Association News & Events
With our deepest sympathies
It is with sadness that we report that Kit Perales' father passed away unexpectedly. Bob and Kit are the heart and soul of the San Jose Sting, having faithfully run the organization for the past 10 years. The Perales family is in our thoughts and prayers.
SJ Sting offers thoughts and prayers to all the families and friends of 3 softball stars found dead in pond
DICKINSON, N.D. — Police say three missing North Dakota college softball players have been found dead in their vehicle, which was pulled from a pond northwest of Dickinson.
Police Lt. Rod Banyai said Tuesday night that police are "still investigating" the cause of the deaths.
Coach Ray Texiera's step-daughter is a teammate of the deceased Dickinson State University players and there are several Bay Area players on the team including transfers from Ohlone College & San Jose City College.
On behalf of the San Jose Sting and the softball families, we send out our deepest condolences.
Link to article: http://www.bismarcktribune.com/news/local/article_5902bd58-c8d6-11de-938e-001cc4c002e0.html
From left, Kyrstin Gemar, 22, of Grossmont, Calif., Ashley Neufeld, 21, of Brandon, Manitoba in Canada, and Afton Williamson, 20, of Lake Elsinore
Dickinson State University Softball Website: http://www.dickinsonstate.edu/softball.asp
Sting News
2009 Softball Website Links
- 09/18/2009, 10:00pm (EDT)
Sting 18G Caitlin Breen named Daily Journal Overall Female Athlete of Year 2009
- 06/16/2009, 5:58pm (EDT)
Sting Players sign National Letters of Intent
- 11/22/2008, 4:58pm (EDT)
2008 Bay Area Fall Showcase Photos by Winston Hendrickson
- 11/10/2008, 6:52pm (EDT)
Sting Gold player Lauren Maslak commits to San Francisco State
- 11/05/2008, 10:12am (EDT)
2008 Bay Area Fall Softball Showcase a rousing success!
- 10/27/2008, 3:30pm (EDT)
10 Sting players make California High School "All state" teams
- 07/13/2008, 6:03pm (EDT)
2008 Bay Area Fall Invitational
- 01/08/2008, 12:28pm (EDT)
Surprising Results on Latest Sting Power Poll- FANS SAY "NO GO" TO NPF PRO SOFTBALL
The latest Power Poll results showed an interesting response that had our audience (222 pollsters) shying away from supporting a new NPF franchise here in the Bay Area. 60% of our poll takers were profoundly confident that the Bay Area could NOT support NPF softball. Only 37% felt the market was ready for NPF, with 10% of the 37% feeling it would be successful only if expansion took place in the South Bay or Pennisula. The results clearly showed that you were either for bringing in an NPF team or set against it, as there were "no unsure-need more information" ballots cast.
Perhaps an indication that the economy isn't quite ready to support the League? Or perhaps fans feeling the market is oversaturated with sports franchises.
GH
Sting 18G Victoria Hayward contributes early and often in rout of Netherlands and win over Venezuela!
(Surrey, BC) The Canadian Women's Softball Team bounced back from a loss to the United States on Monday night by defeating Venezuela 4-1 and the Netherlands 10-3 on Tuesday at Softball City. Venezuela had shut out Canada 1-0 in the tournament opener for the two teams, but Canada took advantage of a solid performance by Danielle Lawrie (Langley, BC) in the pitcher's circle to defeat them in the rematch between the two clubs. In the second game of the day, Victoria Hayward (Mountain View, California) and Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, ON) each drove in three runs to lead Canada over the Netherlands
In the afternoon game against Venezuela, Melanie Matthews (Surrey, BC) set the tone for the game in Canada's first at-bat once again, as she led off the bottom of the first inning with a homerun. Victoria Hayward followed with a single, moved around the bases to third, and scored on an RBI ground out by Jennifer Yee (North Delta, BC) to give Canada a 2-0 lead.
Venezuela cut into the lead with a run in the top of the third, but Canada went right back to work to get the insurance marker in the bottom of the inning when Caitlin Lever (Buffalo, New York) reached on an error and later scored on a single by Hayward. Canada added its fourth run the following inning when Kelsey Haberl (Burnaby, BC) delivered an RBI single of her own.
Danielle Lawrie turned in a masterful pitching performance, striking out 15 hitters in seven innings of work. She allowed one run on four hits, and walked four batters.
At the plate, Victoria Hayward and Jennifer Salling (Port Coquitlam, BC) each had two hits for Canada, while Melanie Matthews had (homerun), Caitlin Lever (triple) and Kelsey Haberl each contributed a hit.
16U Sting Opens Nationals for 2009
Heading into Nationals with all positive energy, thanks to an amazing book of good thoughts and the t-shirts below, thanks to Fe Baldwin, Sting 18G and her sister Brittany. One of the 16U Sting players (below) models their new team inspirational shirt unveiled at the 2009 Nationals Opening Day ceremonies in Sioux Falls,South Dakota.
Thanks Fe and Brit!!!
Class of 2008 - College commitments
- Jane Alexander Harvard
- Stephanie Ricketts Hawaii
- Sarah Hassman Stanford
- Sarah Locarnini Purdue
- Caitlin Steele San Diego St.
- Adri Martinez Fullerton St.
- Jessica Abelia Sonoma St.
- Alicia Noriega Sacramento St.
- Alyssa Nakken Sacramento St.
- Cathy Wineinger U.San Diego
- Nicole Arce Saint Mary's
- Marissa Navarro Sac St.
- Kelly Shepard Sac St.
- Elena Fata UNLV
- Camille Gaito UC San Diego
- Emma Holden Cal Baptist
- Ashley Rose San Diego St.
- Jessica Barry UNLV
- Robyn Araujo Notre Dame de Namur
- Brenda Thompson Whittier College
2009 Summer 18 Gold Team Information
The San Jose Sting 18 Gold is a Nationally recognized softball program that competes each year at the Gold Nationals in Oklahoma City, OK . All players who are uncommitted will automatically be entered in the Gold Program's Exclusive College Recruiting Services Program. The San Jose Sting 18Gold is proudly sponsored by Under Armour and Easton.
Team Canada does well at Pan Am games, earns silver medal!
Playing against a multitude of teams from other countries, Team Canada, featuring the Sting's own Victoria Hayward,suffered their only loss, in the championship game to Team USA. Otherwise unbeaten throughout the games, including a 3-1 victory over Team USA in the semis, Team Canada has done very well this season.
Victoria Hayward has been a key factor in many of the victories, with her speed, bat and fielding ability.
Congratulations on a great summer and good luck next year, Victoria!
Sting 18G Victoria Hayward is off to the next high profile tournament!
After a very successful debut with the Canadian Senior National Team at the Canada Cup, the Sting's own Victoria Hayward is now playing in the States. Starting in 6 games, with a batting average of .400, scoring 9 runs and 4 rbis, along with a few stolen bases, Victoria helped team Canada to the Silver Medal and a 2nd place finish overall!
Play began yesterday at the KFC World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City. Game 1 for Team Canada vs. Italy was postponed due to lighning (rescheduled for Saturday morning). Team Canada managed to hang on for a 3-2 victory over Australia with Victoria going 1 for 4 and a run in the win. Team USA vs. Team Canada will play each other on Saturday, July 18th and will be televised, for more information and to follow Victoria and all your favorite players and teams, go to:
http://www.usasoftball.com/events.asp?uid=4674
Sting 18G Victoria Hayward named to Canadian Senior National Team!
SURREY, B.C. – San Jose Sting 18 Gold centerfielder Victoria Hayward has been named to the Senior Women’s National Team for the 2009 Canada Cup. The roster includes nine (9) players returning from the 2008 Olympic Team, four (4) players who played for the Canadian Junior Women’s National Team in 2007, and six (6) other players who were selected from three Evaluation Camps held over the past month. The final Selection Camp was held this past weekend in Victoria, British Columbia. Victoria originally tried out for the Junior team, but the Coaches for the Senior team were so impressed with her tryout, they moved her up.
Hayward and the other 18 athletes will represent Canada at the Canada Cup in Surrey, B.C. from July 4-12, where they will compete against National Teams from the US, Australia, Venezuela and Netherlands. Also competing are eight teams comprised of current and past college players plus a number of top US club teams.
The Mountain View, California high school student batted .644 during her junior softball season, was named team MVP, 1st Team All League and is a 2009 California All-State softball honoree.
Sting 18G Victoria Hayward making her mark at Canadian Cup! Go to Association News section to read more about her accomplishments!
Victoria Hayward, Sting 18G, a standout rookie of Canadian Senior National Team
Softball Canada has cast its eyes south in an attempt to field the strongest possible team
And most importantly to Harvey Stevenson, Softball Canada's national teams manager, they can hit a 70-mile-an-hour riseball, run like gazelles to first base, or throw a screwball that turns sharper than a short track speed skater. Team Canada's core group at this year's Canada Cup international fastpitch tournament is still led by locally produced talent -- pitching ace Danielle Lawrie of Langley, line-drive smacking infielders Jenn Salling of Port Coquitlam and Jennifer Yee of North Delta, slugging outfielder Melanie Matthews of Cloverdale -- but in the search for good, young talent, Stevenson isn't shy about snatching a few of Uncle Sam's nieces.
It's not a new practice. Las Vegas native Brittany Freight, whose dad was born in Toronto, played for Canada in the 2005 and '06 Canada Cups. Californian Ashley Van Boxmeer was on the '07 Canada Cup squad and won gold with Canada's University Games team that year.
And ex-Canuck star Don Lever's daughter, Caitlin, who was born and grew up in Buffalo, was an outfielder with the Canadian team that finished fourth at the Beijing Olympics. But this year, Lever has been joined by three young prospects who grew up playing ball in the U.S. And Stevenson has his eye on at least two others with American roots and rockets for arms.
"I went to the board and said, 'My job is to get the best coaching staff I can, get the best players I can, and do the best we can for Canada; Is that correct?'" said Stevenson. "They're looking at me like, 'Why is he asking that question?' And they said yes it is. "I said 'Okay, if we get some flak because some of these kids have never been to Canada, don't come after me."
Stevenson notes a lot of countries, in a variety of sports, field athletes from other countries who are eligible for citizenship. "It may be that some [Canadian-born and raised] kid may not get to play because some kid comes from somewhere else. That's a fact of life. Sooner or later, we get to the top of the pile and the best play and the rest do something else."
Veteran catcher Erin Cumpstone, who was born in Saskatoon and played college ball at SFU, says she's okay with Canada casting a wide recruiting net."Most of the kids they recruit are kids that either have been born in Canada or their parents are Canadian. They have Canadian roots, they know the anthem. I think they love Canada. We haven't really recruited any [American] kids whose grandparents were Canadian."
No, but if someone calls ...
The newcomers with Canada this week include precocious outfielder Victoria Hayward, who will be on the squad that goes to the World Cup in Oklahoma City in late July and the world championships qualifier in Venezuela in August. Just 17, the speedster hit .667 as a Grade 11 in Mountainview, Calif., last season. The aspiring pediatrician is being recruited by Boston College, Northwestern and Stanford.
"I call myself a California girl, but truth is I'm from Toronto," says a grinning Hayward, whose family moved when she was eight.
Her dad was online in January when he discovered Victoria could play for Canada. "My first thought was it was funny, a funny joke," she said. "'Really dad, the Olympic team? C'mon?"
She was invited to a tryout for the 17-and-under junior team and played so well she was invited to the senior team tryout, where she dazzled with her speed. In an exhibition game on Wednesday, she twice beat out infield choppers, reaching first base before the pitcher even had a chance to get the ball out of her glove.
She's been back to Toronto only twice, but "my family is big Canadian. My mom says 'eh' still, so she's still got it. We're secretly rooting for Canada when we're with our friends and stuff."
And, yes, she knows the words to O Canada. "Actually, I didn't think I did, but when we were out there [on the field, a teammate] said 'Do you know the words?' I was kind of singing it in my head. I got to the end and I was like 'I got through it, I know them all! I still got it.'"
Admittedly intimidated during her first couple of days at the senior team tryout, Hayward's confidence grew quickly enough that she wasn't overly surprised to make the team at 17. Now, she hopes she won't be awestruck when she faces American superstars Jennie Finch, Cat Osterman and Monica Abbott.
"Words can't even describe how exciting it is. I mean, watching the Olympics for all these years, now watching them in person, let alone actually being on the field with them, is just going to be mind-boggling."
Sting 18G Caitlin Breen named Daily Journal Overall Female Athlete of Year 2009
By Emanuel Lee, Daily Journal Staff
It wasn't the no-hitters she threw, the times she ran or goals she scored that defined Caitlin Breen's year.
Breen, the overall Daily Journal Female Athlete of the Year, had enough moments on the field to make multiple highlight films.
GO TO "ASSOCIATION NEWS FOR COMPLETE ARTICLE" FOR THIS STANFORD BOUND SENIOR.
18G Jamie Wallis selects Santa Clara University!
Jamie Wallis had a tough decision to make - UOP or Santa Clara University. Both teams expressed serious interest in having Jamie join their roster and in the end she decided on the team and school that best fit her academic and athletic needs. The Sting organization congratulates Jamie!
18 GOLD TRYOUT INFORMATION
Dear Prospective 18 Gold Player or Parent;
San Jose Sting is one of the premier fastpitch softball organizations in the country. The San Jose Sting 18 Gold team is a regular particpant at ASA Gold Nationals and finished 7th overall in 2007 - highest among Northern California teams.
In 2008, twenty eight Sting players signed National Letter of Intent or committed to play at 4 year colleges and universities - reportedly the most from any fastpitch organization in the nation.
We are looking for top calibre players at all positions. All players have the opportunity to start immediately and will be developed and taught by dedicated and experienced coaches.
18 Gold players who have yet to commit to a college will be automatically placed into our very successful College Development Program.
In the summer of 2009, Sting will compete against some of the best softball teams in the country, on the #1 fields, at the Nation's premier showcases and tournaments.
Please feel free to contact me, in confidence, regarding a tryout or for additional information
Bob Perales
Head Coach & Director of College Services
stingbob@comcast.net
We are looking for student athletes who:
- Currently attend high school
- Have a minimum GPA of 2.8
- Love to compete
- Have the desire to win
- Have a positive attitude
- Are team players
