Hello Players and Parents:

The Richmond Hill Thunder Squirt team is looking for additional players.

The team started this year as a select team and began training indoors in February. We ran a pitching clinic for one hour followed by a full practise for an hour every week until May. We realized in May the team would be strong and changed our direction from playing Select to playing in both Select and Rep tournaments. In select we entered three tournaments and we won twice and were finalists in one (losing 8 to 7 in the finals). It was evident that the team was one of the strongest Select teams in Ontario. In Rep. Tournaments we finished 3rd in the Oshawa tournament, qualified for the OASA B tournament and finished 3rd in the OASA B Championships. The team developed nicely and while we played to win, we also had a great time and enjoyed playing together. Many of the kids have played together for 3 or 4 years in house league and Select levels.

We have five players returning for the 2008 season and we are looking for additional players. We have been fortunate to attract some strong players from Scarborough, which includes a solid pitcher. The team has two pitchers that can pitch over 40 mph (both about 43 mph). Last year one of the pitchers, Ryan Jones, pitched 28 mph and this year he pitched 43 mph. We expect both pitchers to be pitching between 45 and 50 mph next year. This would give us one of the strongest pitching staffs in Ontario. As a comparison, we only saw one pitcher from Kitchener pitch 50 mph this year. The pitching development program is run by one of the coaches, with guidance from Eric Jones (5 time OASA Champion, 16 MVP awards) and Mike Crawford (pitched for Ontario Senior Men's team and Canadian Men's Team in the World Championships and Pan American Games, too many accomplishments to list). We enjoy developing pitchers and would develop a third pitcher, if a player showed the commitment and interest.

The coaching staff has combined over 20 years of coaching experience at a competitive level and has a track record of developing young players to exceed their potential. We have a great core group of players and need a few more to develop into a Ontario Champoinship Team.

We would like to invite players out to our tryouts that are interested in the following:

1) See what a combined Richmond Hill Stouffville team has to offer the
players.
2) Interested in developing their skills further and becoming a better
player.
3) Enthusiastic about playing fastball, has a good attitude, and wants to find a team to play with for the next few years
4) Building a team that will be successful but also have an enjoyable
summer together.

This is an introductory period for the players and the coaches and there is no obligation or commitment required by either party. Let's just get to know each other and see if the player fits into our program. If the player is a hockey player and is only able to attend a few practises until March or April, that can be accommodated for as well. We know how important hockey is to many of the players.

We will be running indoor training practise starting in October for the pitchers and October or January for the other players. The proactise are to develop the physical fits and muscle memory to become a great player.

We will be having a practise on Sunday Sept 23rd at 10am at Bradstock. We expect the practise to run for two hours on two diamonds.

Map to Bradstock

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=140+regent+st,+richmond+hill,+ON,+CA&iwloc=A&h
l=en


It looks like the York Region Squirt Rep league will exist next year
and have around five teams. This will give us consistent local competition.

The team is starting to come together and the practise will include players from Scarborough, Richmond Hill, Stouffville and possibly Newmarket. A friendly WELCOME to all new players coming out for the first time. .

If you have any questions, please contact the coaches.

Thank You

The Coaches