On Sunday, September 17th, the Lionville Lightning 14U Gold held its annual Fall Hitting and Defense Camp.  This year's camp featured Melissa Finley, Head Softball Coach, Swarthmore College. 

Prior to coming to Swarthmore College, coach Finley worked as the head coach of NCAA Division I Colgate University for five seasons, and prior to that, she coached at the University of Pennsylvania for four seasons as an assistant coach.  Coach Finley also coached Team Canada's Elite Team this summer at the Canada Cup and was a member of the national team for several years as an athlete. 
 
Coach Finley also played at Princeton University and graduated as the school's all-time leader in home runs with 37 in her career. Her 14 home runs in 2003 led her to earning Ivy League Player of the Year honors. The collegiate power-hitter could also get the job done in the circle, winning 22 games as a pitcher.

It was a great day of softball instruction and information by Coach Finley.  The girls had a great day and look forward to spending more time with Coach Finley at future camps!

We are very excited to announce that former West Chester University standout catcher, Erin Quense, will be joining the coaching staff of the Lightning 14U Gold for the 2017-2018 season.   

After a successful travel and high school (Neshaminy High) softball career in Langhorne, PA, Erin went on to play college softball at West Chester University from 2012-2015 where she was a 3-year starter at catcher and 4-year letterwinner.  In 459 career AB, Erin hit .270 with 17 HR, 17 2B and 75 RBI.  Behind the plate, Erin was an excellent receiver with a strong and accurate arm throwing out 30% of opponents attempting to steal.

Erin was a key member of the WCU team that reached the 2014 NCAA Division II Softball Championships where she hit .571 (4-for-7) with a home run and 3 RBI, and was selected to the All-Tournament Team.

The Lionville Lightning 12U Gold takes 5th place out of 23 teams participating in the USSSA 12U C states Championships PA, played in Quakertown, Pa, on June 3-4, 2017.  The team finished with a 3-1 record with a bye and its only loss was to the eventual tournament winner.

Based the Lightning's continued strong play against high level competition over the last 3 USSSA 12U C tournaments, the Lightning 12U Gold were ranked 2nd (out of 39 teams) in PA and 10th (out of 783 teams) in the Nation for the 12U C division by USSSA power rankings post tournament.

Congratulations to the Lionville Lightning 12U Gold who look to continue their successful season at the 2017 USSSA Fireworks Classic WSQ  on July 1-2!    

The Lionville Lightning 12U Gold took 5th place out of 24 teams participating in the USSSA Black Eyed Susan Tournament 12U C Division, played in Laurel, MD, on May 20-21, 2017.  

In Saturday pool play, the Lightning started off the tournament fast with a dominating 6-2 win over the Hickory Lady Hornets 12U with Megan Smith pitching her 2nd no-hitter of the season and recording 9 strikeouts over 3 innings.  Molly Delio led the way on offense with 2 hits and 2 RBI.  In the second game, the Lightning won in dramatic fashion with a 6-5 walk off victory over the Southern Maryland Velocity 12.  Alexis Allen pitched a complete game and also chipped in with 2 hits and 1 RBI.  The offensive was a total team effort with all 11 players either getting on base or driving in a run, led again by Molly Delio's 2 hits and 2 RBI.  The walk off victory in the bottom of the 4th inning was highlighted by Kayla Williams' sacrifice fly scoring Alexis Allen to tie the game followed by the game winning 2 out hit by Alexa Bojko scoring Mavica Mendez to win the game.  As a result, the Lightning finished 6th in Pool Play and earned a birth into the Championship Bracket for the top 10 teams in Sunday play, as well as earning a bye.

On Sunday after the bye, the Lightning's run was ended by a very good Delaware Storm team (9-3; ranked 12th out of 709 12U C teams in the Nation by USSSA power rankings).  Despite the disappointing loss, the Lightning had another successful tournament finishing 5th out of 24 teams.       

Based on the Lightning's strong play against high level competition over the last 2 tournaments in DE and MD, the Lightning 12U Gold were ranked 1st (out of 33 teams) in PA and 29th (out of 709 teams) in the Nation for the 12U C division by USSSA power ratings post tournament.  

Congratulations to the Lionville Lightning 12U Gold who look to continue their successful season at the USSSA 2017 C State Championships PA on June 3-4!!

The Lionville Lightning 12U Gold took 3rd pace out of 11 teams participating in the USSSA Heat at the Beach I Tournament 12U C division, played in Rehoboth, DE, on May 6-7, 2017.  

In Saturday pool play, the Lightning started off the tournament with a convincing win 9-4 over McLean Magic (5-9; ranked 15th in the VA 12U C division by USSSA power rankings) after a slow first inning start spotting the Magic all 4 of its runs.  The Lightning then shut out the Magic over the next 4 innings.  In the second game, the Lightning had a dominating 7-2 victory over Anne Arundel Heat (18-9; ranked 6th out of 33 team in the MD 12U C division by USSSA power rankings).  As a result, the Lightning won their Pool and were awarded a first round bye in Sunday's Championship play,

On Sunday, the Lightning overcame a 5 run first inning deficit to win 10-7 against the VA Explosion 2005 (12-11; ranked 11th out of 23 teams in the VA 12U C division by USSSA power rankings) in 5 innings as time expired.  The game was highlighted by the Lightning's 7 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to come from behind and put the game away as time expired.       

The Lightning then advanced to the Semis to face the Lady Warriors (14-2 ; ranked 1st out of 30 teams in the MD 12U C division by USSSA power rankings).  In a very exciting and well played back-and-forth game, the Lightning fell 4-3 to the Warriors in 7 innings, which went on to beat Anne Arundel Heat (who the Lightning beat in pool play) in the Final.  

The Lightning 12U Gold are now ranked 4th (out of 33 teams) in the PA 12U C division by USSSA power ratings.  USSSA creates a power rating for each team for ranking purposes based upon multiple factors, including winning %, record of teams beaten, teams beaten winning %, records of teams lost to, teams lost to winning percentage, average runs, runs allowed and average differential. 

Congratulations to the Lionville Lightning 12U Gold on the 3rd place finish and 4th place ranking!!

The Lionville Lightning 12U Gold took 3rd pace out of 12 teams participating in the 4th Annual Lauren's Diabeater's Softball Tournament played at B. Earl Druckenmiller Park on April 8-9, 2017.  In Saturday pool play, after a tight 1 run loss to the DB Inferno to start pool play on Saturday in which the Lightning's Megan Smith pitched a no-hitter, the Lightning 12U Gold finished the day strong beating the Skippack Stars 15-3 in total team effort with runs scored by 10 players including Maura McGraw (3), Carlie Chylack (2), Steph Alessandro (1), Joella Seese (1), Molly Delio (2), Alexis Allen (2), Kayla Williams (1), Emma Adams (1), Mavica Mendez (1) and Alexa Bojko (1).

In the first game on Sunday, the Lightning kept up where it left off on Saturday beating the Skippack Stars 11-0 behind a no-hitter pitched by the Lightning's Alexis Allen and multiple hit games by Carlie Chylack, Steph Alessandro and Mavica Mendez.  The Lightning then beat the PA Panthers 5-3 in an exciting 6 inning extra inning game with great pitching by Megan Smith (12 Ks), clutch hitting, aggressive base running and solid defense highlighted by a 1-3-2 double play turned by Joella Seese to Molly Delio to erase the potential winning run at home in the bottom of the 5th inning to force extra innings.   

In the Semis, the Lightning went down fighting against the PA Strikers 2005 8-3 lead by 2 hits from Maura McGraw and a tremendous double by Emma Adams.

Congratulations to the Lionville Lightning 12U Gold on the 3rd place finish!!

Kneeling left to right: Alexa Bojko, Maura McGraw, Steph Alessandro, Kayla Williams, Joella Seese, Alexis Alen
Standing left to right: Chris Allen, Carlie Chylack, Mavica Mendez, Molly Delio, Megan Smith, Emma Adams, Bob Smith and Ed Delio (Mike Mendez absent from the photo)  

During Winter training, the Lionville Lightning 12U Gold players vote each week for a player who they felt worked the hardest during that week's training sessions.  The selected player is rewarded with the team's Hardest Working Player softball to take home and display for the following week.  As solely voted on by her peers, I am very proud to announce that following players were selected as the Hardest Working Players during the 2017 Winter Training Session.    
An a perfect example of the selflessness of our team this season, the players voted for the coaches in Week 9 rather than for themselves.  

(Power Clap)  G.A.M.E.
Chris   

​On Saturday, January 7th, the Lionville Lightning 12U Gold attended PSU Coach Lehotak's Skills Clinic at Spooky Nook Sports.  It was a great day of softball instruction and information lead by Coach Lehotak and the PSU softball coaching staff.  The girls had a great day and look forward to spending more time with Coach Lehotak and her coaching staff at future clinics!