Coach Gary K Wray

6U - Batting Order and Offense

2009-04-06T06:23:00.000-07:00

Batting Order:

1. Batting 10. Have 10. I put my best batters at the end of the lineup. The idea here is we bat all 10 regardless of the number of outs, so a strong 10th batter can drive in all that’s left on base.
2. I start the line up with 2 girls I KNOW can get on but are not my biggest bats. This puts a couple of girls on when my small bats (that hit it maybe a foot or two or hit into easy put outs at first) come up. I use the potential outs of these batters to push around runners, most of the times scoring them. Keeps up the excitement for the players, the outs feel like they have done something, and strikeouts are contagious; we don’t want to start an inning with 2 strikeouts.
3. Batting 10. Have 9. This gives you a slight advantage in offense. Put your best hitters at the TOP of the lineup. One through four will probably get to bat twice each time and you will still have a good bat to drive in anyone at the end of the inning. Each inning one of the first 4 will start and end the inning. (ex, 1st inning 1st batter bats twice, 2nd inning 2nd batter bats twice…)
4. Batting 10. Have 11 or 12. This is harder. If you load your best batters 8, 9, 10 then each inning after the first you will loose one of your best batters from the lineup. If you put them at the top of the lineup then you can’t take advantage of their power. I would arrange them with my girls that couldn’t hit much at all around 9-12 ending my best at 6-8 That way the outs would just be outs (as they probably would be anyway and you would end the game in innings 3 and 4 with your best batters at the end of the lineup.
5. Running bases: The players have to know to run through the base at first. Work hard with that. That will help them in later years more than now. Have them learn to listen to the first base coach though because if the offensive player has any speed at all and a play is being made at first have her keep going to second. By the time the first baseman gets control and sees what’s happening the runner is half way to second.
6. Running Bases: Have the players learn to look at the third base coach half way to second.
7. Running Bases: place bags on the field halfway between 1st and 2nd and 2nd and 3rd out of the baselines and instruct the players to run on the inside of the bags… this teaches the players to go STRAIGHT to the bases.
8. Running Bases: I have the girls listen to me at third and “Round the base” when a play is not made at third… they are to go a 4th of the way to home watching the ball. They come back when I Yell “BACK”. We practice this all the time.

Softball Practices....

2009-04-06T05:58:00.000-07:00

One of the hardest things is for a league coach to have worthwhile practices when parents don't bring their players.

I've always had a policy where practices are manditory, but if you were going to miss, call me.

Sometimes it could be a case where I might be able to arrange transportation to help.

The team can NOT get better without practices and when you play a team sport, you have to think about the team as a whole. It should be the one thing that players learn after playing Team Sports, the TEAM comes first, not the individual.

Coaches should be the same way. The team is more important than even his own daughter. AND his daughter should be placed in the position SHE earns. Anything else is Daddy Ball and can bring down the overall performance of the team itself. That doesn't mean that on his own time he doesn't work her more... and try to bring her up to the level he is looking for out of his own daughter.

Practices if held right can do the most to bring up the level of a team, but to do them right all players must participate. They bring the players closer together so that they play as a unit, and the repetition of the drills make plays seem natural.

Bottom line, if your coach calls a practice, make every effort to be there or give him advanced notice that your player won't be there so he can make plans for her absence.

I'm excited about our new Team!

2009-02-10T05:08:00.000-08:00

The Hueytown Mustangs will be great! We start it all tonight with a league-wide 6U Clinic. Our first practice will be on Thursday where we'll get to know one another and work on a few drills to see what we have as far as talent.

I encourage everyone to take a lot of pictures and put them on our site! I'll leave this site up so you'll always be able to come back and take a look at the pictures.

See ya tonight at 5:30.

I've created a team website

2009-01-28T11:29:00.000-08:00

This website is for the 2009 Mustangs. It's the name that Sydney chose for her team (I think because it's the same name as her sister's team).

Well, the website is up and if I get a team, I've got it ready!

Here's the link... Hueytown Mustangs

Our registration is Saturday (I've been out of town) and the tryouts are the week after that. Wow, I can't believe that Sydney actually seems excited about playing!

2009 Season Starts soon...

2009-01-14T13:07:00.001-08:00

The 2009 Spring Softball season at Allison Bonnett Park will start soon. The registration dates are on the front page of http://www.hueytownfastpitch.com. I'm looking forward to tryouts on February 7th and seeing all the girls that will be playing this year!

Hope to see you soon.

Bye Rockets

2008-10-22T07:08:00.000-07:00

It's been a great season, thanks for letting me be a part of it!

Special thanks to Kevin and Brenda, and Wes for the hard work you put into the girls all season!

Team Party...

2008-10-20T06:09:00.000-07:00

Don't forget our team party at the Hueytown Park off of Brooklane (by the boy's park) on Tuesday at 6pm.

I'm getting 5 Little Ceisars pizzas if you guys will bring drinks and chips.

We'll let them eat and play. We've already gotten our medals, have them wear their jersey and their medals and I'll get a picture of all of them.

Thanks for a wonderful Fall season!

Picture Day!

2008-10-15T05:37:00.001-07:00

Everyone wasn't there when we made this picture but Cheryl got all the girls that were there...

Aren't they cute!

Monday practice cancelled

2008-10-13T16:08:00.000-07:00

I've called everyone's cell phones on record and their home numbers.

I'm doing this as another option.

I want to everyone to know we'll meet tomorrow at 6pm and everyone needs to be there so we can get a team picture with all the girls in it. After that, you can leave if you have somewhere else to be.

Have the girls wear their uniforms.

Packages are $25
1 8x12 individual
2 5x7 ind
5 large wallets ind
1 5x7 team picture

some of the other prices
2 - 3.5x5 prints $6
1 - 5x7 print $8
1 - 8x10 print $15
1 - 11x14 print $25
1 12x18 print $30

Hope everyone is there. If you can't make it please give me a call so I'll know in advance.

Thanks!

Season...

2008-10-10T07:09:00.000-07:00

I want to thank each and every one of you for letting Kevin, Wes, Delaney and I coach your daughters this fall. It was really a joy.

Our last game will be Thursday, Oct 16. I talked to Charlie and there will be no tournament that they told me at the beginning of the season. There were 6 games total and he put the second game on that day in case we were tied. We've already won 4 games and therefore have won the season.

Congratulations!

We will be having practice at 630 on Monday and Tuesday.

Our final game is scheduled on October 16th at 6pm.

On Tuesday the 14th, Please wear your jersey for pictures.

If you are interested in buying pictures, the package is $25 for 1- 8x12, 2 - 5x7, 5 - Large Wallets and 1 - 5x7 team picture. Checks should be made out to TimeForPictures.

It'll be a nice way of remembering the team this fall.

I also want to have a small team party at the park on Tuesday, October 21. Maybe with drinks, Pizza? Let me know if you are interested when we have practice.

Once again, thanks for a great season.

Game tonight...

2008-10-09T06:37:00.000-07:00

We have a game scheduled for tonight at 6pm.

Let me know if you are going to be late or not there tonight.

This is our last season game. These games have not counted. The tournament is on the 16th and that one will count to determine the winner of the Fall Season. If we happen not to win, I don't think they have 2nd place medallions, do you guys want to purchase them? They are 3.50 plus tax (3.82) each.

I'll be glad to order them if you'd like. I would also like to take Team Pictures. Everyone where their uniform to practice on Monday October 13. We'll take the pictures. Anyone wanting to order individual pictures can order them then. $25 package will get you 1 - 8x12, 2 - 5x7, 5 Large Wallets and 1 - 5x7 team print.

Let me know who is interested. If we have enough, I'll have him come out, if not, I'll have my wife take the team.

Thanks!

Game Tonight...

2008-10-07T07:31:00.000-07:00

Our game is tonight AND Thursday. These will be our last two games before our tournament.

The game tonight starts at 6:30 so we need to be at the park at 5:30.

I need a list of anyone who can't be there at 6:30 so I can make out the lineup.

Just shoot me an email today to remind me.

Thanks for letting me coach your daughters.

Our last game...

2008-10-03T17:35:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry about the last game. It's always on the coach when we don't play well. But I talked to the girls after the game and they all said they had a LOT of fun. As usual, we can learn a lot from our girls. They had fun, even in a loss. We still made them bat all the way to the end!

We'll have practice on Monday at 6:30.

Games on Tuesday and Thursday at 6:00 (be there around 5pm)

Also, I'll bring the drinks and snacks on Monday. You guys can decide where you are after that.

Please let me know if anyone will be missing next week.

Thanks!

Gary

Just making sure

2008-10-02T09:54:00.000-07:00

Everyone was going to be there tonight. I know that Bailey will be late and that puts us at nine. Let me know if anyone else will not be at the game tonight.

See you guys at 5pm.

612-3082

Practice Reminder...

2008-09-29T14:25:00.001-07:00

Monday and Tuesday at 6:30.

Thursday Games at 6:00, be there as close to 5pm as possible.

This will be the schedule for the rest of the season.

Thanks!

Practice as usual

2008-09-23T06:08:00.000-07:00

We will be practicing as usual at 6:30 tonight.

Taylor in the Circle, Kee Kee at 3rd, Bailee at short. Everyone else in their regular positions.

Try to be on time because Kevin and Wes will be running practice. Anyone that can, please give them a hand. My oldest has a touch football game tonight with school that she has been practicing for. She wants me there.

Coach Gary

Great Game! and Practice Times

2008-09-19T08:24:00.000-07:00

That was great for our first game!! I'm proud of all the girls...

There are still several things I want to work on, including getting ALL of our girls hitting off the coach...

Don't forget this instructional ball, I should have changed around players when they took their last bat, but I forgot. Kevin and Wes will remind me next time. We will practice with a few changes on Monday practice which will be at 6:30. We will also really practice hitting.

Practices for the coming week ending 9/27 are as follows:

Monday batting cages at 6:30
Tuesday batting cages at 6:30
Wednesday OFF
Thursday Game Field 4
Friday Off

To remind everyone. If you are going to be late or not make a practice of game, please call me at 205-612-3082 to let me know.

On game nights it's important because of the lineup. We have a totally different batting order with 9 players than with 10.

Thanks again and the Girls were GREAT!

DON'T Forget!!

2008-09-17T12:24:00.003-07:00

We have a game tonight at 6pm. Try to be at the cages at 5:3o. I need all the girls to get a chance to bat!

GO ROCKETS!

Schedule for rest of Fall...

2008-09-17T12:24:00.001-07:00

Home team listed Last..

6 & under Game Schedule
9-18-08 @6:00pm F#4 (ROCKETS VS PIXI-STIX)
9-25-08 @6:00pm F#4 (PIXI-STIX VS ROCKETS)
10-2-08 @6:00pm F#4 (ROCKETS VS PIXI-STIX)
10-7-08 @6:30pm F#4 (PIXI-STIX VS ROCKETS)
10-9-08 @6:00pm F#4 (ROCKETS VS PIXI-STIX)
10-16-08 @6:00pm F#4 (PIXI-STIX VS ROCKETS)
10-16-08 @7:30pm F#4 (playoff if needed)

Please consider this... there is a tournament over in Gardendale on September 27. No entry fee all you have to do is pay a $3-$5 gate fee to get in. Please let me know if you'd like to play. I have a Volleyball tournament to attend and therefore may not be there but the other coaches could handle it if I couldn't . We've got GREAT coaching... they would need a little help, but I'm sure you guys could help them. Let me know.... and I'll look at the volleyball schedule as well.

Our First Practice Game...

2008-09-17T07:06:00.000-07:00

We had a lot of fun! I think we did pretty well too....

Here's a couple of girls in our dugout... don't they look like they're having fun?

Don't forget our game is Thursday... Black Shorts and be at the cages at 5:30 for batting practice!

I'll be explaining to the girls that we've added a new rule.

"For first year girls, having never played, we are letting them have there 5 pitches and then if they don't hit in 5 pitches, they can hit off the Tee. ONLY DURING THE PRETOURNAMENT GAMES. " The tournament, since it counts, will not use a Tee...

Hopefully we can have them all hitting in the next couple of weeks and never break out the Tee...

Tuesday 9/16 - Practice Game

2008-09-16T06:28:00.000-07:00

Please remember we are to be there BEFORE 6:00pm. I'd like for you go get there by 5:30 so we could bat in the cages but I know some of you would have problems. So be there by 5:30 if you can...

Wear your jerseys and BLACK shorts.

Thanks guys!

Week ending Sat 5/20

2008-09-14T16:58:00.000-07:00

Monday Practice 6:30 Field 4
Tuesday Practice Game 6:00 field 4 (Be there around 15 minutes till 6 if possible - Call me if there is a problem we need ALL girls!)

Wed - No Practice
Thur - FIRST GAME 6:00 Field 4 (be at the batting cages at 5:30)
Friday - No Practice

Lets have fun and start playing ball! The girls did GREAT on Friday !!

Don't forget ...

2008-09-12T06:20:00.000-07:00

Practice tonight at 6:30.

If you have problems making it, make arrangements with me and you are free to drop off your child as long as you can make arrangements to have her picked up. Last parent, which is usually Kevin and Brenda :), will have to stay with me until the players are picked up. My Number 1 rule is, I'm never left alone with your kids...

Look forward to getting back to it after 2 days off! Next week, we should all be back!

Gary

Change to Practice Schedule -

2008-09-10T05:59:00.000-07:00

Because of the shortage of coaches and some plan change with my other two daughters, I'll be able to practice on Friday.

SO, instead of Thursday we will practice Friday at 6:30. NO Thursday practice....

Don't forget snacks if you are next on the list.....

Reminder of Practice

2008-09-08T04:49:00.000-07:00

Time will switch to 6:30 instead of 7:00. We don't get the field till 7pm but we can get 30 minutes in the cage before hitting the field plus we get to going home at 8pm instead of 8:30.

Be on time so the girls all get to see the cage and get some batting practice in.

Thanks!

Thanks Guys!

2008-09-04T20:44:00.000-07:00

Tonight was a great practice but we still have a lot of work to do!

We will practice Friday at 5:30. Get there as quick as you can so we can leave by 7pm and get to the Hueytown Game if you want to go.

I'll post all next weeks times on Saturday here so make sure you drop by the website.

See you tomorrow!

Next Practice...

2008-09-03T05:54:00.000-07:00

Our team is now called the Rockets! It was chosen by the girls and they chose our colors which will be a royal blue.

So GO Rockets!

I should have a bucket of the small balls by our next practice which will be on Thursday, September 4 at 7pm.

We will have later practice to accommodate the parents who cannot make the 5:30 time. If we decide to practice any earlier we'll have to meet at the batting cages until the field is clear at 7pm. You guys let me know by email.

As of now our first game will be a week from Thursday, we have a lot of work to do before then so we'll start setting our infield Thursday.

Our Coaches are:

Gary Wray
Wes Hall
Kevin Glaze
and if Butch Blackwell can't work with us due to his prior commitments, Delaney Wray.

We will practice on Friday. We'll discuss the time Thursday night. I understand some of you will want to go to the High School game.

Thanks for being there last night and I look forward to seeing you again!

Thinking

2008-09-02T09:00:00.001-07:00

of a team name and color. Do we want visors? or do without since this is only a 5 week season?

Don't forget to bring a drink and snack for the first practice.

See you tonight...5:30

Fall Team at HFS

2008-08-31T12:19:00.000-07:00

Hey guys welcome to the team! Hopefully we'll have lots of fun this fall and learn a little too.

I've got Fielf 4 at the following times:

Tue 5:30
Thu 7:00
Fri Open (anytime we decide)

Mon 7:00
Tue 5:30

We play on the next Thursday!

Now this does not mean that these are practice times. This are the times I have the field to be able to practice on it. We'll talk Tuesday to see what times are best for all of you.

I need at least 3 more coaches to help with games and practice. I'd love to have another coach who could pitch to the girls, but I'll do it if we don't I'll do it.

Feel free to talk to me about anything. It's been 6 years since I've coached this age group but I have done it and have one championship in 6U and 8U and about 4 years of coaching All Stars or helping in All Stars.

I'll see everyone Tuesday at 5:30 on Field 4. Have the players bring their helmets and gloves.

Thanks....

A New Team...

2008-08-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

I haven't coached in a little over a year and it's been longer since I've coached 6U (Sweetees is what we called this age back then). I'm looking forward to coaching your daughters and teaching them about softball.

We have a lot to learn during the fall. How to hit, base running, and how to catch. To do this I plan on putting the kids through lots of drills. I'll also need the help of LOTS of parents. At this age these players have SHORT attention spans so we want to keep them busy! And when they are busy, they are learning.

We will use black shorts and if you choose to use pants, choose black ball pants. I also would suggest all players get a game face. This is a protective device the player wears to help protect the face from injury. It also keeps the player from being afraid of the ball. It doesn't hurt when they get hit.

My daughters, Delaney and McKenna will help coach when they are not busy with color guard, softball or volleyball.

I need 2 base coaches and a catcher so there will be 3 coaches "on the field" besides me. Also we need a "Dugout Mom or Dad" This person has the hardest job. Getting helmets and gloves on and off, and getting our next batter ready to go.

It should be a fun fall, I will let all the girls play different positions to help them get ready for the spring, but we won't change up positions all at once. If you would like to talk to me about where your daughter is playing or batting, please do so after or before practice, NOT during a game.

Be on time for all practices and games. be there BEFORE the time that I specify. We practice to get better, and we get better in order to win.

Get Prepared...

2008-01-14T11:25:00.000-08:00

Softball in Hueytown is a BIG deal. The girls learn the basics at the park and the girls who learn them well enough go on to play at the Middle School and later win State Championships with the High School! The last HHS graduating class won the State Championship 3 of 4 years (coming in 3rd in 2007). Two of these championships were 5A but the last was 6A!

For us to get prepared and for your daughters to ever get this good, there are two things they have to have... A Love for the Game and Practice.

You will have to do your part by supporting them, of course paying for them, getting them to practices and games ON TIME, and by always building them up.

Things to know:

Games will be two days per week, we'll practice two days per week, the other 3 belong to you. No Wednesday or Sunday practice. Usually no Saturday if we can help it.
The park provides uniforms. Shirt and Shorts. We have to provide the rest. Balls, hats if we want them, socks and if you want to do shoelaces we'll have to buy them. If parents want Parent's shirts we can order them.
I do a pizza party the night before opening day to decorate our truck. If you have a truck/trailer for us to use, any ideas, materials, etc. to reduce out cost then please let me know. Otherwise we'll split the cost of this party. Any winnings will reduce the cost of other parties.
I would like all girls to have a face guard. I suggest the Defender Youth Fielding Mask. These masks are $39.99 but it will keep a girls from becoming afraid of the ball when they are just starting out. They will be more willing to field and catch if they know their face is protected. And there's nothing worse that having a ball hit into your daughters face knowing $40 would have prevented it.
I ask everyone to be on time for practices and games. If there is a problem, please call me in advance.
You need to buy a bat (with face mask), glove, helmet, and cleats. The bat, glove and helmet she will need at the first practice. A bat can wait until she's used some that the other girls have to see what size best suits her.
She will need an equipment bag to put her equipment in.
We have snacks for the girls at practice. The team mom will give each parent a schedule.
I need 3 assistant coaches and a team mom. These are volunteers to help with practice, coach the bases, keep the batting order straight and to keep the head coach straight.
Parents let your coaches coach your child. If you want to coach be one of my 5 volunteers.
Parents are required to work in the concession stand 1 time during the year. The team is required to work it twice. I encourage everyone to work and not buy out. It's a chance for all of us to have fun and be together...
The only two Saturdays of the season that we are USUALLY required to play is Opening Day (2/28/2009) and Mid-Season (?).

During the season, practices will be posted here. Please come to this website to see our schedule. We will probably choose times every two weeks so I will post two weeks worth of schedules at a time. I'll give everyone a game schedule when they are available.