What does it mean to be a Birmingham Thunderbolt?

Winning a national championship at any level isn’t easy. It’s even more challenging to win multiple times.

There’s an intensity required of everyone fortunate enough to play for James Lamar’s Lady Dukes club few others can match. Whether it’s a practice, scrimmage or game, Lamar insists on creating an environment that will prepare players for the big moments.

It’s not unusual for a travel team to consistently change its roster from year to year. Coaches are often on the lookout for talent as players enter college or move to another organization.

Avery Relph joined the California Cruisers Sievers/Caouette 16U team in the summer of 2019. She had seen them play numerous times during her stint with SoCal Athletics, so she already knew many of the girls had played together for a number of years. It would have been easy for them to be protective of their inner circle, even cliquish.

Building a program from the ground up is like building a house. You need a solid foundation, reliable tools, and a team of people tasked with a specific job.

When the coronavirus pandemic put an abrupt end to the Towson Tigers’ season last March, outfielder Nicole Kidwiler felt a deep sense of loss. It wasn’t for herself, but for the seniors. Through no fault of their own, they had been robbed of the chance to go out on a high note.

Mark Allister is the author of Women’s College Softball on the Rise: A Season Inside the Game. He welcomes story ideas and comments at allister@stolaf.edu.

James Madison University head softball coach Loren LaPorte is becoming accustomed to change. The past year has certainly had its fair share. Since last March, LaPorte has experienced a shutdown 19 games into the season, having a baby, a reduced schedule this season, and two games already canceled due to COVID-19.

Committing is a time that all hard-working athletes look forward to, but it can also be one of the hardest decisions we have to make. My name is Kami Kortokrax and I am a senior at Bishop Hartley High School in Columbus, Ohio. I was blessed to be a part of the Beverly Bandits that are nationally known for the level of softball they play at.

I am Madison Edwards and I go to Clarke County High School in Berryville, Virginia. I am a 2023 middle infielder for Team North Carolina Hinde. I am truly grateful to be a part of Team North Carolina Hinde. This team isn't just a regular group of girls. We are a family, on and off the field. 

Find photos of New Mexico softball from the 2021 Hillenbrand Invitational taken by photographer Rebecca Sasnett from USA TODAY Sports.

Find photos of Arizona softball from the 2021 Hillenbrand Invitational taken by photographer Rebecca Sasnett from USA TODAY Sports.

Softball is a sport of constant adjustment whether it’s a coach positioning players in the field depending on a certain hitter’s tendencies or a batter adapting to an umpire’s strike zone or an outfielder learning the nuances of the walls at an opposing team’s stadium. Steve Babinski at Indiana Wesleyan believes the nature of the sport is a prime reason why softball players were able to handle the shutdown of the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic in a manageable way.

Mark Allister is the author of Women’s College Softball on the Rise: A Season Inside the Game. He will be writing on DIII softball this spring and would welcome story ideas and comments at allister@stolaf.edu