has a fast bat and can hit with power or can drop a bunt and run. On the bases KK has the green light to take a base at will and is very good at reading defenses. The one player I’ve worked with in the past that KK reminds me of is Alex Hugo.”
--- 1B/C Megan Miller (2019, uncommitted)
“Megan is new this year to the team. She’s a strong kid with great potential. We are looking for her to bring additional power to the lineup and to help carry some of the load behind the plate. She has a strong arm and big bat.”
--- P/1B Michaela Jackson (2018, uncommitted)
“Michaela is a strong athlete who is just starting to realize her potential. On the mound she’s a hard thrower with a fastball, screw and change-up. At the plate she’s a power hitter.”
--- 1B/3B Claire Anderson (2017, uncommitted)
“Claire is a smart, strong athlete who has a great attitude and is a good teammate. On the field she’s helped to solidify the right side of the infield for us and has good hands. At the plate she’s one of the team’s best bunters but can also smoke the ball. On the bases Claire is deceptively quick and takes advantages of defenses when given the opportunity.”