OCTOBER 19 & 20, 2024
HAPPY HALLOWEEN AT FASTPITCH NATION, WINDSOR
PICTURED ABOVE, STING 12U GOLD, AS THE “UNDEAD”, “ZOMBEES” , WITH THEIR COACHES AS THE DREADED BEE KEEPERS. INSET BELOW RIGHT, BRYNN GILL’S LITTLE DOG, JACKSON, JOINS IN THE HALLOWEEN FUN DONNING A DOGGIE BEE COSTUME AND, NOT TO BE LEFT OUT, SHOWING HIS GOOD SPORT AND HALLOWEEN SPIRIT, FPN OWNER/DIRECTOR DAVID ROCHA AS, “HIS HOLINESS, DAVID I” OF WINDSOR.
THERE WAS SOFTBALL TO BE PLAYED, AS WELL:
STING 12U GOLD POSTED ANOTHER PERFECT SATURDAY, BESTING THE WESTERN MASS WARRIORS, RUN AND GUN LADY NIGHTMARES AND CT CHARMERS 12U GOLD, 11 – 3, 5 – 1 AND 6 – 2, RESPECTIVELY. FOR A #3 SEED IN THE VERY TOUGH 14 TEAM – 12U OPEN POOL. THEY DID IT BEHIND THE GREAT PITCHING OF MAEVE EAGLESON, LEAH MICHALOWSKI AND CASEY KOLVA, WITH SOME HELP FROM NEW MEMBER, ALEXA HAUSCHILD. THE OFFENSE WAS HIGHLIGHTED BY AYANALIZ CRUZ’S , 210 FOOT MOONSHOT HOME RUN TO DEAD CENTER FIELD.
ON SUNDAY, THEY DISPATCHED LADY FURY 12 – 7, THE CHARMERS AGAIN, 12 – 0, BUT RAN INTO A JUGGERNAUT , RHODE ISLAND THUNDER GOLD, AND LOST IN THE SEMI-FINALS.
STING 12U GOLD POSTED AND IMPRESSIVE 11 – 1 FALL MARK IN THEIR TWO 2024 TOURNAMENTS.
OCTOBER 12 & 13, 2024
STING 14U “CRAYONS” IN NIGHTHAWKS EVENT IN NORTH HAVEN
STING 14U IN PRE-HALLOWEEN CRAYOLA GARB. POSING AS CRAYONS, THE TEAM IDENTIFIES DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANCER, BY COLOR, THAT HAS IMPACTED THEIR LIVES.
OCTOBER 5 & 6, 2024
STING 12U GOLD DOMINATES FPN “SMASHING PUMPKINS”
STING 12U GOLD TOOK THE FIELD AT FASTPITCH NATION FOR THE “SMASHING PUMPKINS” FALL EVENT. TWO BEAUTIFUL AUTUMN DAYS YIELDED A SIX GAME SWEEP FOR STING 12U GOLD. STING CLEANUP SATURDAY, WINNING 8-3, 14-2, 10-0 AGAINST THE RUN & GUN LADY NIGHTMARES, CT BARRACUDAS 12U GREEN AND THE EASTCHESTER LOBOS (NY), RESPECTIVELY FOR A NUMBER ONE SEED AND A SUNDAY BYE.
STING OPENED SUNDAY WITH A 9-1 WIN OVER CT MIRAGE, FOLLOWED BY A 13-0 VICTORY AGAINST THE RUN & GUN LADY NIGHTMARES IN THE SEMI-FINALS AND ANOTHER SHUTOUT, 10-0, IN THE FINALS VS CT BARRACUDAS 12U BLUE.
PITCHERS MAEVE EAGLESON, LEAH MICHALOWSKI AND CASEY KOLVA COMBINED FOR THE WINNING SUCCESS IN THE CIRCLE, SUPPORTED BY THE OFFENSE THAT SCORED 64 RUNS IN THEIR SIX GAMES. COACH EAGLESON’S TEAM TAKES THE FIELD NEXT IN HALLOWEEN COSTUMES FOR THE FASTPITCH NATION’S “SPOOKTACULAR II” IN WINDSOR, CT
12U BLUE OPENS FALL WITH “TOYS FOR TOTS” CHARITY EVENT
STING 12U BLUE OPENED THEIR 2025 CAMPAIGN AND TRAVELED TO LOWELL, MA ON SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2024 TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONE-DAY INDEPENDENT “TOYS FOR TOTS” CHARITY EVENT. EACH PLAYER BROUGHT ONE TOY TO BE DONATED. A GREAT START TO THE SEASON FOR COACH PRAY’S GROUP. A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL.
STING ENDS 2024 AND READIES TO BEGIN 34th YEAR IN 2025
THE 2024 STING SEASON ENDED WITH SOME TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP AND FINALIST FINISHES ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF TEAMS. STING TEAMS VISITED A TOTAL OF SIX DIFFERENT EASTERN STATES IN 2024. DURING AND AFTER THE SEASON, A NUMBER OF STING PLAYERS FROM OUR OLDER GROUPS, RECEIVED COLLEGE SOFTBALL ROSTER OFFERS.
SHORELINE STING WILL BEGIN ITS 34th YEAR OF TRAVEL SOFTBALL COMPETITION IN 2025. EIGHT TEAMS (10U / 12U GOLD / 12U BLUE / 14U / 16U / 18U GOLD / 18U BLUE & WOMENS 18+) THESE DIVERSE TEAMS ARE REPRESENTED WITH PLAYERS FROM MORE THAN 30 DIFFERENT CONNECTICUT COMMUNITIES.
HERB PRAY WILL MOVE FROM 10U UP TO THE YOUNGER 12U BLUE GROUP, KEEPING MANY OF HIS 2024 – 10U PLAYERS. BRYAN BURDICK, BEGINS HIS INAUGURAL STING COACHING SEASON. HE WILL HANDLE THE 10U TEAM. LOOKING FOR MORE FINALIST AWARDS, KYLE EAGLESON WILL RETAIN MOST OF HIS EXCELLENT 12U PLAYERS, MOVING TO THE OLDER 12U GOLD TEAM. DAN MARSH, AFTER YEARS OF STING COACHING EXPERIENCE, LEAVES HIS 18U ASSISTANT’S JOB TO BECOME THE 14U HEAD COACH. ALAN MUENCH MOVES UP, WITH MANY OF HIS 2024 PLAYERS, TO COACH AT THE 16U LEVEL PAUL HAMILTON AND ED HOBSON WILL CONTINUE TO COACH THEIR 18U GOLD AND 18U BLUE TEAMS, RESPECTIVELY. CHRISTIAN HOLMAN WILL RETURN TO COACH STING WOMENS 18+.
2025 STING ROSTERS ARE BEING FORMED AT ALL AGE LEVELS. SOME ROSTER OPENINGS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES ARE ALSO IN PROCESS. ALL THREE OLDER TEAMS, 16U AND BOTH 18U TEAMS HAVE COMMITTED TO SHOWCASING THEIR TALENTS FOR COLLEGE COACHES, PARTICIPATING IN THE CAPE COD COLLEGE SHOWCASE IN SWANSEA, MA IN JULY 2025. STING 14U AND STING 18U GOLD WILL EACH BE TRAVELING TO GLENS FALLS, NY THIS WINTER TO PLAY INDOORS IN THE ADIRONDACK DOME.
OUR HOSTED SHORELINE STINGER XVIII IS ON TAP FOR JULY 26 & 27, 2025. ONCE AGAIN, THIS VERY POPULAR AND SUCCESSFUL EVENT WILL PLAYED IN GUILFORD AND ON CONNECTICUT’S CENTRAL SHORELINE. THE TOURNAMENT WILL BE LISTED ON www.playfpn.com.
WE WELCOME BACK ALL OF OUR RETURNING PLAYERS AND OFFER A SPECIAL WELCOME TO ALL OF OUR NEW MEMBERS. WISHING EVERYONE A FUN AND SUCCESSFUL SEASON!
ACTION FROM 2024: PHOTO AT TOP: KYLE EAGLESON’S 11U, NOW 12U GOLD, WINS RAPIDS EVENT IN WATERTOWN, CT. INSET TOP RIGHT, HERB PRAY VISITS WITH 10U PITCHER, HARLOW CHANEY. INSET AT LEFT: 18U BLUE FINALISTS IN HAGERSTOWN, MD. INSET BELOW RIGHT, STING 12U’S, LAUREL BEISEL DIVES IN SAFELY.
2024 SEASON CONCLUDES WITH THREE TRAVEL EVENTS
THE 2024 TRAVEL SEASON HAS COME TO AN END WITH THREE TRAVEL EVENTS. PICTURED ABOVE IS STING 14U, WHO QUALIFIED FOR THE SEMI FINALS IN THE CLFC RI BOMBERS AWAY SLAM. PICTURED (ABOVE FROM LEFT) ARE COACH JILL EVANS, HELEN MUENCH, ALIVIA BIALOWAS, DELANEY ATKINSON, AMANDA MUENCH, TAYLOR KETCHUM, COACH AMY BIALOWAS AND HEAD COACH ALAN MUENCH. (KNEELING BELOW) ARE NATALIE LUTYEN, HAILEY EVANS, LAUREN GAULT, REILLY YORK AND VIVIENNE PRZEKOP.
STING 18U BLUE ALSO PLAYED IN THE “CLFC BOMBERS” EVENT IN CRANSTON, RI AND SUFFERED A HEARTBREAKING ONE RUN LOSS ON SUNDAY. ABBY YOUNG HIT TWO HOME RUNS IN THE EVENT.
HERB PRAY’S STING 10U (PICTURED BELOW.) TEAM FINISHED THEIR SEASON IN RYBSA THUNDERSTORM INVITATIONAL IN REHOBOTH, MA. A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL.
18U BLUE FINALISTS IN MARYLAND
PICTURED ABOVE IS STING 18U BLUE. COACHES STANDING IN BACK FROM LEFT, TIM MANNING, ED HOBSON, KATHY BURDICK. PLAYERS STANDING FROM LEFT, PAIGE LANGEN, BELLA DELEDDA, JAYDEN JOHNSTON, NIKKI HINES, AILEEN MULVIHILL, PHOEBE BRENNAN AND KATHERINE EATON. PLAYERS KNEELING IN FRONT FROM LEFT, KYRA MANNING, ABBY YOUNG, SYBIL NEARY AND TEAGAN MULVIHILL
ON JULY 19-21, STING 18U BLUE WILL BE JOINED ON THE ROAD BY STING 18U GOLD AND STING 16U AT THE CAPE COD COLLEGE SHOWCASE IN SWANSEA, MA.
SUMMER TRAVEL BEGINS IN EARNEST FOR OLDER TEAMS
OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL AND EXPANDED TOURNAMENTS ARE NOW ON SCHEDULE FOR STING 16U / 18U GOLD AND 18U BLUE.
ON THE LAST WEEKEND OF JUNE, STING 18U BLUE TRAVELED TO NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR THE NE FUSION COLLEGE SHOWCASE. ABBY YOUNG WAS SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ANNUAL HOME RUN DERBY AT LONDONDERRY, NH (PICTURED ABOVE) 18U BLUE CONTINUES ON THE ROAD IN HAGERSTOWN, MD ON JULY 13 & 14. ON FRIDAY, JULY 12 THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 14, 18U GOLD TRAVELS TO UPSTATE, NY TO COMPETE IN CHAMPIONS NATIONALS IN OSWEGO, NY, CONCLUDING WITH THE FINALS ON JULY 16. (SHORELINE STING IS THE 2019 CHAMPIONS OF THIS NATIONAL EVENT.)
ON FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 19 – 21, ALL THREE OLDER STING TEAMS (16U / 18U GOLD & 18U BLUE) WILL COMPETE IN THE CAPE COD COLLEGE SHOWCASE IN SWANSEA, MA, SHOWCASING THEIR TALENTS IN FRONT OF COLLEGE COACHES. GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF OUR STING TEAMS GOING ON THE ROAD IN JULY.
JUNE 8 & 9, 2024
FINALIST FOR 11U IN WAVES” SUMMER SLAM IN RHODE ISLAND
SECOND IN GOLD BRACKET
STING 11U WENT 3-0 ON SATURDAY’S POOL ROUND TO QUALIFY FOR THE GOLD BRACKET. STRONG PITCHING BY LEAH MICHALOWSKI, MAEVE EAGLESON AND CASEY KOLVA HELD OPPONENTS TO THREE RUNS IN THREE GAMES. RYA COPLIN HAD SEVEN HITS, OLIVIA MAHON HAD FIVE AND LILA SHEPARD HAD FOUR IN THE POOL GAMES TO PACE THE OFFENSE.
ON CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY, MICHALOWSKI PITCHED A “NO HITTER” WITH NINE STRIKE OUTS. EAGLESON HAD TWO BIG HITS TO GET STING 11U INTO THE SEMI-FINALS, WITH A 5-1 WIN OVER THE CT BOMBERS.
IN THE SEMI-FINALS, STING 11U PREVAILED IN EXTRA INNINGS WITH A “WALK OFF” SINGLE FROM BRYNN GILL. SHE HAD THREE RBIS IN THE GAME. KOLVA AND HAYLEY PARADISE CONTRIBUTED TIMELY HITS IN THE GAME. EAGLESON WAS THE WINNER IN THE CIRCLE WITH 13 STRIKE OUTS.
IN THE FINALS, STING 11U SQUARED OFF AGAINST THE POWERFUL RAIDERS 12U GREY. THEY DROPPED A CLOSE ONE IN THE LAST INNING. MICHALOWSKI WENT THE DISTANCE AND HELD THE RAIDERS TO JUST THREE RUNS. SHE AND PARADISE EACH KNOCKED IN A RUN.
JUNE 1 & 2, 2024
STING 11U WINS RAPIDS EVENT IN WATERTOWN, CT
PICTURED ARE COACHES IN THE BACK (FROM LEFT) DOMINIC GIARDINA, KYLE EAGLESON, MIKE MICHALOWSKI. PLAYERS (STANDING FROM LEFT) HALEY PARADISE, MAEVE EAGLESON, LEAH MICHALOWSKI, CASEY KOLVA, OLIVIA MAHON. PLAYERS (KNEELING) GABI GIARDINA, RYA COPLIN, BRYNN GILL, ALI MAYNARD, LILA SHEPARD, REAGAN KLEIN, SKY OTERO.
STING WOMEN (18+) FORGE NEW GROUND
SHORELINE STING WILL BE TAKING A MAJOR NEW STEP IN ITS SOFTBALL PROGRAM IN 2024. STING WILL ENTER A WOMEN’S (18+) TEAM IN THE CONNECTICUT WOMEN’S SOFTBALL LEAGUE (CWSL). THE WOMEN’S (18+) LEAGUE WILL GIVE MANY PLAYERS, STING VETERANS AND OTHERS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO PLAY AND COMPETE IN THE GAME THEY LOVE AFTER THEY HAVE “AGED-OUT” OF TRADITIONAL “TRAVEL” SOFTBALL. STING HAS BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SIGN MANY STING VETERANS, SUPPLEMENTED WITH SOME OF THE TOP TALENT IN CONNECTICUT.
STING VETERAN COACH, CHRISTIAN HOLMAN, WILL BE TAKING OVER THE COACHING DUTIES OF WOMEN’S (18+). HE WILL BE ASSISTED BY MICHELLE WIECZOREK. THEY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY RECRUITED A GREAT ROSTER THAT WILL BE COMPETING IN CWSL, WITH A DOUBLEHEADER, 4:00 AND 6:00, EACH SUNDAY EVENING, BEGINNING ON SUNDAY JUNE 2, 2024 AND ENDING ON JULY 29, 2024, WITH ONE SUNDAY OFF, AROUND THE INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY. ALL DOUBLEHEADERS WILL BE PLAYED IN CONNECTICUT. MANY OF THE TOP SOFTBALL PROGRAMS IN NEW ENGLAND WILL HAVE TEAMS ENTERED IN THE LEAGUE.
THE STING ROSTER WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED BY STING VETERANS, MADISON ALLARD, CARLY BRASKY, HANNA DIAS, CARLI LOPRESTO, EMILY ZIEBA, HANNAH LEMKE, KRISTIE ZATOR, VICTORIA GAGE AND HAILEY WIECZOREK. STING HAS SUCCESSFULLY RECRUITED PLAYERS FROM MITCHELL COLLEGE IN NEW LONDON, CT. ALONG WITH STING VETERAN AND MARINER, LEMKE AND HILL, STAR PITCHER KATELY LIPSKY AND OUTFIELDER LOLA WORSDALE WILL BE PLAYING WITH STING. PITCHER ELAINA PREVITY FROM UNIVERSITY OF ST. JOSEPH, SOPHIA FAZZINA, A TOP-NOTCH CATCHER, FROM BERLIN, CT AND UCONN AND TORI LOPRESTO FROM POWERFUL ST. JOHN FISHER (NY) ROUND OUT THE ROSTER.
HIGHLIGHTED IN THE CIRCLE WILL BE LIPSKY (PICTURED BELOW), WHO WAS THE NECC PLAYER OF THE YEAR IN 2023.
IN 2024, SHE WAS 9-6. WITH 84 STRIKE OUTS AND 11 COMPLETE GAMES. PREVITY, WIECZOREK AND GAGE, FROM EMERSON COLLEGE IN BOSTON, MA WILL ALSO SEE TIME IN THE CIRCLE. LEMKE (PICTURED BELOW) WAS A FIRST TEAM NECC OUTFIELDER WITH A .376 BATTING AVERAGE AND WITH BLAZING SPEED, LED THE TEAM WITH EIGHT STOLEN BASES.
STING WOMEN’S (18+) BEGIN THEIR 2024 SEASON ON SUNDAY, JUNE 2 (TIME AND LOCATION TBD) THE BALANCE OF THE STING WOMEN’S (18+) ROSTER IS LINKED BELOW.