Finally the proposed Schedule for 2024 to 2025

2024 Summer Season

2024 Fall Winter Season

2025 Summer Season

2025 Fall/Winter Season

Coach Jason sent this clip to me….stating “Rodney this is what you keep telling us”

Sometimes you need to hear the message from a different source. Snap Softball by Coach Dan Blewett is a great channel to subscribe to.

To prepare the team for their High School Teams ICE played in two High School Level tournaments over the 2023 Winter season.  Playing one day tournaments would put the girls against High School Level competition and smooth their transition from 16U travel ball to High School Softball.  As a pure 2027 graduation year team getting to challenge older players would help improve their softball IQ.

The team opened against a heavy 2025 graduation team in MOJO Ultimate.  That was a complete eye opener, taking a 9 to 1 beat down in their very first game at that level.  It was complete domination by MOJO; at the end of the game a few parents question if the girls were ready.   Coach and I responded with “they are in High School now if they believe they are good enough to make their schools varsity team then they should be able to play at this level.”

The girls got better as the day progressed.  They lost a heartbreaker to PTX Elite by the score of 4 to 3.   Bruised but they fought and with an error as time expired, they allowed NTX Stars – Walker to drive home 2 runs as they ICE fell 5 to 4.  That loss forced a rematch against MOJO Ultimate. 

The rematch showed a different team.  Coaches made an adjustment of moving our catcher, Candace, to the outfield and turning over all catching duties to the MAC.  That small adjustment changed the dynamics of the team. The outfield was catching everything while running line drives down.  With that adjustment the team battled to a 5 to 3 loss. 

Although, we do not like celebrating losses, the sure domination MOJO had over ICE in the 1^st game compared to the battle that ensued the second game showed our girls that they belonged. 

As the girls resumed practice in preparation for their 2^nd tournament a Christmas battle in Dennison Texas there was optimism in practice.  The girls arrived at their next tournament ready to battle in the High School division.  They opened up with a convincing win against Dynamite 25/26 team with a score of 7 to 3.  

Their confidence got the best of them against the NTX Stars again…..The lead the entire game 2 to 0 and allowed two runners to get on base with two outs in the bottom of the last ending.   The next hitter smashed a homerun in walk off fashion Ice fell 3 to 2.  Heading into the bracket they met Dynamite again and like the 1^st game they won 7 to 4.  

That win forced a elimination game against MOJO Ultimate. During this tournament our catcher ‘MAC’ had an emergency and could play so the team enlisted a guest player to fill the gap.  The guest catcher was hurt by a ball in the prior game, but the coaches decided to stay with her. 

Heading into the MOJO game the catcher was at 50%, but the rest of the team battled….. it was a tight game.  In the bottom of the 3^rd inning with the game tied the catcher injuries started to impact her ability to catch the ball so with two outs and two runners on base the team manager requested that the coaches put Candance back at catcher.   As that request went in, MOJO crashed the ball deep left field to the warning track……and Candance was playing close to short…..she turned and bolted like lighting to make the catch and the out…. allowing the team to head into the final inning tied at 2.  

With that catch there was no way the coaches were changing left field it was time to see if our 8^th grader was ready to play.  MOJO was able to hold our offense to zero points and we headed into the bottom of the ending tied.  Man did the 8^th grader play.  Mojo got a single to 1^st of a line drive, then a pop up foul caught out by the catcher.  Next bat was a 6/3 out but moved the runner to 2^nd.  Next batter 2^nd attempted to steal third and was thrown out by the catcher…..the 8^th grader stepped in and did her thing.  Extra innings.

In extra innings Ice lead off of Candance and Alyssa did what they do — get on base and score ending the top of inning with a score of 4 to 2, but MOJO was not going to be upset that December day with a few bang-bang plays  and a little bailing out by the umpires MOJO survived as ICE fell and was eliminated from the tournament 5 to 4. 

At the end of the second tournament all eyes moved towards high school ball and the preparation for summer travel after high school ball ends.

We are extremely proud of these girls.

It AMAZES me every time I say it…….ICE was a 14U C-Level team that couldn’t beat anyone when 2022 ended but by year end 2023 they were a competitive High School level team.

Coach Jackson and Coach Brad intense practices changed the level of play.   We are looking forward to 2024. 

The fall season is when teams recruit and refortify in preparation for the Spring.  That was also the story for ICE.  Battling though injuries while trying out girls to fill our Roster.  Fall was a busy time for the girls.

Multiple injuries to key team members made it difficult to play tournaments, but the girls were ready to go in time to compete in USA Softball Best of the Best Championship in Celina Texas December 10, 2022 last tournament of the fall/winter season.

With multiple injuries and multiple girls trying out for our team they were able to hold their own against some talented teams.  Weather delays canceled Saturday games and the team had to play 4 grinding games on Sunday.  In the end the girls were able to place 3^rd by Beating two different NTX Canes teams, a fight to the end against NTX Premier Vernon, but fell short in the finals against a solid Diamond Express Team. 

Our second baseman was working though a knee injury, but battled though all four games

The centerfielder played with a badly bruised shin, and one of our key pitchers was returning from a shoulder injury. 

Third base was new to travel softball and to 3^rd base, but she proved she has the potential to be great. 

The girls were disappointed with the 3^rd place finish, but they showed promise and grit as we prep for B level softball in the spring.

ICE Played in the NCS MVP BRING THE HEAT 5GG tournament at Midlothian’s Sports Complex.  The approach to this tournament was different from most.   Since this was the last tournament for the team for the 2022 Fastpitch Season the decision to play under the new team’s name – ICE – was made.  The coaches used this tournament as a tryout session for new girls seeking to play with the team.

Going into a tournament with 5 girls trying out along with our 7 that are still recovering from the organization, team, and coaching changes we knew would be a tall task.  The girls opened the tournament against the Bomb Squad.  The Bomb Squad have two great coaches and a team that was steadily improving.  We had played them twice in the past and our coaches warned the team……beating a team a third time is always hard.  Especially opening the game with a player trying out for team at pitcher.

Keegan, the pitcher, started off nervous and shacky but the team had her back as the team was able to hold on to a 6 to 5 victory.   Most people would say that was not a quality win.   Beating a team three times in the same season is extremely difficult and doing it with 5 of 9 players on the field trying out is extremely impressive.  Hats off to the Bomb Squad for their fight and hats off to our girls for persevering.

Our next game was against a team that is slowly becoming a good rival of ours, the Texas Diamonds.  The last time we played we battled to an extra inning match.  The Texas Diamonds was ready and seeking revenge.  What a hit fest, both teams were hitting putting the outfield to work.  What a game…amazing hits coupled with amazing outfield play the girls started to gel, but in the end ICE fell with a score of 9 to 11.  The two-point loss wasn’t what concerned the team.  The team’s concern was we started the tournament with only two pitchers, our ACE Niya and Keegan trying out. Niya got turf toe on a pickle play that she managed to get out of but injuring her foot in the process.  Both pitchers were badly bruised from the jersey seams which affected their pitchers.   I close lose that injured pitchers…..and we had to replay the Texas Diamonds in the 1^st bracket game which started 30 mins after we finished playing……a rematch with injured pitchers. 

After the Texas Diamonds game we assessed the situation with the new jerseys and realized the armpit area was too tight and it bruised the pitchers’ armpits to the point it was difficult for the pitchers to rotate their arms.  We cut the sleeves out of the jerseys, but the damage was done we didn’t have pitchers.  We asked the pitchers to fight with us for one more game. 

Going into the bracket the coaches talked with the team about protecting the pitchers.  Girls had to catch everything they had to reduce to no Errors.  A tough call but man did they respond.  Those girls played and played hard.  Texas Diamonds put their ACE pitcher in to ensure they get that win.  Our girls showed up.  Loading the bases quickly.  Our girls have an issue hitting against slow pitchers, but fast powerful pitchers our girls can play ball.  They showed up and showed out getting a quick 4 scores.  The Defense was on point.  Multiple line drive outfield catches the pitchers in pain did what they had to do to get balls over the plate the girls played solid defense behind them.   The complete team play allowed for the girls to hold on 5 to 3 and defeating a team they lost to 30 mins earlier with two injured pitchers.  This Win Solidified the girl’s 4^th place finish in the tournament.

No pitchers heading into a game with the Crusaders was harsh, but the Defense was very supportive they cheered on the pitchers called time for them to insure they had water and was cool.  But they were injured and couldn’t perform which led to three straight loses.  Pitchers laid it on the line for the girls in the 5 to 3 wins against Texas Diamonds.  The girls walked away with 4^th place medals not the hardware they wanted, but it was nice hanging the medals around their necks!!!!

Morgan MVP ring against the Bomber Squad

Bella MVP ring against Texas Diamonds

4^th Place Medals!!!!

Thank you to Keegan Hines, Emily McDaniel, Morgan Nickell, Ariel Stanhouse, and Jada Garcia for trying out and Guest Playing this weekend we really enjoyed you.

In Life there is always Change. How much we want it to stay the same ……… things Change.

The Battitude was a successful recreational fastpitch team that played in Allen Sports Association Gold and Silver league. May 26 2021 the team coach with assistance from the team’s parents entered the travel arena by organizing as a travel non profit organization playing its 1st tournament 29 June 2021.

Going from rec to travel is not an easy task. The Battitude did it with decent success. The team was a Finalist (2nd Place) in a national qualifying event reaching as high as 15th place in National Champions Series State of Texas 14UC team ranking.

As the team reaches our one year travel anniversary the girls wanted to break from their recreation roots and grow-up in this Travel Game.

The girls voted to change their name and we decided to change the organization’s name:

New Organization Name: NTX Carbonados (AKA Black Diamonds)

INTRODUCING the soon to be —- WORLD FAMOUS — ICE Cold Carbonados of North Texas

Candace (Double 00) turned 13 on Sunday, April 10, 2022.  She woke up, that morning, with only one wish.  Her team to play for the tournament championship.

That was a tall order since they were going into bracket play as the last placed team.  I mean not one win in pool play– the worst point ratio. But before I tell the story of how her girls came together to make Candace’s Birthday Wish come true.  Candace had a rough start to the morning.

On her Birthday their 1^st game was scheduled to kick off at 8am over an hour and 15 minutes away.   We had to leave our home around 5:30 am to make prewarm up by 7 am.

We decided to grab breakfast along the way, about halfway to our destination, as we pulled off to grab some breakfast the Birthday girl realized she left her shoes at home, so we had to turn around and go home.  She was in tears, upset with herself, worried that she would be late to the 1^st bracket game.  So, the morning was not going well and to top it off we never stopped for breakfast but made the 1^st game on time.

The girls played their first game of a double elimination tournament against the Texas Diamonds and what do they do; they took a 2 to 0 lost making them one game out from elimination and three more games to get to the championship.   With that I called the Birthday Girl’s mother and planned her Birthday dinner at 2pm as I had no faith.

The birthday girl looked at me and said you don’t have Faith in us.  I replied “Yep No Faith……. No Faith at all”.  At that point she says we will show you…. I shook my head and walked off.

Well, the second game of the elimination the girls played the Regulators from White Settlement it was a well-played game with the girls supporting the Pitcher assisting her in accomplishing a NO HITTER.  It was the best defensive effort on the year.  The girls pulled two 6-3 outs (shortstop to first base), an 8-3 out (Centerfield to first base) (YEP a 8-3 throw down), and caught a pop fly at 5 (3^rd base) to help seal a no hitter.  With that accomplishment the Birthday girl comes over an says you need to push my dinner to another day…. I say naaa we can make 4pm.  So still no faith.

The girls walk into the 3^rd game of bracket play against a team that handed them their initial loss of bracket play.  The girls jumped out on the Texas Diamonds 5-0 the girls looked as if their defensive play from the previous game was continuing   — well— the wheels fell off as the Texas Diamonds roared back to a 5 tie.  Taking the game into extra innings.  In extra inning the tournament used California Tie Breaker.

If you are unfamiliar with California Tie Breaker format, it is nerve racking.  Each team at bat starts with the last three batters on 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd and one out on the board.  Each batter comes to the plate with 3 balls and 2 strikes. The last pitcher, the one that closed out the game, must pitch the tie breaker.  A team cannot switch out pitchers.   Each team is at bat and at the end of the ending the finial score is the winner.

The Battitude were up to bat first.  The pressure was on the Texas Diamonds pitcher who was strong the entire tournament, but in the tie breaker her legs got away from her as he threw 3 balls which allowed the Battitude to take a 8 to 5 lead.  Texas Diamonds pitchers was able to get her legs under her to throw four good pitches one for a strike but the other three the Battitude batters were able to make contact and get on base extending their lead to 11 to 5 before ending the top of the inning.

Texas Diamonds headed to the plate with Sloan in the circle.   What a day.  Sloan’s first pitch was met by one of Texas Diamonds best batter.  A hard deep hit left field where Lauren made a gorgeous catch.  Texas Diamonds was able to turn that hit into a sacrifice fly narrowing the lead to 11 to 6. Next pitch Sloan barely missed the corner allowing a walk that closed the gap 11 to 7.  Next pitch another corner pitch the batter froze no swing.   STRIKE!!!!!! game over girls were screaming and jumping they are now one game out from the championship.  Baby girl again tells me we going to the championship.  I reply I am proud of you girls if you don’t win the next game, you girls made great strides today.   I told her – remember yall lost to your next team yesterday.

The girls headed into the semi-championship ready for revenge.  It was a close game the girls go up 6 to 1 and the inning of errors show up again.   The Achilles heel of the girls — get up and then give the game away.   Three points in one inning off errors watching the girls it was clear they were still 12 and eligible to play 12U.  No calling for the ball and running into each other on easy pop fly’s throwing the ball to second with a runner on third when I say the girls looked like the “Bad News Bears” —YEP — they did.

Then they got it together.   Played the next inning clean and were able to hold off the Bandits Fastpitch with a score of 7 to 4.  They MADE IT TO THE “SHIP” yes the girls battled though the elimination bracket to the Championship Game

Candace the Birthday girl walks over and says…..You Need a Little Faith…..I knew may girls would give me my birthday gift!!!!  Four games to get to the championship.  All played in one day.  Although they ran out of gas by the 5^th and final game of the day the parents and fans of the Battitude are so proud of these girls.  They battled.  A day full of Accomplishments………

AND THE BEST BIRTHDAY GIFT A GIRL COULD HAVE!!!!!!

Battitude Opens it 2022 Champaign playing in 14U

Your girls opened the 2022 Season playing at the 14U.   Their opening tournament was picked to give the girls a good variation of teams to compare their skills against.

The Girls Matched their skills against the:

• NTX LadyOutlaws a high-level C team
• OILS SB 14U Bentley a B level team out of the Royce City Area. The Oilers went 19 and 1 in USA tournaments in 2021
• American Freedom NTX Future 08 a B Level Squad
• ShowtimeCTXDFW a solid B
• Express Hendricks 14U a fun team to play against last year they were equal to our girls
• Texas Dragons a solid B team

This opening tournament showed the coaches and girls where we are at.

The Highlights:

• We have hitters our girls can make contact
• Both catchers can play
• We were one of the few teams with multiple pitchers
• These girls can play with every team
• Our team was the only team with a slapper……a slapper the got-on base 80% of time

The Lowlights:

• Lack of hustle on Defense
• Multiple 2 strike situation and the in/out field didn’t help close the deal