Congratulations to the varsity softball teams from Palm Beach Gardens High School (6A) and Dwyer High School (5A) for winning their respective District and Regional titles!

The following players from our program are currently on the team's rosters that will be heading to the Florida State Championships, (6A on May 9th & 10th, 5A May 7th & 8th).

Palm Beach Gardens Lady Gators: Seniors: Brittany Bowles, Kelsey Hensel, Bootsie Roesch, Melinda Villegas; Junior: Brittany Human; Sophomores: Haley Fleming, Lizzy Corrigan; Freshman: Laura Mann, Kaylie Wallace, Torrie Weindorf, Haleigh Morgan, Kory Hayden

Dwyer Panthers: Seniors: Brittany Hoffstettler, Janee Loree; Juniors: Sloane Caruso, Kelly Pizzo, JuliAnn Watson; Sophomores: Clare Hosack, Morgan Huhn, Tierney Mackey, Logan Wallace; Freshman: Kaylee Chicca

The 2008 Spring Rush One-Day Travel Tournament was a great success, with 29 area travel teams competing in five different age/class divisions.  Congratulations to the following tournament champions:

8 & Under:           Palm Beach Gardens Lady Gators - Orange

10 & Under:         Coral Springs Panthers - Red

12 & Under (A):   Palm Beach Gardens Lady Gators - Orange

12 & Under (B):   Wellington Wild

14 & Under:          Florida Vipers

To see the final standings for all the teams that participated, please select the "Tournament Information" icon on the right and then select the "Gator One-Day" icon on the following web page.

The 2008 Lady Gators Travel Team pin has been finished and is available for team orders.  The light blue "Lady Gators" and the outer edge of the pin glow in the dark.  For information regarding pin orders, have you team representative contact Dave Fleming.  

The recreation league closing day ceremonies held at Lake Catherine on Saturday, April 19th were a great success.  The festivities will began at 9:30am and will include a parade of teams, distribution of team trophies and player photographs.  The kids enjoyed the giant slide, rock climbing wall, obstacle course and kickball games.  Also, the coach's fastpitch games was a big success with the 8's & 12's coaches 8 - 6.  

The recreation regular season and tournament championships have been completed in the 10's, 12's and 13+ age divisions.  The following tables contains the final 2008 league and tournament results for all three age divisions.  

Our park was packed on Wednesday evening as we had a wonderful turnout of softball families and friends to watch the college softball double header between Palm Beach Atlantic and Rawlings College. Everyone in attendance was treated to two very good games with Rawlings sweeping the contests 1-0 and 5-0.  However, the true beauty of the evening was the steady sale of hot dog and hamburgers, as the league is donating all the concession sale profits to one of our recreational families in need.  Gary Lauer, father of three girls, was diagnosed with Leukemia this past month and following a month stint in the hospital is now resting at home.  The treatment costs coupled with his inability to work has set the family back and we are hoping that our small contribution will help with the burden they face.  If anyone was unable to attend the evenings games and wishes to make a donation to assist the Laure family, please contact Dave Fleming, either in person at the park or by e-mail via the "Contact Us" web page.  

We would also like to extend a very special thank you to the Palm Beach Atlantic Athletic Department which is donating all of the gate's proceeds from the games to the Lauer family.   

The PBGYAA has made arrangements with the Ultimate Speed training facility in Jupiter to offer special group rate speed training sessions.  The training provides an excellent opportunity for girls to improve their running speed as well as their core strength which enhances all aspects of athletic performance.  For additional information contact Dave Fleming at 622-3879 or visit the program's web site at www.ultimatespeedinc.com. 

On Tuesday March 4th the 2008 USA Women's National Team played an exhibition game against FIU in Hollywood, Florida. Fortunately, a great many girls from our park were able to attend the game, and based upon the feed back, the event was major success! 

The night started with 5:00 batting practice.  When the 2008 Olympic squad started swinging, balls started flying.  Crystl Bustos put on a tremendous display hitting some bombs that cleared the fence and the outfield bleachers, one nearly striking new patrons entering the park over 350 feet away.   

The game itself was fantastic as it featured all the team's stars. and they all came though in red white and blue....shutout pitching by Lisa Fernandez, Monica Abbott and Cat Osterman....a home run by Crysti Bustos....a triple by Jennie Finch....a steady show of batting prowess and speed by Caitlin Lowe, slap single and stolen base, Jessica Mendoza, single walk and stolen base and Natash Watley two singles....and great errorless team defense, which included Tairia Flowers making the most complete stretch possible at first.

If that wasn't enough, after the game the entire team lined up in the outfield along the left and centerfield homerun fence and met with all the kids in attendance, autographing anything the girl's desired and posing for photos.  All in all the evening provided a wonderful stage for a group of outstanding women to demonstrate both their skill on the field and their class of the field to a large group of young girls that admire them so.  In a world in which we all strive  desperately to hang on to our childhood heroes, only all to often to discover they are not the immortals we believed, it was a wonderful thing to see our girls benefit from a once in a lifetime experience in which they could make a personal connection with true role models! To that end, we all owe the South Florida ASA Softball organization a debt of gratitude for bring the game to our area.

To view some photos from the game and some candid shots of some of the girls from our park meeting with the players, please click on the "Team USA Game" icon on the upper right side of this page..   

For additional information regarding the meetings, please click on the "Contact Us" link to the right and scroll down to "Board News". 

Four Palm Beach Gardens Youth Athletic Association alumni players were in Boca Raton this past weekend playing in a college softball tournament hosted by Florida Atlantic University.  Two of the players, Caroline Torre, a freshman with the University North Florida and Laura Mendes, a freshman with the University of South Carolina found their teams in a head to head match-up in the Sunday elimination round of the six team draw.  The two are best of friends and in addition to playing 7 years of school ball together at Dunkin Middle School and  Palm Beach Gardens High School, they played travel ball together as Lady Gators since age 8.  The two represented our park with flying colors as Caroline scored UNF's first run in the second and drove in their second with a two out single in the 4th.  The two runs held up into the bottom of the 7th when Laura broke through with USC's first hit of the game, a double to the fence in right centerfield.  The Gamecocks tied the game up in the 7th, but UNF went on to win in the 8th 3-2.  The photo below shows the two in action for their new teams...Caroline at bat and Laura catching. 

The following table contains the tournament results of the 11 Lady Gator fall ball teams that participated in various area fall ball programs.

The Annual PBGYAA meeting

was held at Palm Beach Gardens City Hall and our new 2008 Softball Board was elected.  Our softball program had a strong turn-out with over 45 people in attendance.  Additionally, it was great to see the interest in participating on the board so strong, with 20 people running for various positions.  The votes were counted and following is a list of the new board's make-up. 

President:                       John Whalen

Vice President:               Scott Lizza

Treasure:                        Kathy Wallace

Secretary:                        Leslie Kelly

Member at Large:          Dave Fleming

Member at Large:          Mark Gerstner

Member at Large:          Mike Via

Member at Large:          Tracy Callahan

Member at Large:          Jen Coyle

Member at Large:          Robert Coleman

Member at Large:          Samantha Vasko

Member at Large:          Bobby Lint

Member at Large:          Tom Frazzetto

The 2008 Gator Park Card are here!  Our annual fundraising discount card is available for purchase for only $10.00 each and will help to raise the funds necessary to continue offering a quality softball program for our girls.  Your support is greatly appreciated, as is the support of the following 2008 card sponsors.

What a great Opening Day!  The weather was perfect, the parade was inspiring, the games and activities were a blast and the family turnout was incredible.  Pictures from the big day are posted on the Opening Day page. 

                             T-Ball:               Kendall Coyle

                             8 & Under:        Lauren Gerstner

                            10 & Under:       Bailey Whalen

                            12 & Under:       Melanie Hannah

                            13 & Over:         Kaylie Wallace

The PBGYAA Softball program wishes to send out a very special thank you to all the people who made the A Day of Fun for Bobby D. softball tournament a tremendous success.  The weather was beautiful as the 24 softball teams coming from as far south as Miami and as far north as St. Lucie county participated in the fundraising tournament on January 21, 2007 to help raise funds to assist Bob Diskant, a long time softball coach and father of two of our Lady Gator's (Sarah & Amber), with medical expenses associated with his recent lung cancer surgery.  The day brought out a diversity of people from the area including members of the softball community, both past and present.  Players, coaches, their families and friends unselfishly donated their time and energy toward the cause.  The list of people to thank is far too extensive to list.  However, due to their tireless efforts, over $11,000 was raised.  For information regarding the results of the tournament, please click on the "Bobby D. Tournament" icon on the right side of this page.

We do wish to extend a special thank you to Mr. Bob Iseli and Cheney Brothers for donating 200 hot dogs and 200 hamburgers to our concession stand for the big event.  Their generosity played a significant role in the event's success.  

Smiling through contact!

It all starts with T-Ball!

It's where they take their first swings.

Check out the form!

The coaching has been great, as evidenced by the smiles.

Speaking of form, look at a few of these 8's swings!

Talk about getting everything into it!

Kelsey Mackey - 8 & Under (Dingos)

Riley Benedetto - 8 & Under (Dingos)

Lizzy Lizza - 10 & Under (Tuff Stuff)

Alison Irwin - 10 & Under (Dare Devils)

Erika Peeples - 10 & Under (Xplosion)

Morgan Reichel rocks one to left (Yanksters)

Sara Diskant reaches back as dad looks on (Mud Dogs)

Carson Catasus - 12 & Under (Xplosion)

Hunter Toro - 12 & Under (Holla Bat Girls)

Lindsey Harris brings the heat! - 12 & Under (Gangst-hers)

  Thank you to everyone involved for making Opening Day a wonderful success and a great experience for all the girls!